Bunker Drainage

All the bunkers have an internal drainage system which collects the water that enters the bunker and carries it out of the bunker. There are different types of drainage systems but most bunkers consist of 4 inch perforated pipe laid in trenches surrounded by pea gravel.  An important part of the bunker renovation project is making sure the internal drainage is clean and working properly.  The bunker floor and the drainage are all designed to carry water out of the bunker.  The size and shape of the bunker determines how much internal drainage is needed.  Proper drainage only happens when the internal drainage system is free flowing and properly graded "downhill."

4 inch perforated pipe surrounded by pea gravel

drainage trenches without gravel or pipe

using a hose to flush the drain pipe exiting the bunker

Bunker work has begun

Today the contractor arrived on site and started working on hole16 and hole18 greenside bunkers.  Part of the process will be restoring some of the bunkers to their original size and shape.  Over time because of multiple factors including maintenance techniques and weather bunkers shapes will gradually change.  The material getting removed from the bunkers will be stockpiled in various out of the way location around the golf course.  We will then use it for projects such as, topdressing roughs and possibly fairways, smoothing drain and irrigation lines in fairways, and filling sinkholes around lakes.

edging the bunker with shovels

edging the bunker

restoring the bunker to original shape

removing old sand from bunker

Bunker Renovation

We are pleased to announce that the long awaited and much needed greenside bunker renovation is scheduled to start next week, the week of January 6th.  The greenside bunkers shall be fully renovated while the fairway bunkers will have additional sand added to them.  We researched many types of bunker construction available and found that the one that best suits our needs with the difficult climate we live in; wind, heavy rain, extreme drought conditions, etc. is the Better Billy Bunker Method.  Please go to the following link to find additional information about this exciting construction technique where pictures, methods and testimonials are found.  http://billybunker.com/

The renovation is a multiple step process as follows:
1) re-establish the original bunker edge, which may include sod work in some areas
2) remove the existing bunker sand and stockpile in out of the way areas on the golf course to be used for various projects
3) replace internal drainage system
4) install 2 inch layer of gravel throughout entire bunker
5) spray the gravel layer with a polymer, which binds the gravel together but also allows for water flow
6) install new bunker sand to a compacted depth of 4 inches

On contractor, Forefront Construction, plans on a phased construction in which one-third to one-half of the bunkers are under construction at one time.  The application of the polymer is most efficient when there are multiple bunkers getting sprayed at the same time.  The entire process is expected to take approximately two months, dependent upon weather and course functions which means all work should be complete by the end of February.  The new greenside bunkers should withstand rain events much better and be playable much quicker after rain events.  The polymerized gravel layer allows for extremely quick drainage as well as providing a barrier between the sand and native clay soils of the bunker to greatly reduce the rate of sand contamination.  The Better Billy Bunker has proven successful on courses that experience rain events similar to ours.  It allows the water to penetrate the sand and flow into the gravel layer where it then moves to the internal drainage  system on the bunker floor and then into the drain line which carries it out of the bunker.  Because the water actually moves down the faces of the bunkers through the gravel layer and not the sand, the bunkers should not experience the same amount of washouts they currently have when we experience heavy rains.  This coupled with quickly drying sand will produce bunkers, which are repaired and playable much quicker after rain events.

We will keep you updated on the progress of the project.

Solid time aerification

Today we started spot aerifying low areas and weak areas on the greens.  This time of year the low spots do not dry out and can easily get water logged which decreases the amount of available oxygen for the roots.  By aerifying with solid tines the profile gets opened up allowing air to enter supplying the roots with much needed oxygen.  After the holes get punched and the green gets rolled it is hard to tell we were even there but the benefit exists.

not aerified/aerified

after roll

aerication after roll / aerification before roll

Happy Thanksgiving and First Frost

We have our first frost of the season and it is fairly widespread. 

The biggest rain event in a while

Our total precipitation over the 24 hour period starting Wednesday afternoon through Thursday afternoon was 6.5 inches bringing our year-to-date total to 47 inches.  While it was raining heavy yesterday the cartpaths were not passable in some areas because of all the standing water.  As expected the bunkers filled up with water and there are a lot of limbs down.

Rain total now at 6 inches