Fairway leveling project

 Golf fairway construction  No Responses »
Aug 202009
 

Summary: Golf fairways suffering from uneven surfaces benefit from fairway leveling procedures.

A top golf course had two uneven fairways caused by subsurface peat and stump movement. The solution involved the following:

  • Removal of existing sod and irrigation
  • Bulldozer grading of subgrade peat
  • Installation of Mirafi geofabric under entire fairway fill
  • Importation of gravel fill
  • Drainage installation
  • Irrigation installation
  • Topsoil plating,fine grading, and new sod installation

The work area encompassed 7 acres. The subject holes included a long par-5 and a medium length par-4. The golf course had a large mound of gravel behind the par-5 tee; this gravel became the new fairway subgrade. An additional gravel source bordered the par-4.

After removal of the existing sod, irrigation stubbing began. The irrigation mains and lateral taps remained; the lateral pipe and sprinkler were removed. Large orange stakes marked the location of the live mainline taps.

Bulldozer grading of the peat subsoil created a smooth surface for the geofabric. We transported excess peat to a screening location for later use as topsoil.

The project was done in 10,000 square foot increments. We didn’t want to open up too much area. After placing a few thousand feet of geofabric on the subgrade, installation of a 24″ thick layer of gravel fill began. The work included construction of a haul road, 36″ by 11 feet wide, on the centerline of the fairway. The haul road permitted delivery of gravel fill to distant areas of fairway fill. After completion of the gravel fill operation, we removed the haul road by pushing the surplus material over the fairway.

The gravel fill provides a working drainage layer, intercepting water before it entered the peat layer. The mirafi cloth served as an additional water barrier while improving structural integrity to the fairway, preventing settling.

We shaped the leftover gravel into a new elevated tee box on the par-5. We also added two fairway bunkers.

The drainage system consists  of 4″ solid, double wall pipe, and 12″ inlets constructed of 12″ double wall solid pipe. Subtle swales directs water to inlets, and the pipe daylights at a bordering pond.

We used PVC lateral pipe for the irrigation system, 2″ fused HDPE would have been a better choice but the expense was too much for the owner. We installed new wire to the reused valve-in-head sprinklers.

We screener mixed the stockpiled peat with unscreened drainage sand. The six inch layer of home made topsoil provided an economical topsoil.

We installed fairway sod in strips, not rolls. The late New England weather caused muddy conditions, so we laid out plywood and this provided a suitable working platform.

Two years later the fairway looks good. A few areas have settled, but the settling is only a few inches, not the few feet seen before construction. We installed inlets in the low areas to remove pocketed water.

Additional information:

Golf course settled areas

Fairway renovations

Fairway grade modification

Fairway expansions

 Posted by Ray Richard at 6:55 am  Tagged with: , ,

Golf course fairway renovations

 Golf fairway construction  No Responses »
Aug 142009
 

Summary: Fairway modifications improve drainage and repair construction deficiencies. After developing a scope, create budget headings to develop a project budget.

Fairway renovations are done for the following reasons:

  • To improve landing area reception to a golf shot
  • To level playing surface
  • To improve visibility
  • To fix drainage problems
  • To replace inferior subsoil
  • To install new bunker and mound features.

Golf course fairways must allow a well-struck golf ball to land and roll in a straight line or be directed toward the center of the fairway by a side slope. Crowned fairway grades that direct well-struck shots toward rough or hazard areas are unacceptable.

A golfer must have good visibility from all places on a fairway. They must be able to see another golfer from the tee or when playing a second shot.

Fairway drainage problems are caused by inefficient swales or subsurface water. These problems are compounded by heavy subsoils that are incapable of draining water.

New fairway bunker and mound installations require fairway renovations. Existing fairway contours rarely blend with new features. This requires an expansion of the work limits to merge new features with fairway grades.

