Practice Bunker

Did you know that on the back part of the range tee, around the corner and next to the fence by the pool is a practice bunker?  For a long time it hasn't been in very good condition - mostly unused and ignored.  Well, that has changed.  Alex and his crew just completed a full rebuild on the bunker, giving it a shape similar to the new bunkers we've built on the course, updating the drainage, and making it into something that you can actually use for practice.  Looks great to me!

They Play, too

Pictured above is the foursome of Alex Hultz, Scott Crowell, Jay Ballard, and Kevin Crowell taken Wednesday while playing in a tournament at Bear Creek Valley.  The event was at an annual fundraiser for the University of Missouri Turf Research department, and the guys finished in third place at fifteen under par (-15).

So, you're asking yourself, why do I care?  This group is our Golf Course Superintendent, mechanic, landscaper, and Assistant Superintendant.  They not only take care of our golf course but they also enjoy golf, and who better to take care of something than someone who has a deep passion for it?  I've heard negative comments from members complaining when they see our grounds guys playing.  I think it's wonderful that they enjoy playing because it allows them to see the course as a player sees it and not just what it looks like on the seat of a mower.  They enjoy the game and take pride in maintaining our course in a way that THEY would like to play it.

UPDATE: New "Tent"

The new "tent" / pavillion is almost complete now.  Only a few minor details remain.  This will allow us to stop using the yellow and white tent for our tournament half-way house.  Having the new structure located off of the drive area will also provide room for visiting carts to park out of the main driveway when they stop to grab a bite.

Thanks to member Sam Willcut who donated his labor to construct this nice addition.

New "Tent"

Take a good last look at the yellow and white tent that we've used for a halfway house the past several years.  The canvas is starting to rot and storms have not been kind to the metal framework, so this week we started construction on a new, permanent "tent".  The "tent" will have it's own concrete floor with partial walls on the front and back, plus a nice roof.  It will not be a full-on building with running water, stove, etc., but more a permanent "tent" to hold our grills and coolers.  Expect a front counter, probably poured concrete, and not a lot of fanciness. 

You'll notice that the slab and building will be off of the driveway.  This will allow cart traffic to park in the area that was occupied by the tent, leaving more room for vehicle traffic in the drive.

RAIN!!!

Woohoo!  After teasing us and going all around us the last few days we finally got about 1/2" of rain overnight.  This will not make up for the extreme heat and drought we've had for the past month but it is a good start!

UPDATE 7/12/12:  Alex reported at our Green Committee meeting last night that we have now had 1.6" of rain since the end of April.

Fireworks!

As of Monday afternoon, July 2, 2012 we are still planning to have our July 4th Fireworks Display as usual.  Mid-County Fire allowed Kinderhook to have theirs on Saturday night, so we should fall under similar conditions (irrigation system available; controlled area; etc.)

#3 Bunker - Redux

Take a look at this sweet view of the front bunker on #3.  Zoysia sod arrived this morning and Alex and his guys got right on getting it laid. 

Here are a few more of the construction process

This is what the bunker looked like after it was shaped, but before the excavation was done for the actual sand area, and before drainage was installed.

Getting ready for drainage, here you can see the drain that is coming from under the green.  It was tied into the new bunker drainage to fully drain the green and bunker.

The new bunker with the area excavated.  You can see the pea gravel covering the new drains.



Bo and Jay work on getting the sod laid.

#3 Bunker

This morning Alex and his crew began the process of renovating the front bunker at #3 green by demoing the old bunker.  As you are aware, the high flashed face on this bunker has caused continuous maintenance nightmares for our grounds crew as every time we have a hard rain it washes all the sand down from the face to the bottom of the bunker.   This bunker will be renovated in the same style used on the right front bunker on #1 and the bunkers on #10 where the steep face is replaced with a grassy face and the sand portion of the bunker is a mostly flat area at the base.

Here is what it looked like about a week ago.

And here are a couple showing how it looked mid-morning.  As you can see, it is still very wet and difficult to work with but fortunately the sun is shining and there's a little breeze, which will help dry it out.

Shaping and drain work will continue over the next couple days so that it should be ready by the time our load of zoysia sod arrives late this week.

In case you need a reminder, here is what it looked like following a heavy rain

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Bunker Review

We've told you all about the reasons we were rebuilding a number of bunkers on the course, including the right front bunker on #1 and both front bunkers on #10. Over the course of Thursday and Friday of this week we had over 5" of rain, at times falling very hard. We had additional rains on Saturday, again very hard at times. On Sunday I made a quick trip to #1 between showers and took a look at what the right front bunker on #1 looks like following all that rain. Which would you prefer?

This (above) is what the front right bunker on #1 looks like today following over 5" of rain in two days.

 

This (above) is what the front right bunker on #1 looks like today following over 5" of rain in two days.

This (above) is what the OLD #1 bunker looked like following a heavy rain in August 2007.

Greens Root Systems

One factor key to the health and survivability of a golf green is the root system.  Shallow roots equates to a weak plant system that is less able to withstand extremes of heat and/or drought.  We recently pulled core samples on some of our greens to see where we stood.  We were pleased.  I'll show some samples from three different greens here just to show you some variety, but what we found is that all of the greens had root depths of at least 4" to 4.5", and some as deep as 6" to 8".  And not only were they relatively deep, but the were also nice, white, healthy looking roots.

