Summer's Intensity Yields

To begin, Yes this is long overdue! I suppose I could say it's been one of those very difficult summers where I had very little time to spend on my computer, and I would be entirely accurate. In fact I could say that I'm quite sure I spent less time in my office than in any summer ever in the past, and the various piles of magazines and product info. pamphlets stacked throughout my office, that I've yet to read, are a daily reminder! It was a summer where it was much easier to communicate using Twitter, where I could send a picture and a brief note daily or more often. Over 400 times to be exact and most related to course activities. So those that follow me or check in here in the Twitter section have kept up to date with course happenings this summer.

It was for sure a record setting year. One of the earliest starts to the season that I can remember, and of course we all know most of the story with 43 days of temperatures over 90 degrees (and counting) and a half dozen of which were over 100! This is certainly abnormal and well above the desirable range of our cool season turf species of creeping bentgrass, poa annua, bluegrass, fescue, and ryegrass. And, if high temperature stress wasn't enough, a serious lack of rainfall added additional stress and required nearly constant monitoring and frequent (much more so than I've experienced in the past) syringing, to cool the turf and prevent permanent wilt and turf loss. Too many times I watched turf go from green, well hydrated, in the humid mornings, to purple, and early stages of wilt, in the dry, windy afternoons. Also, Murphy's Law was in effect as it seemed to happen even more often on Saturday's and Sunday's when the course was full of players making my syringing processes even more challenging and mentally stressful! We do try very hard, all the time, to provide firm play conditions, and regulating irrigation is common in this effort. As such, having to rapidly move about the course, syringing to prevent wilt and turf loss, is certainly not something new. This year, however, it seemed like we were chasing wilt nearly every weekend!

It was a nerve-racking year indeed but as we headed into the second week of August relief came in the form of both rain and cooler temperatures. And, although we've had a few more hot, humid days since earlier in Aug., the intensity is shorter with waning day length, lower overnight temperatures, and thus far occasional rainfall. We're now entering the optimum time for restoring turf health and density though a variety of cultural practices such as fertilization, aeration, topdressing, seeding, or sodding. We've already begun many of these practices and after Labor Day more such activities will intensify. Fortunately, we survived the summer quite well but some areas do need some expanded work, mostly rough areas, and right now we are beginning to address these areas (seeding / sodding) and will continue into the fall. I'll try to blog more often as we perform these various tasks and projects such as fairway expansion, green surround sod replacement where needed, test area bentgrass control and overseeding in rough areas, and likely a few other projects.   

Some Summer Recap photos and comments follow:

 

Saw this about 6 times this summer. 6 TOO MANY!

 

 The summer began with a little pond wall repair project at #12 tee! Old tiebacks gave way and wall collapsed into pond 

  After excavation of soil and lots of unexpected concrete blocks old steel was righted and cut off at water level

New steel channels being locked together and vibrated into soil

 Installing new and improved tiebacks

 Finished product. Today area grassed but heavy weed encroachment may require additional grassing work this fall

 While we were at it with excavator on site we pulled tilted outcrop stone from west side, added new support beams and gravel, then reset level

 Finished product on west side. Today fully grassed with quality fine fescue.

As work was undertaken on the pond wall repair, 4 forward tees were constructed and opened in early June

 
Several cart paths were renovated. Old fabric and loose brick chips was removed and replaced with new crushed red granite.

 
New path to No. 3 Forward Tee

 
Renovated path at Half Way House. New material stays in place much better and is less dusty than former crushed brick material.

 
New routing of path at #18 Tee, now runs through tall grass instead of directly in front of tee. No traffic in front of tee now eliminates worn unsightly area.

 
Finished product with repositioned tall rough and re-routed path

Right about this time, the 4th of July (and the 5th), temperatures exceed 100 degrees and from that time forward temperatures remained above normal for about six weeks. Moisture deficit was firmly in place by this time too, actually since much earlier in spring. 


Saw this sign in a business and thought, regarding the weather challenges this year, 'Isn't this the Truth'!
There was lots of it every morning!

 
This was a common sight this year and thankfully we have an outstanding irrigation system that allows us to keep conditions as dry and firm as possible, for playability sake, and yet provide "rescue" syringing and watering, in a rapid manner, to prevent serious turf damage and loss.

 
When we keep it dry, and the humidity suddenly drops, turf can purple showing signs of wilt.

 
If we don't get water on it quickly (such as on a Sat. afternoon when the course if full of players and we're desperately trying to syringe and cool off all fairways but we don't get to all areas in time), at the early wilt stage, cart traffic will crush plant cells, causing destruction and turf loss. Fortunately this was the only area this happened, at beginning of fairway on #17.

 
We battled plenty of disease this year as well, Summer Patch, Brown Patch, Dollar Spot, Fairy Ring and others...we saw them all at one point or another.

