We will be aerating at Black Bear starting Monday, August 15th, weather permitting. On Monday, our front 9 will be closed for aerating, and our back 9 only will be open for play. On Tuesday, August 16th & Wednesday, August 17th, the course will be closed. We plan to reopen on Thursday, August 18th with discounted rates through August 26th.
The Bears Den Restaurant will be open for lunch only from 10 am to 3 pm on Monday, August 15th through Wednesday, August 17th.
Check our booking engine for special aeration rates.
Thank you for your patience while we work to keep our playing conditions superb.
Why Golf Course Aeration Matters
Golfers always wonder why greens are being aerated. Often, they’ll comment “The greens were just getting good, and then you aerate?!”. While aeration may not look pretty, it is an important step in keeping the course green and the playing conditions superb.
Why Aerate?
Putting greens get a lot of foot traffic, in fact, more so than a tee box. With all this traffic the greens suffer from “compaction” which can weaken roots. Aeration clears out space on the greens to promote healthy roots and reduce thatch. Aeration will enable root systems to grow deeper into the soil. Thatch is basically old plant material that accumulates on the surface of the soil. It acts like a sponge, holding water near the surface which creates inconsistent green speeds and increases the likelihood of disease.
As mentioned previously, it often seems like aeration is done while the turf on the greens is performing at its best. This is because aeration is most effective when the grass is healthy and actively growing. Greens recover more quickly and weeds don’t have the opportunity to invade because the turf quickly recovers. This minimizes the amount of time the green will be sub-optimal for play. However–even at its worst the aeration only impacts 5-10% of the putting surface.