Western Hills Country Club Grounds: Fall Projects

The grounds department has been extremely busy tackling many fall projects. Golf Preservations has installed drain tile into two poorly draining soil based greens. There are many benefits to having a better drainage system installed, some of them are as follows:

increase turf quality
increase green speeds
create firmer conditions
decrease compaction
increase root depths
allow greens to be opened up quicker after a rain storm
decrease disease presence

It takes about a day to finish a green. They first survey the green, then map out the location of the drainage, cut the sod, dig the trench, remove the spoils, install 2" perforated pipe, back fill with a 6-2-2 (sand, peat moss, topsoil) mix, and finally place the sod back on the trench and install valve boxes for flush out areas. The tile is placed around 15"-16" below the surface and drains out to the lowest point on the green. Holes #6 and #2 will be closed for a short time to allow the sod to root in.

Golf Preservations trailer

#6 green drainage install

digging trenches on #6 green

main drainage trench

Using plywood to minimize disturbance to the green

back filling ditches and installing the old bentgrass back on top

Drainage completed #6 green

Drainage install #2 green

Main trench for #2 green

Completed drainage project #2 green

We were able to replenish the fairway/tee nursery with leftover bentgrass sod

#2 green after a rain storm, before the installation of new drainage

#6 green after a rain storm, before the installation of new drainage

Another project taking place, with the help of Russ Macke, is the expansion of three forward/alternate tees. These small tees on #7, #9, and #17 will be enlarged by 2 to 3 times their current size and leveled out. We are using the excavated dirt from #6 and #2 greens drainage projects to help with this job. Hopefully, this will encourage golfers to use these tees more often, decreasing some usage of the further back tees and alleviating their leveling concerns. Drainage has been an issue at the front of #13 green and we have installed new drain tile and a catch basin to try and resolve the problem.

Excavating the sod on #9 forward tee

Excavating the sod on #17 alternate tee

Using the spoils from #6 green drainage project for the expansion of #9 forward tee

Leveling of the expanded #7 forward tee

Newly sodded #9 forward tee

Drainage added to the beginning of #13 green

New drainage installed #13 green

Our other fall maintenance projects are moving along nicely. Aeration of tees, fairways, and rough have been completed, as well as, early fall fertilization.The turf has responded well to these practices and is showing off its bright green colors as we speak.

Aeration of #6 fairway

Aeration of #1 fairway

Aeration of # 13 tee

#2 fairway three weeks after aeration and early fall fertilization

An athletic field mix of bluegrass was slit seeded into a Bermuda grass area on #11 fairway last month. We are starting to see results as some of the bluegrass has germinated. Right now, it is patchy because the Bermuda grass was extremely thick and healthy when seeding took place. The warm early fall temperatures kept the Bermuda actively growing longer than usual which hindered germination of some of the bluegrass. However, bluegrass is an aggressive creeping grass and it will be interesting to see how it fills in during the late fall season. We will continue to monitor this plot throughout the shoulder season to consider if Bluemuda (click here for more information) is a potential solution to our Bermuda grass situation.

Bluegrass germination on #11 test plot. Notice the dark green bluegrass patches mixed in with the brown, dormant Bermuda grass.

Finally, after completion of these jobs most of our attention will be focused on leaf removal. The WHCC trees are starting to put on their fall show. The ash, maples honey locusts, and hickory trees are in full color. This contrasts well with the bright green turf and allows for some great photo opportunities.