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 »

 Posted by Ray Richard at 6:58 am  Tagged with: , , , ,

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 Fairway expansions

 Golf fairway construction  No Responses »
Aug 042009
 

Abstract: Fairway edge modification involves the following procedures.

Fairway edge details have changed in the past fifty years. In the 1970’s, the favored mowing pattern had straight fairway edges. The 1980’s saw a change to heavily contoured forms that curved around bunkers and mounds.

I’ve seen a trend toward straighter fairway edges. To convert from fairway to rough, many superintendents raise the height-of-cut. A good method, provided the taller version of your fairway turf fits into your turf management program. Hitting from 2″ cut bentgrass can be difficult. Overseeding into the fairway grass before raising the height of cut will introduce cultivars that perform at rough height.

Conversion from rough to fairway involves methodical lowering of height-of-cut increasing the potential for unsightly scalping. This process assumes that the rough turf will tolerate fairway height-of-cut. This is rare with contemporary fairway mowing heights.

This leads to removal of the existing rough sod and replacing it with low-cut fairway turf. You can purchase new sod or relocate existing fairway turf. The existing fairway turf  has the same mixture of grass cultivars and it will look better than newly purchased sod.

Measure the square footage, and develop a scenario for sod relocation. If you take out 2500 square feet of fairway sod, be sure to find a home for the same square footage. Assume that you will lose 15% of the sod in the cutting and transfer process. If the sod is in poor condition, buy new sod.

Don’t open up too much area. Cut the sod and store it in a shady area with the sod rolled out. Don’t make the sod rolls too long; 4 feet works for me. I know rolled sod is easy to rehandle but you may loose sod if you get delayed by weather. Rolled up sod only lasts a few days in New England. Roll it out and it will last for weeks if watered.

Fine grade the work area. This is a good time to remove water pockets, adjust irrigation head location, or create mounding.  Install soil additives and the sod. If you need to purchase new sod, install it along the fairway and rough transition line.

Additional information:

Golf course fairway construction

 Posted by Ray Richard at 6:14 am  Tagged with: ,
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