Irving Park Course Undergoes Complete Verticutting and Aerification

The Irving Park course was closed this week (June 24 - 27) for an extensive effort to manage compaction and thatch accumulation.  The Farm course finished a similar process two weeks ago.  For the Irving Park course, all the short cut areas of the course, which includes greens, tees, fairways and approaches were aerified.  In addition to aerification, the fairways were also verticut in an effort to remove additional thatch.  The goal of all this work is to improve both the playability and health on these critical areas of the course.

Verticutting

Aerification

Plug Processing

Finished Green

Few who have played the Irving Park course would not argue the need to improve the playability and more specifically the drainage aspects of the short cut areas.  Few would also argue that anyone likes aerification.  Not the members, their guest or our staff who work sun up to sun down to complete this work over a period of just a few days.  With that said, most of those who have been enlightened on the subject do accept it is necessary and that it is our best chance towards improving these areas without significant resources put towards infrastructure and materials. Over the years these playing areas have been allowed to become grainy in nature and despite the perception of the average golfer our cultural management techniques have been moderate at best.  Our efforts towards controlling both grain and thatch this year was increased by aerifying with larger coring tines and verticutting in two different directions.  The end result was we were able to remove significantly more organic matter from these areas, which will ultimately improve the playability of these areas. Another effect will be a slower recovery time due to the increased disruption to the playing surface.  We estimate the fairways will take an additional two weeks before they return to "play it down" quality.  If you have never worked on a golf course maintenance team then it is hard to appreciate the amount of work that goes into a week like this but our goals to provide the membership with the best possible year round product clearly outweigh any of the short term negatives associated with these cultural management procedures.