Ball roll of our greens/Fall Aeration

As the health of our greens continue to improve, so does the ball roll.  The blemishes from this summer have not completely healed but the ball roll is probably at its fastest of the season.  Our green program of topdressing, grooming/verticutting, dragging and mowing over the last few weeks have allowed our heights to come down and have improved considerably the ability of the ball to roll out to the hole since Labor Day. 

I was able to play during the Men's closing day on Saturday and we had great ball roll that day.  Our local superintendents association; Mississippi Valley Golf Course Superintendent's Association had its annual Research and Scholarship Fundraiser yesterday here at the club and the ball roll was faster yet with two more warm days and lower humidity than the weekend.  The wonders of dry, warm conditions and a couple of extra days of rolling.

I expect over the next week to continue with the same ball roll conditions unless we receive some rain that will cause some additional growth and will slow them down.  Come out to the club over the next few days and enjoy some of the fastest green conditions of the season.(I guess enjoy is a relative term based on our ability to putt the ball!)

Just a reminder that our fall deep tined aeration will begin next Tuesday after the collegiate event has made the turn on the front 9 and we are able to work without disturbing play.  We will aerate to a depth of 8-10" using a  1/2" solid tine.  We will use enough sand to fill the holes.  I would expect our greens to be back in good condition within 10 days.  During the recovery process,  mowing will not take place until the dew has left the green surface by around 10-11 a.m.  Mowing with moisture on the green surface could lead to a sandy mess on the green which would inhibit ball roll.  We will do everything we can each day to remove dew from greens which will allow greens to be more playable for our early players.