2013 Flood in Review

#8 tee and the south side of Butterfield Creek is where a bulk of the issues were.

Spent a few all nighters keeping the trash pumps moving water off the course.

Silt deposit left from the flooding of Butterfield Creek

The flood a few weeks ago left a lot of clean up work and delayed other work that was scheduled.  Fortunately, there are only a few scars that remain but all in all I am very happy this flood event took place during cool weather otherwise turf loss would have been enormous.  The Grounds Department is starting to catch up with some work that was delayed and the course is in excellent shape all things considered.

Flood! The Day After the Day After!

The morning drive was a cold one with the temperature gauge reading 29 degrees.  I was able to observe that the water has receded even more and some areas that had standing water are now just saturated.  We will be moving pumps to different areas today and try eliminate other areas with standing water and continue the cleanup of debris and silt that has been deposited on the course.  Most of the focus now is on the south side of the creek where the majority of damage has occurred.  The will be no carts today and the status for walking only will be determined in the next couple of hours as this time is needed to assess course conditions.

Silt removal on #7 Green cart path

Debris and silt will be removed in front of #7 Green

#15 Fairway was damaged due to the heavy water flow

Flood: The Day After!

The water has receded somewhat but there is still a lot of the course under water.  The bulk of the debris that has accumulated from the raging rapids of Butterfield Creek is on the south side of the creek.  There will be numerous days of man hours that are going to be spent cleaning up all the debris that has come traveling onto the course.  The clean up will have to wait until the overly wet conditions begin to dry so that we are able to access the area with equipment.  Trash pumps are being used now to aid in moving the water off of fairways and ultimately off the course.  Turf conditions should return to normal as things dry out and the debris is cleaned but prior to that happening; the course will be closed.  The course will open to walking only once there a majority of the course is accessible.  When that will be is yet to be determined but the Grounds Staff will work diligently & intelligently to make this happen as soon as it is feasibly possible.  Here is what I woke up to this morning on my morning drive.

#8 Green looking towards # 9

#8 Green looking towards #8 Fairway

#8 Fairway

#8 Fairway looking towards #8 Tee

#7 Green and the silt deposit that has been left.  Aerification will be necesary

#12 island Green

Notice the debris and silt deposit along the #8 creek bank

Lower area on #13

#3 tee looking towards #3 Green

#13 Green looking towards #7 Tee.  Water still flowing from #15 to property line behind #13 Green



#15 Fairway



#15 Fairway

Scenes from the Flood!

The 2013 season is a complete opposite from last year.  Cold temperatures and overall wet conditions and the past 24 hours just reaffirms the what a difference a year can make.  A lot of the course is not accessible but here are some pics from what we can see.  Mother Nature sure is cruel sometimes.


#12 island green





#3 green.  Where is the fairway?



Looking towards #8 fairway from Maintenance Bridge

Scenic view from #10

#13 fairway from #7 bridge

 View from #7 green towards range area

Rain & Snow Melt Leads to Flooding.

The warmer weather along with the rain has lead to rapid snow melt.  This scenario brings with it numerous areas on the course that are flooded.  Butterfield Creek is still within its banks but not sure if it has crested.  I prefer to see the course soak it up before any more rain and/or snow.  While this current weather pattern is not beneficial to golfer play, I want to believe the weather will turn for the better and the course will be open sooner than later.



#15 Fairway





# 5 Fairway





Butterfield Creek by #7 Green