Course Update

The past few mornings have seen frost delays, normal for this time of year. Today we finished the fairway drainage on #4 South and moved operations to #14 fairway. The fairway expansions we began last year on the South are complete. The next two weeks will see the staff leaving so we will beaerifying fairways before that happens. The remaining part of October and most of November will be leaf cleanup.

Drainage #4 Fairway South

As part of the Capital projects for 2012, we are adding drainage to #4 fairway. This is our wettest fairway (along with #5, #14 and #15) and will improve the playing surface during heavy rain events. The contractor should be finished next week. Once #4 is complete, we move to the front section of #5 fairway and then on to #14.

These holes will play as par 3's or be closed completely during construction.

Winter Drains

Before shutdown in the fall, we check and open every surface drain and mark it with a flag. By removing the caps on small surface inlets we provide an easy channel for water to escape. The quicker we can remove surface water the smaller chance of ice buildup, and we have discussed the dangers of prolonged ice cover on turf.

Most of the South Course surface drains ultimately move water to either the pond on #16 or the pond on #7. All of this water exists the property through the creek on #5 out to Lahser Road.

In the spring, Copper Sulfate is added to some of the drains to reduce root encroachment from nearby trees. Or as Dr. Vargas calls them .... "weeds that got hard".

Drainage #18 South

The last fairway bunker on #18 South sprouted a wet spot. Perhaps due to the wet spring or maybe just an old broken drain line. Yesterday we installed an interceptor drain to catch the ground water before it enters the bunker. At the same time we replace all the sand in the bunker that had become contaminated from constant saturation.

Drainage

The last of the North Course bunkers to get drained, number two green, were done this past week. This was part of the North bunker and drainage project we undertook last fall. We simply ran out of time and weather at the end of the year so we finished them this spring.

Drainage #6 Fairway Finished

The project on #6 fairway South was finished yesterday. The sod lines will require water over the summer as the drain lines were filled with straight sand. Using only sand in the trench lines assures us that water will infiltrate and percolate at a high rate.

Drainage of #6 Fairway South

When it rains, number six fairway is often one of the wettest areas and the landing zone is particularly bad. As part of our 2011 capital expenditures, we are adding drain tile to the fairway that will provide us the opportunity to have drier conditions during rain events.

The work was contracted out and we anticipate finishing this week, weather permitting.

#7 Drainage Finished

We will have the sod replaced by the end of the day on Monday. This new 12" drain line will dramatically improve the drainage in the bottom of #7.

Drainage #7 South

The large drainage line that runs through #7 fairway has needed replacing for many years ... and now we're finally on it. We're changing from old 18" clay tile to 12" solid plastic and at the same time adding better backfill material.

This will help the playability of the landing zone in #7 and make it easier to mow on wet days.

Drainage

Wet conditions will always expose any drainage shortcomings. Number 7 South has been wetter than normal this year and we are planning a substantial drainage project there this fall.

This photo shows how tree roots - particularly Willow trees - can find their way through the smallest opening and clog a drain tile. This tile from the left of number 7 fairway ... had over 20 feet of roots clogging the pipe!

It proves that roots like oxygen. Very small root hairs will find an opening in a tile and in a humid, air filled environment, grow unimpeded until completely filling a drain tile.