Disaster strikes at 13th

We continued putting in the new main at 13th this morning, we only got another 3m in when ground conditions deteriorated causing serious collapse of the trench side walls. We found that digging at the depths we are( approx 1.5 meters) we have hit the water table, coupled with very sandy soil is causing running water to remove the bottom of the side wall. Once the bottom of the side wall has disappeared the weight of the remaining soil forces the soil down and in to the trench. Fortunately we managed to get 30 meters in to the 60 meter dig, however we have had to stop this project for the time being until the ground dries and it is safer to work.

With no more that could be done with the main pipework we tidied the area up and started work on the front bunker on 13th, this has been a problem for some time so the opportunity to drain this using the main pipe just installed will work out well and will ensure this bunker remains dry.

We also finished the green side drain on the 13th green and replaced the sprinkler head.

13th main drain

Yesterday we continued filling in the drain runs on 17th, with only a small stretch to fill in and turf to put back. This area should be back in play for the weekend.

With machinery servicing progressing well, Adam and Rob concentrated on a drain point at the back left of the 13th green, this has stood water on a regular basis over the last year so a outlet should dry this out. They dug a drainage ditch in to the existing bunker drainage system which was nearby. Tomorrow the trench can be back filled and the area tidied up.

We also started altering the route of the main drain that runs from the front of the 13th green to the 14th pond area, we have found that the main runs away very slowly so we took the decision to reroute it to discharge into the 13th ditch where it should work a lot better. To do this we have closed the hole for safety of the staff. We are installing a 225mm twin walled drainage pipe which is laser levelled to ensure even fall.

Now the weather has improved we have hand cut all the greens

 

Digging complete at 17th

The snow had melted and with the strong drying winds the course was in reasonably good shape this morning considering what it was like last week. We managed to open 15 holes, the rest were covered in snow, however it is melting fast. The forecast is for more rain tonight and tomorrow so we continued with the drainage works on 17th. We only had a couple more trenches to dig, which was good as leading soil away from the site is becoming really problematic. To allow water to discharge quickly from the drainage trenches we have connected the drainage 'grid' to a nearby ditch which will help remove surface water very quickly following heavy rain.

We have installed around 400m of drainage in this area, we still have a lot of drainage that needs doing right of the 17th green and towards the 27th fairway, however until the ground conditions improve we can not get drainage equipment into this area.
Other areas of drainage that were done when the snow was down has been tided up today, root zone topped up and the turf relaid. Drainage that was done at the 13th green area was inspected this morning,  after the heavy rain and snow melt this area would normally have been saturated, however the drainage has worked well

We inspected the main that we exposed and we have discovered part of the problem with the slow drain off of surface water in this area.

It is clear on the picture that there is a scum mark on the side of the trench where the water has risen up, nearly to the top of the hole which is 1.4m deep,this is due to the discharge of this main. It runs along way into the 14th ditch, which could be silted up and partially blocked with roots, or when installed it has a shallow fall which could be leading to the problem we face. There still is around 2 foot of water still over the main pipe, this could be backing water up in the rest of the drains. Our plan is to install another main pipe that leads to the 13th ditch, which is only 60 meters away, it will take time to install as the depth of the original main is around 1m-1.5m deep. We will use a 225mm twin walled drainage pipe, which is more than adequate to take the water away, this will allow immediate discharge of all drains leading into this main. We will start this project later in the week if the weather allows.

More drainage at 17

More drainage has been installed at 17, this time towards the 16th green and near the 17th path. Today will probably be the last day when ground conditions will enable us to move large amounts of soil from the 17th. Fortunately the snow and frosty nights have minimised damage leading to and from the 17th, but the forecast for next week is for a lot milder and wetter weather. We hope to finish the drainage on 17 early next week and move on to other lower priority areas that can be done in the time we have left before the excavator is returned.

 Sunrise at Malton

 Turf cutting on 17th path

 Pipe installed between 16 and 17

Drainage refreshed in the front bunker on 17, the stone was in good condition so the contaminated layer was removed, sharp sand replaced and finished with the bunker sand.

Yesterday the team went to the BIGGA exhibition at Harrogate to see the latest products, materials and machinery on offer to the green keeping world. Today we were back in to action draining the 17th. We are progressing well given the testing conditions with 3/4 of the drainage in this area installed. The warmer temperatures are giving us issues leading away from the site as the snow melt is making ground conditions very soft. However we are trying to restrict serious turf damage by alternating routes.

