New bunker drainage

Quick video of the outflow from the 3 bunkers on #7.  Always great to see things working properly.

Playing from our new bunkers

The weather has not allowed us great access to the course this year but one area of the course that can now be played on a regular basis is our bunkers.  They are draining nicely and the sand is fairly consistent.  There are a number of items that I need to address regarding the bunkers and ultimately their play-ability.

There is no doubt that they play much different than what we had in the past.  New sand in general is always different than older sand.  It does not have any silt or dirt in it and does not compact as well.  It does drain well and for the most part is the same consistency.  All the bunkers have drainage but some are in the sun more or in the open where wind can dry the surface out.  Sand that has a small bit of contamination in it does not drain as well but it does play firmer than new fresh sand.  Can't change the physiological makeup of the materials.  It takes time for this material to settle and for us to get familiar with how to play out of it.

I polled the green committee last night.  Some are not having an issue and some are.  I went out this morning and hit 3 balls out of the 18 left bunker. One hoped one off the stick for a gimme, 2nd within 8' and the third flew off the green.  Tried a couple of other bunkers and could only flip one out of the bunker of 3 and flipped three out of the bottom one but only one made it to the green.  Very inconsistent at best by me which is what you might be going through.  No doubt, our golf professional Barrett Martens can help you with some techniques or equipment/club changes to help your bunker play.  He has already been working with individuals and groups in improving their bunker play.

Below I've listed a few things we have been doing and will do in the future to improve the play-ability of the bunkers as best as we can.

1. We will continue to use our vibratory plate to help compact the bunkers.  This is a short term improvement and will continued every 4-6 weeks during the season. 
2.  We will begin to evaluate sand depths to make sure we have what is considered proper depth of 5-6".  During the building there could have been some increases in depth.   
3. As the rains subside, we will be apply some wetting product to the surfaces which will assist them in holding more moisture which will firm up the surface.  Also, as conditions begin to dry down, we will be using our surround irrigation which will keep the bunkers surface/subsurface a little more moist which helps with compaction.
4. We will be working with our new mechanic to make adjustments in our raking machine to reduce disruption of the surface which increases drying which contributes to fried egg lies.  Brooming sand, reducing the tines on the rake will dry the sand at the surface.
5. In time, some natural organic material will make its way into the bunkers and break down.  Grass clickings, tree debris, some small amounts of soil from time to time which.  We attempt to keep the bunkers clean but this is a natural process which occurs over the years the new sand is in place. 

Excuse my amateur attempt at video.  Used my cell phone this morning to talk about my effort at a bunker shot.   

The staff and I are so happy!!!

The staff and I are so happy that after 2.4" rain yesterday, we were able to put the course's bunkers back into play in less than 3 1/2 hours.  We do have a few less bunkers than last year but we have bunkers that drain and have very little washing of the faces.  It took just a little over 1/2 hour more than normal to do our work this morning.  Not happy over the wet conditions but extremely happy with the work that we accomplished in a short period of time.  Have we said thanks enough yet?  We do not believe so!  Thank you again!!!!

#14 Sand replacement completed

The staff finished the sand replacement on the 14th hole today so all bunkers now have the same sand.

#14 Sand Replacement

The staff spent the last two days removing sand from the bunkers on #14 and putting the sand back in the bunkers that we used last fall on the project.  Skip and I worked on the front right bunker yesterday while the guys had President's Day off and everyone returned today to finish off the right side bunker and rear bunker.  We should have the front left bunker completed on Wednesday before the storm moves in on Thursday.

Skip placing the bucket down on the bunker floor so we could shovel the sand into the bucket and he could fill the carts to haul the sand back to the shop.

The staff this morning finishing the rear bunker on #14.  Cold morning outside, brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

Day 39 Bunker Restoration, ALL BUNKERS ARE FINISHED, TERMINADO, TERMINEE, FINITO!!!

The staff finished the practice bunker on Tuesday which is the last bunker in our overall project.  We had 45 bunkers when we started last season and now have 37 bunkers to maintain.

The project has come in at or near our budget.  There were a few surprises along the way but most everything went as planned.  The staff faced some pretty difficult circumstances with the rain we experienced in the first half of the project but some dry weather over the last half allowed us to get the project completed fairly close to schedule.

