Turf
31 MAY 2024
We're juggling with temperatures at opposite ends of the spectrum. There are days when the temperature approaches that of a July heat wave, or rather, cold mornings when my team and I must don a tuque. I enjoyed meeting with many of you at the opening tournament. Thank you for your kind words, interesting discussions, and constructive suggestions.
Update on paving at La Bête
The paving project on the cart path #9 that was supposed to be done this week has been postponed a few days. Bad weather at the beginning of the week prevented the contractor from coming to do the work. We hope to have the weather on our side next time.
Aeration of greens
On Tuesday June 4 and 5, the greens at La Bête will be aerated. Nine holes will be aerated, cleaned, seeded, top-dressed and rolled each morning. The greens will then be rolled and gradually returned to normal the following week. This is an important cultural practice, and the team will work quickly and cleanly to ensure recovery as quickly as possible. Two weeks later, it will be the Le Maître’s turn on June 18-19.
Thank you for your understanding.
Why do we need to aerate our greens?
Aeration has many benefits for our hard-working golf surfaces. It reduces compaction caused by heavy traffic from golfers and maintenance crews. Aeration also improves air and water circulation in the soil, resulting in healthier turf and more consistent playing conditions. Breaking up the layer of organic matter that accumulates just below the playing surface - commonly known as thatch - is another important benefit. The result is firmer, smoother, healthier greens.
Why do we always aerate when the greens are perfect?
It can be frustrating to see thousands of holes punched in perfectly good greens, but there are good reasons why aeration takes place when greens are at their best. Aeration is a stress factor for the turf. The better the growing conditions, the faster the greens recover. While aeration very late or very early in the year may seem less disruptive to the golf program, the longer recovery time and the risk of further damage to the turf can actually result in greater and certainly longer disruption.
Upcoming maintenance
- Paving of path #9 (La Bête)
- Aeration of greens (La Bête)
- Driving range work (Le Maître)
- Topdressing on the greens (Le Maître)
Marc-André Doré
Golf course superintendant