Turf
06 JUN 2025
We're in the middle of our early season cultural practices at Le Maitre and la Bête. The established plan is on course, we've finished the verticut in the fairways at Le Maître. This operation will follow for a few days at La Bête next week. Don't forget that greens aeration operations will be carried out on Tuesday June 10 and Wednesday June 11 at Le Maître, weather permitting. We recognize the inconvenience that this operation causes but it is a necessary evil that allows us to have healthy greens for the remainder of the season.
Here's a quick explanation of the aeration process.
- Core aeration - 1/4-inch holes
- A machine equipped with hollow spoons is used to remove soil cores (generally 1/4“ in diameter and 2 to 3” deep).
- These holes allow air, water and nutrients to better penetrate the soil profile.
- Core collection
- Extracted carrots are either picked up by hand using blowers and shovels, or they are removed from the soil by hand.
- The aim is to prevent debris from preventing the topdress from settling in properly.
- Topdressing (sand or sand mixture)
- An even layer of topdressing sand is applied
- The sand fills the holes left by aeration.
- Brushing
- The sand is brushed into the holes.
- This also levels the surface and distributes the topdress evenly.
- Seeding with bentgrass
- The holes are ideal places for seeding bentgrass
- Rolling the green
- A light roller is used to level the surface without compacting it.
- This improves playability quickly and helps the seed to come into contact with the soil.
Benefits of this complete process
Improved aeration
- Relieves soil compaction.
- Increases root oxygenation.
- Stimulates beneficial microbial life.
Better drainage
- Sand-filled holes create channels to evacuate excess water.
- Reduces water stress and moisture-related diseases.
Turf renewal
- Seeding in the holes reinforces the plant cover with young, vigorous varieties.
Better playing performance
- More consistent rolling.
- Firmer, more resistant surface.
The water-land-air ratio in the soil of a golf green is essential for its health
It depends on an optimal balance between three elements in the soil:
- 50% solids (sand, silt, clay, organic matter)
- 25% air
- 25% water
When soil is too compacted, air is replaced by water or solids, suffocating roots, promoting disease and slowing growth. Conversely, soil that is too porous retains water poorly, creating water stress.
Aeration, topdressing and good irrigation management aim to maintain this ideal ratio for firm, healthy, high-performance greens.
The week in pictures
Concerning the condition of some tee boxes.
I'm aware that a some teedecks are below our standards. I take responsibility for this situation. In a rush to get them open these new tees were opened too early and didn’t root sufficiently. The management of the tee blocks may not have been optimal, and the fact that some of the new tees don't have their own dedicated sprinkler is also an important factor. I'm focused now on fixing these issues and putting in place a permanent solution. We will be fixing these areas and looking forward to offering renewed tee decks.
Thank you and good golf.
Marc-André Doré
Golf course Superintendent