Sink Hole

There is one thing that is an absolute in golf course maintenance, expect the unexpected because it is probably going to happen.  On a hole with few problems and after a week of rain, a small hole on the side of the cart path on #13 was noticed.  Only this was no ordinary hole because on further inspection, what was a small hole on the surface was a large cavern underneath.  Needless to say this was not expected.

A view of the sink hole from the surface

The "cavern" underneath.  Still over 3 feet from the top of the pipe.

Like many areas throughout the course, the original steel corrugated drain pipe under the fairway had corroded and deteriorated to the point that the bottom and sides were no longer present.  As a result, a large sink hole had formed causing a serious safety hazard.  We immediately began to replace the pipe but it soon became clear that this project was not one that we could perform safely.

Beginning to remove deteriorated pipe.

Bigger equipment was needed to do the job safely.

Not only was water still coming through what remained of the pipe, it was very deep and the soil around the excavated pipe kept collapsing.  Having a friend in the construction business who had an employee killed due to a trench collapse, I quickly decided that this was not a project to be done in house.  Fortunately, we have a local contractor that we have worked with in the past that was able to come in with bigger equipment and do the job safely for us.

Prepping #13 fairway for sod after pipe replacement.

Sod prep on #13

Lake Dredging Update 12/2/13

We have finished dredging silt from the lakes on #9 and #5.  We have now moved on to what is joint project between the Club, the HOA, and the Chestnut Cove HOA.  Over the years the pond between the tennis courts, Chestnut Cove, and #11 has lost approximately half of its surface area due to excessive silt.  We have begun dredging this pond and have already removed as much silt as we did on #9 and still have at least that much more to remove.

Removed silt material will be used for the turf nursery on #11

When we finish the dredging, we will re-grade the area and then seed it with a bluegrass/fescue mix.  Even with all the disturbance, the pond already looks much better.  In the end, the pond and the area around it will be something everyone will be proud of.

Silt removal at Chestnut Cove

 

Project Update for the Week of Thanksgiving

Many of you will be up next week for the Thanksgiving Holiday and I want you to know what to expect on the golf course.  Weather providing, we will prep the course as best we can for play.   That means we will mow greens and change cups.  However, there are many projects going on that might limit your play.

Replacing the cross tie steps at the Driving Range with stone steps

We are very busy with replacing the cross tie wall at the gazebo on #15 with boulders.  This is a slow project since we have to work around the gazebo and not damage it.  We also have to place each rock in place by hand.  Additionally we will be building a new parking area and adding new stone steps.  Finally, we will finish it off with new landscaping.

BEFORE - cross tie wall at the gazebo

DURING - boulder wall at the gazebo

 

Steps and parking area at the gazebo will be replaced with stone

Another project that could limit some play is the dredging of the lakes.  At this time we have finished dredging the lake on #9 and #5.  We will be moving on to #11 and the small pond behind the tennis courts next week.  While the dredging is going relatively quickly, it will take us some time to remove the material that has been taken out of the lakes.  Some of the material will be used for projects while some of it will be hauled away.  Once the material has been relocated, we will re-grade the areas and then put down sod.

Sediment build-up in #5 lake

Sediment removal from #5 lake

Because of rain this week, we have had to stop working on the drainage on hole #2.  We will continue once it is dry enough to work effectively.  The crew that was on #2 has started to take down dead trees throughout the course.  Yes, we have taken down the dead hemlock on #16.  We will split the wood from the trees we take down and use it heat our shop in the winter.

Taking down large dead hemlock on #16

Cutting up dead tree

Drainage Update

As most of you know, we started working on hole #2 before we closed in October.  The drainage work we are doing on #2 is actually a continuation of the work we did on hole #6 last year using the Turfdrain system.  Turfdrain worked so well on hole #6 that we will be using it throughout the course in the future.  

