New equipment wash pad

Keeping our equipment clean is a straightforward way to prolong its life. Washing the grass clippings, dirt, and other debris off after each use is a standard practice. We have a designated area in which to wash, and late this fall it was given a huge makeover.

Through normal use, our equipment gets dirty. Grass clippings accumulate on the mower decks in and around the drive belts. Leaves and dust get stuck on the air filter screens. Mud gets on tires and fenders when it is wet. None of this is out of the ordinary, but if not cleaned regularly, it can accrue and begin to cause problems.

This is not exactly a before shot, but it's close. The white pipes sticking
up are our irrigation connections. You can see how the area would get 
muddy from our water, but also runoff coming down the hill.

Many of you might know how grass clippings can build up on a machine- think about the mower you use at your house. The debris under the deck can get so thick that the blade can barely turn. Then, once it dries, it can harden and be very difficult to get off. We try to avoid this situation by cleaning the grass out after each use. Often the grass we mow is wet also. This wet grass sits on the mower and can cause rust to the frame. The clippings and moisture can also affect other parts of the mower and its operation and generally cause issues.

Excavating for the drain basin.

The quick, and easy way to stay away from these problems, is to routinely clean the machine. We do that by hosing the machine down after each use. Near our shop, at the bottom of the driving range hill, we have 2 hoses plugged into our irrigation system that we use to clean our equipment. While the location is convenient, the site was not great. We did not have a solid surface to park the equipment. The cart path leading in, was too narrow and crumbling on the edges. Lastly, our rinse water had no subsurface drainage in which to drain. Instead, it just flowed along the surface making the whole area muddy and contributing to the erosion along the edges of the cart path.

For our new site, we tore out everything and started over. A new, wider cart path leads to an asphalt pad with a drain basin built in. Pipes leading from the basin, take the rinse water away underground now. We built an earth berm to block the flow of rainwater coming down the driving range and diverted it around our wash pad, so that the drain does not back up from excess water. Finally, we sodded all around the new pad and cart path, then used seed and straw for the remainder.

The new drain basin in place.

The drain pipes leading from the basin.

Preparing for asphalt. Widening the road, as well as flaring out the corner
for easier equipment access.

Continuing to prepare for asphalt. Creating the 
swale to divert rainwater.

Ready for asphalt.

The new asphalt pad.

The new asphalt path.

New sod around the pad.

Complete with sod, seed and straw.

While this is a decidedly insignificant change for golfers, it is important for the Grounds department. We have a better place to wash our equipment, which means we can do a better job of taking care of our machines so that they perform on the golf course like we need them to.

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please do not scrape snow off the green to clear your line for putting. Turf damage may occur. 

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