Fortunately, Pythium, one of the most rapid and destructive turf diseases (common in hot, wet, conditions) was kept well controlled through plant protectants (dry weather helped too) but still found it's way onto the range tee, an area that is watered frequently to germinate seed planted each night.

Speaking of wet, we did have a few wet moments this year...climbing into the water to attach lines to remove a cart that was driven into the pond at #12...

and a Jeep that found it's way into the ditch at #13 tee.

 
 Both vehicles...


Successfully extracted and both drivers, fortunately, uninjured...but likely to drive a bit safer in the future!

 We though we might have to employ our SCC Grounds Crew constructed SCC 'Kon Tiki' for above extractions, but it was ultimately used only for it's intended purpose, the Hampton's Party.

Jazz Band getting ready for their float trip.

Before crowd showed the ducks enjoyed a little evening music.

 The stress...and response (more hand watering) continued through approx. Aug. 9-10 when we received some quality rainfall (slow, steady) and temperatures began to fall to more reasonable levels.

 

With the summers intensity now behind us we're focusing on repairing a few areas...fortunately only a few! Through aeration, spiking, seeding, and /or sod patching where necessary.

A nice seed germination 'catch' on a worn, thin spot in the green expansion area on #13.

As I mentioned earlier, we are now in the period of repair, recovery, maintenance, and improvement on many turf areas through aeration, seeding, topdressing, core planting, sodding, and more. Essentially, it's planting time! I hope to blog a bit more frequently now that I have a bit more time to spend in front of the computer but I'd still much rather be out on the course tweeting tasks and improvement progress on a daily basis! Follow me on Twitter @scc1897 or check back here on the blog often and view my tweets in the Twitter section. Happy Labor Day to All! 

Irrigation Project Finished

It was just about a year ago when loads of pipe, wire, valves, fittings, controllers, sprinkler heads, storage trailers, installation equipment, and Leibold Irrigation crew members arrived, beginning the new irrigation system project. Today, I’m pleased to report, all of the materials are installed, the storage trailers and most equipment are gone, and Leibold’s crew has moved on to other projects.

The last 2 projects of the entire installation: clubhouse irrigation (above) and the Sahara bunker face irrigation (below).

There are several other items that I’m pleased to report at this time, and I think you will be too.

• In spite of one of the wettest spring periods on record, the installation was completed within the planned completion date of May 31. I can’t say enough good things about Leibold Irrigation; they were great to work with, accommodating at every step along the way, provided superb attention to workmanship and detail, and worked like warriors in battle during some very unpleasant working conditions last fall (floods) and again during this spring’s miserable cold, windy, and rainy weather.

• With 21 miles of pipe, 340 miles of wire, 400 valves, and nearly 2000 sprinkler heads, there has been only a couple minor leaks, a few defective sprinkler heads, and one defective quick coupler valve. There may be a leak here or a malfunction there, but we can be certain that Leibold Irrigation will stand behind their work for years to come.

• The new system has several control options which will provide nearly unlimited flexibility and upgradability well into the future:

1. Central Control from office (the primary means of operation)
2. Radio Control (for supplemental watering during day)
3. Palm Pilot Control (similar to radio but allows any desired field changes to be made on the course and then synced to central)
4. Field Satellite Control (operate stand alone if a malfunction were to occur with central computer, or supplemental watering during day)
5. Manual Control (heads can be turned on with a special key)
   

• These features will provide the ultimate in flexibility and at this point the computer has been programmed, all satellites are communicating, the radio communication equipment is installed and all systems are functional. The Palm Pilot Control will be available after we receive all GPS mapping data and the system design is downloaded and programmed to the central computer and palm pilot.

• Water management and application with this new system will be state of the art and will ultimately allow us to be very precise with where, when, and how much water we want to apply. This system also could eventually save us as much as 25% in our water use. I’m told that with the efficiency of water distribution with these new heads, compared to what we replaced, we could see savings of 30%. I don’t think we should “bank” on this just yet. We are now able to place water in more areas than we did in the past, but we can control that which we do apply, so much better. I’m thinking (ok I’m hoping) that we will balance out and use approximately the same amount of water as we used in the past, but we’ll be applying it more uniformly and where we want it. We’re at the infancy stage with our new system, heads are in new places compared to the old system, and we need to learn what run times are now appropriate. We’ll make mistakes I’m sure, but we’ll learn from them and in time we’ll have things “dialed in”. There is still so much to do and learn, from fine tuning arc adjustments and nozzle trajectories to determining and recording spray pattern adjustments and imputing these into the computer so that we can ultimately be very precise with setting run times and frequencies.

These part circle heads will cut run times in half on fairway perimeters.

• In the final analysis, and in time when we’ve “fine-tuned” everything, what our new irrigation system will ultimately provide for us is improved playability. Our goal is firmer playing surfaces while still providing a durable, dense, and healthy turfgrass.

