The front of #13 green has been holding an excessive amount of water lately and we believe the internal drainage is not working, or the water is somehow not able to reach the drain lines. The excess moisture has created an anaerobic black layer (lack of oxygen) that inhibits root growth and if left untreated will eventually cause turf loss. As a short-term solution, we brought a contractor in on Monday with a machine called a Water Wick that cuts very coarse sand into 10 inch deep slits in the rootzone. As the name implies, the narrow veins of sand will wick (pull) the excess moisture from the rootzone and allow it to exit the greens cavity by following a path of least resistance. After the Water Wick process was completed, the same contractor aerified the area with 1 inch diameter by 10 inch deep coring tines and the holes were filled with dry sand. We then aerified with our machine to a 4 inch depth to remove additional material, and again backfilled with dry sand. As with any invasive process the disruption to the putting surface cannot be avoided, but the turf should be healed in 7 to 10 days. As the saying goes "You have to break a few eggs to make an omelette!"
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| Installing sand veins |
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| Prior to aerification |
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| Filling 10" deep aerification holes |
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| Ready for play! |
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