We keep it at 3/16", mowing 2 to 3 times per week, water with portables as needed, aerate with a Wheelhorse slitter and top dress (lightly) every 14 days late April and all of May and again semi-weekly after August until growth begins to subside. This takes about 8 tons mason sand per year. We soil relieve (7 to 8") every June ($150.00 to local golf course superintendent) and core 3" deep every August with a Ryan reciprocating aerator (same fee). Twice we've over seeded at 2#/thousand with Penn - fall of '03 and yesterday.

It rolls about a 10 after top dressing, and about a nine just prior to. We use a Lesco prescribed preventative fungicide schedule, mostly rotating granular systemics about every three weeks May - September. Also do couple sprays of Mancozeb as needed in July/August for the dollar, and a hit of Revere 10G about December first for Snow mold prevent.

Just a hint of poa annu and clover showing up this year. Never seen poa here before (boo, hiss). I have the Roundup and a hair trigger finger. Look out! Not much other weed problem. Just some dandys and chickweed that I scoop out with the lock blade when I catch 'em. As long as we keep adding sand, we keep low spots from forming so weeds don't stand much chance. We lap the old Jake 522 twice in the spring and twice in the fall due to sand abrasion, and I have the rotor sharpened and bed knife replaced every year by Baker Vehicle Systems, Grove City, Ohio. Their technician used to be the mechanical supervisor at Muirfield Village GC in Dublin, OH (the course that Jack built). He does a decent job!Primarily we enjoy the yard for croquet, but it is far from flat and I chip and putt to target flags almost every day.

The site is our back yard with a ravine behind and surrounding to the east, and coming within 10' of our walkout basement and right up to our upper story deck. The photo is taken from the west end of the site. Our property is 9 wooded acres, surrounded by private camp and private hunting land. Beautiful area. It costs us about $1,500 per year and 6 hours per week to maintain it which strains the budget, but we feel it is well worth it. We try not to get too caught up in worrying about money. You gotta live a little, right? We also have 6,000 watts of lighting for night parties. These have been known to go until after 2:00 a.m.

I will hopefully be adding an 18,000 sq. ft. green two years from now, plastics industry willing, in a hollow surrounded by mature white pines, wild dogwoods and red buds (Less so to the south, of course) and extensive perennial landscaped swales. This is for two croquet courts side by side (our "club" is growing). Although azaleas won't work here, I envision the finished product looking somewhat like Augusta number 10 green site only bigger. Clearing and initial grading going on as we speak. I will start with the right base this time and a full herringbone tile. The plan is to do two watering loops - one for fertigation from a 1,000 gallon surge tank I have for the bent, and one for the landscaping. Need to get a rider or a pull behind with baskets. If you have sources for a cheap one, please let me know! Also need a better top dresser. The little plastic "Agri-Fab" broadcast trailer with the bottom cut out bigger just isn't going to get it when I am up to 24,000 sq ft!