Deep drilling improves greens, morale

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jason McCasland
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Recently, Fox Run Golf course patrons arrived to find their more than 100-acre golf course closed for greens maintenance, here June 12.

The golf course staff teamed with Southeast Turf Maintenance to complete a deep drill and fill aerification of all the course's putting greens.

"The aerification process that we are doing to the greens today is the best way to prolong the life of the greens," said Bill Barrett, Southeast Turf Maintenance owner. "This can ultimately save golf courses money in replacing an entire green."

Drilling holes into the greens may seem like a destructive way to improve golf course health, but the process is an exact science engineered to improve the greens.

"The whole process drills channels past the different organic layers to help stimulate new growth and improve the health of the greens," said William Duckworth Fox Run Golf Course manager. "This will save greens maintenance and money over time. It also improves the greens playability for our golfers."

The entire process took one day to complete with lasting improvements to the golf course.

"Our staff and the Southeast Turf team put more than 27 tons of sand into the holes drilled on the greens," said David Nusbaum, Fox Run Golf Course superintendent. "The greens may be a little bumpy for a week or two but should go back to normal after that."

For customers of the Fox Run, the bumpy greens may seem like an inconvenience but the long term effects could surprise them.

"The overall aerification of the greens will improve the health and play of the greens," said Richard Boehm, Headquarters Air Force Personnel Center turfgrass agronomist. "The improved greens will help with the morale of our Airmen, families and customers. They will enjoy playing on them more, which will help de-stress Airmen so they can focus on their missions."

Through greens maintenance, the Fox Run Golf Course improved playability and moral of Barksdale Airmen by giving them a quality golf course to play.