Executive Nine - Bunker Renovation

We have started renovating the existing bunker on number six of the Executive Course. The bunker will be lowered by approximately three and a half feet and the slope around it will be softened for better playability and maintenance. While this bunker is under renovation, drainage will be added to ensure that it no longer holds water when it rains. The sand will be replaced with the same sand that is used in the bunkers throughout the Championship course. Once the work on this bunker is completed we will tackle the left bunker on number five (most likely the early spring).

DRAINAGE

After cleaning up from the storm damage, we began working on other projects. One of those projects was to add drainage to several fairways. On this project, which required the digging of trenches, we used a new piece of equipment called the Shelton. You may notice sand viens on fairway number one, five and ten. The Shelton cuts a two inch wide by eight inch deep trench and then it removes the soil by using a conveyor belt and back fills the trench with sand - all in one process. The fairways mentioned were completed first because they stay saturated during the fall and early spring when the Zoysia grass is not using the water. This winter, as time and weather permit, additional drainage will be added to prompt the water to exit the playing field once it is off the surface.

Drainage is also being added to several approaches. Due to the abundant amount of rain, it was noticed that some of our approaches were not draining as quickly as we felt they should. Not much of a problem unless an approach shot was not releasing from the approach onto the green. The process we are using should dry out the sub-surface by pulling the excess water from the clay, which in turn, will firm up the surface, allowing shots to release onto the green. The picture above shows work on number nine approach.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

2009 - What a year! This was truly a year of the good, the bad and the ugly. It was a great year for growing turf due to the mild summer temperatures and the ample amount of rain we received. The golf course was in pristine condition throughout the season and although Mother Nature helped us present an excellent golf course, she threw us a couple of road blocks along the way.

The year began with a treacherous ice storm. The January ice storm caused wide spread damage throughout the city and the golf course was not spared. There were over thirty trees lost on the golf course due to the ice storm and roughly ninety percent of the remaining trees received some form of damage from the ice, mainly in the form of broken limbs. After the thaw, we contracted with several tree companies to assist us in the clean up process; finally, after two months of work the majority of the clean up was finished.
Once the ice melted, it started raining and I don't think it has stopped yet. At last count, the golf course was a little over eleven inches above average rainfall for the year (not that we are complaining).