Ever go to the circus and watch the the guy who juggles? Seems every time you blink he is adding another "thing" to be thrown in the air. Well, that's kinda how the construction project was going, until this week. I'm very happy to report that 6-13 is completely out of the construction phase, and on to the grow-in phase...including the greens! We tried valiantly to get hole 14 ready for grassing, but it was apparent early on that 13 was going to be a real tough clean up hole. So this week we only got 2 holes grassed. Next week's plan is to grass 14, 15, & 18.
In keeping with the intent to bring back as much of the original design as possible, with a few modern enhancements, we have restored all of the greens complexes to the original shape. Yet, when we got to #13 it was very apparent that the original was very, very small. Over the years, many pseudo putting surface expansions had taken place on all of the greens, but none were done correctly. By correctly I mean digging out additional green's well and expanding the USGA spec green's profile. Just adding 4 inches of green's mix and grassing it with Mini Verde is a long term nightmare for water control, as well as, for putting surface quality. This is why we always struggled with the perimeters of the putting surfaces drying out so much faster than any where else. After reviewing the new #13 green complex with our architect, Tony, Mr. Dean, and our contractor, it became clear that we were going to lose a good 10 feet of putting surface from the front of the green. So, after some discussion, we decided to expand the front of the green.
In this pic you can see where the new part of the green will be constructed. The blue flags on the left of the excavation indicate where the old green's well ended. The excavated part is where the putting surface was established in the regrass of 2007 by just adding 4 inches of green's mix over the native soil. Notice the black plastic liner on the edge of the old green's well. This is rarely used any more, but made it very easy for the contractor to perfectly marry up the new layers to the old layers.
After the excavation is exactly 16 inches all the way across (the USGA spec is 4 inches for drainage gravel and 12 inches for the greens mix), a drainage line is dug below the new floor of the well and then the gravel blanket is installed. Notice the new drain pipe on the right of the new well. Also notice the green's liner is removed.
Once the gravel layer is installed to match the old layer, the new green's mix is installed. It is dumped from the edges and pushed or shoveled so the sides of the well do not crumble in. Once completely filled and is floated out, you would never know, either in performance or grass quality, that there was a small expansion done.
As I said earlier, our goal this week was 12 & 13. Here is the box blader giving #12 what we call "the final slick" before grassing, notice the new differentiation in the tee heights.
Here is the new view from the blue tee on 12. The water running in the back ground is watering the new sod on #13 fairway bunker. The view from here is almost 500 yards long. Its by far, right after the new tees on 13, the very best view on the course so far.
.Here's a before taken from the red tee...
On hole 16, looking back at the rest room and to the right a bit, the arrow head marks the new center of the tee and the cross line is approximately the height of the new tee. From the new location, you can't see the green and have to hit a draw off the tee to land in the fairway.
On hole 17, we achieved out goal of creating a banked turn on the dog leg with a cross bunker to act as an aiming point, as well as a catch for those who want to hit a draw but hit it straight. Its hard to tell, but the new turning point of the fairway is about 4 feet higher than what is was.
Here's a look at the green after the turning point of the fairway. Once we have the bunker sand in, I'll take these pics again and put one after the other for a comparison.
Here is look off the new tee complex of 18. The back tee moved back an additional 10 yards and elevated 3 feet about the white tee.
As of Wednesday this week, all drainage and shaping is complete on the back 9!!!
As mentioned earlier, greens 6-13 were grassed this week. The grass was shipped in a refrigerated truck from Houston, Texas on Thursday afternoon and arrived at my office around 8 a.m. Friday morning. Each bag has 18 bushels of sprigs.
Based on the size of the greens, we do the math and lay out the number of bags per green. Once spread out, its shake, shake, shake your sillies out!!!
At the same time as we were shaking the sprigs for the greens, I had one of the guys go around and edge the celebration runners back. Then I sent some guys around to pull any celebration that has crept into the putting surface.
Lastly, after the sprigs are and cut in around the edges by hand and all heads are checked for proper adjustment, its water time.
Else where on the front....the lake enhancements continue going in full force. On Thursday, this was the view out to #5 fairway from the broken arrow storm shelter.
I think the contractor really wanted to get this part of the lake enhancements done quickly!!!
All in all, we are really moving fast now. My only concern is "heavy" rain. Heavy rain causes washouts, and that means lots of clean up. If I can get a good 2 weeks of growth before it rains, I'm good. Last night we received 1.5 inches in a couple hours which is not too bad, but exposed soil moves with water. Now, this is my challenge in the grow in phase. Do I want rain, yes....ever where else except on the ground that was just planted.
Next week we will start mowing the first set of holes planted, 6-8. The process will be to roll the new sprigs with a 5 ton roller, mow the sprigs, fertilize the sprigs, and then water the heck out of the sprigs. This process will take place twice a week until the grass is almost 100%. This pic was taken at the two week mark. By week three (next week), it will definitely be time to mow!!!
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