Renovations nearly completed

The remainder of the tees, green aprons and some of the bad patches on the front nine fairways remain to be renovated. This will be completed this week and with some warm weather and water the grass should start jumping out of the ground.

This year we have renovated the back nine fairways. These were scarified, verti-drained with thick solid tines, seeded and top dressed. Cam plans on fertilizing these in the next couple of weeks once the seed has germinated.

Once renovations are completed the boys will start back on the work on the left of the 9th green. The bunker should be completed and back in play before the spring classic. The bunker has been shortened slightly as there was irrigation pipe running through the back of the bunker. The mound at the front of the bunker has been lowered also to improve visibility from the tee.

9th green after scarifying and coring

9th green after top dressing

18th fairway being verti-drained

Top dressing the greens

Why top dress the greens after scarifying and coring? 
The purpose of this process is to remove thatch and organic matter and introduce new soil to the soil profile assisting in drainage through the surface.

How much top dressing should you put on?
You should only put on enough top dressing to fill the core holes and smooth the surface, this should be able to be brushed into the canopy with no top dressing remaining on the surface.

Here is an interesting article about top dressing from the North Carolina State University.
Refining Your Putting Green Topdressing Program
by Dr. Rich Cooper, Dept. of Crop Science, NC State University