First True Test of our new Bunkers

As you are aware yesterday I posted on the progress of the bunker renovation. Yesterday we started to receive some accumulation of rain with the bulk of it coming last night, about 2.25 inches that we have totaled so far. And here is why we are doing this project.

Front Bunker on #12, note the high sand line that stayed
in place after 2.25 inches of rain.

#12 back bunker, same fate with just a few animal prints.

Bunker Sand Installation

On Monday a separate crew was called in to install the bunker sand to the bunkers that have been sprayed with the polymer liner. It was quite cold yesterday so we had them start near a bunker that was near the path. If all goes well we should have all of #12 completed today.

#13 right side bunker

#13 different view

#12 front bunker before

#12 front bunker after

#12 bunker behind the green

November 22 Update

With the completion of the shaping and gravel install on #14, the pace will start to pick up. Hole 16 is almost complete and they have started to core out the bunkers on #17.  A notable event happened today, the spraying of our first bunkers with the Better Billy Bunker polymer. We were only able to spray two of them today because of the early showers and the sun not making it out today. What is very interesting is how the gravel conditions should be before you can apply the polymer. The gravel must be completely dry for the polymer to bind to the rock. Once this has happened the polymer actually cures faster when it absorbs moisture either from the air or if it were to rain. The main thing is to start out dry for proper adhesion. We will continue tomorrow and into Sunday if necessary. Our sand has arrived and awaiting for the installation on Monday starting on hole #12. The tree screening process on #5 has also taken place. We have two planted and there will be a total of six when we are finished.  

Polymer being applied

16 green side 

16 green side

#16 Left approach bunker coming to life

The home on #5 we are about to screen

1 of 6 trees

Our bunker sand arriving

November 19th Course Update

By know you may have started to taker notice on how some of the bunkers are going to look. We are hitting our stride and have everything dialed in. With just a few new knobs and reclaiming bunker lines the most notable is just taking the sand lines higher. There are a couple of reasons for this, the first is the aesthetic value. By having high lines you will be able to see the bunkers from a distance and they will be visually appealing. The second which is my favorite, and this may sound back words but its true! By having the sand higher on the faces and using the Better Billy Bunker materials and methods we are actually reducing the chances for the sand to wash out. If you can picture a grass ramp that we used to have you can see how much water can accumulate on the hill and roll into the bunker with great force taking the sand with it. Even though we have added more sand we have actually added more drainage and have decreased the "grass ramp".   Sounds weird but is very true. When we reduce the run off we effectively reduce the wash outs, hence the high sand lines.

Other notable projects that is taking place and moving nicely is our what ever is in the ground period leveling project. This ranges from heads, quick couplers for hand watering, valve boxes for irrigation valves, drain basins, sunken irrigation lines etc. We started on #10 and we are currently on #12, because the back nine is closed this is a perfect opportunity to get some important work done with out having to worry about players coming through. You also may have noticed the tree planting that is taking place in the parking lot. We have a company that is installing 8 inch caliper trees with a 100 inch tree spade. As you drive in please take notice!

14  last fairway bunker coming together.

14 green side bunker

#12 fairway, raising sunken line.

Parking lot tree plantings, 4th going in down the way and
7 more to go.