UPDATE: #10 Green

Just an update to let you know that the new green drainage outlet installation for #10 green was completed last Thursday afternoon and it is functioning very well.

Typically, whenever we put a shovel in the ground on this property we end up uncovering other drainage issues and this proved to be the case again this time around. That being said, it has been buttoned up and the green was reopened for play immediately. The drainage lines have been filled to the surface with sand and will need to remain “turf-free” for a few weeks to allow them to settle as much as possible and then they will be topped off and sodded.  Also, once we are fully confident that the catch basin won't settle any further, we will trim it down to just below ground level.

Here are a couple pics of the project:

#10 Green

If you’ve played the course in recent weeks, I’m sure you’ve noticed that we have been experiencing some drainage issues on #10 green. We had an opportunity to put a shovel in the ground Tuesday morning to begin investigating the issue. Unfortunately, what we discovered doesn’t appear to be a “quick fix” and the green will need to remain closed indefinitely while we make the necessary repairs. You can expect to see us working with some larger equipment, namely our excavator, over the next couple days as we make the repairs. You can also expect that a portion of the front of the green will remain as “Ground Under Repair” when the green does reopen as it will require sod in the spring.

Here are a couple photos of what we discovered:

As you can see in the photo below, iron ochre is playing a prominent role in the compromised drainage:

Iron ochre has affected drainage capabilities throughout the course and is most evident in the pond at #15 green from the drainage lines that outlet into it. For some further info on iron ochre, please visit here: http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/resmgmt/publist/500Series/543300-1.pdf

In this photo you will see that we discovered evidence of the old green only about 12” below the surface:

Our current greens were built by simply burying the old greens with river sand (likely unwashed) and then adding very basic drainage. The corresponding organic matter layer from the old green is greatly affecting the infiltration rates of the current green’s subsurface. Despite the belief by many that the Club previously purchased “All-Weather Greens”, this is NOT the proper way to build greens and this is just one of many reasons why. In fact, unless you are talking about synthetic turf, "All-Weather Greens" do not even exist.

We anticipate that the repairs will be completed in time for this weekend.