Repositioning a drain

We continue to dodge any pop-up thunderstorms and remain very dry. Nevertheless, in our irrigated areas, sometimes wet spots can develop. We addressed one wet area this past week.

On the right side of #5 approach, the drain from the right greenside bunker terminates in the rough. This is a typical setup for the ends of bunker drains- they don’t often tie into other drainage; they just stop a fair distance away from the bunker and empty into the rough. Under normal circumstances, emptying the bunker drain like this does not cause any issues.

It may seem strange to be working on a drain during such a dry stretch. However, controlling and moving water is the most critical aspect of maintaining good turfgrass. And there are two specific times when water can be a problem- very wet seasons, or very dry seasons. The need to move water off the turf in a wet season is obvious. But in a dry season, relying so heavily on irrigation inevitably leads to overly wet areas simply due to inconsistencies in irrigation distribution and heavy usage. This whole season hasn’t been dry, but we are in a very dry, and intensely hot stretch right now and we are maintaining the turf solely on irrigation.

Bunkers also get watered because of their location. The green and green surround sprinklers both get water into the bunkers every time they run. In the case of #5, that is where the excess water is coming from- the volume and frequency of watering the green and surround leads to more water in the bunker and thus more water moving through the drain system.

So back to our project- the extra water coming out of the drain had created a significantly wet spot in a location that was affecting our mowing and playability. Our mowers either had to avoid the spot entirely, or if they mistakenly mowed through it, would create a muddy mess. So, our goal was to take the end of the drain and extend it out towards the cart path. In that location, our mowers could much more easily avoid it, it would be less impactful to golfers, and the excess water could empty onto the cart path rather than into the middle of the rough. We only had to stretch the drain another 15 feet and cover it right back up; we finished in one afternoon.

It was a small project, and one that won’t really get a lot of attention. But making lots of small improvements raises the level of the entire property. That was the goal with repositioning the drain on #5.

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please do not apply any spray sunscreen or insect repellent while standing on the grass, especially the greens. The chemicals kill the turf.

 

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

Golf Cart tips

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org