Iron-cementing aeration holes

Last week, there was an interesting exchange on Twitter (check @paceturf) regarding the photo associated with this PACE Turf Update. The discussion focused upon the reddish layer surrounding an aeration hole that was only weeks old. The layer looked similar to the iron-cemented layer reported by Obear and Soldat: Iron-cemented layers in putting green soils. In this case, the layer appears to have formed around the new aeration hole rather than at the gravel-sand interface of a USGA style root…