The Air2G2 Air Inject from Campey Turf Care Systems has proved to be the final cog in the aeration machine at Ratho Park Golf Club, Edinburgh, with vast improvements in compaction and drainage.
The course, located 20 minutes from the centre of Edinburgh, offers its members 18 holes in greenbelt to the west of Scotland’s capital city, and has four listed buildings within the estate that surrounds the course.
Like a selection of older courses, Ratho Park has push-up greens, and it has been the aim of head greenkeeper, Billy Hudson, to improve the drainage all over the course and reduce foot printing on the greens. Both these issues have caused concern during his five-years in charge, and the five years prior to that in his role as a greenkeeper at the same course.
As Billy explains, the only change that had been made to the aeration program this year was the introduction of the Air2G2, and for him this was the final cog in the machine.
“We have very old bowl shaped push-up greens and the biggest problem with them is drainage,” he began.
“They have had drains installed in them, but despite that they still puddle. We had a trial of the Air2G2 during a wet period of summer last year, and even after one application the improvement was phenomenal.
“I think the Air2G2 is a cog in a big wheel. You still need to do the other aeration work, and I don’t think it would work if you did one and not the other.
“It is especially good at this time of year where golfers don’t want to see holes in greens; we can get away with injecting air into the greens and keeping them healthy because there’s no surface disruption.
“The biggest thing for us during the winter period this year – and we’ve had one of the wettest winters on record – is that our greens drained quickly, they weren’t soft, even though we were applying a lot of sand. This is the first year since I’ve taken over the job that they haven’t foot-printed, and the only difference we’ve had this year is using the Air2G2.”
Billy’s first sighting of the machine came on Twitter where he was able to find out more about it and other greenkeeper’s experience using it, eventually leading to him hiring one for a trial on his course.
During the trial the full extent of the machine was seen, with the probes – which can inject air to 6”, 7”, 9” or 12” deep (depending on probes fitted) – causing a fracturing effect of the compacted rootzone, whilst causing no surface disruption.
This is because air is injected vertically and horizontally over an area of 9ft within the rootzone. No surface disruption or structural damage occurs whilst the machine carries out the pre-programmed actions that are controlled by the push of a button, and set using a computer pad.
It was from this trial Billy knew he had found the solution to his problem, but with waiting times getting longer every time he enquired and positive feedback from all areas, the club wasted no time in investing in an Air2G2 of their own.
“The local hire company that we use purchased the machine last June, and at that point they didn’t know how successful it would be,” he said.
“When we wanted to hire it again in February we were told that there was a four week waiting list, so it must be working well for a lot of people.
“As the waiting list got longer and after the club noticing the great results we’d been getting and especially as the STRI have seen a big difference in our greens, we decided it was time to buy our own.
The Air2G2 was delivered to Ratho Park Golf Club by Campeys main Scottish dealer Double AA Trading Co. Ltd. at the beginning of May.