HFCC crew trenching 4' deep

Drain lines installed and awaiting additional sand

 

In addition to installing drainage on #2, we are also leveling the fairway.  Over the years, the fairway has become exceptionally un-level. To remedy this problem, we plan on stripping approximately 80% of the fairway so that we can smooth out the "humps and bumps".  When we finish this project sometime in December (weather permitting), the fairway will be smooth, dry and ready for play.

Smoothing out the first quarter of #2 fairway

Cutting and filling in depressions on #2 fairway

By doing both the drainage and leveling of the fairway at the same time, we create greater efficiencies than by doing each project separately.  Additionally we end up with a much better hole than if we did one and not the other.

Adding sand in a drain line

Proper Practice Tee Divot Pattern



 I am frequently asked what would make the Practice Tee at HFCC better?  The first and most obvious answer is to make it larger.  While we do have plans to make it somewhat larger in the future, the reality is there is just not enough room to make it as big as we would like.  However, there is something that everyone can do to make it as good as it can be.  Use a linear pattern when making divots and limit the number of shots you make each time your at the practice tee.  The following pictures are courtesy of the USGA and show the correct method for making divots at the practice tee and the incorrect ways.

 

(Left) Concentrating divots in one area is arguably the worst practice method because it creates large voids requiring the most time for turf recovery. (Right) Scattering divots is a popular practice habit that is frequently taught because it does not create large voids in the turf that are slow to recover, but it removes the most turf in total because a full divot is taken with every shot.

 

STEP 1 (left) – Practice in a linear pattern by placing each new shot directly behind the previous divot. STEP 2 (right) — Leave a strip of live turf at least 4 inches wide between each line of divots. This keeps divots narrow so that lateral growth of turfgrass from both sides of the divot will lead to rapid recovery, and it also protects seedlings from desiccation and mower injury.

  



Greens Aerification - October 28th

We will begin aerifying greens on October 28th.  Depending on the weather, this process will take between 2 and 3 days to complete.  This is one of the most important practices we do to provide for the health of the greens.  We purposely wait until after the Club closes to aerify because we understand that the Fall is the best time to play golf in the mountains.  After we finish the aerification process, please be aware that with the Club officially closed for the season, we will no longer prepare the course for regular play as we will be changing our focus to winter projects and agronomic practices.

Core aerifying a green

Close-up of core aerification

Core removal with a core harvester

Aerification is one of the most important agronomic practices for the maintenance and health of the greens.  For the greens at HFCC, the normal aerification requirement is twice in the Spring and once in the Fall with hollow tines that pull a plug.  After removing the plugs, a heavy topdressing of sand is applied on top of the greens along with several soil amendments and fertilizer. The heavy sand topdressing does several things; fills in the voids from the plugs, reduces organic matter, keeps the surface firm, and protects the turf from desiccation during the winter. 



Benefits of aerification

There are several reasons why it is important to aerify greens on a regular basis.  First and foremost is that it alleviates compaction and loosens the soil for better water infiltration and air exchange.  Secondly it helps the soil to "breath" allowing it to expel harmful gases caused by decomposition.  Additionally, aerification removes dead plant and excessive organic matter otherwise known as thatch.  Thatch can greatly reduce water infiltration and gas exchange while also providing a breeding ground for disease pathogens.

Greens & Grounds Open House

I would like to personally thank everyone who attended the very successful Greens & Grounds Open House yesterday afternoon. We had over 70 people in attendance and I thoroughly enjoyed discussing the operation with so many of you. I hope it left you with a better of understanding of what it takes to manage the Club's largest asset and the confidence that we manage it properly.

Additionally, I want to thank the members of the Greens and Grounds Committee who helped serve the food and beverages. Extra thanks go to Bob Trevathan and Teri Dolci for their tireless efforts throughout the entire event.

If for some reason you wanted to see something that you didn't or you still have some questions about our operations, please feel free to stop by anytime or you can call me at 526-9417 or email me directly through this link fgehrisch@clubhfcc.com.  Thank you for your continued support and we'll see you on the course!