Bunker Update

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Tyler Ingram

The bunker project is moving along nicely. Currently we have completed over half of the bunkers on the course with gravel. Originally the plan was to complete half of the course, spray, and fill that half with sand, the plan has changed. Due to some uncontrollable circumstances, the bunker crew, this week, will complete all the bunkers on the course with gravel. The beginning of this coming week another team from the constructing company will be in to spray all the bunkers at one time. (There will be more news to come as it will be very important to stay out of the bunkers after the polymer has been applied the day of). Once all the bunkers have been sprayed, sand will be added and should take about a week to a week and half to fill all the bunkers. We can see the end on site are very excited as what is to come.

Bye Bye Old Bunker Liner – #9

 

Crushed Drain Line that was Replaced

 

Crew Adding Dirt to Raise Depth of Bunker

Some Bunkers Required More Dirt to Soften the Slope of the Faces

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged | Leave a comment

Winter Time Mowing Heights and Overseeding Driving Range Tee

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Tyler Ingram

Every year you anticipate having a cold winter which could possibly devastate warm seasons grasses like bermuda grass. To protect our grasses, all bermuda grass height of cuts have been raised to allow more leaf tissue to generate and more carbohydrates be stored for the winter. This year there are a few changes we are looking into to further protect areas where winter rains and cart traffic cause bermuda to loss its leaves and provide a thin area to play from. For example, hole #2, after the trees lose their leaves cart traffic will be restricted to the path on this hole. During the winter months, excessive water from rains channel down #2 fairway leaving a very thin playing surface just before spring. This area receives a lot of run off from #1 and other areas that are above the hole #2 making this one of the worst susceptible fairways to thinning.

Also, we are approaching our seeding date for ryegrass on the driving range tee. Typically, around the last week of September to first week of October we look to overseed the driving range tee. This year we will overseed the range the week of October 1st. During that time hitting off the mats will be mandatory for about 2 weeks while the seed germinates and becomes ready to withstand play. After the tee is open for play we will allow hitting off the grass on a limited schedule during the week, very similar to last year. We will post a schedule for hitting off the grass as we approach the seeding date.

Posted in Agronomics | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Fescue Aerification

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Tyler Ingram

This past week we began aerifing all the fescue beds around the course. Earlier that week the course received several inches of rain loosening the ground and providing a soft surface to puncture a hole with the aerifier. These aerification holes provide a safe home for seed to germinate and have the ability to withstand traffic and mowing when tall enough. The goal is to spread the fescue seed this coming week and look for some rain showers to begin the germination process. After a couple of weeks of growing we will also apply a starter fertilizer for growth and rooting for the winter.

Aerified Fescue Bed

 

In addition to the aerification process, our staff has been applying plant growth regulators for the past two weeks and will continue through the next month or two in the fescue beds. The goal is to reduce the amount of growth when fescue is growing at its peak and limit the areas that can become several inches deep.

Posted in Agronomics, Cultural Practices | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Bunker Update

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Tyler Ingram

The bunker crew has had a chance to get several days worth of work under their belts and have made some great progress. Currently holes 1, 16, 14, 17, 13, 11 are complete at this hour. By the end of the day holes 12 and 10 should be completed as well. Near the beginning of the upcoming week, the crew should be completed with holes 9 and 2, which will start the next phase of the process, spraying the polymer. Here are a few pictures of the progress.

#17 Bunkers Completed

 

 

#14 Bunker Completed

 

Rear Bunker #14

 

 

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged | Leave a comment

Day 1 – Bunker Renovations

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Tyler Ingram

#1 Bunkers Completed with Gravel Installed

The bunker construction project has begun! This morning the construction crew arrived and began the excavation of old sand from the bunkers on #1.

The overall project should have a time frame of approximately 4 weeks, weather permitting. The goal is to complete approximately 2,000 square feet of bunkers per day, which will average two holes a day.

Each day the process will consist of removing the old sand from the bunkers, testing the drainage pipe, and finally, installing 2 inches of gravel.  The crew’s agenda is to complete roughly 9 holes of bunkers before spraying the polymer that binds the gravel.

Holes #1 and #16 should be completed today. Over the next several days the crew will be working on holes 14, 17, 11, 13, 12, 10, 9 and 2. Once the gravel has been installed on these bunkers, the polymer will then be applied. The bunkers require a 24-hour drying period and quality control check before the sand can be added. As each hole is completed, we will open those bunkers for play. Total installation of the new sand will take one week.  The remaining holes, 15, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 will then follow the same process as the others. The plan is to complete all the bunkers within two weeks.

Please excuse the disruption and debris as we improve the bunkers. Each hole is open for play as the crew works but please be courteous and aware for their safety.

A green and white painted stake has been temporarily placed by each bunker to serve as a point of relief if your golf ball happens to land in a bunker that is under construction.

 

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Bunkers – The Beginning

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Tyler Ingram

Equipment Arriving

 The Better Billy Bunker equipment is on property, along with several inches of rain from yesterday and last night.  We will be evaluating the wetness of the golf course today, and devising a plan to attack the first bunkers.  We may be delayed due to rain and wetness on the course.   

Posted in Upcoming Events, Weather | Leave a comment

Stone Cart Path Edging

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Tyler Ingram

During the cooler weather and recovery period from the greens aerification, our staff has been able to accomplish some goals we have been compiling over the past 2 years. One of these goals was to continue addressing the worn areas along the cart path edges where carts park and drift off the path while making a turn. We had an opportunity while the rental loader was on property to regrade the front of #6 tee, uncover two hidden catch basins in the cart path, and install a rock edge along the #5 green cart path.

Rock Edged Cart Path

This cart path edge had a 5″ dirt rise, from the cart path reconstruction, that out staff regraded and sodded to add the stone path edging. This edging will allow carts that are  parked off the path edge to not damage any turf and provide a playing surface for balls pushed right of the green.

Regraded front of #6 tee

The front of #6 tee has had an 8″ steep rise from the cart path edge to the top of the tee. With the loader our staff regraded approximately 6′ of the tee to provide a gentle slope when accessing the tee.

Once Hidden Drain Boxes, Now Rock Edged for Protection in the Years to Come

While regrading the front of #6 tee, two catch basins designed to catch water from the cart path were found 6″ under the dirt face of the tee. The catch basins were flushed with water to ensure they function properly and a rock edging was installed to protect the boxes and limit the amount of debris that will accumulate in the years to come.

 

 

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged | Leave a comment