Golf Course Grounds

Practice Putting Green Rebuild
Oct/Nov 2007

In late October 2007 we began the process of rebuilding our practice putting green.  The old green was approximately 4,500 square feet and was plagued by health issues caused by adjacent trees, which provided too much shade and also robbed the green of moisture and nutrients.  The green was also too small to accommodate enough cup locations to prevent repetitive wear, and was not indicative in contours of the other greens on our course.

The new green being constructed will be approximately 9,500 square feet with two levels.  The surrounding trees have been removed to give it adequate light and keep it from having to compete for water and nutrients, so it should be a healthier green as well.  There are also planned to be some of the subtle ridges and berm influences similar to other greens on the course.  With decent winter weather we hope the new green will open no later than mid-May 2008.

The old green with the surrounding trees cut down. 10/25/07	The new temporary practice green at the rear of #10 tee, with sod taken from the old practice green. 10/25/07
10/29/07 A workman from Snyder Bros. Golf Construction runs a tiller across the old green to break up the sod.	10/29/07  The dozer begins work on removing tree stumps and the rock retaining wall around the old green.
10/29/07  The dozer sits parked at the end of the first day of real demo.   The basic shape of the new green is taking place.	10/29/07  Most of the demo is completed.
10/30/07  By noon Tuesday shaping has begun in earnest.	10/30/07 noon - Dirt has been brought in to be used for mounding and collars.
10/30/07  The dozer makes a pass from the upper level to the lower level of the new green.	10/30/07  Work continues on the berms and collars as another load of pea gravel arrives.
10/30/07  By mid-afternoon much of the shaping is completed as some of our supervisors monitor progress.	10/30/07  By days end the shaping is complete.
10/30/07  This view shows some of the slopes and mounding that will be prominent in the new green.
10/31/07  These two views show the completed shape of the new green.  Here you can see that trenching has begun for the irrigation lines.	10/31/07  Slightly different view of the upper part of the green.
10/31/07  Alex converses with one of the Snyder Bros crew on Wednesday afternoon.
Roger and Alex work on the irrigation for the new practice green.  11/1/07	Now that the final shape is about ready, our next step is to start digging again to put drainage in.  11/1/07
By late Thursday drain lines were excavated and the process of basing with pea gravel and then installing the drain lines has begun. 11/1/07	Another view of the drain line that will draw drainage from the upper level and out the lower level.  11/1/07
Another view of the irrigation line.	One of the secondary drain lines with the drain pipe installed.  In addition to the main central line, the green contains six secondary feeder lines.  11/1/07
Ready to stat spreading the pea gravel. 11/2/07	The dozer waits for another load of pea gravel.  A 4" base of pea gravel is being spread today (Friday) in anticipation of the greens mix next week.  11/2/07
Another view of the partially spread pea gravel.  After spreading with the dozer it will be raked similar to how our bunkers are raked and checked for 4" depth.  11/2/07	By the end of the day Friday all of the irrigation is in, drainage is in, and the 4" base gravel layer is spread.
Monday 11/5/07:  The 2nd and 3rd loads of greens mix show up and dumped into the new surface.  In all, it will take over 16 trailer loads, over 500 tons (yes, 1-million pounds) of greens mix to build this green.
Tuesday 11/6/07:  The final loads of greens mix were delivered just before noon today.   Doug Snyder of Snyder Brothers Golf Construction has spread the mix and is driving the dozer over it to reduce settling.	11/6/07:  As Doug runs the dozer over the greens mix workers apply water to aid in the process.
11/6/07:  Another pass with the dozer as more water is added.	11/6/07:  Kevin and Bo add the first course of nutrient called Sand-Aid to the mix.  Three more products will be added before the entire mix is eventually tilled into the top 3" of the greens mix.
Wednesday 11/7/07 Kevin prepares to water in the cool season sod that has been laid around the new practice green.  The green is expected to be seeded tomorrow.	Wed. 11/7/07 A view of the new green from the clubhouse deck.  At over 9,000 square feet the new green is over twice the size of the old practice green.
Wed. 11/7/07  This panoramic view of the new green shows much of the sod in place.	Wed. 11/7/07  A different angle of the new green. The picture may not show but the green receives influences from some of the mounds around it, very similar to the greens on the course.
11/13/07  Over 2.5" of rain fell yesterday (Monday) and we did experience some damage to the new green.  It was seeded last Thursday and experienced a few minor ruts carved into it by the runoff.  The biggest concern is that much of the seed might be washed away.	11/13/07  The most visible damage is that much of the sod on the lower face was washed away.  Fortunately, it didn't go far and wasn't damaged. so Alex and his crew will simply replace it where it belongs.
11/13/07  Alex takes a close look to see if the seed appears to be in place or if it washed away.  To be certain, he plans to apply another seeding of A-4 bent as soon as it arrives on Wednesday.   Tuesday will be used to repair the minor ruts in the surface and prepare it for reseeding.
