Friday, November 19, 2010

Drainage, Drainage, & Insuring Drainage!

Coined after the familiar saying in the Real Estate business, "Location, Location, Location", in the Golf Industry, when asked what three things are needed to have a great golf course, the common response is, "Drainage, Drainage, Drainage". Obviously it's an over simplified response but it does underscore the significance of moving water off the course in a rapid manner to allow turf to remain healthy and play to proceed. With the mild weather of late, we've taken full advantage, repairing a significant drain collapse, adding additional drain pipe in another area, and insuring fall, winter, and spring drainage in certain areas, through high pressure line jetting.

Earlier in the year following the heavy rain during the Western Am. Championship, we discovered a near completely collapsed drain line which helps move water off certain areas of both #3 and #13 fairways. We used our jetting equipment to open the line as best as possible but we knew then that the line would have to be replaced.
Jacob truly getting "into" his work during Western Am. rain, finding submerged (and collapsed) line so jetting could proceed
Excavating collapsed line
New pipe and vertical "clean-out" in place, back filling and compacting underway
New tile line (and others existing) will help move flood waters like these off course more rapidly

There are many areas throughout the course where additional drainage pipe is needed to intercept water flow, and move excess off the course more rapidly. One such area is between the 8th fairway and the range. In heavy rainfall events water flows down the slope in front of the range tee, flows south around the first target green and deposits on No. 8 fairway. We do have drain tile and drop inlets or basins in the fairway area, but extending the existing line and adding additional basins will bode well for future water interception and removal.
Overview of new drain line layout at #8 fairway & range
 Tying in to existing 6" line, changing a restricted portion from 4" to entirely 6"
Trenches dug
Pipe prepared
Basins installed and pipe trimmed 
Back-filling and tamping following gravel addition to "blanket" pipe.
Project near completion with only sod replacement and clean-up remaining

We have several other areas where additional drainage is needed and hopefully we can do more before the ground freezes, but some additional drainage "insurance" we've been working on lately has been high-pressure jetting. Equipment purchased earlier this year allows us to jet out lines, cleaning soil, debris, and roots with nozzles that "jet" water up to pressures as much as 3500 psi. This has helped us open partial blocked lines as well as find where pipe or tile line deterioration has occurred. With the miles of drain lines we have throughout the course, this unit will in short order become one of our most valuable equipment investments!
Jetting Machine in use near Range Tee
Jacob jetting a line near #9 Tee - No underwater work needed here!
One more aeration session on greens (deep tine) is planned for next week and then winter preparations follow including: winterizing the irrigation system; applying late season nutrients and disease protectant products; and before long,covering the greens. I'll post as we complete this work



2 comments:

  1. I think , Velvetene has a similar texture and density to that of the finer couches. The leaf has a wax coating giving the appearance of a glistening bright green and shiny luster with a velvet soft touch.
    Turf varieties

    ReplyDelete
  2. very nice and beautiful golf course management.Thanks for sharing your post..........

    ReplyDelete

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