Irritation

The starting of the season brings much anticipation and surprise.
These are some of the surprises we find.
This is a galvanized pipe that our water pressure and friction has worn a hole in.
Pretty neat huh?
Turf

Our first leak

We charged the irritation system, and guess what? Yep, it made some cool new features.
Golf course is open, blue and white. Carts on fairways only, please keep them out of the rough.
Fairways have drainage, and in the spring and fall are better for traffic.
Have fun out there,
Turf

The story of dew

This weather is something!
Look at the pattern on this green. The dark areas lack dew, this tells us that these greens are under drought stress.
That means we better get some water on them.
We are charging our irrigation system today and hoping for rain!
Rain is plan "a", and irrigation is plan "b".
I really like plan "a"
Plan "b" is probably more realistic.
Is it June already?
Turf

The making of a sod wall bunker

Sod is here and the creation of our sod wall is starting. The first photo shows a build up of sand around the edge of the bunker. This was done by nature as wind has blown sand out of the bunker and became trapped by the grass. The golf course is a living and changing entity and that fact is captured well in the photo and defined by the distinct layer present.
More soon,
Turf

My poor little putting green.

Construction took its toll on this little gem of a green. In the photo is a great young man who I will greatly miss. David is taking the head golf course superintendent job at white hawk country club. He will do a great job, and he will be difficult to replace.
Today is David's last day at Briar.
Opening 18 holes tomorrow!
The proshop will work out of the pod off of red one tee, which was the original proshop.
Tee it high!
Turf

Sod wall bunkers

Do you know what they are? Want to see one built? Here is step one, laying out the grades. This is going to be so good!
Next post, a sod wall example, straight from the birthplace of golf.
Turf

The news you have been waiting for

Please pass this along, and I encourage anyone who received this as a forward to visit www.turfdoctor.blogspot.com and subscribe to this blog.
Ready for this......
We will have the white and blue open on permanent greens this Saturday!
Carts may be on the path according to the forecast, but we will wait to see what happens.
We are filling trenches on the driving range and making great progress with that project.
I am also out assessing trees on the course, and wow, do we have branches down!
Ok, I have to go, but I hope to see you Saturday!
Turf

Irrigation valve install

What better time is there to install new valves on a golf course irrigation system? When it is not in use of course!
We are replacing two old valves, a three and a four inch. These make it possible to isolate sections of the system for repair while keeping the rest operational. Important when it is one hundred degrees and the turf wants water, on a Friday afternoon, before the member guest, and you mother in law is on her way in for a two week visit.
Oh the life of a golf course superintendent.
It's a great day though,
Turf

Monday rains

Looks like our drainage is working. Water is not coming out of the pipe, because it is not all hooked up. The water is moving through the trenches nicely.
We are pumping out the ice rink / trout pond today. Look for my bunker article later today!
Exciting news to follow,
Turf

Project "agua move"

Moving water, the key to any good growing situation aside from rice. To be a good superintendent you need common sense and drainage. If you are short on the former, get more of the latter.
The rain slowed the driving range project, but did not stop it. The rain certainly didn't stop us, we used this as an opportunity to fix some old broken drainage on seven red.
Drains fill up with mud and roots over time. Drainage systems, like many systems need to be maintained by regular maintenance. When the system does not receive regular flushing, it may degrade to they point where it needs replacement. Seven red drainage was full of tree roots.
We hope to be working on one white bunker next week. I will be posting some photos of what we have planned for that bunker. It will be very cool and we are excited.
Please help me to spread the word about this awesome new bunker look by forwarding this message along. If you were forwarded this message, visit www.turfdoctor.blogspot.com and subscribe to the blog to get email updates. The subscription box is located on the right side of the blog page.
Did I mention I have the greatest staff in golf course history?
Turf

Where did the doors go?

I arrived back to Briar after a week of conference, to a lot of changes. Wow! This is incredible, the place looks great. Our drainage project on the driving range is moving along. We are using the soil removed to enhance the target greens. Today we hope to start putting some pipe in the ground. The weather forecast looks like we could be opening the golf course earlier than we have in five years.
I will keep you posted,
Turf