Fairway renovation projects include the following line items:

  • Work limit layout and staking
  • Stubbing of irrigation, removal and storage of reusable components
  • Removal of existing sod, transport to on site dump
  • Removal of unsuitable subsoil
  • Construction of new features
  • Purchase of new subsoil/topsoil
  • Fine grading
  • Installation of sod/seed
  • Post plant care

Additional information:

Fairway grade modification

Fairway expansions

Replacement of fairway subsoils.

 Posted by Ray Richard at 5:25 am  Tagged with: , , ,

Golf course settled areas

 Golf fairway construction  No Responses »
Jul 282009
 

Abstract: Settled areas on golf courses create water pockets and dangerous conditions for distracted golfers. Here’s a few methods to fix these problems.

Golf fairway depression is not a psychiatric disorder. It’s not caused by a chronic inability to nail a three-metal. Golf course depressions are turfed areas that are several inches or more below the surrounding grade. These depressed areas can be hundreds of feet long. They create depression in golf course superintendents or golfers.

Settled areas occur when subgrade material under golf course turf decomposes or relocates. This void is filled with soil from above the void.

The primary cause of settled areas is the decay of organic fill. It’s created by improper golf course construction. Golf course contractors are known for creative disposal of organic debris. In the past, environmental regulations didn’t specify where stumps, sod, and other organic debris could be buried. Off-site disposal costs are expensive, so many golf contractors buried organic materials under golf fairways.

The worse case of organic decay I’ve seen was under a top-tier golf course in the Northeast. A not-very-experienced golf course builder constructed the course in 1967. Faced with a huge volume of stumps and wood-waste, he buried this debris wherever he could, usually when the golf architect wasn’t looking. He chose the location of a golf green as a dump site. Gradually, the golf green settled and this began a yearly ritual whereby the golf super removed the green sod. After installing a few shovels of green mixture, he returned the sod.

We were asked to fix the problem. While doing a bunker renovation on this course, I asked a golf course shaper to view the settled green. He took one look and said, “I’ve got the cure.”

He moved his large excavator to the edge of the green (on plywood so no damage occurred). We marked out an area 20’ by 20’ on the putting surface, and he swung the big bucket around. Much to the horror of several members lounging on rocking chairs, he dug down about ten feet and removed three huge stumps. He eventually removed three truckloads of organic waste, concrete, and assorted other junk. We filled the void with clean gravel fill, added a 14” layer of greens mix, and installed new sod. The green is in play today and everyone has forgotten about the settled area.

Deep freezes in the Northeast can relocate large rocks creating settled areas. The rocks that cause these depressions usually can be removed and the void filled. Large rocks or ledge require localized filling of voids.

I wrote the following specification for a golf course with thirty large settled areas located in fairway and rough areas. The contractor buried  wood-waste in fairway and rough areas, and these areas settled a few feet. Someof the settled areas are 100 feet long and 50 feet wide. The settled areas include decomposed organic material, or compost, and solid wood waste (stumps). I proposed to mix the compost with sand, creating a stable fill material. The course has a cheap supply of drainage sand nearby, other fill can be used. The solid fill will be removed and transported to an off-site organic waste facility.

  • Stub all irrigation within work zone. Use a large excavator (Cat 312 excavator) to open up the settled area.  Use plywood as needed. Go wide on the excavation to include some bordering areas. Mix and ompact the decayed material with the excavator bucket. If possible,  compact the fill with an excavator mounted vibratory plate compactor.

You’ll have a final grade 1-2 feet or more below final grade after mixing. Apply a  geogrid fabric, or HDPE neting, on top of the compacted fill. This product come in rolls and it provides an integral connection to the fill. Install a layer of geogrid  on top of the subgrade material,  add 6″ of 3/4″ stone, then sandy fill to grade. Install topsoil 6″ over grade to allow for any settling and seed/sod. Add a few mounds and golf forms so the fill doesn’t look like a burial pit.

Golf course depression can be cured. You don’t need Prozac or Welbutrin. The right fix will increase your golf course playability.

More information:

Golf course fairway leveling

 Posted by Ray Richard at 6:59 am  Tagged with: , ,
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