Drill and Fill

Drill and Fill Machines

After Cleanup Process

Drill and Fill Sand Channel

With the wave of extreme heat and humidity that we have experienced during this past week, it’s hard to believe that Fall Aerification is just around the corner.  On Tuesday and Wednesday, September 2^nd and 3^rd, we will be aerating greens with the “Drill & Fill” machine.  As you may remember from last September, the process of the “Drill & Fill” is exactly as it sounds....a machine is driven onto the greens that first drills a ¾” hole approximately 8 inches deep into the green’s soil profile, and then fills that hole with clean, fine sand.  This process achieves all of the benefits of traditional aeration (relieve soil compaction, enhance water, nutrient, and oxygen flow to the plants’ roots, thatch reduction, promote surface drainage, etc.), but with the added bonus of applying these benefits throughout the entire root zone, versus to only the upper four inches, as achieved through traditional aeration.  This will in turn provide larger, deeper channels for enhanced surface drainage and deeper root development, thus leading to healthier turf and a faster, firmer playing surface.

Our goal is to have at least nine holes completed and ready for play by Wednesday morning.  Please remember, however, that the entire healing process usually takes approximately fourteen to twenty-one days depending upon the weather.  We will be applying fertilizer and maintaining higher moisture levels to expedite surface recovery.  Members will experience softer, slower, bumpier greens containing many sand-filled holes during this time.  Once the surfaces have sufficiently healed, we will return to our normal watering practices and the greens will dramatically improve in firmness and drainage.  We understand cultivation temporarily disrupts the ball roll and is an inconvenience for the golfers but keep in mind that the long-term benefits far outweigh the temporary disruptions. 

Although the greens will be our primary focus on September 2^nd and 3^rd, we will continue to perform our Fall maintenance practices such as tee and fairway aeration, fertilizer applications, and other on-course projects throughout the month of September.  Again, we understand the inconvenience this causes for golfers, and we will do our best to perform our duties with as minimal disruption as possible, while always maintaining our courtesy to the membership.  The Golf Course Maintenance Department greatly appreciates your cooperation and patience as we complete these important projects.

Prepared by, Curtis Keller