Bunker Drainage

After heavy rains, many of the club's old bunkers have washouts.  Sand erosion is caused by poor perimeter grading on the outside of the bunker, internal drainage and severity of slope issues.  As the sand fines it's way to the bottom of the bunker, the underlying topsoil  now starts to erode and mixes with sand causing the contamination.  When sand and soil are mixed together the bunker sand becomes hard making it difficult to play a sand shot.

Creek Bank Restoration

Creek banks are being restored on holes 5-8-17 and 14, these improvements will help with playability and aesthetics.

Improving Site Conditions

 Establishing a new grade along the 6th tee will allow for a smoother transition when mowing along the tee and cart path.

 

 

 

After the initial grow in last fall there are areas on the new sixteenth fairway that need additional topsoil and seed.  Hand spreading topsoil is a slow process but it needs to be done this way to improve a smooth playing surface.

 

 

 

 

A gravel path is being put in along side the new comfort station.  The adjacent areas will be seeded to

natural grasses, giving the entire area a minimalistic look.

 

 

 

 

 

New course renovations

Installing sod on a new tee deck in the rain is very taxing.  The grounds staff will be putting the finishing touches on holes #10-14-15-16 in the next few weeks.  Weather is always a determining factor on the success of any projects we do on the golf course.  It is my hope to open these four holes for play by mid to late May.

Green Covers

The fall of 2012 the 15th green was covered to protect the newly seeded green from dessication and cold temperatures.  This cover creates warmer temperatures under the blanket, helping to promote growth while air temperatures start to lower spring or fall and going dormant or coming out of dormancy.  By looking at the picture one can tell where the cover was positioned on the green.   That said covers can also be a hindrance, covers must be removed if temperatures rise above the mid 40s for just a few days in a row and put back on the green each time temperatures go below mid 30s.  I believe covers have their place but are not a panasea to having healthy greens every spring.

New Renovations

With the beginning of 2013 spring fast approching, the grounds department will be working hard to finish the grow in on the 14th, 15th and 16th.  Cold rainy weather in the early fall has set back some of the newly seeded areas.  These areas will need special care to become playable by Memorial Day.

Brush Removal

   Over time, under growth on the stream banks behind 5 green has become so entangled that good air flow has been jepordized.  From in front of 6 tee to the cross over on 8, brush has been removed to improve the over-all growing conditions.  Good air flow and light were being blocked making for poor growing conditions on tightly mowed turfgrass. With much of the brush now cleared along the entire length of the stream, hole 6 through 15, low growing plants may need to be established in some areas for bank stabilization.

Winter Equipment Service

This past summer bunkers were raked using two different tine lengths.  The 3 3/4" tine length were used in bunkers near greens to promote a loose sand, where as the 2 3/4 length provided a firm lie in fairway bunkers.  Unfortunately the longer tines would grab the bunker liner and pull it out in many areas.  The longer tines would also pull gravel out of the drain lines in the bunker floor and cause a stone issue.  Presently there are a dozen or so bunkers contaminated with pea size gravel found throughout the sand profile that will need removed.