12/12/07  Alex has uncovered the new green and you can see the beginnings of the new A4 bent grass.  He applied an anti-fungal to prevent snow mold, a little fertilizer, and then recovered the green.	In this picture you see some of the original seed that was washed to the bottom of the green during the 11/12/07 rains.  This seed has germinated in it's own casings.
3/10/2008 Update - The cover is removed!!
3/10/08 Kevin, Kelly, and Alex pull back the cover to expose the new green for the first time.  Due to the unfavorable winter we experienced, especially the colder than normal February, the green is not as well developed as hoped.	3/10/08 This view looking toward the lower level shows that there is grass in most areas of the new green.   Alex hopes to mow it either today or tomorrow, which he says will promote growth in the new grass.  Temperatures are also expected to be in the 60's much of this week which will also help.
3/10/08 Another view as the cover is pulled back	3/10/08 This close up shows a typical area of the new green.  Some areas are fuller, others are thinner, but all in all the green is coming in nicely.
3/10/08 Another view across the top level shows that there is quite a bit of grass already there.  Time, moisture, temperature, and sunlight are needed to help it grow.	3/10/08 The lower level of the green is by far thicker and lusher than the top.  This may be a result of the heavy rains that might have washed seeds down to the lower level.
3/10/08 There were at least three sets of deer tracks across the green, including those visible in the bottom right side of this picture.  By the time you see the green Alex and his crew will have them repaired and you'll never notice them.	3/10/08 All in all the winter weather was not our friend on this grow in.  The cold February has put Alex about a month behind when he originally hoped to pull the cover off.  He still believes that the green will open by middle to the end of May.
(below)  Sunday, March 16, 2008
This view from the front corner of the green looking down between #1 and #3.  In the six days since the photos were taken of the uncovering the green has been mowed at least a couple times and is showing significant signs of growth.	The new surface is greener since its had a few days uncovered and in the sun.  We will try to take similar pictures each Sunday and post them so we can watch the grow-in.
(below) Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008
One week later you can see improvement in the green condition, even though Alex had put the cover back on for a couple of days because of the extreme rainfall we experienced last Monday and Tuesday.	Even though the green was covered for two days to protect it from heavy rains (about 6") it continues to grow in nicely.
(below) Sunday, March 30, 2008
Sunday was a drizzly, overcast day, but you can still see that the green has continued to mature.  Alex has been mowing it on a regular basis - by hand, as many as 80 trips across it for one mowing.
(below) Sunday, April 6, 2008
Sunshine for a change and warm temps!  The green continues to grow in.  Mowing stripes are visible on the surface now.	Alex gives the new green a Sunday morning drink to get it ready for a full day in the sun.
The mowing stripes are more visible in this photo.  Over 200 plugs were placed to repair damage from last Monday's heavy rains.	As seen from the lower level, the size (over 9500 sq.ft.) of the new green is more apparent.
Sunday, April 13, 2008 (below)
Another overcast Sunday morning and temperatures only in the 40's.  The green continues to grow in spite of the unseasonable weather conditions.
Monday, April 28, 2008 (below)
I was out of state last Sunday, so I missed posting a report for April 20, 2008.  Above is a picture taken around noon on Monday April 28, 2008.  As you can see, much progress has been made.  In the picture Alex and Kevin are in the process of plugging a few bare areas with grass from around the collar.  Speaking of the collar, you can also notice the white lines painted on the surface to reflect where the collar will be mowed.   They are now mowing the green at .170" - which is only about .040" higher than our regular greens are cut.  Alex expects it to be open by mid-May.	If you look closely in this photo you can see roots hanging out the bottom of the cup cutter.  Alex was in the process of pulling plugs to repair bare spots on the new green, and this shows the depth of the root system that is already in place!  The black tape on the cutter represents the surface level, so the roots are down about 5" more or less.
Sunday May 4, 2008
Finally some more sunshine!  This morning (Sunday 5/4/08) Alex mowed the green at .160" - getting lower all the time!  The green was heavily top dressed on Friday.  On Tuesday Alex plans to roll it with the vibratory rollers, which will also help smooth the surface.  You can also notice in this picture that the collar has been defined and cut in.  Look for the green to be open by the Four Ball tournament.
Saturday 5/10/08
Here's the view you've all been waiting for.  On Saturday 5/10/08 Alex couldn't stand it any longer.  The new green was rolling rather well, the turf appears to be healthy, and the members were ready.  The new putting green IS NOW OPEN!  It's still a little bit slower than the greens on the course, but as it continues to mature this year the mowing height will be adjusted to match the on-course greens.  Dan, Alex, and all of the staff at LVCC want to thank everyone for their patience while this new green has grown in.  I'm sure you'll find that the finished product was worth the wait.