(Above) Kevin is holding this sample from #7.  The root system is what is holding this core together.  You can see at the bottom of the core a small piece that appears to be hanging by a thread.  That is a small section of root.  If we could brush away the sand and soil from this core we would see a thick mass of bentgrass roots.

Why is this significant?  Deeper roots enable the plant to survive heat and drought more readily by having more resources for obtaining moisture and nutrient.  If the roots were only an inch long, for example, they would have to obtain all of their moisture and nutrient from that top one inch of the green, which would mean frequent watering and much higher risk of survival.

It's actually pretty amazing when you consider that a plant that we are mowing to 3/16" of an inch in height is putting roots down 4" or more into the soil.

This core was taken from the back section of #9 green

The above core is from the front section of #9 green .... the area that was hit quite hard by last summer's heat and drought

The above core was from the back of #11 green.  This is one of our original "dirt" greens that was constructed using 1960's construction guidelines.

The above core is from #11 green. 

This core is from #7 green

Looking good!

The newly renovated bunker on #1 is looking good.  Now that the sod has had a chance to establish itself Alex has taken down the ropes that were directing traffic.  The area has been mowed and it really looks nice.

Deep Tine Aerification

Today we are doing a deep tine aerification and heavy top dress on all of our greens.  While the process is disruptive for a short time, the long term benefits to the health of the greens far outweigh the inconvenience.

Here is a link to the top dressing page on our website: http://www.lakevalleygolf.com/groundstopdress.htm 

GREEN

It's amazing how fast things begin to green up with a week of temperatures on the 70's and 80's.  Last week at this time the fairways were still brown and dormant.

At the same time, the red bud trees are busting out, bradford pears and showing their white blooms, and the dogwoods won't be far behind.   Spring is about 4 weeks earlier than usual.

18 Bunker - Finished!

The front left bunker on #18 green has been sodded and is now complete.  I think it looks great!

Patrick likes it
(Click photos for larger versions)

Looking back down the fairway.  The new berm on this top side will divert water runoff around the bunker.

This side view shows the slight berm a little better.

Native Area 6-7-8

We finally had an opportunity last week to burn the brush pile that was in the native area between 6-7-8.  This has been a long time coming, but with the restrictions our fire department puts on us it required a specific set of conditions in order to burn.  We've burned a number of other locations on the course, but the close concentration of dry native grass without an immediately available water source made this one more demanding.

Click for larger
Burning out the tree stumps

This wider view shows how the pile has been pushed together for more complete burning.

Bunker #18 - Sand

There is now sand in the newly rebuilt bunker on the front left of #18 green.  Sod will be placed on Friday, weather permitting.

(click for larger images)
Sand has been placed in the front left bunker on #18 green.  You can see a little of the added berm at the top of the bunker.

Another view of the bunker with sand added.  Sod is expected to be laid tomorrow.

Looking over the bunker and toward the green.  Notice the slight berm at the high side of the bunker.  This should divert most rain water around the sides of the bunker.

#18 Bunker

Work is nearing completion on the rebuild of the left front bunker at #18 green.  Like the other bunkers that we've rebuilt this winter, this one suffered from wash outs when any kind of heavy rain occurred. It should be completed very soon.

(above)  the bunker prior to work starting

(above) following excavation and initial shaping.  There would later be a berm added at the top to divert water runoff away from the bunker.

After shaping but before the berm was added.  The yellow circle is the area that will be further excavated and filled with sand.

Another view of the reshaped bunker

#10 Bunker Completed

The rebuilding of the left front bunker on #10 is now complete.  We experienced a few days delay due to a combination of equipment problems and a rain that made things too wet to work for a couple days, but otherwise this rebuild went just as smoothly as the two before it.

What this means
With the completion of this bunker rebuild in just over 5 months we have rebuilt or removed every bunker on this hole.  The rear bunker was converted to a grassy area starting on August 29, 2011;  the right front bunker was rebuilt starting on January 9, 2012; and the left front bunker was rebuilt starting on January 23, 2012.  Our visitors that have not played here since the August 2-Man Scramble will see a drastically updated hole when they return this spring.

These bunker rebuilds should save us many, many hours of manpower each season that we have previously spent raking and basically rebuilding them each time we experienced a heavy rain.  With their grass faces and flat sand areas they should suffer little or no erosion problems.

Shaped and Ready!

Alex was able to get the bunker on the left of #10 green shaped today and ready for final excavation, sand, and sod.  In the attached pictures you can see the painted yellow line which represents the size and shape of the finished bunker.   The area inside the painted yellow line will be excavated and filled with sand, the area outside will receive zoysia sod.

We've been very fortunate this winter that the weather has cooperated and allowed us the opportunity to complete projects like this. 

LEFT Front Bunker on #10

Demo and reshaping began today on the left front bunker on #10.  Similar to the right front bunker on 10 and the right front bunker on #1, this bunker will have the steeply flashed face removed and replaced with a grass face to prevent the erosion problems we've experienced in the past.  With the nice weather forecast this week Alex expects to have this bunker completed in fairly short order.  Most of the shaping is completed today (Monday) and barring weather issues he should do final shaping and excavate for the drain next.