Fairway Slicing

The recent rains have softened the soil surface enough to utilize our tractor mounted Toro 686 3-point slicer/aerifier on the fairways.  The planned solid tine aerification with the Weideman has been postponed to a later date due to a mechanical breakdown.  Fortunately, we can and will press forward with the schedule of slicing two fairways a day until all of them have been addressed.  We are presently able to achieve our goal of a penetration depth of 3"-5".  I'm curious to see how long the knives hold up working our soils.   For playability purposes and to offset turf tufting on the dormant bermuda we are utilizing the pair of rollers from a 3-point mounted flail mower (with blades raised) to smooth surface behind the slicer.

Manny slicing #18 fairway on a cool February morning.

Slicing practice in action.

Flail unit utilized for rolling purposes only.

 

Poor Design and Construction

The photos illustrate areas on the greens at Champions Club at the Retreat that require future drainage work.  The California style greens constructed lack the 4" gravel blanket layer that exists above the drainage channels and below the 12" of sand medium typical of a USGA method of constructruction.  A common failure in present design and construction is the "bowling" of greens, damming at the green/collar interface,  and the limited number of exit points for surface water movement.  In the coming months, we will be addressing some of these "bowls", collar dams, and lack of sub-surface drains to promote healthier turf at the surface exit points.

Cart Path Vegetation Trimming

Winter work or so it is referred to in the business are tasks completed when the turfgrass is not actively in full growth mode.  Dormancy and limited turf growth allow for man hours to be utilized on projects that would typically take lower priority during the growing season.  A project underway this winter has been the thinning, pruning, and cutting back of vegetation that lines and encroaches into the cart paths.  Removing volunteer trees that pose future damage to limited access cart paths is a prime example.  Many miles of cart path exist at this facility and we have presently completed 40% of our predetermined goal.

Raising/Leveling Irrigation Heads

Proper installation depth and adequate trajectory are important for efficient sprinkler head performance.  Sprinkler heads with 3" risers cannot function properly if set or positioned 4"-5" below grade.  Factory specified performance (trajectory, radius, distribution uniformity) when applying water will be negatively impacted.  In addition, the existence of considerably below grade sprinkler canisters can pose hazards for golfers and workers alike.  With a large portion of our turf dormant in the cool season months we have ramped up our focus on raising and leveling priority sprinklers.
 

Poor grade impacting trajectory and required radius.
Applying water short of intended target.

Very low fairway/rough pair of heads.

Proper leveling and grade.

  

Drainage Basin Upgrade

During the rainy season in Southern California (hopefully November through to late March), drainage or the ability to mitigate water is a nemesis for most golf courses.  We are no different and given our soil composition, we battle "soggy" conditions in isolated areas throughout the entire year.  This January we addressed a problematic area just shy of our typical landing area on Hole #10.  This particular catch basin has sported a rope barrier to prevent cart traffic from intruding within the area since practically the day I started.  I'm confident that the addition of 4" slotted drain tile and gravel will alleviate the  requirement for roping and improve playability for those who land their shot within the vicinity.

Fairway and Rough Soils

Golf courses built within and on mountain settings provide variables that impact playability that not many golfers consider when evaluating conditioning.  These variables cannot be seen so it is unlikely that they would be factored in by the uneducated eye.  In all of my years of experience in the golf business, I can tell you that a cost saving measure implemented by the developer, project manager, or builder early on will likely be paid ten fold by the new owner, new developer, and current and future Superintendent.

In a typical construction, the project documents would call for stripping/harvesting, stockpiling, and then re-distribution of topsoil across approved, graded golf features.  In some instances, sand capping is recommended.  That process would include importing 6"-10" of sand and "capping" the sub-grade to provide adequate drainage and an expectable growing medium for turf.  This is typical of sites with poorly draining soils and/or sites with minimal top soil.  Course design and soil percolation (infiltration rate/drainage) are critical elements to the present and future playability of a course. 

A common comment/complaint regarding Champions Club playability is related to course moisture levels.  We are constantly evaluating irrigation application rates (utilizing several forms of technology) and implementing cultural practices (venting, slicing, and tining) to improve playability.  I think it is important for those interested in knowing what sort of soil medium we are functioning on.  The photos below will give you an idea of the lack of topsoil, hard pan/compact soil that resides below 95% of the turfgrass.  Irrigation infiltration rates are extremely low and sheeting of water just below the sod surface is very typical.  We will continue to observe irrigation practices, install drainage, and mechanically fracture the soil to improve playability.  Please understand this is a lengthy process and will yield results over the long haul. 

   

Ugly Irrigation Leak

Managing irrigation at Champions Club is challenging given the drastic elevation changes, course design element favoring collection areas, and poor soil composition limiting infiltration.  With these variables in place and subsequent potential areas of high water velocity within the sub-surface piping, the system is prone to wear and fitting failure.  Below is a not so beautiful example of a failure we recently experienced near the steps leading to #14 green.

Poor as-built diagrams allowed the water to run longer than we all would have liked as the isolation valve noted on the plans did not stop the flow of water.  A flaw in construction that I will discuss in a later post is noted in the middle photograph.  A "collar dam" and created low limits positive surface drainage and forces water to potentially sit for extended periods of time.  The result can cause anaerobic conditions (black layer) and turfgrass decline in these isolated areas.