Bunker work on the front nine began October 15th. As highlighted in last months email flash, the bunkers are being rebuilt with some minor changes- sand is being gutted, the floors are being elevated to the appropriate depth for 6" of sand, drainage is being added and the faces are being resodded. To date we have completed work on holes 1,2,3,4 and part of 7. Following Thanksgiving we will be drill and filling the greens and then continue work on holes 7 and 6 with the goal of finishing by Christmas if the weather cooperates and it's been pretty darn cooperative so far so keep it coming!
Drill and Fill
The work that was performed on hole 3 provides a good example of the improvements we have aimed to make. The bunker on the left was too far removed to the green and the goal was to moved it closer to the green by approximately 6-7'. On the right hand side the bunkers the goals were two-fold- to create a better site-line from the fairway and to properly drain them and in particular the front right buker which severely floods after heavy rainfalls, often times turning the sand upside down. Below are pics highlighting the work.
Left side bunker pre reconstruction- bunker floor moved to painted white lines
14" of accumulated sand buildup in bunker- should be 6"
Bunker being gutted
New shape outlined and right side moved in 6'
Drainage added
Drainage extended across approach to existing pipe
Drainage complete
Bunker outlined with burlap soil bags to help shape and stabilize the grass mounding
Before and after
Right side being gutted
Drainage being installed
Pre sod and sand
Completed right side
Front right pre rebuild after 2" rain event
Front right post rebuild after 2+" of rain
Pre bunker rebuilds
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Post bunker rebuilds
Once hole 7 is completed we will move to hole 6. On hole 6 we will try to recapture some of the approach that has been lost in to the last fifty years. If you look at the photo in the men's card room you will notice that the approach was at one time wider so that the bunkers were better incorporated into the hole. Widening the approach will recapture this lost element to the hole.
Outline of expanded approach
While rebuilding the bunkers we have also been able to get all the fairways vertiquaked to a depth of 8+". The below picture demonstrates what the verti-quake does.
The verti-quake slices into the ground with blades that form continuous lines down into and through the fairway. As the machine slices into the ground creating 8" deep drainage channels it also vibrates causing a decompaction of the soil.
Post verti-quake
Depth achieved
Some of you who may have been out to play recently after we finished the process may have noticed some lifting of the turf in spots. This was expected due to the aggressive decompaction process that takes place. The turf will settle back down into and through the winter. No rest for this machine, next up... the rough!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
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