The Reconstruction of #7 Green Complex
I was thrilled when our new ownership wanted to discuss continuing the greens reconstruction program. Our course was built in the late 50's, basically by moving around the local, poor quality, heavy soils and shaping a golf course from a swamp.
Greens that have been reconstructed have been done so in an agronomically correct fashion, that is, to USGA Specifications. They have been our best performing greens over the years and hopefully more will follow. To date our renovated greens are #12 (2003), #2 & #9 (2006), #15 & #16 (2013) and now in 2016 green #7. In 2003, seeing it was one only green being done during the renovation of the Beach holes and sea wall, we stripped the turf, rebuilt the green and surrounds and replaced the existing turf. All greens since that one have an improved bentgrass variety referred to as "A1/A4". A blend of newer grasses that we eventually hope to have throughout the course.
As in most of my blog posts I like to use as many photos as possible to share the vision of the project. I will use captions to explain the photos where necessary. Hope you enjoy the photo adventure as much as we enjoyed the actual project.
It is important to note that while there has been a bit of controversy over the past renovations our work with GCA Doug Smith on #7 was done in such a way that the green was modified only slightly. The idea was to keep the basic shape and roll, but to allow for more pin positions while keeping the character of the original green. I believe we did just that.
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| It all starts with an idea on paper.... |
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| photos of original 7 green on its last day. we set up our center lines with strings to the 100 yd marker. this ensured the center of the green would remain the same. |
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| original 7 |
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| original 7 from new bunker. this is important because the renovated bunker on the left of the green needs to match this one. |
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| original 7 from the approach that we converted to the temporary green during construction. |
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| Center Line on original 7 to 100 yd marker. |
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| original 7. This bunker is now gone and the new one far more interesting. |
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| Shaper Kevin Nolan, and Jim DeLea, setting up benchmarks and existing features to be recaptured later. |
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| original 7 approach |
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| original 7 from 5 tee |
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| green taped stakes representing likely new edges of green |
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| at this point we were stripping any reusable turf from the green to use on other areas damaged over the summer. a large amount was used on #18 where we had severe nematode injury. |
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| large cups were also used on various damaged areas |
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| Add caption |
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| first area tilled over was the old bunker left side |
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| we grabbed about 450 plugs for repair work while the green began to disappear. |
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| tilling the green surface made it a simple procedure to push the existing "push-up" mix off the back of the green area. this was used to rebuild and expand the edge of the pond on 8. |
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| the end of original 7 |
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| beginning the process of removing the mix. approximately 18" of soil was removed from 6000sqft. |
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| Here and below, 3 staff members carefully reinstall turf up on #18 that was removed from #7. |
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| removal of old green surface and mix continues |
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| The temporary green on 7 worked out very nicely in the approach area. |
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| Kevin surveying his next move |
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| Green cavity almost shelled out |
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| cleaning up last of old mix. the exact green finish grade surface is duplicated in the finish sub-grade. |
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| using some of the original green mix for new bunker bank |
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| the stakes in the green cavity were in place to have a precise floor on the subgrade. |
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| Marley & Me - having a look at the progress |
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| once Kevin had the floor done, I dragged it with a steel mat to get a better look at what we anticipated the surface to look like. It was very close to what we had hoped for in the end product. |
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| At this point we were happy with the grade. with 4" of gravel going in and 14" of new greensmix, we now knew how much more would have to be removed for the back edge tie-in to the green surrounds. (which was lowered about 11") |
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| while awaiting the drainage crew to arrive Kevin began to shape the new bunker on the left side of the green |
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| This photo and the one below show in detail the depth that the green was lowered on the left side. |
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| Intial and primary drainage trench being dug. |
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| Drainage. THE most important part of the green renovation. |
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| wide trenches were used, pipe installed, and surrounded by gravel. |
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| drainage was installed in section so not to disturb any finished areas. |
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| 859 linear feet of drainage pipe were installed into the green. |
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| after all the lines were installed an exact and uniform 4" layer of gravel was layed into the shell. Again, when finished this represents the final grade contour. |
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| here some of the material being used to improve and reshape the edge of the pond on 8. |
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| Greensmix has arrived!!! |
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| Mix being moved onto the gravel. 14" of mix, packed to 12". Our mix was blended offsite and 360 tons were delivered via 18 truckloads. |
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| Mix being added to the orange tape line. The green tape was just so Kevin could see the sticks. |
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| Happened to bump into this big buck in the morning. The deer population has exploded and they are becoming a big problem on our greens and in our bunkers. Damage is done nearly every evening. |
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| Mix is in now serious work on the bunker begins. |
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| rough shaping completed, awaiting visit from architect for approval. |
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| cape changes made |
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| Add caption |
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| rough shaping done. |
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| mix finish grade |
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| working on final grade with "gill" |
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| final grades of rear surrounds and pond edges nearly completed |
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| drainage sump being dug into bunker floor. area is nothing but solid clay, drain pit is approx. 6" deep. |
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| had 2 days for Kevin to rough shape the large new fairway bunker on 7/14. |
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| an incredible amount of time was used removing an incredible amount of tree roots which made it nearly impossible to grow grass in this area. |
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| TREE ROOTS !!!!!!! |
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| TREE ROOTS!!!!! |
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| TREE ROOTS !!!!!! UNBELIEVEABLE |
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| Sod Day !!! we used this organic product under the sod to help promote healthy rooting. |
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| DeLea staff on hand to work their magic laying the green sod. |
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| perimeter pass was laid first. |
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| GRASS!!! |
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| A1/A4 variety green sod came up from Southtern New Jersey farm |
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| finishing up green surface |
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| stretched the new sod down into the approach |
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| Green surface completed and two surround passes to keep the edges safe. |
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| at this point we decided to add a small area of fairway behind the green similar to the new #15. |
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| looking over green to new bunker. |
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| small fairway addition behind 7 green. |
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| looking back over green down 7 fairway |
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| prior to new irrigation installation we had to keep the new sod wet by hand watering. |
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| Irrigation professionally installed by Friends Irrigation |
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| New and greatly improved view of 7 nearly finished. |
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| very pleased with final look! |
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| greatly improved pond edge on 8. wider, no trees, and grassed! |
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a little more drainage work on bunker.
There you have it. A photo review of a large and successful project. Planning to open this new green by Memorial day of 2017. We appreciate your support, positive comments, and patience. Looking forward to opening this beauty for play.
Enjoy the winter and stay tuned for more updates.
See you on the course, in the Spring!
-JohnnyP and Staff |
