14 Fairway Bunker Renovation

Camera roll from start to finish of the work performed by the Grounds Departmemt to enhance the playability of #14 fairway bunkers.

Beginning stages of sod removal & planning overall design

Reshaping the bunker to provide a modernized look & improved playability

Removal of old sand on the left side fairway bunker

Reshaping and drainage completed on the right side fairway bunker

Reshaping of left side fairway bunker

Bunker liner being installed 

Liner & final grading complete

Installing the new bunker sand

Installing drainage on left side bunker

Drainage complete

Finishing up the final grade

Sod work complete and finished product looking very nice

Sodding the area where we performed bunker removal

Left side fairway bunker complete 👍🏻👍🏻

Hole #14 fairway bunker work complete and looking outstanding 

Being an In-House project the entire process took 3 weeks to complete while also maintaining the course.  Renovation work is very rewarding for myself and the members of the Grounds Department that were heavily involved and a big thanks goes to Andrew & the guys for a job well done.

Irrigation in High Demand & the System is Showing Its Age

The heavy usage of the irrigation system during the summer months has definitely added to the age (1979) of our irrigation system and the sometimes daily problems that we have to overcome in order to keep the course in excellent condition.  The 1/4 inch hydraulic tubing supplies water pressure to the irrigation heads.  When the water pressure is eliminated either by us choosing to turn on the irrigation head or by a hole in the tubing, the irrigation head will pop up and run.  When there is a hole in the tubing, it is a time to drop everything and try to locate where the leaking hydraulic tube is as quickly as possible.  So far in the 2015 golf season, we have had 113 hydraulic leaks!  The pictures below are a few of the digging expeditions.

Cluster of hydraulic tubes each of which control different irrigation heads.

The maze of digging trying to find the tube.

Hydraulic tubes entering a control box.

Cluster of hydraulic tubes.

Slit Seeding Greens

Every off season during the Winter months I evaluate the previous year's operation and look for ways to improve.  While taking in all successes and struggles there is always something to learn and grow from.  Spring of 2014 is something I wouldn't wish on anyone in the turf industry as the ice damage created a lot of extra effort to reestablish turf and still allow the course to be somewhat playable.  During the evaluation over this past winter one glaring thought repeatedly entered my mind.....WE NEED MORE BENTGRASS!  The ice damage scenario did create an opportunity to incorporate Bentgrass into our otherwise Poa filled greens and opened my eyes to the steps we need to take as we move forward into the future.

           

Ice damage from Winter 2014

There are a few things we can do to increase the population of Bentgrass within our greens and that needs to be a focus of our efforts.  Cultural practices, environment, & water management are three of the major factors that can limit Bentgrass and/or promote Poa. While evaluating this winter, I focused on these three factors.  Cultural practices performed by the Grounds Department is driven by sound agronomic knowledge that promotes bentgrass but at the same time allows for the existing Poa to give a sound playing surface.  Over the years these practices has increased the Bentgrass population but not to the extent needed to prevent issues such as ice encasement.  The two major factors that will determine our success of increasing the Bentgrass population lies within the environment and water management.  Sunlight & air movement are two simple environmental issues that can aid greatly in limiting Poa and allowing Bentgrass to have a fighting chance.  Tree removals around each green complex will allow morning sunlight and increase air movement.  Water Management has two major factors with either our ability to apply irrigation properly and our ability to remove water during times of heavy rainfall.  Our irrigation system issues are well documented and is a limiting factor as some of the out dated equipment either doesn't apply the irrigation water uniformly  or operates without notice.  Water removal via drainage is really a non factor with the age of our greens but drainage is something we can invest in moving forward to allow the excess water to be removed from the soil profile allowing for the proper growing environment within the root zone.

 

Slit seeding of greens

          

Topdressing greens

 


Cultural  practices can and will be adjusted beginning this Spring.  Slit seeding Bentgrass which was performed last Spring to reestablish our greens from the ice damage will become part of our Spring cultural maintenance routine.  Equipment resources were obtained this past winter to allow us the recreate those same efforts of incorporating Bentgrass into our greens less the ice damaged brown turf of last year.  Beginning the week of May 4th, we will begin this process on all the greens followed by a heavy topdressing.  During the 1-2 weeks following the process, the greens will be open for play with no restrictions but during this period of seed establishment the greens will be a little slower than normal as we limit our maintenance activities.  The proactive approach we are taking can only help Idlewild improve as we move forward into the future.  Any questions please feel free to reach out to me and as always thanks for the constant support from the membership.