Drainage Work

Over the past two days Dan Kaiser and his crew installed drainage in a number of areas on the course that continue to hold water during and after rain events.  Last night's .90" of rain was a great test for the work and I'm happy to say mission successful.  

Areas that received drainage were:  The path behind the Hamlet near 1T, the low area on the right side of 3 fw, the low area on the right side of 6 fw, a small spot in the front of 7 fw and the area near the front of 11 fairway, just past the red T box.

Path behind the Hamlet near 1T.  

Area near the front of 11 fairway, just past the red T box.

2015 Grounds Crew

I am fortunate to have a great group of hard working guys with me at the club.  We also have a lot of fun together, which makes for an enjoyable work environment.  When you have a chance, say hello to the grounds crew.  From L to R is:  Eric Rank – Director of Grounds (14^th year), Cody Galanda (3^rd year), Joe Lovison (3^rd year), Carl Ardissono (4^th year), Klay Hobson (1^st year), Forest Galanda (5^th year), Austin Payne (1^st year), Brad Miller (5^th year), Zac Adkins (1^st year), Dylan Shroeder (1^st year), Dallas Galanda (2^nd year), Paul Ardissono – Crew Foreman (5^th year), Joe Lewicki (3^rd year), Nathan Stanage (1^st year), Rob Lemon – Facilities Manager (17^th year).  Dayton Siewert (1^st year), Alex Lincoln – Assistant Superintendent (1^st year), Darrell Chitty (14^th year), Paul Kniola – Equipment Manager (12^th year), Michael Petro (10^th year) and John Maximoff (14^th year).

Bug Spray

Over the past month we have received regular rain events, so much so that we have only used the irrigation two or three times.  As of today, our irrigation reservoir is completely full. 

With all of the rain we have been receiving it will only be a matter of time until the mosquitoes start appearing.  Please remember to apply your bug spray on a hard surface such as a cart path or parking lot.  The bug spray can and will damage the turf that it comes in contact with.  The picture below demonstrates this well.

Drainage Work

It has been quite some time since my last post and a lot has happened.  The new tees, with the exception of 18 blue and white, are open for play.  Trees have been trimmed and some have been removed during the winter.  There has also been a lot of rain and it continues to rain.  As I write this post it is raining.  So, drainage is on my mind.

Last week we tackled a re-occurring leak in front of 17 green.  Whenever we received a substantial amount of rain a sod bubble would appear in the approach.  After some investigation we found broken clay drainage tile was the culprit.

We also found a number of repairs that were made over the years utilizing newer black, plastic drainage tile.  All in all around 30 ft of clay tile and old, plastic tile were removed and new tile was put back.  

Old, broken clay tile is indeed a problem for us.  This particular repair was very large compared to most.

Tee Update #3

This years tee project has come to an end with the winter weather setting in.  

18 blue and white tees are shaped but no seed or sod has been put down.  Dave Esler and his crew will be back in the early spring to put the finishing touches on the two tees.  

Most tees, with the exception of 1 and 15 have a nice stand of bent grass growing and should be in good shape come spring.  

Currently, 1 and 15 have covers on them that will help with germination but as the temps drop in the coming week seedling growth will stop.  We'll have to wait til next spring to see some growth. 

Tee Project Update #2

The tee project is wrapping up.  Most tee tops have been seeded and a number of tee banks have been sodded.

Tee tops that have seed and sod are:  #2, #4 blue, white and yellow, #5 white, #6 white, #8 white, #10, #11 red.  Tee tops with seed and banks to be sodded are: #3, #4 red, #12, #14.  #1, #9 blue and #15 will hopefully be finished this week if weather permits along with the remainder of the bank sodding.

The pictures below show some of the progress.  The white blankets on top of the tees are germination blankets that hold in moisture and a bit of heat that aids in the germination and growth process.  

#1 during construction

#1 

#2 blue and white pre-construction

#2 blue and white prior to seed and sod

#2 blue and white

#2 white T.  Bentgrass germinating under the blankets.

#2 yellow and red pre-construction

#2 yellow and red

#3 blue and white

#3 yellow and red

#4 blue and white pre-construction

#4 blue and white

#4 yellow before seed and sod

 #4 yellow

#4 red

#5 white during earth moving

#5 white during construction

#5 white during the sodding process

#5 white

#6 white

#8 white

#10 blue and white

#10 yellow and red

#11 red

#12 blue and white

#12 yellow and red

#14 pre-construction

#14 after

Fall Aerification

Since early September the crew and I have been aerifying the course.  With the exception of #6, #15 & #18, all of the fairways have been core aerified.  We picked up the cores on holes 4, 9, 11 & 17.  We will also do this to #15 when weather permits.  As you may recall we started topdressing these fairways this year.  After the cores are picked up sand is spread over the fairway and allowed to dry before it is broomed into the holes by a drag mat pulled by a cart.

The greens were deep tined on Sept. 29th and October 1st.  This process involves laying down a thick layer of topdressing sand, letting it dry, deep tining (3/4" solid tines going 7" deep), hand brooming the sand into the holes, pickup excess sand and water.  We have done this process at least once a year for the last 4 or 5 years and we have improved the internal drainage of the push up greens on the course dramatically.      

As you can see it is labor intensive and it takes a couple of long days but the results are hard to beat.  Thanks to my crew for all their hard work!!