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Golf Construction Contract Management

Nov 072010

Abstract: Skilled golf course construction managers know what is in each contract. Use this information to mange construction scope and contractor payments.

Contract management is an important part of efficient golf construction. Construction managers should take an active role in preconstruction contract language. When the owner and contractor sign the contract, the construction manager will live by the contract documents.

Golf course contracts come in many formats. I’ve used the following: Continue reading »

Golf Blog Links

Golf construction communications No Responses »

Oct 012010

Abstract: Several golf blogs link to Richardgolf.com. Users will find succinct golf business information by clicking a link.

Linking, or connecting, opens doors to deep golf course blogging. Blogrolls, or lists, contain connections to other websites that contain relevant information. You will see a blogroll on the Richardgolf.com cover page, on the lower right side, below the fold. Continue reading »

Golf Course Work Limits-Irrigation

Golf bunker construction, Golf construction communications, Golf construction specifications, Golf fairway construction, Golf tee construction No Responses »

Sep 112010

Abstract: Before starting a golf course renovation project, identify irrigation system impacts. Contractors need mainline locations and elevations before starting work.

Golf course renovation planning begins by identifying all irrigation components within the proposed work limits. Superintendents know their system best, so they should manage this process. Some like to send this task to the contractor but this may result in irrigation disasters because they may not know all the specifics of your system. Identify mainline and lateral lines with hand digging or a wire tracker, available for rent from established irrigation suppliers. Continue reading »

Golf Course Material Testing

Golf bunker construction, Golf construction communications, Golf construction specifications No Responses »

Aug 222010

Abstract: When in doubt, always test golf course construction materials before purchase. When not in doubt, test anyway to confirm salesman’s rhetoric.

Soil testing provides cheap insurance. I remember a big bunker renovation at a private club. The project involved rebuilding 40 bunkers. The owner decided to purchase (and assume the responsibility for quality control) all bunker sand. We installed many feet of bunker drainage on the bunker floor, and we made sure our slope laser worked. The bunker forms looked great and we installed the sand at a uniform six-inch depth. A few months later, seven bunkers had poor drainage and it wasn’t our fault. Continue reading »

Golf bunker floors

Golf bunker construction, Golf construction specifications No Responses »

Jul 202010

Abstract: Good golf course bunkers begin with a properly constructed bunker floor. I like them contoured to permit positive drainage.

Golf course bunker floors vary from flat to highly-contoured. I’m a proponent of gently sloped bunker floors that encourage gentle subsurface water flow directed toward drain pipes. Flattish bunker floors collect water or drain water slowly because they don’t have subsurface slopes.

Bunkers built by bulldozer during the 1970’s and 1980’s often suffer from flat bunker bottoms. Continue reading »

Golf Course Bunker Removal

Golf bunker construction No Responses »

Jun 262010

Abstract: Tired, poorly defined golf bunkers provide unsatisfactory golf course visuals. Poor bunker location infuriates golfers penalized for good shots, and outdated shapes distract from golf course aesthetics. When a rebuild won’t work, it’s time to remove the bunker.

Bunker removal begins with a site assessment. You will replace the bunker with a flat surface that looks natural. The filled-in area should blend in with surrounding fairway and rough grades.

The project scenario: Continue reading »

Golf construction compaction

Golf construction specifications No Responses »

Mar 132010

Abstract: Golf course specifications include vague references to compaction. Some promote bulldozer tracking, and others require rolling and compaction testing. What’s the best compaction method?

I recently read specifications for a sportsfield renovation. The project involves subgrade preparation and spreading loam over an acre and a half. The design engineer required that after grading the field, the contractor will roll the surface four times with a heavy roller. The engineer doesn’t understand that if properly bulldozer tracked, the field will settle evenly

I see this philosophy in golf course construction. Some worry that fairway and rough areas will settle unevenly if they are not compacted before seeding. One owner wanted me to run a big Cat roller down his newly finished fairway.

I tell my shapers to track in all flat work. When working a fill area, spread about a foot of material, and then run the dozer back and forth with the blade up. This will form compacted lifts, with increased strength caused by intensive tracking. These lifts will settle evenly.

If the fill ends in a 3:1 slope or more, this detail works well. If it ends in a sharper detail, like a 2:1 slope, you may need to install geogrids, or HDPE webbing, on the exposed slope to strengthen the edge.

Feature work requires more compaction. You must intensively compact bunker and mounding faces. I’ve seen poorly compacted features soften over time, forming the dreaded “melted ice cream” look whereby sharp features at seeding turn to mush after a few years. Feature shapers using excavators must install fill in six inch lifts and bucket-compact each lift. This will maintain feature strength without settling.

Tee and green mix compaction starts another argument. Most supers are paranoid of compaction. If you drive a roller on a newly filled green core they will have a fit. I insist on track compaction of seedbed mix, and this provides enough insurance against uneven settlement.

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Golf Course bunker irrigation

Golf bunker construction No Responses »

Oct 312009

Abstract: Modern bunkers with lush green faces are required on many modernized golf courses. They replace weathered bunkers with dessicated faces. Insure proper maintenance with bunker irrigation.

Pictures of windswept Scottish links show browned bunker faces with fescues blowing in the wind. It’s a nice aesthetic component, but many golf course owners and members want vibrant turf lining surrounding bunkers. Install bunker irrigation to insure healthy green turf.

Some golf courses irrigate bunker faces with overspray from adjoining fairway and rough sprinklers. This works if you have subtle bunker forms with short bunker faces. If you have deep and steep bunker faces, you’ll need to install individual bunker zones.

