Drainage Repair By #14 Green

The area to the right of #14 Green had a drainage problem that got progressively worse over the past couple of years. I am happy to report that we have resolved the issue, and the ground is already starting to dry out.We will cover the affected areas of the project with dormant sod in April. Next stop is #9 Tee Complex.

The completed drainage line will take water seeping out the side of the hill and move it to the sump right of the cart path

A tie line to encapsulate  a wet spot on the edge of the cart path

Addressing Drainage Issues

One of our biggest priorities this off season is addressing drainage issues around the course. We started earlier this fall by repairing drains in three of our more problematic fairway bunkers. We have also been troubleshooting our greens drain outlets as we edge and re-mark them. We have found that while the water is successfully making it's way through our greens drain systems, it is not always making it to the finish line. Fixing these issues will ensure that our greens drains flow freely and will also reduce wet areas created by clogged or poorly designed outfalls. Once we finish getting through our greens drains, and are further into the golfing off-season, we can dig into some of the bigger drainage projects we have targeted for this winter.

Water is run through our greens drain blowouts and makes it's way through the drainage system.

Generally, the water flows freely and the location of the outlet is simply re-marked

Sometimes though, the water doesn't make it all the way to where we want it

The repairs can be easy

And at times the repairs can become more complex. Either way, repairing these issues will help ensure the health of our greens, and fix some of the puzzling wet areas that can at times appear near greens.

Ball Mark Repair

Recently, we have experienced very mild and dry weather. Over the weekend quite a few members took advantage. High temperatures in the 50s and 60s are conducive to golf, but are not quite warm enough to keep our greens recovering as quickly as they do at other times of the year.  For this reason, we choose to emphasize the importance of ball mark repair at this time of year. Below is a photo of #2 green on the morning of Monday, November 27th. The orange flags in the ground show the distribution of unfixed ball marks. The panoramic image can be better viewed if clicked on and enlarged. 

That volume of damage can add up over time, negatively impacting the smoothness of the putting surface. Please assist us in keeping our putting greens at Greenbrier CC a source of pride, by staying diligent in finding and repairing ball marks on greens.

Greens Aeration

We topdressed our greens before aerating them this year, which
improved logistics, and resulted a lower impact from the weight
of the topdresser.

We are pleased to say that the aeration to our greens was completed last Wednesday, and the process went very well. Unlike last year, we were able to complete to process on its scheduled dates This will result in improved recovery time and an extended fall playing season for the membership. Each year we try to tweak our aeration procedures to improve results in any way we can. The process went the best it ever has, and the greens are already recovering quite well.

The plug puller actually helped start the incorporation of sand into the aeration holes before we even drug it in.

One week after aeration, and we are already well on our way to smooth putting surfaces

Working on Bunker Drainage

Pumping bunkers after heavy rains can be time consuming.

We start by investigating the cause of the issue.

Bunker drainage was greatly improved with completion of the Better Billy Bunker project two years ago. Some of the fairway bunkers that were not a part of the project still have poor drainage. This fall, before we reach full scale project season, we will be making the rounds to investigate issues with these bunker drains. This will not only improve play ability in these bunkers for the membership, but will also allow us to spend more labor in other areas of the course, that would have otherwise had to have been diverted to pumping out bunkers.

The issue causing poor drainage in the two fairway bunkers on #1 was not surprising. Severe root intrusion.

By cutting out the sections of pipe that were clogged or smashed by roots, we were able to restore working drainage to the two fairway bunkers on #1. We will continue to make our way around the course until we have no more bunkers that hold water after large rain events. Next stop....#2 fairway bunker.

Drainage on #18

Throughout the course, there is no shortage of drainage work to be done. Every project we complete in house, or with contractors, can make a huge difference. Here are some photos of the work completed by contractors last week to the left of #18 green.

Area before project

Area before project

Area before project

Trench with gravel and pipe cuts off the water seeping out of the slope and take it to existing drains

Area is dried out and graded

Fresh sod to the affected area wraps up the project

Sand on Hand

One the of the most important aspects of maintaining our recently renovated green side bunkers is keeping the gravel liner covered with sand. This will not only keep the bunkers playable, but will also provide a layer of protection for the gravel liner. Last week, after finishing a string trim edge to our bunkers, my diligent crew compiled a list of bunkers where sand either needed to be added, or simply just pushed up from the bottom of the bunker to the face. We keep bunker sand on hand, in one of our bays at all times for this very reason. We have also received information about thin areas in bunkers from members. No matter where the information comes from, we are appreciative of it, because keeping adequate sand depths will ensure the longevity of our newly renovated bunkers.