Bunkers

Last year we installed 3 "trial" bunkers using the Better Billy Bunker method as well an additional bunker using another new technology of bunker liners.  Our goal was to see how they performed so that when we undertake our course renovation we will have a good understanding of how these technologies work on our property.

You can see the post from last year by clicking here

From a dollars and cents point of view, we spent approximately $1,704 in just labor from the one storm this past Monday (doesn't include fuel costs).  The part that isn't figured into that is the fact that now all of the new sand we recently added to the bunkers is completely contaminated with native soil and rocks.  This native soil is a primary reason why our bunkers are a constant point of conversation.  When the bunker sand mixes with soil we have increased washing even in small rain events, fried egg lies, brown coloring, thin lies, etc.  


Here are some pics from the massive rainfall we had this week.  Again, our rain gauge measeures up to 6" and it was overflowing when we arrived to record it.

#9 green.  This bunker did wash some.  The design of the green directs water directly into the bunker though on both sides.  Very poor drainage design that we have in many places on the course.

#9 green.  Even though the middle bunker did wash some the difference is that no mud washed down to mix in with the bunker sand. 

#9 green.  Again this washout is due more to the green complex design.  Also, with 6+ inches of rain we expect some washing.

 

#15 green.  Not the greastest picture for comparison but look in the background and notice that there is no washing of the other bunker.

 

#18 green.  The first bunker will take 1 person about 7 minutes to rake.  The second bunker will take 3+ guys 30+ minutes to return it to playable conditions.

Another view of the bunker on #18

#6 green.  We installed another new and promising liner system in this bunker last year as well.  The washing is definitely better than no liner but it is still no comparison to the Better Billy Bunker Method.  A lot of silt has mixed in with the sand.

Heavy Rains

Our rain gauge measures up to 6".  It was overflowing when we arrived yesterday morning to record it.  Here are few photos.  I have created a separate post to discuss the bunkers and i will post that soon.

#9 green

#9 fairway washout

Retention area on driving range; rose to about halfway before slowly exiting the properly

Practice area

We lost some of our newly planted material at the waterfall

The irrigation pumphouse flooded to about 1 foot deep; everything is still in proper working order

A lot of water if overflowing from the lake

Molly

 Molly, my black lab, came to the golf course with me almost everyday for the last 10 years.  She was healthy and running the golf course this past summer and chasing geese and squirrels as we drove the course each morning.  She had developed a schedule of going out in the morning and then sleeping in the office from mid-morning until it was time to go home for the day.  The last several weeks of her life saw a pretty drastic slow down and we had to have her put to sleep last month.  I got her as a 5-week old puppy and she lived until she was over 12 and i cannot imagine many dogs with a life as good as she had it.  She is missed for sure and I thought if you would bear with me I would share just a few pictures below:

Getting ready for the inaugural VCC Campout on the Par 3 course.

Her photo that was used for the calendar.  Sitting outside the Golf Shop waiting for me in the snow.

Squirrel!!!!!!

December 2012

This isn't molly but it's the cover of the calander she was in

Installing the greens encroachment barrier system

Newer fescue area near #4 tee

Checking out greens mowers in the morning

Checking greens at the end of a long summer

Repairing the leaking pond on #6

Helping with irrigation repairs

Renovation at the irrigation lake

Resodding the driving range tee

Installing the cartpath on #3 on the Par 3 course

Drainage on #3 fairway

Par renovation after a major rain

2012 Golf Maintenance

2011 Golf Maintenance

2010 Golf Maintenance

2009 Golf Maintenance

2008 Golf Maintenance

Spring Aerification

Our spring aerification went well again this year.  We aerified on March 11 & 12 and everything has healed in nicely.  Now we are getting the greens back to the perfect conditions everyone enjoys and the weather has finally started to cooperate with us.  Here are few photos from aerification day.

Deep drill crew- this machine drills down to about 12" creating very deep channels for air, water, and nutrients to move freely down through the green.

In the video you can actually see the front tire lift off of the ground a little bit.  This is where it is hitting a compacted layer.  

The black "box" dragging behind the aerifier collects all of the cores that have been pulled up and drags them to the edge of the green.  Prior to these attachments the entire crew would push these off by hand delaying their ability to perform other tasks (thus delaying getting the greens back playable for golf)

A cutworm crawls across the green in front of the deep drill machine

 Deep drill crew on #4 green

After the machines leave the green the piles are scooped up by hand to be hauled away

Backpack blowers used to further clean the surface and open up holes

After blowing the excess sand behind the aerifier machine and the deep drill machine we have as many holes as possible open; this allows for fertilizers to fall into the holes more easily