Improving Fairway Drainage

We are happy to report that after a couple very successful weeks of working on drainage, we have completed projects that will solve our issues with ponding on Fairways #3 and #7. While the drainage portion of these projects is complete, it will take us some time to get the trench lines back to playable standards, so in the short term, the trenching on these holes will remain ground under repair.

On #7 The Long Way is the Right Way

In our investigation of #7 we found  a pipe that already connected to the
drop inlet and were able to locate the pipe at the edge of the
fairway. This solid pipe was in great condition and easily flowed freely
 to the DI

When designing our drainage solution for #7 Fairway, we decided that rather than re-do drainage in the direction it was originally designed, we would take a longer path to the drop inlet near the green. The drainage was originally routed to the drop inlet near the cart path, which also happens to be positioned right next to a large pine tree. To avoid the tree and the havoc it can wreak on pipe, we took the challenge of a long run with minimal fall to help gravity work its magic. This required more time and materials to cover the length of the run, and also took more hand work to the trench to get the measurements just right. We believe that these extra steps will improve the longevity of the solution.

Sod harvesting began early the next morning

We then dug the trench with the back ho

The trench depth is meticulously manipulated to use gravity to our advantage

The pipe is laid and measured again, and then trench back filling begins

Phase 2 Extended to incorporate our bird baths toward the edge of the fairway

Sod is put back in place. Rolling and topdressing will help level out the trench line in the coming month

#3 offered us great fall, and a pretty straightforward run to daylight, which made it a far easier project than #7

Small Improvements Complete, Big Progress to Come

As the rain continues on into March, it seems like an appropriate time to update members on our progress with course drainage. To this point, we have only taken small steps to improve our drainage issues on the golf course. Little projects, such as running a new line of pipe from #12 cart path to the woods, and repairing the drain outlet to the right of #8 green, have been the kinds of small projects we have had the time to dig into. Much of our winter has been consumed with sand additions, and edging to our greenside bunkers. I am happy to report that we are closing in on finishing our winter bunker work. This progress should leave us free to dig into our key targets for drainage improvements. These areas include #7 Fairway, #3 Fairway, and #2 Fairway Bunker. While we may not be able to complete all of these areas, we hope to make significant progress in our goal to improve course drainage.

Smaller projects that can be completed in a single day have been very attainable in between our extensive bunker work this winter

#7 Fairway on March 5th

We have saved projects that may take more time and that could require dormant sodding until the end of winter, when we will be 
more free to give them the time and attention they need. We hope to get to as many of these areas as possible, but the weather can be an obstacle. Severe rain like the storm we had on Sunday, March 3rd, not only make these areas too wet to work in, but also create more work pushing up washed out bunkers when it does start to dry out. We will certainly be working hard leading up to spring to improve playable areas that hold standing water after heavy storms.
 

The wet weather we experienced in late February accentuated the increased drainage issue on #3 Fairway