Green Renovation 15/16

Our renovation work is well under way.  Golf Course Architect, Kelly Blake Moran, has designed our new green complexes.  Locally, Kelly is responsible for the superb design at Laurel Links in Jamesport.  The construction crew hails from Delea Sod.  They have hired Kevin Nolan, who did the majority of the shaping at Atlantic GC in Bridgehampton,  We are fortunate to have him in the seat of that John Deere dozer out there doing his thing!

One of the main reason's that we chose #16 is that it's summer survival has always been a constant battle.  When I interviewed for this position way back in 1995, it was explained to me this way: "don't worry too much about this green, it dies every August, that's the way it is."
Hmm? So obviously there is a bigger issue than the turf here.  Well we found it.  Right under the green, was a thick layer of blue/gray clay.  No drainage at all other than an inexpensive attempt with the "Water Wick" system, which certainly helped and remains evident some 10 years after installation.

Here come the photos, please enjoy.

Layering issues in the greens: 3 inches of topdressing, 3 inches of very heavy soil, and under that solid CLAY.  This is the reason behind most of our problems at IHCC.  And...most of our greens were constructed this way. 

We stripped the valuable areas on both greens to use in other areas.

Here we used sod form the right of 15 green to repair the damaged area on 18 green.  Unfortunately, the soil issue here is similar so we will be babysitting this sod for a while.  

We also used a lot of the newer bluegrass surrounds on 15 to repair some of the ground stumps.....

....and to patch the stump area where the mostly dead Maple was removed near the putting green

Step one: rototiller

The John Deere Dozer....has arrived!

Starting on 16

moving soils on 16

Water Wick drainage, 10+ years after installation.  This went down approximately 12", notice here the heavy dark clay soils that were in 16 green.   

Here the dozer is rolling up the blue-gray clay just under 16 green surface.

The dark gray clay....under 16 green, visable even after a lot of soil has been moved.

16

More to follow as the project continues.....