Plans for the next couple weeks include:

• Cleaning up out flow trenches and sodding as needed.
• Sod the bentgrass collar back in place along #17 
• Hand watering the new sod to push root growth before winter sets in.
• Trimming sod edges along the bunker edge.  
• Back filling settled trenches and seeding areas next to construction which were disrupted but did not      require new sod.
• We will also be expanding the targets that Kye shaped before he left the project and will be seeding them with rye grass and covering them with straw.  We intend to sprig the targets with bermuda grass in mid-spring so that they can be mowed tightly giving them a green surface appearance.  

Staff edging the practice bunker.

Forming an edge which will allow the new sod to tie into the existing area.  

Removing the old sod along the new edge.

Sodding the new practice bunker.

The finished practice bunker!!

Day 38 Bunker Restoration, THE GOLF COURSE BUNKERS ARE FINISHED!!!

With great anticipation and excitement, our bunker project began on September 17th.

 At the end of the day today, I am relieved and very happy to announce that we have completed the bunkers on the golf course!!  

The remaining sod was placed around #17.  The soil was removed from the trenches of #1 and drainage was  installed.  Sand was hauled into the bunker and sod was placed around it.  We plan to complete the practice bunker on Tuesday.

At this time, the following bunkers have been opened for play.  Bunkers that are open for play have no ropes around them.  As the sod continues to mature, we will open additional bunkers to play.  

#3 left bunker                     #6 left bunker     #13 left bunker
#4 left bunker                     All of #7             All of #16
#5 left approach bunker      All of #9             All of #18.

The staff removing the soil from the trenches on #1.

Sand being added to the bunker.

Sod being laid around the bunker.

The bunker completed.

A view from along the fairway of #1.

Day 37 Bunker Restoration

The staff was able to get the three bunkers on #17 nearly completed on Friday.  We still have the outflow trenches to back fill and packed and we have some sodding to do on the right bunker.  We also have some bentgrass collar that needs to be replaced.

We will be cleaning out #1 bunker on Monday, install drainage, sand and sod which will complete the golf course portion of the project.  We still have work to do on practice range and will take care of that as soon as possible.  We will be spending the next couple of weeks checking and cleaning up our work areas, back back fill settled trenches, trimming sod, watering, mowing and other work to get the bunkers and course ready for winter.

Randy moving sand in the left front bunker of #17.

Staff spreading sand in the left rear #17 bunker.

Finishing the sand in the left bunker of #17.

Placing drainage in the right side bunker of #17.

Sodding the right side bunker of #17.

More sod.

Right side bunker #17 nearly complete.  Some sod work around the green and the front edge of the bunker and outflow trench back fill.

The left bunkers on #17 complete except for some drain outflow work and collar sodding next to the green.

Nearly complete, #17.

Day 36 Bunker Restoration Project

Another frosty morning greeted the staff which delayed our work on the bunker project for an hour or so this morning but the staff had a busy day on #17 bunkers once the frost lifted.  The left bunker was cleaned up and drainage installed.  Sodding was completed around the left side bunkers and we expect to get the sand spread on Friday.  We still need to clean up the right bunker on #17, install drainage and plan to complete it on Friday as well. Hopefully, all three bunkers will be completed on #17 by the end of the day tomorrow.  This will leave us with one bunker on #1 and the practice bunker.

Skip and Tom extending the front left sprinkler heads on #17.

Drainage install on the left rear bunker of #17.

The staff cleaning up soil along the edge of bunkers of #17.

Sodding of the bunkers on #17.  

Additional sodding of left side bunkers of #17.

End of the day sodding for #17.  The fairway side of the bunkers will be sodded once the sand is dumped into the bunkers.

Day 35 Bunker Restoration Project

We received well over 1" of rain Sunday evening which was needed.  Some of our sod was getting pretty dry from the winds of the last few days.  We were able to do some outflow trenching to finish the right bunker of #5, #17 bunkers had the outflow trenched as was #1.  Today, the staff  will put in a full day on the bunker project.  The outflow pipe was laid and back filled on the right bunker of #5, sod work was finished around the back right of the right side #5 bunker, and some sod was added to the left bunker of #6.  Drainage was placed in the front bunker of #17.  We plan to spread the sand in the front bunker on Thursday and hopefully get it sodded.  I would expect that we will complete the left side bunker of #17 on Friday.