• Finally, The last item I think you will all be very pleased for me to report is, this equipment rich, highly technical, and labor intensive project will come in right on budget! All parties involved worked well together (EC Design, Liebold, and SCC) in both the planning and implementation phases, and we will all do so again now in the operational phase. EC Design, our irrigation design/consultant firm, planned and designed what we wanted, Leibold Irrigation installed it as we wanted it with minimal inconvenience, and our SCC Grounds Operations Staff performed (or is currently in the process of) old equipment removal (heads, controllers, valves), spoil material processing (shaping and grassing excess soil generated from project), restoration (haul roads and wear areas), and general assistance throughout entire project.

Old irrigation equipment removal will continue over the next several weeks.

An old irrigation head being removed from the 3rd fairway.

I’ve been involved in many projects over the nearly two decades that I’ve been here at Skokie. and I’m happy to say that they have all went very well and have all been on budget. A few stand out as being exceptional however (in terms of working together with contractors) and I’d have to say that this one ranks right up there, at or near the top!

Irrigation Update

Leibold Irrigation has continued to make good progress over the past several weeks. They have completed installation on 5 entire holes and 2 additional tee complexes since their return in mid-March. ComEd has also connected the transformer which allowed us to power up the pump station and completely charge the irrigation system with water.

Leibold plugging away on #6 fairway.

The building contractors are also on schedule with the exterior work on the pump house. They have started the Cultured Stone work which is turning out very nice.

Currently, there are only 4 1/2 holes remaining to complete; 4, 11, 12, 3, and half of 13. If weather allows us to continue at the current pace, we anticipate the installation process to be complete by mid-May. This would include the installation of pipe, wire, heads, and valve boxes. The remaining work after this will consist of fine tuning all system components (pump station, heads, valves, and software), restoration work of worn turf areas, and other minor details.

Until the project is complete, we will continue to close the necessary holes Monday through Thursday as done last season. However, no hole closures or interruptions will be seen Friday through Sunday. Thanks again for your patience in this regard, and we look forward to the project's end, as well as the new system's beginning.

Leibold Irrigation Resumes Installation

The week's warm, dry weather has allowed the Leibold team to move forward with the irrigation installation on the golf course. They have roughly 90% of last year's staff on hand and have been busy pulling pipe and wire, as well as installing heads around several tees (2,3,8,11) and #2 fairway.

Work on #3 tee - notice the perched Red Tail Hawk checking out the action.

Ground conditions have firmed up just enough to allow the large equipment to operate with no significant damage or tracking. Plywood is laid out for the Flex Track pipe/wire puller (right) and the mini excavator (above) to avoid excess wear on the turf. The video below shows the Flex Track machine in action on #11 tee. Its vibratory plow creates a small trench, followed by the pulling-in of the PVC pipe and signal wiring.




No sod or soil is removed during the process, only where sprinkler heads or valves are placed. This makes for a near seamless recovery. The photo below was taken minutes after the Flex Track pulled-in pipe and wire in front of #11 tee. The soil piles indicate sprinkler head locations.

ComEd wired in the transformer box by the pump station yesterday, and we expect the system to be partially operable by the end of next week. As of today, there are a total of 9 fairways and 6 tee complexes yet to be completed. We're keeping our fingers crossed for cooperative weather so we can continue to move forward as scheduled.

Pump House Status Update

Despite the winter weather, both Leibold Irrigation and Ridgeview Builders have made good progress on the installation of the pump station and construction of the pump house. As of today, the pump house infrastructure is complete including the foundation (original wet well and footing was retained), wall and floor construction, and the cedar-shingled roof. The pump station itself is also installed with the pumps, control panel, valves, and fill line connected.

Below: Early stages of pump house construction

After the concrete flooring in the pump house cured, the pump station components where delivered on an 18-wheeler. A large crane was then used to "drop in" the pad, control panel, and pumps as seen below.

Timing the installation of the station with the roof construction was critical to ensure the new hardware remained protected from the winter elements. The new roof is shingled with cedar planks which should age nicely over time. This will help give the pump house an antiquated look - our goal is to have a quiet, unobtrusive building opposed to one that stands out.


Leibold was able tie in the pump house outtake line to the irrigation system last week during the warm weather. This is perhaps the most important leg of the pipeline, as it serves as the main artery to the entire irrigation system. As water exits the pump house, it goes through the schedule-40 steel "Z pipe" into the 14" mainline. This particular mainline requires a 6' deep x 60' long trench, as shown below.


Our plan is to use a combination of cultured stone and a darker, sand-colored stucco to finish the building exterior. Interior work remaining includes some electrical wiring, insulating, painting, and other details.

We will keep you updated as we finish things up, so visit the blog frequently.