New drain in #3 approach

#3 approach had a trouble area that stayed consistently wet. The spot was too slow to drain and resulted in poor Bermuda grass survival over the winter. We added a new drain in this location.

Standing at the front of #3 green, just off the back right edge was a small swale that allowed for water to drain off the green, through the approach and down to the cart path. However, the slope was just too slight and the water took too long to flow. Between heavy foot traffic across the area during the season, and poor drainage in the off-season, the Bermuda grass was never able to establish itself year to year. This led us to re-sod the area previously.

This year we took it a step further. We installed a new drain in the trouble area that now collects the excess water and deposits it near the cart path. First, we removed the old sod. Then we used a walk-behind trencher to carve a curved drain line that followed the contour of the collar at the back right of the green. Next, we trenched a line perpendicular the contoured trench and extended it all the way to the cart path to the far right of 3 green. Pipe was placed in the trench lines, covered with gravel and sand, and new sod was laid over the top.

We did not re-grade the degree of the slope because that would have been a much larger area of disruption with many more changes and considerations than we could have managed. But, we did give the water a much easier exit and tipped the scale in the direction of turf grass health. We expect the performance of this area to improve mightily.

Too much water is as detrimental to turf grass as too little. There are other factors that led to the decline of this particular area, several of which we will also be addressing less noticeably, but the poor drainage was a key component. This new drain is a very positive addition.

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please be patient with our spring debris cleanup process. Thank you

Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:

Ball Marks - How to properly repair

Bunker etiquette

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org