Monday, February 18, 2013

#18 Greenside bunker removed the huge facing due to erosion problems and rolled the sod. 

Greens Drainage Completed

Here's what we found on the greens drainage. All drainage has been repaired and so far 2013 is looking promising for the putting surfaces particularly on holes #3,4,5,7,14.

#1 Green-found crushed pipe in front of green and tree roots filled in pipe.



Pipe found filled with tree roots.









Pipe and fitting crushed.

#2 green found tree roots in pipe. No pictures available.

#3 Green found pipe crushed on the approach in front of the green, roots filled pipe. No pictures available.

#4 Green found pipe and fittings separated. No pictures available.

#5 Green found crushed pipe in several places, greens drainage actually went into the bunker drainage however that pipe was crushed as well plus found 2 drain pipes cut.


Pipe found crushed plus it was not even connected to the main drainage line.








Just below is the new main drain line installed.

Main drain line coming off of #5 green.

















#6 Green found the end of the pipe crushed.

#7 Green was good. That was a surprise???

#8 Green found the pipe filled with tree roots. A total new drainage line was installed from the front of the green to the 24" drain basin.
 Our first discovery the pipe was filled with water and tree roots was the issue.
 New drainage line installed.

















#9 found the pipe with a huge elevation rise plus filled with tree roots along the lake bank.

Huge rise in pipe coming out of drain basin.













#10 found the drain line simply dead ended into a crushed 12" drain basin in the rough on the left side of the fairway 50 to 75 yards out from the green. Remember the spot that was always wet in the trees on the left side that was the drainage. A new line has been installed to a 24" concrete basin that empties in the lake on #10.

New drain line installed.
Front of #10 green.

















#11 found pipe and fittings crushed at the front edge of the green.

 Front of #11 green.
Pipe and tee crushed.













#12 found the pipe collided into the 2" irrigation pipe. On one side of the pipe the drain line was set at level on the opposite it was 8" above the pipe. Folks, water does not drain going up!!!

Really? Lazy way to do things.













#13 was actually a surprise to all of us. Back in October, we came in one morning and the front of the green was flooded, the turf was floating. Located the drain line in the 24" concrete drain basin and not a drop of water was coming out. We then started tracking the line, once we found the troubled area (which was filled with tree roots) we cut open the line and a huge rush of water drained out of the drain pipe for nearly 3 hours. No pictures available.

#14 green found the pipe filled with tree roots. No pictures available.

#15 found damaged pipe in front of the green.

 Inconsistency in the level plus hole found in pipe.
 Pipe damaged.













#16 green was GOOD!!!

#17 green found pipe filled tree roots.

 4" pipe filled tree roots.
Wye filled with tree roots.













#18 green found the pipe and fitting crushed.

 In front of #18 green.
Wye and pipe crushed













Putting green found the first pipe dead ended and the second pipe was cut.

The pipe below is the actual drain line found cut and dead ended.
Second drain line found cut.

















This was an outstanding project and took many of us by surprise. My hope that this is the reason Willow Fork has suffered so many years of dealing with greens like #4,5,14, and the putting green with disease year after year. Folks, after 2012 I had enough and it was time to get to work.
Only time will tell us now, if we figured it out. Just for once--be YES.
Thank all of you for your patience in playing golf around the maintenance staff during this event.

Willy Plowman
Golf Course Superintendent