Case Study: Example of a total turf greens renovation:
Conway Farms Golf Club, Chicago, Illinois, was closed for greens renovation on August 1, 2014.
First, aerified greens using 5/8 inch hollow tines to pull a plug, then cleaned the surface of the plugs, and left the holes open.
Immediately after the hollow tine aerification went over the greens surface with 1/4 needle tines.
Next, deep double verticut of the greens, once north to south and once east to west making squares in the surface thatch / matt.
On August 3, 2014 applied Methyl Bromide sterilization to the green surfaces, the gas applied under a plastic tent draped over the green with the edges of the plastic set under sod turf to provide a seal that would keep the gas from escaping. After five days the plastic was removed to allow the surface of the greens to air out.
Seed was applied to the surface at the rate of 2 pounds per 1,000 square feet of 90% 007 and 10% Tyee creeping bentgrass. The surface was sand topdressed lightly after seeding.
A coco matt was used to drag over the surface to allow the seed and sand topdressing to fall into the aerification holes and deep verticut groove squares. The surface was then rolled to firm the surface.
Pre plant fertilizer was applied at the rate of 1/2 pound Nitrogen per 1,000 square feet with an additional application of Milorganite at the rate of 1/2 pound of Nitrogen.
The 007 / Tyee bent seed germinated in 7 days.
1/4 pound of Nitrogen was applied every 14 days through the middle of October using Ammonium Sulfate liquid fertility.
Mowing started two weeks after germination about Labor Day (The first Monday in September). The greens matured nicely going into November 2014.
In April and May of 2015 the greens resumed growth and continued to grow in and mature. The golf course was re opened for members play on May 25th. Keep in mind there was only four months of bentgrass growing weather - September and October 2014 and April and May of 2015.
September 14 - 20, 2015 Conway farms hosted the BMW PGA tour Championship on new 90% 007 10% Tyee bentgrass greens. The mowing height for the tournament week was .090 of an inch with a stimpmeter reading of 12 1/2 feet. This was achieved with no excessive rolling and mowing. Double mowed only early in the tournament week and single mowing during the four days of the tournament on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.