Stump grinding material removed

This past week our staff removed most of the excess stump grinding material that was not used to re-fill the hole Soil will be added where necessary to level the area and sod will be placed over the top as time allows over the next week or two.

Joe Wachter
Sent from my LG phone

Metro Project

The driving range part of the metro link project is complete.  The rock that was used for the roadway along #1 was moved to the dirt path that our staff used to go to the back area of the range.  The damaged area where the culvert was installed was graded, seeded and strawed.  Our bin area was put back together and a new parking area made out of gravel was established for staff and equipment parking.  Asphalt repairs will be taking place in the back gate entry to the club up to the parking for the short range early next week.  A majority of lower lot area will be replaced as will in total the road leading to my maintenance building from the main lot.  All the above listed work is a part of the agreement between Glen Echo and Metro and require no cash outlay by our club.

We will be working on #1 this week in an effort to get that area restored.  Sod must be removed so we can tie the new work into the fairway, catch basins installed, drainage lines installed and the complete area is to be sodded with fescue in the rough area and zoysia in the newly formed and repaired fairway area.  Fence will then be installed when the turf work is complete.  All of this work is paid by our agreement except for the zoysia sod and drainage work that we must complete.

Rock drive leading to the back of the driving range. 

Strawed and seeded drainage basin beside driving range.

New parking area for staff vehicles and equipment.  During the main season parking was a premium, now we have some additional space.  The area from the greenhouse, back to the storage building and up to the main parking lot will be removed and new asphalt but in place.

New sand bins installed and ready.  We will be removing the material out of the back parking lot in the near future and get it placed back in the bin area.  We had a standard block wall that was made into four bins.  We requested only 3  be put back in place and the large 4,000 ea. blocks will work perfect for our operation.

Pierson Memorial Update

A great deal of work was accomplished this week in front of the clubhouse.  The Olympic Room entrance(Casual) is the door that should be used by all members and guests through the week of March 6th.  I expect to have the Formal entrance open again on March 13th.  The pouring of concrete will be completed on Monday in the fountain area, under the portico, the cross walk in the delivery area and the sidewalk extension to the swimming pool.  They will still need to do some saw cut patterns to the concrete, clean, and seal it and it will then need to set for a couple of days.

Our plumbing contractor on Monday will be installing gas lines for both the fountain flame and the fireplace for the living room which the club will be replacing.  He will also be installing a water line to the fountain area.  In the next couple of weeks, our electrical contractor still has to run his lines through the already installed conduit and complete his work.  Painters will be applying an epoxy to the pool bottom and will be doing a clear coat on the handrails for the Olympic/Casual entrance once they area installed in the next couple of weeks.

Our staff will be busy with back filling along new curbed area both with topsoil on the turf side of the curb and rock on the inside in preparation of asphalt repairs.  This also includes placing soil back in place against the new plaza in preparation for irrigation changes, lighting and new sod for the entire front lawn area.  Some of the old sod is still in place so it will need to be stripped as well as we preparing the lawn.

The planting areas need to be brought to grade so that irrigation can be replaced where needed and then the lighting contractor will then install the up-lighting to the building and the walkways which should be spectacular.  Our horticulturist Becky Edwards has been busy preparing  plans, visiting growers and ordering plant materials for both the  Olympic/Casual entrance for the Pierson Project as well as work the club is doing to renovate the two ornamental beds in front of the main dining room and living room.

Sorry for so many pictures but being out of town this week at the conference, I was not able to blog regarding all the work that was being completed on the project.  Harry took pictures and sent them to me to keep me appraised of what was taking place.  The internet and smart phones area a valuable resource for our operation.

New curbing next to the living room and around to the scoreboard.  

Drain tile placed under the curbing.

Forms for the plaza area and rock base being installed.

Same area looking back to the portico.

Curbing along 18 that was lost with the overlay last year in front of the clubhouse on the main drive.

Two corners of the front lawn were widened to ease the tight corner for delivery trucks and for members/guests wanting to use the portico area.  We had to cut the irrigation line and lay new line back further into the lawn.  New pipe and wire being laid in the trench.

The area next to the delivery driveway.

I asked Harry to take me a picture from the portico offices so  I could see how things were laying out in regards to the plaza area.  This will be a great gathering area in the future.

Small lawn area near the crosswalk/delivery area.  We are planning a complete redo of the irrigation  for the lawn area since it is broken and split now with the new plaza being put in place.

The walk way that leads from the plaza area over toward the putting green/pro shop.  The will be a great new feature for our outings and guest events.

The same view but pulled back.

Walkway area around the fountain.

Same view but from the other direction.

Concrete just poured and color applied to walkway leading to practice green.

Plaza area in front of portico.

Curb near cross walk between two entrances with drain installed to reduce standing water which has plagued this area.

The left side of the plaza/fountain area.

New curb along practice green area.  Some of the sod and soil above the curb will need to be removed so that we can tie in the two areas.

 

Oreo-Botta staff preparing area for more concrete in front of portico.

Area under portico with old pavers removed.  Once the gravel base for the pavers was pulled out, we found  another layer of asphalt that had to be removed.  Skip is digging out the area just past the portico so we can install new subsurface gutter drainage and sleeves for the lighting contractor that will need to cross the roadway for the new lighting system.

Looking out from the portico into the new plaza.

The area that Skip was digging, Skip, Russ and Tom getting area ready to attach pipe.  In the background, you can see a white pipe sleeve that was used to go under the concrete curb so we could insert out pipes into after the curbing was poured.

The area under the portico where we had to remove asphalt as well.  We are eliminating the small 4" step into the club.  Both front doors will now have no steps leading to and or entering into the building.

   

Poa/crabgrass management of long range tee

Half of the driving range tee was sprayed with RoundUp and preemergent at the same time that I sprayed the fairways in January.  The tee has been over run with crabgrass and goosegrass over the last couple of  years and the bermuda grass is very strong on that side of the tee.  I decided to not spray the left side because the bermuda only covers about half of that area.  The rest is poa and ryegrass.

We will use the overseeded section during the spring and once the bermuda begins to grow we will use this section of tee as well.  I will be spraying preemergent on the left side but it will not effect the existing stand of grass.   

Poa annua on the right side of the tee that was sprayed with RoundUp.

Complimentary Cocktails and Buffet March 7th!

Creative Golf Marketing is launching our new Ambassador Membership Initiative on Wednesday, March 7th.
The evening will begin with complimentary cocktails and a themed buffet will follow the completion of the program.    

We appreciate the support of our membership and hope that we will see you at the Preview.

     

David Feherty addresses the GIS this morning

Enjoyed the oppportunity to see David Feherty of CBS Sports and former PGA Tour member address a standing room only crowd at the Golf Industry Show this morning. He brought tears to our eyes with his out of this world wit and humor but also tears flowed when he spoke of his love for America and the work he is doing for our troops. A nice way to end my trip.
Made a quick tour of the trade and now sitting in LAX waiting for a delayed AA flight home. A quick trip to Vegas with no gambling losses. Of course if I would have lost the 5 bucks I put in a machine last night it would not have been too depressing. Time now to get back to the Echo and see the major changes that have taken place at the formal entrance to the club.
Full blog coverage over the next couple of days.
Skip informed me that there were no major tree issues from yesterday afternoon's wind event which is a relief.
Joe Wachter
Sent from my LG phone

Tradeshow at GIS (Golf Industry Show)

Spending the next day and some going through well over 250,000 square feet of tradeshow space. Looking for the next great product in turf management to maintain Glen Echo CC.

Joe Wachter
Sent from my LG phone