After a successful winter golf season, we are entering the summer with a strong turfgrass foundation, which means it is once again time for cultural practices.
Every year brings its own weather nuances, but the work we complete during the slower summer months is a key reason the golf course consistently produces excellent winter playing conditions. While this work creates some short-term disruption, it is essential to long-term turf health, consistency, and playability.
We will continue to rely on our tried-and-true approach: aerification, vertical mowing, and topdressing. By performing these practices early in the summer, we take advantage of long days, abundant sunlight, and the active growth of our warm-season bermudagrass. It also allows us to stay ahead of the cloudy, rainy weather patterns that often become more frequent later in the summer, as well as the increased potential for severe weather.
Healthy turfgrass needs sunlight, water, nutrients, and air. During the summer, much of our focus is on increasing air movement within the soil profile. Aerification, vertical mowing, and topdressing help dilute organic matter, improve air space, increase water infiltration, and encourage stronger rooting.
As in past years, we have already completed our first Drill and Fill process on the greens, which took place May 26–28. This process uses a one-inch drill bit to penetrate 10 inches deep into the greens profile on a 7-by-7-inch pattern. This year, we incorporated more than 110 tons of sand into the greens profile. We followed that work with core aeration and topdressing.
Fairways have also been topdressed. During our first closed week, 880 tons of sand were spread evenly across 26 acres of fairways. This practice continues to improve surface firmness, drainage, turf density, and overall playability.
In addition to our five week-long closures, the golf course remains closed each Monday from May through October so we can complete important single-day cultural practices. For example, tees were aerified on May 18 using the same thorough approach we apply to the greens.
As part of our ongoing shoreline stabilization efforts, we have also expanded the ShoreSox Erosion Control System. In 2021, we installed the system around the greens on holes 1 and 5. In 2025, we reclaimed more than 10 feet of shoreline along the 150-foot lake bank adjacent to the 2nd green. This summer, we increased those efforts by installing ShoreSox along 850 linear feet of lake banks. During our first closed week, we regained approximately 8 to 10 feet of shoreline around the green complexes on holes 10, 14, and 16. These efforts are important not only for aesthetics, but also for protecting valuable golf course infrastructure and preserving the long-term integrity of the property.
Although these practices require patience, they are a major reason the golf course remains healthy, consistent, and enjoyable throughout the year. The work we complete now directly supports the conditions our members expect and enjoy during the winter golf season.
Finally, for those who follow my social media, you are aware that in addition to a wonderful winter golf season, we once again enjoyed a very active “birding season.”
Our three Purple Martin structures were bursting at the seams with fledglings, and two of our Eastern Screech Owl boxes were active as well. “Ginger,” who resides behind the No. 5 green, successfully fledged three owls, while “Sleepy,” who spends time in the box at the driving range, also produced three screech owls this year.
It was another rewarding reminder that the golf course is not only a place for great golf, but also an important habitat for wildlife.