Sodding the back right of #5.

Staff adding a surface drain behind #5 as well as digging the dirt out of the trench so pipe can be laid.

Staff back filling the outflow pipe of #5 which had settled from the weekend rain.

Staff back filling the pipe behind #5 green.

Front bunker of #17 getting drainage placed in it today.

Day 34 Bunker Restoration Project, #4 Complete!

We were finally able to get #4 right side bunker completed on Friday.  Its been a long time since we started #4, 27 days since we had finished the left bunker.  Yes, change did finally come!



The staff completed both left bunkers on #4 on Friday and we trenched the remaining four bunkers left on the course, 3 on #17 and the last one on #1.  The staff cleaned out most of the soil from the bunkers on #17 in preparation for placing drainage in them early next week and the potential rain coming Sunday/Monday.

I hope we can finish the bunkers on #17 this coming week and all we will have left is #1 and the practice for Thanksgiving week.

#4 Bunkers COMPLETED!!

A longer view of the right side completed bunkers of #4.

Trenching and soil cleaned up on #17 front left bunker.

#17 left side rear bunker trenches.

Skip removing soil from trenched #17.

#17 right side trench line.

When Kye was shaping the right side bunker on #17, he came very close to the pipe and wiring that supplies the water for the green.  Skip hand dug a line and is burying the wiring back in place.

Skip using the mini-excavator to trench a short line out the right bunker of #17.  I used this machine over the last couple of days because of the wet conditions of #4.  

#1 bunker is similar to the bunker on the right of #17.

Day 33 Bunker Restoration

A heavy frost today greeted the staff as we attempted to get the fourth hole bunkers completed.  We were able to get the sand completed in the right rear bunker, drainage and sand was hauled into the right front bunker.  We have to finish the sand tomorrow in the front right bunker and complete the sod work around both bunkers.  Work continued on #17 with some additional trenching.  Both left bunkers were trenched.  We have to remove the spoils(soil) from the bunkers on Friday.  I hope to get the right bunker of  #17 and the bunker on #1 dug out tomorrow as well.  I'm not sure if we will do anything else to #17 and #1 until early next week due to time constraints.

Drainage leading out of the right front bunker.  We had to use the  large backhoe to trench  a line out to the sump hole that you see below.

I told Skip to dig a sump hole to drain the right front bunkers to and a  hole he dug.   Looks like a mine shaft.  The
bunkers will drain to the gravel sump which should be able to handle the amount of water coming into it.  The hole is covered with soil and sodded. 

Drain lines filled with pea gravel waiting for sand.

Staff spreading the sand in the right front bunker of #4.

The right side bunker complex which will be completed on Friday.

Trenched lines through both left bunkers of #17.  The soil will be remove on Friday .

Day 31-32 Bunker Restoration Project

The staff spent part of the day on Monday cleaning up the course after the rain stopped by mid-morning.  Most of the staff has been ill over the last month so I kept them out of the rain for a couple of hours.

We spent Tuesday and today working on the bunkers.  Progress is a little slow working in the wet bunkers of #4 but we are plodding along in the mud.  This area gets very little sun and has remained wet for weeks.  The right rear bunker was trenched, drainage installed, some of the sand was added as was some of the sod.  We still need to do some soil/muck removal from the front bunker and install drainage, sand and sodding.  I also started trenching the front left bunker on #17 today as well.  I hope we can finish #4 on Thursday and then complete at least one bunker on #17 before the weekend.  We plan to excavate all three bunkers on #17 and clean the soil out before the end of the weekend since rain is predicted for late weekend or early next week.

My hope is to have all bunkers including the practice completed by Thanksgiving if the weather holds out for us.

The staff edging and cleaning up the rigth front bunker on #4.

Yours truly operating the mini-excavator in the right rear bunker of  #4.

The mess of the front right bunker of #4.  Trying to remove the muck that was trenched out earlier in the day.

Sand being moved around in the bunker on #4 right back bunker.

Sod was added to the right rear bunker.  We hope to complete the front bunker of #4 as well as the final touches on the rear bunker on Thursday.