Nearing the End

After hauling and spreading 250 tons of sand (that's 500,000 pounds), the bunker on #7 is close to complete, and the tees have been reopened.

 

This was a major project for us to undertake in April.  While the cool weather may not have been the greatest for play, it did allow us to work on the bunker at a time we'd typically be focused on other tasks.

Over the next couple of weeks, we'll continue to compact the sand, recheck sand depth levels, and cleanup any edge work on the bunker.

#7 Bunker...Part Two

 

Two weeks ago we discussed the re-building of the bunker on #7.  At that time, the prep work of removing old sand, grading, and drainage was well underway.  So far, this sounds like a pretty ordinary project, right?
Well, things quickly changed this week as we began to install asphalt in the bunker.  Yes, we are using porous asphalt as a liner in the base of the bunker.  This innovative idea, referred to as the Matrix Bunker System, was developed by Dan Meersman, the Director of Grounds at Philadelphia Cricket Club.


The asphalt remains porous because it contains fewer small particles, and is not compacted with a heavy roller.  Once it cools, water will flow freely to the drain lines.  And there's little doubt that the asphalt will provide a great barrier against contamination from rocks below.

No,this isn't the overflow parking for Club events.  However, the site of asphalt in the bunker surprised both golfers and motorists this week.

Blue Stakes?

Most golfers are familiar with yellow stakes, red stakes, and the dreaded white stakes.  However, this year we have added a new color: blue stakes. 

The fairway bunkers on #9 and 12 now have blue stakes.  By local rule, these are to be played as waste bunkers, and are no longer considered hazards.  So feel free to ground your club...and be sure to check with the Pro Shop staff if you need additional rules information.

Blue stake on #9.

#7 Bunker

 

This week we started yet another project--the much needed rebuilding of #7 bunker.  From outside, the bunker appears large, but when you are down in it and walk from one end to the other, its enormity truly becomes apparent.  Of course, when a single bunker is 1/3 of an acre, this makes sense. 

The rebuilding process has several steps to it.  To start, the existing sand was scraped down and used for re-grading, or removed from the bunker.  Next, the entire bunker was re-edged to a depth of 7" to allow for the barrier material and new sand.  We then addressed the two grass islands in the bunker, chopping down and hauling away the existing vegetation, then softening the slopes of the mounds.   As these mounds will be converted to Fescue, we incorporated many loads of sand into them with a rototiller to provide a good growing medium for this turf.

The next step is the drainage.  The old, contaminated drainage was dug up, and replaced.  A fresh bed of pea gravel is placed in the trench under the plastic drain pipe, followed by the perforated pipe, and then more pea gravel to the surface.



The crew begins to address the bunker drainage as Apollo takes a cool dip.

A new and unique process will be used to prevent contamination of the new sand by the sub-soil.  We'll discuss this in depth as the project progresses.

While this project is going on, the bunker should be considered "Ground Under Repair."  Based on play and our activity during the construction process, we may either: 1) relocate the tee markers on #7 so you're not hitting over the bunker, or 2) create a temporary par 3 on #9, with two cups in the green.

We apologize for any temporary inconvenience, but feel certain that the finished product will be well worth it.


Buster and new crew member, Thor, watch as sand is rototilled into the grass mound.