I use individual spray zones to irrigate bunker surrounds. Let’s assume you have a modern decoder irrigation system. Install an electric valve or two and connect to the decoder network. Install 1″ or 1 1/2″ HDPE pipe that bends with the bunker contour. Center spray heads to insure equal distribution. Simple and effective, this installation costs around $1500.00 per bunker in the Northeast.

Golf courses with limited controller options can use individually battery powered valves. Plumb into existing, pressurized mainlines. Nine-volt battery powered valves feature timing controls and independent operation. The batteries last about a month.

I’ve seen bunker faces with drip irrigation installed. I don’t like the coverage and inability to syringe surrounding turf and sand.

More information:

Golf course bunker construction

Golf course bunker drainage retrofit

Golf bunker construction, Golf Course drainage No Responses »

Oct 142009

Abstract: Drain wet bunker floors by installing drainage tile. Check working grades before starting the project.

Soggy bunker sand creates playability and appearance problems. Repair involves removal of existing sand and installation of double-wall HDPE pipe into the bunker floor.

Start the retrofit process by locating a suitable discharge point for the bunker drainage pipe. Set the laser on level. and take a shot on the top of sand on the low point of the bunker. Add the depth of sand and depth of pipe to this measurement. For this example , I’ll use a 6″ sand depth. The pipe invert, or bottom, is 12″ below the sand layer. The combined measurement is 18″ below the top of sand. This is the depth of the bottom of the drain pipe.Measure up on the rod, and add 18″ to the rod elevation. Remember that the bottom of the rod goes down when height of the reciever goes up. Let’s assume the rod elevation of the sand layer is 5 feet, the combined elevation is 6 feet, 6 inches.

Next, locate the discharge point. Choose this point carefully because it will usually be wet. Be sure that the exit drain discharges into a down slope without creating a water pocket. If you can’t find a suitable discharge location, consider tying into nearby drain culverts or pipe. Some construct cisterns or leaching catch basins.

Work the laser from the discharge point to the bunker. Establish a minimum slope of .1 %, or 1 tenth of an inch in 100 feet. Remember to land at the low point in the bunker at a point 18″ below the sand surface.

Install pipe in a herring-bone configuration, 12″ below the bunker floor, not the sand. Be sure to slope pipe down to the low bunker floor point.

I prefer to remove all the sand. Store the sand on plywood next to the bunker, or install new bunker sand after the pipe is installed. The partial sand method involves painting the pipe pattern on the sand, and removing only enough sand to excavate the trench and install the pipe.

I like to backfill bunker drainage pipe with bunker sand. Others use 3/8″ pea stone.

If the discharge point is exposed, add a rodent guard, a wire barrier that keeps rodents from entering, and clogging, the pipe.

Additional information:

Golf drainage backfill

Golf bunker drainage

Golf bunker renovation checklist

Golf bunker construction, Golf construction communications, Golf construction specifications No Responses »

Oct 102009

Abstract: If you’re tired of looking out at fine turf and irregular bunkers, it’s time for a bunker renovation.Create a checklist and let active members comment on each item

A bunker checklist evaluation includes the following points of discussion:

The shape of the bunker floor
The composition of the bunker floor. Does it shed stone?
Sod condition
Design integrity. Does it look right?
Sand playability
Subsurface drainage. Does it hold water?
Surface drainage. Do surround grades keep water out of the bunker?
Sand visibility. Can golfers see sand from fairway/tees?

Each category includes critical components needed to having a suitable golf course bunker.

Shape of bunker floor-I always look for a well constructed bunker floor. Sand installed 6 inches deep should reflect the exact shape of the bunker floor. It should sweep up when approaching noses and capes, and lower when facing the line of play. Bunker sand installed with a variable depth creates many playability problems including fluffy sand.

Composition of bunker floor-Bunker floors that shed stones create obvious playability problems. If modification is needed, bunker liners can be installed. Another option is to remove 12″ of bunker floor subsoil, and reinstall a dense, silty fill material. Both options require replacement of existing bunker sand.

Sod condition-Many bunkers have sod management problems. Sharp, irregular bunker contours create irrigation problems. I’ve done many bunker face renovations. After existing sod removal, screened topsoil is installed on the exposed bunker face. It’s a great time to sharpen bunker contours. Install new sod and sod stakes.

Design integrity-Some bunkers don’t look right. I’ve seen newly constructed bunkers replaced after a few seasons. If a consensus says that the bunker doesn’t work, develop a written proposal to remove or reconstruct the feature.

Sand playability-Bunker sands vary in structure and appearance. Test unpopular bunker sand to determine if sand needs replacement. Choose three final sand selections, then divide a practice bunker into three sections. Let your members or decision makers decide.

Sand visibilty- You’ve seen hidden bunkers. After hitting a wonderful drive, you find yourself muttering about the unseen bunker. Some can be fixed by lowering the entrance grades. Other require major reconstruction.

Subsurface drainage-Wet bunker floors infuriate golfers. Modern golf courses have subsurface pipe installed below the sand line. A drainage retrofit involves removal of existing sand and installation of 4″ double-wall hdpe pipe in a bed of drainage stone. I use hdpe pipe with a geofabric envelop, backfilled with bunker sand. The trench is typically cut 8″ into the bunker floor.

Surface drainage-Bad golf course shapers direct surface water into bunkers, creating obvious water problems. Properly constructed bunkers are surrounded by subtle swales that direct water way from bunker faces. A repair involves stripping sod and loam while developing a sensible water shedding theme. Plan on removing sod 15′ from the bunker edge.

Create a checklist to evaluate your bunkers. Create pricing options for your members or owners.

Additional information:

Bunker liners

Inconsistent bunker sand

Golf course construction narratives

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