Spring Aerification

Monday April 6th will mark the first day for spring aerification. Our plan is to aerate the front nine greens Monday April 6th and the back nine greens Tuesday April 7th.  So, Tuesday April 7th the front nine will be open for golf play while the back nine remains closed.  Weather permitting, we should have all eighteen holes open for golf play by Wednesday April 8th.  That being said, conditions need to be as dry as possible to properly complete the aerfication process.  As of now, rain is in the forecast for most of next week, which would push our aerfication date back to the next available dry day.  We will monitor the weather and conditions, and update you as soon as possible.  Once greens have been completed we will begin solid and deep tining the tees and fairways in conjunction with golf play. 

 There are many different reasons why we aerate, as you can see in the USGA video below.  At Illini Country Club our biggest concern is the layering that lies within the first six inches of the rootzone.  Our greens were originally built in the late 1950's and have developed multiple layers from organic matter accumulation and inconsistencies in sand particles and topdressing applications.  The layers create a significant difference in water retention between the surface layers and the lower layers.  Instead of a homogeneous rootzone, through which water (drainage) and air can move in a steady downward pattern, the surface will tend to hold more water.  If excessive water is being held in the surface layer, the roots are not encouraged to grow deeper, which is healthier.  Shallow roots may be sufficient during times of low stress, but as traffic or environmental stresses increase, the turf may not have enough root mass to survive.  The turfgrass also becomes more susceptible to disease pressure as well.  When we aerate and topdress the greens we are essentially removing and diluting the layers of organic matter (thatch) with the goal in mind to create a clean and consistent rootzone.  The more root mass we can develop during the growing seasons the better we can manage the greens more aggressively e.g. lower mowing heights, frequent rolling, grooming/verti-cutting, and less pesticide/nutrient/water requirements.  All of these things makes the turf healthier and result in a smoother, faster and more consistent playing surface.   

Profile of #4 green at Illini C.C.

Example Of A Perfect Rootzone (NO LAYERS)

Why Aerate Greens USGA (VIDEO)