Long Range Tee Closed this weekend May 5-6

The long range tee will be closed on May 5-6 due to Metrolink construction.  The short range tee will be open for your use this weekend.   We appreciate your understanding during this closure.  The club was compensated for the closing of the long range tee.

Metrolink Project, first mowing of the fescue on #1

The first mowing of the fescue along #1 fairway took place this morning.  We used a push mower to mow the area between the new fairway and the fence which has now been installed completely.  There is a hole in the fence on the green end so that we do some maintenance on the new fescue on the other side of the fence.  There is no access to the sod except over the fence which is not practical.  It is important to us that the turf get established completely so it can survive the summer heat and stress.  We will not place a large area mower on the area until the turf has fully established and the soil can handle the large mower.

Randy Brown doing the honors of placing the first mowing on the new fescue rough.  The new fence in the background.

Metrolink, #1 Fairway/rough work

The remaining sod was installed on Wednesday on the right side of #1.  The remaining zoysia fairway spot was covered as was the rest of the road up to our maintenance building lot.  The asphalt near the employee parking area to the back gate was replaced.

The only thing left to complete for this project is the wire mesh for the fence along #1 which is to be accomplished on Tuesday.

Old asphalt lifted from back drive

New asphalt installed.

Missouri Turf installing new fescue sod for old construction roadway near #1 tee.

The finished product.  Looks great!

Metrolink Project #1 sod work

Our staff installed drains in the #1 area late last week and finished graded the area in preparation of sod which was laid on Thursday of this week.  The contractor laid almost 3300 yards of fescue sod and about 520 yards of zoysia.  I was a little short in my estimate on the zoysia which is why there is a small area not filled completely.  We expect if the sod fields dry and our area dries that the remaining sod will be laid later next week.  This area will be roped off and is closed to golf until the sold fully roots and can handle foot traffic.  Be very careful in retrieving golf balls because the area could be extra soft.

The fencing contractor was in and set posts on #1.  We requested of metro that they place a fence in the area that was cleared along the length of the buried box culvert that was placed between the tracks and the driving range.  The mesh should be installed on #1 early this coming week.Asphalt repairs were completed in our maintenance area and road.  The back gate area will be closed on Monday and Tuesday in preparation of new asphalt being applied over the area that was damaged by construction traffic.

The staff stripped of the sod that was left on the mounds as well as into the fairway.

Irrigation lines rose up into the old mounds.  The line was exposed and then lowered into a deeper trench.

Staff replacing a head that was originally removed.

Skip installing drain lines.

Tom  assisting Skip with drain line installation.  This work was completed on Friday/Saturday of last week.

Staff connecting the lines into the 18" catch basin.

A view from the cart path with outflow pipe being prepared to be dropped in the trench.

Jeff and Skip adding some sand to help bridge the pea gravel from contamination.

Skip beginning to finish grade the area in preparation of sod.

Lady checking out the area to make sure Skip has everything under control.

Skip and Tom ripping out an additional 150 feet of fence which metro agreed to replace.  Some of this fence was destroyed by a large oak last summer.

Staff doing some final touch ups in preparation for sod.

Fence contractor drilling fence post holes.

Contractor installing fence at bottom of swale on the long range.

Missouri Turf Company laying sod.

Sod being laid along metro tracks.  White line designates new intermediate line to the left which will tie into the expanded fairway.

Tractor picking up big rolls of sod.

Laying sod near metro tracks.

New sod, looks great.

A view from the cart path.

A majority of the turn area with new sod.  We were short about 50 yards of zoysia and still have the corner to sod in fescue and the remaining construction road.

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.

#1 Earth moving

The contractor(Wagner Construction) who is doing the work for Metro is completing their responsibilities for the project.  One of the requirements was to move the mounds to the right of #1 fairway per our recommendation from our Master Plan.  A majority of that work was accomplished today.  I asked the contractor to leave a portion of the mound so we can use that soil to tie our existing fairway into the planned widening of the fairway.  We have two catch basins and drainage swales to put in place plus the drainage which well reduce the overall moisture that will remain in this low area of the golf course.  We are waiting on our sod provider to give us the okay that they can cut sod before we begin this work   Some of our work will require sod to be removed from the fairway and we do not want to do further disruption to the area until sod can be cut.

The road leading to the area will be sodded as well.  The contractor will also be doing some asphalt repair in our maintenance area and from the rear gate to the top of the hill near the short range parking area.  A tentative schedule for this work is planned for the week of March 5-7.  We will keep you informed of potential changes in gate opening and closing as we get closer to the date.

Expansion of our parking area as a part of the agreement in allowing access to the project area. 

Roadway being removed along #1.

Trackhoe breaking down the mounds.

Dirt mounds being lowered  and spread to improve overall playability of the right side of #1 rough.

Trackhoes moving the soil from the second mound toward the fence line.

View from the large oak gree toward #1 green.  The mound on the left will be used to transition between the existing fairway and the new widened fairway and improved rough area.

Same view as above but a little closer look of the area.

Looking back from the direction of the green back around the turn.    Fairway will be expanded approximately 5-8 yards into the mounds that are on the right side of the picture.

Looking back toward the tee.  

#1 Metrolink Project

The box culvert along #1 has been completed covered with soil and rough graded by a dozer.  The old ditch area has been filled with over 10' of box culvert and soil which has drastically raised the level of the area between the metrolink and mounds along #1.  We hope to move the soil from the old mounds in the next couple of weeks.  This soil will be pushed toward the fence line and will be rising slightly to the fence to assist balls in staying in play.  This will also force the water to the catch basins and we will then pipe the water to the ditch.  The fairway will moved approximately 5 yards to the right and will be sodded with zoysia. The remaining area damaged from the construction will be sodded with fescue.

The view looking toward #1 green.  

I'm standing on the back side of the mounds looking approximately 3' below to the new  level in the ditch.

The view from the fairway side of the mounds looking toward the ditch.  The soil in the foreground  will rise gradually to approximately 2-3' above the edge of the fairway.

Metrolink Project

The large box culvert along #1 was completed last week.  Soil is now being hauled in to cover the box.  The contractor has estimated about 1800 yards of soil to be hauled in to cover the pipe.  Approximately 150 truck loads will be required.

Once the soil has been delivered, we will begin the process to expand our fairway/rough, install our catch basins, improved drainage on the lower side of the fairway, widen the fairway landing area and change the mounds to a more historical look from our course's great heritage..

The new box culvert installed along #1.

Additional look at #1.

The view along the ditch toward the driving range.

A dump truck delivery soil so it can be filled along and over the box culvert.

Metrolink update

The 6' culvert along #1 which was laid yesterday along #1.  They are working on the upper end of the driving range pipe today getting the shot rock laid into place at the beginning of the box culvert before the rain arrives on Wednesday.  

First few sections along #1 were installed.  That is a 6' opening on the culvert that goes underneath the metro link tracks where it flows toward River Des Peres.

Metrolink project

Box culvert arrived on Wednesday for the #1 part of the project.  This box is larger than the upper section.  It is 6 foot in height.  One can walk through the pipe.

Box culvert in the background.

A close up of the box culvert going into the ditch on #1.



Metrolink Project

After a few more days of digging, the box culvert running between the driving range and metro tracks is near completion.  There is still a great deal of earth work left to cover the box and provide a gentle swale that will eventually be grassed.  They are working near the 22" natural gas main line that runs across the property so the work is somewhat tedious at this time.  

Track hoe stuck in the mud waiting to be pulled out.  The 22" gas main line is in the foreground.

Looking down the line toward the driving range tees.   515' total feet of box culvert is being laid.  

Box is about 15' below grade at this point.