We extended one of the drains in to the right hand green bunker where it was connected to existing drainage. This will ensure we have a good drainage outlet in to the main drainage system.

Drainage trenches were dug in the wettest areas around the green, we had to take extreme care in these areas as there are irrigation pipes and cables running through the trenches had to be found and avoided. We placed the yellow water hazard posts where the pipes and cables were exposed to identify to all staff the location of them and stop potential damage.

17th Drainage in more snow

Today we continued with the drainage works at 17 in another 3 inches of snow which fell over the weekend. Unfortunately with the temperature slightly warmer than last week it has made ground conditions softer and leading soil away difficult. We dug out another trench and started to fill in the trenches that were dug at the end of last week. The turf in this area is very fragile and a lot is dead from been stood under water for so long. However we will ensure we repair any turf that can not be salvaged. The rest of the hedge between 18 and 19 is now removed and all left to do is to remove the stumps when the weather improves.

17th drainage continued

Once again work continued at 17, hedge removal at 18/19 and machinery servicing. A very productive week given the weather.

17th drainage

The area around the 13th green was finished first thing this morning in minus 10 degrees Celsius, then we moved on to the 17th hole. This has been severely wet for some time so an extensive drainage design was necessary. There are some old drains that were installed 25 years ago which when investigated they were reasonably clean deep down. To save costs we are digging out on top of the old drains re stoning and piping and putting back new root zone material. Half of the overall drainage on the 17th is on top of the old drains and the rest is new drain runs. Overall 450 meters will be installed around the 17th. Today we planned out the installation and began digging the first run.

 

Once the rest of the team had finished on the 13th they continued to remove the hedge between 18 and 19. Adam serviced the Toro fairway units, grinding the cylinders ready for reassembly

13th drainage

Minus 9 degrees Celsius this morning, but the sun was shining so we continued with our drainage work. It did cause us a few issues with the equipment freezing up, but we soon over came this and we worked to get the area on the 13th finished. Just a little more filling in to do then we will move on to the 17th wet area.

Bad weather and more drainage

The snow that was forecast arrived yesterday, we had a light covering in the morning that closed the course. Overnight and today we had further snow flurries that has laid down another couple of centimetres, with the forecast for the next 7 days looking like it is going to stay cold with more snow showers on the way it doesn't look like we will see any golf played this week. It doesn't mean the green staff have time to rest, we have a schedule of work to stick to, so where jobs can continue they do. Given the freezing conditions one of our higher priority tasks is to ensure the clubhouse car park is kept clear, we salt it most days clearing snow only when necessary. Over the last two days we have continued with the drainage works, with the 15th almost finished we moved on to the 1st hole, where there was two localised wet patches. 65 meters of drainage has been installed here.



We then had a small low area left of the 10th which needed 35m of drainage

 

 

 Then on to an area between 10 and 13th for another 80m

Other ongoing maintenance is servicing the fairway mowers, Rob and Adam regrind all the 12 cylinders, replace the bottom blades, change oils, check the machine for any other repairs and thoroughly clean both mowers

 

Flood water damage

Now the flood waters have receded the aftermath is clear to see, 6 weeks of flooding has left the turf stained with silt deposits and is saturated in the low points. Although there is no long term damage and the area can be cleared for recovery

 

view down to the 24th green

the 21st fairway

Today we sprayed the greens with a preventative fungicide mix of chipco, astute and go green iron knowing snow is forecast for the weekend and next week. If snow sits on the turf for a period of time fusarium can start developing damaging the turf, after a sustained period of mild weather this scenario is more than likely. The preventative fungicide should stop any form of disease developing during the next 4 weeks.

15th green drainage

drainage line running through the low points, turf cut and out let dug to check height

Adam and Rob working off boards to protect the green, remove the turf and the sandy rootzone near the surface

 

Half of the green dug out by hand, levels checked, pipe in gravel and 300mm of rootzone compacted into the trench

Second half of green started

Connection made to outlet

Job done, very tidy, turf back on and only a light roll needed

15th fairway drainage

digging out trenches right of 15, its very wet in this area and will certainly benefit from the work

 

and left of 15

 

 

now all the drains are dug work begins filling them with pipe and stone