Bunker Renovation Update

The construction crew has been at a steady pace and we are already on #14 fairway removing the sand. What we have been doing is taking that sand and top dressing our fairways, we typically top dress the fairways in the winter so this is no different. The great thing about it is its right there on the hole and our travel time is nothing compared to bringing the sand out from the shop. Because we have a lot of material to use we are going extremely heavy on the fairways, the grass is going to love it for next year!

Another project that has started is our first phase of tree plantings. In the parking lot and on holes #4 and #5. The parking lot area is receiving 20 trees, there will be various species in the native area to fill in gaps, 11 Zelkovas are being planted in the swell across from the existing Zelkovas on the drive way. The ideas behind this area is to screen the parking lot as you drive in and to improve the swells look. The other tree will be planted near the walk way at the intersection, this tree is special because it is our logo tree and it will be positioned for every one to take notice. As far as the course, the rest of the trees will go to the left of #4 green to screen out the homes and to the left of #5 also screening the homes. 

#12 back left bunker, 

#14 first fairway bunker getting cored out.

#14 Second Fairway Bunker scraping out the sand

Loading the sand into the top dresser for the fairways

Top dressed fairway, nice and heavy.

Aerifying the fairways to incorporate the sand more
efficiently.

First area to be planted for new trees, 8 total.

The greens staff is removing the existing heads in the
swell, we do not use these heads and when the trees get larger
irrigating would not be needed. So in between each tree on the
left will go a new Zelkova on the opposite side(right). This will
be a very nice addition to this area. 

Course Update

We have been making great progress on the bunkers and possibly in a week we will have the gravel sprayed and ready for sand soon after that, weather dependent. The 13th right side bunker has gravel and they are finishing the final prep on the left side bunker. They then are relocating to #12 green complex where the excavating of the sand is taking place. Once 12 and 13 are completed we will be moving to #14 fairway bunkers. These bunkers we anticipate to go very smoothly with minimal shaping that needs to be done.  

13 right side bunker

13 left side bunker, new nose addition

Same bunker that has been moved closer to the green.

#12 front bunker, sand removal.

#12 front bunker getting close to final prep.

This area we are stock piling our soil.

The next long term winter project has started on #10 fairway. We are raising and leving heads that have become low because of the fairway top dressing program that we have implemented.

Safety net so my staff can keep working uninterrupted by
play, this is a long process and every minute we
have is valuable.

This head has been raised and ready for sod.

This is precisely the look we want.

Bunker Renovation

We have finally reached the day that the old bunkers and the problems that were associated with them will be behind us. The construction crew moved into action and started to dismantle the fairway bunker on #12 and the bunker complexes on #13. We are already finding things that have caused us a lot of problems one which we already know of was that the bunkers were not deep enough and the second is the drainage install was not up to the standards that it should of been. I am sure we will see more things down the road that will surprise us.  In the end it is a very exciting time and when next season rolls around this will be a proud moment for all of us. I will post a lot of pictures almost daily on the progress as it happens.

We have also begun to top dress fairways, we started on #12 and #13 and will be moving forward. 

They first reclaim and reshape the edges by hand.

The mini excavator scraping out the old sand.

Sand Removal

Popping the old drainage out to be partially reused.

Removing the bottom of the bunker..

12 Fairway Bunker getting a little deeper

13 left side bunker getting a face lift.

13 right side bunker holding water in the drain line, hmmm.

Back Bunker on 13 is being filled in, stay tuned for what
we do to enhance it!

Solid tining so they will accept the sand.

Top Dressing the fairway.

Course Update

Its been a busy week with leaf clean up and yes another sod truck. We finished up #13 intermediate and made our way around 14-16 replacing various cart path edges and bermuda spots. We do have a couple of more trucks to use and this may take place later in November. At this point the leaves are in full swing and all hands are needed for clean up. 

This past Monday we topdressed and broomed in greens. This process is needed for continued dilution of organic matter and to continue our firm playing conditions.  Next week we will spike and repeat the same process. 

The brush works extremely well, brushed left and
 not brushed on the right.

Next week we will begin our bunker renovation and we have already received a load of drainage pipe and the construction company has dropped off some equipment. We met with the architect and we are very confident to hit the ground running. We will be starting on holes 12 and 13 and moving forward. I will be posting a lot of updates of the entire process. Our main staging area will be in the parking lot where we will house our sand, gravel and top soil deliveries. This area will be coned off and we please ask that you be mindful as you are driving in the parking lot. 

Renovation Equipment

Load of drainage pipe delivered

My last topic is you may notice some off colored thin areas in the fairways. This is bermuda that has gone dormant because of the recent heavy frost that we have had.  In some select areas that had no green tissue we aerified and made a sand compost mix with seed to recover these areas. We will look at covering them next week to retain warmth for germination.

Bermuda spot

We poke holes into the area first

Apply sand/compost/seed mix

Broom in smooth

Adding a little food for growth

Keep it moist