 |
| Healthy new turf on the north driving range tee. |
The two-year driving range project is nearing completion. Phase 1 started in August of 2021 and consisted of a new, larger south tee, a new chipping green, target greens, parking area and cart path, expanded putting green, landscaping, and new surrounds. Phase 2 started in August of 2022 and included a new north tee, a long winding cart path, an expanded hitting zone, and new trees planted. The design, earth moving/shaping, and irrigation were all contracted out. In house labor acted as the construction crew on this project and was used to install drainage; haul materials; prep areas for seed; seed, straw, fertilize, and water the new grass; plant/design landscaping; convert target greens to zoysia grass; and project manage. The grounds crew did a fantastic job working on construction while maintaining the golf course/grounds and being heavily involved in other projects such as the Verdin clock/ #1 tee area renovation, the lighting of the champion tree, #13 green drainage/leveling, and the cart barn construction. Overall, a total of 1,892 in house labor hours were used for the entire driving range project.
The new north tee was seeded in early September and looks full and healthy going into the winter. It is amazing how quickly grass germinates when seeded at the proper time. Last year many areas did not get seeded until October and struggled to fill in while this year the results on the tee and surrounds have been much more promising. Next up will be to get the cart path paved and the safety fence built. Hopefully, the new north tee will be ready to open around Memorial Day.
Phase 1 Pictures
 |
This was the first step of the project, spraying glyphosate in mid-August of 2021.
|
 |
| Old driving range tee after spraying |
 |
| Constructing the new south tee |
 |
| Building the new chipping green |
 |
| Drainage installed in chipping green |
 |
| Irrigation install |
 |
| Futera matting on top of seed |
 |
| Prepping chipping green for seeding |
 |
| Chipping green day 1 after seeding |
 |
| Putting green expansion |
 |
| chipping green beginning to germinate |
 |
| Planting #5 landscaping |
 |
| Chipping green growing in |
 |
| Winter grow cover for putting green |
 |
| Sodding on the floor of the range in early March |
 |
Installing innovation zoysia grass on target greens in June
|
Phase 2 |
| Shaping and clearing area |
 |
| Drainage work |
 |
| Bentgrass seed starting to germinate on the tee |
 |
| More drainage |
Completed Project
 |
| New North Tee |
 |
| Completed range floor. Innovation zoysia is a southern grass that turns dormant in the winter adding a nice contrasting color to the target greens this time of year. |
 |
| Completed chipping green, south tee, and surrounds |
Meanwhile, out on the golf course, we are finishing up on fall maintenance practices before the cold temperatures set in. Fairway fertilization was completed in mid-November and a granular fertilizer was applied to the greens later in the month. The practice tee was solid tine aerated this year because the new grass has not accumulated much organic matter; however, in subsequent years core aeration will have to take place once OM starts to accumulate. The project work and mother nature helped to put us a bit behind on rough aeration. We were able to complete it by the end of November, but some locations may be muddy for a while longer until the aeration plugs fully break down. Next up will be to apply snow mold protection and poa annua seed head suppression to the greens in early December.
The height of cut on the greens was raised throughout the month of November to help the grass store carbohydrates and to help the plants survive winter conditions. Understand that green speed will decrease during the off season because of decreased mowing, rolling, and topdressing. Once spring begins the greens maintenance program will resume, which will increase the green speeds. Also, the winter tee markers have replaced the in-season markers and are located on the white and green tees to let the back tees heal in before next season.
 |
| Aerating the south practice tee |
 |
| Aerating rough |
On the horticulture side, garden steps have been installed between the cigar hut and outdoor bar. This should give a clear level pathway for people transporting between the hut, bar, and pool. The springtime bulbs are currently being planted. There are around 5,000 tulip bulbs planted around the clubhouse grounds. It is recommended to have them planted to allow for at least 8 weeks of cold temperatures, which helps the bulbs to bloom on time for their April display.
 |
| Installing garden steps |
 |
| Planting bulbs |
The mid November cold snap allowed the crew to get much needed building maintenance accomplished. The old cart barn wing of the grounds building is being converted to an equipment storage area. We installed two electric Dayton 15kw 51,200 Btu heaters to keep the gas and hydraulic fluid on the equipment from freezing. In addition, insulation was installed on the new garage doors to keep heat from escaping. The long-awaited equipment lift (ordered January of 2022) has arrived and will make routine maintenance much easier to complete.
 |
| Heaters installed |
 |
| Inserting insulation |
 |
| Unloading the equipment lift |
 |
The installed equipment lift
|
 |
| Christmas came early for head mechanic (Jim) and his back. Routine maintenance can now be done standing up instead of laying on the ground. |
Also, the colder temperatures have allowed us to tackle some drainage projects. The area between #9 tee and #6 fairway has been extremely wet during the season because of the increased drainage on #8 green that was installed last year. All the drainage from the green and bunkers drains through the drain tile located in the wet area. Unfortunately, the old tile was clogged with roots and mud. This backed up the water and all of it drained out in front of the dawn redwood tree. This location was extremely wet and now we are installing new tile to move the water away from the area and into tile located parallel to #6 fairway.
 |
| 4" drainage installed between #9 tee and #6 fairway |
On the horizon will be winter tree work. The scope of the work has been approved and once we are caught up on other projects, we will begin to tackle tree excavation and pruning. Also, winter mechanical work is beginning and will take a couple months to accomplish. I will update once these projects begin, and on behalf of the entire agronomy department we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year!
Brad Piecuch
Grounds Superintendent
