More water issues

Blogs from this season can be grouped into two categories: Bermuda grass health and rain/water issues. The first half of the season related to the bermudagrass and its struggles coming out of winter and spring. Now, we have been talking about the unprecedented rain and the related issues. Last week, we discussed the drain project on #12. Before we could even get started, it rained more, and we had 3 entirely new drain issues arise.

Since the project on #12 was going to be a slower, longer project, we put that on hold to address the newest problems. You may have noticed one or all of these open holes during the week. We had a problem in the rough on #10, #1 fairway, and #13 fairway (we also had 3 separate irrigation system breaks concurrently, but that is a different topic!).

Once we dug a hole in the wet area on #10, we found some very old (original?) terra cotta drain tile. The water was still flowing in the pipe as well as following in the trench but outside the pipe. Both of these are positive. It means in general the drain is working, capturing and directing water. However, the problem we found was that this terra cotta line ended in the middle of the rough, not connected to any continuing drain line.

The water was left to empty back into the soil and this year the soil was not able to handle it. So, we attached plastic pipe to the end of the terra cotta, trenched a line 20 feet further to a newer, old drain that had been put in before and gave the water an exit.

Next, we headed over to #1 fairway. This problem was in the swale that runs across the fairway, just at the bottom of the hill. There was water suddenly bubbling up that we knew was not related to irrigation. As we explored, we found another existing drain pipe that had been partially crushed by the installation of the cart path. In normal years, the pipe was able to handle a moderate flow even through a reduced opening under the cart path. But this year exposed that problem and forced us to give the water an alternative.

We attached a piece of pipe that comes straight up to the surface. Water can still drain under the cart path when flows are light. But if the water needs a different route, it can come up this standpipe and it will trickle out right at the edge of the cart path and run across the path at the surface.

Lastly, there was a wet area in #13 fairway. We opened 3 large holes, each about 3 feet deep and found nothing to explain the water. Each place we dug, the soil was drier the further we went down. We exposed the irrigation line and it was not leaking. The soil only seemed to be wet right at the surface. In the end, we discovered nothing to explain the water other than simply very, very saturated soil. At this point we have filled our holes back in and will have to wait for a clearer indication of where the water is originating before we open more areas.

What has been unique about this year is, because of the volume and consistency of rain, drains that have worked well for years and years, are now failing. The amount of water has overcome the capacity of the drains and wet areas are the result. No one likes digging holes in the mud and rain. Even worse, some or all of these issues may not even be apparent during an average rainfall year. But, since they did arise, we were able to hopefully find solutions that will aid us in the next tremendously wet season.

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please leave bunker rakes inside the bunker once you are finished

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

Please note, we will be switching to once per month posts starting in November, thru February. Thank you.

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org