November 3, 2011

We have just finished “de-compacting” the tees. We hired Clarkston Turf to verti-quake and verti-drain our tees. The verti- quake has rotating blades that vibrate. The blades sliced down into the soil profile to a depth of approximately 10”, shaking the soil to loosen it and to cause lateral and horizontal fracturing. The verti-drain followed. It is a heavy duty aerator that we fitted with ¾”solid tines, and went as deep as 12”, creating vertical channels to admit air and increase drainage.  Next our staff topdressed the tees with straight sand, just like we do on the greens, and dragged it in.

Continuing this program consistently over the years will produce results much like we have seen on the greens with the drill and fill– better turf health, stronger turf, less disease, deeper rooting, and firmer surfaces. I am pretty excited about it all!

The verti quake and verti drain on the 13 tee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The verti- quake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The verti drain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top dressing

Topdressed tee (not dragged)

Trivia question: We have 6 sets of tees, but how many actual tee boxes do we have on the course?