Back to verticutting greens.  We have begun verticutting greens again now that they have healed from aerification.  The biggest reason that we delay verticutting after aerification is that this practice brings too much of our topdressing sand used during aerification back to the surface.  Thus it becomes very difficult for the mowers to maintain a quality cut.  It is typically only delayed about 2 - 3 weeks at the most.  This year we have set a goal to maintain a more aggressive vertical mowing on a weekly basis.  Combine this practice along with routine rolling and we will achieve the quality greens that everyone desires.  This picture is of us on the 11th green of the Whitworth course yesterday and the immediate result afterwards.

I took this picture standing about a foot above what the actual elevation of the practice tee will be when done.  Our intention with changing the landing area is to help it become better defined with not only better positioned targets to hit towards but a fairway landing area as well. 

This is a picture taken Tuesday, May 8th showing grading being done to the lower chipping green area.  The white ribbon on the stake defines where a sand bunker will be constructed.  Work is really starting to take on some shape to this area and within the next few weeks we should be installing irrigation.

First week of work to practice facility - stripping tee, staking grades and stockpiling of topsoil