SISIS -

SISIS VEEMOS are really cutting the mustard up in Wisconsin, famous for its farms and forests.

From the shores of L. Michigan to the bluffs of the Mississippi River valley, the golf courses are as varied as the landscape

North Shore Golf Club at Menasha has had a SISIS VEEMO for 8 months and Supt. Scott Schaller, CGCS, says that it has been everything they had hoped for. The 18-hole private country club is situated on the north shore of Lake Winnebago, and the fairways are 60/40 Bentgrass/Poa with heavy undulations.

The VEEMO has been used with the 2mm blades for heavy thatch removal. The tractor-mounted, hydraulic SISIS de-thatcher was recommended by the late George Hamilton of Penn State, as an alternative to aerification and Scott Schaller thinks it was an outstanding recommendation. He says, "I feel that we remove more thatch from the fairways versus a single-core aerification and the end results are the key. The fairways heal quickly and are fully recovered within days. The turf is more upright for better ball lie."

He is particularly impressed with the independently floating heads and the rugged construction of the VEEMO. Scott is looking to try the 1mm blade for future treatments and says that he would definitely recommend the VEEMO to other Superintendents.

Further west in Eau Claire County are Millrun and Wild Ridge Golf Courses.

Director of Operations David Longeville CGCS describes relatively flat Millrun as an "inland course" and Wild Ridge as "links type" with heavy undulations. The fairways on the Millrun course are Poa/Kentucky Blue Grass mix, and on Wild Ridge Poa/Bentgrass.

Over the years a heavy thatch layer had built up on the Wild Ridge course and needed to be removed – on Millrun it was necessary only to "manage" the thatch.

The SISIS VEEMO has been used on the fairways of both courses for 18 months in early Spring and again in the Fall, and early indications of benefits are very positive. David Longville particularly appreciates the VEEMO's float capability, speed over the ground and ease of use.

Asked if he would recommend the SISIS VEEMO to other Superintendents he replied emphatically, "Yes - and have already done so!"