Why Do We Aerify Perfectly Good Greens?

CCP maintenance team member performs daily mowing of greens

It is the time of year across the country when golfers are hearing their favorite word, Aeration!!  I am always asked by golfers, "Why do you aerify perfectly good greens?"  "Do you really need to do this?"  The answer can be quite involved as there are many benefits associated with the agronomic practice of core aeration.  Dr. Larry Stowell from the PACE Turfgrass Research Center in Southern California does a great job of highlighting the benefits in this short video.  Click on this title to view:  Aeration: A breath of fresh air for greens 
As a reminder, we will be closed Monday April 30th and Tuesday May 1st so that aeration of greens and tees can be completed.  We also aerify fairways but that will occur over the next few weeks as a few fairways are completed each day.  We know the process is disruptive to play but please take a few minutes and listen to Dr. Stowell's explanation of the process.  You may begin to appreciate and understand  the benefits of one of the most important cultural practices that we perform on the course during the year.
The course continues to play well so come out and enjoy some golf!   

New Assistant Superintendent Joins Team

Alex Palos is the newest member of the Golf Maintenance Team.  He accepted the position as Assistant Superintendent here at the CC of Peoria when former Assistant Tyler Bain left for a Superintendents job at Ironwood Golf Course in Normal, Illinois.  Alex started this last week and hit the ground running as the season was already off to an early start.  Alex has been in the golf course maintenance business for over ten years so he brings some solid experience to the department.

New Assistant Superintendent Alex Palos

 Prior to coming to the CC of Peoria Alex held the position as Assistant Superintendent at River Forest Country Club in the Chicago Area.  He is a graduate of Kirkwood College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he majored in Turfgrass Management.  Alex grew up in the quad cities area where he still has family. 

Please join us in welcoming Alex to the club and we are excited to have him on our team.

The course remains in good playing condition being fast and firm.  Come out and get some golf in!       

Let the Irrigation Begin... or the rain

The lack of any rain during the month of March and the beginning of April has made it necessary to begin regular irrigation cycles.  I cannot remember a year when it has been necessary to run full cycles of irrigation in the months of March and April.  We were even hand watering over the last few weeks which usually begins in late June early July but this year began in March!  What a strange, dry and warm March and April we have had.  There is some chance of rain this coming weekend and I can honestly say that we could use it.  The dry conditions have been good for golf and getting carts out but the turf is actually showing signs of drought stress and for this early in the season that is not necessarily a good thing.  Hopefully Mother Nature will help us out this weekend.  Sorry if it gets in the way of golf but there have been plenty of "bonus" days so far in March and April for golf.   Remember the old saying "April showers bring May flowers".  Well, those same April showers help bring healthy root systems to the turf plant.  Bring on some April rain!! 

Conditions Dry So.... Fast and Firm

The course is playing fast and firm due to the absence of rain over the last month.  Greens are rolling well for this early in the year and the bluegrass rough is filling in nicely.  We have been working hard to keep up with rough mowing as the unseasonably warm temperatures have the season off to an early start.  The greens, tees and fairways have not really started to grow yet but if we get some extended periods of consistently warm weather that will change rapidly. 


Course is playing fast and firm due to lack of Spring rains

 Hopefully we will see some typical rainfall in April to help get the turf roots well developed before the summer stress period shows up.

Alex Palos our new Assistant Superintendent starts April 9th so if you see him out on the course please help us welcome him to CCP.  He will be featured in a post in the next few weeks. 

Come out and play as the course is in good shape and playing well.