As the brilliant fall colors reach their peak and the final “bonus days” of the golf season draw to a close, Elcona Country Club’s Superintendent Ryan Cummings reports that his team is hard at work transitioning the course from late-season play to winter preparation. Despite weather challenges and a few muddy fairways, Cummings says the season hasaerification been a success—thanks in large part to his dedicated crew.
“I cannot thank all of my staff enough for a great 2025 season,” Cummings shared in his latest blog post. “Fall golf is the best golf!”
Elcona Country Club Aerification
Finishing Fall Aerification
Lake-effect rainfall has slowed efforts to complete fairway aerification, but all holes have now been aerified. Cleanup work continues on holes 5–7, where plugs are drying before being dragged and swept. Cummings reminds golfers that holes will be temporarily closed during cleanup for safety, with signage posted at the tees.
New Tee Projects Underway
Two improvement projects are launching this fall:
Hole 11: The blue and white tees will be combined and expanded to better balance yardages.
Hole 12: A new silver tee, roughly 275 yards from the green, is being added on the right side.
During construction, players will tee from the green tee to ensure safety.
Course Prep Before Winter
With most seasonal staff departing, Cummings and the remaining full-time team are focusing on essential maintenance:
Leaf cleanup and mowing of native areas
Herbicide applications to control late-season weeds
Removal of bunker rakes and fountains for winter storage
Irrigation winterization scheduled for November 11–13, during which sprinklers may activate automatically
Deep Tine Aerification on Greens
From November 17–18, greens will undergo deep tine aerification—creating ½-inch holes penetrating 9–10 inches into the soil. This process promotes spring root growth, relieves subsurface compaction, and enhances winter drainage. Holes are left open throughout the winter to encourage airflow and moisture movement beneath the surface.
Elcona Country Club Raising mower heights
Steps for Turf Health
Cummings outlined several cultural practices designed to protect the turf through Indiana’s harsh winters:
Raising mowing heights from .105″ to .135″ to promote carbohydrate storage and root growth.
Applying fall fertility and protectants to feed turf before dormancy and prevent snow mold.
Applying a final heavy topdressing to “tuck in” greens for the winter—insulating the Poa annua and smoothing surfaces for spring.
“In our industry, we liken this final heavy application to putting a blanket on the greens,” Cummings wrote. “It’s how we tuck them in for winter.”
Looking Ahead
While golf play now belongs to the “diehards,” the maintenance program ensures that Elcona’s greens and fairways will emerge strong and smooth for the 2026 season. Cummings encourages members to enjoy the vivid fall scenery and reach out with questions at ryan@elconacc.com.
