Year in Review - Part 2

In my last entry, I detailed some of the issues we faced on the greens.  In this entry I'd like to lay out what my plan of attack is for the year to come.

One of my priorities in 2012 will be to establish a consistent cultural program that will lead to a healthier greens complex.  If we can be consistent in preforming the following cultural practices, I believe that performance issues with the soil profile will improve:

• Aerifying greens with the goal of removing 15 - 20% of soil material over the course of the year, and replacing it with straight sand
• Topdressing greens every 3 weeks combined with dimpling greens to work extra sand into the soil 
• Needle tineing greens every 3 to 4 weeks throughout the year
• Use far less water via overhead irrigation through the year.  Focus on using hoses to spot treat areas that need water, especially on the back holes that hold water.

My overall goal is to improve the quality and consistency of the soil.  The added sand will aid in soil drainage.  Aerifying and tineing will help the soil to breathe.  Using less water will allow us to keep the surface dry, and leave more space for oxygen in the soil.  

When you have a quality, nutritious, well draining soil, you have the best shot at having a quality putting surface.

When a golf course deliberately puts off preforming cultural practices, it's similar to trying to pay off a large amount of credit card debt by just making the minimum payment.  Eventually the burden of debt will become too large to bear, and the golf course will suffer as a result.