Phase 2 continues! When we last checked in we were working on the new bunkers on 8 and 16. Great progress has been made by Geoff and the crew. These bunkers have been shaped and sodded. The only remaining work will be to do any drainage work that is needed and to install the sand, which will take place in spring.
From there, we moved on to filling in a few traps that the Master plan slated for removal. The 13th green had the bunkers behind and to the right of the green being removed. Two bunkers that receive minimal use and have been a labor sink as the condition and consistency of the sand had been causing headaches for years. Topsoil was brought in to re-shape the terrain and then were sodded. The collar around the right edge of the green where was bunker will be extended to create a chipping area, similar to what we did on 16 earlier this season.
The left fairway bunker was removed on the 6th hole. With our equipment in close proximity to this area after working on 8 and 16 it made sense to pick off as it became a perfect place to dump the excess materials that were removed during the construction of the new greenside bunkers.
Moving forward, we have broken ground on 17 greenside bunker. A lot of unused square footage in this bunker and years of sand migration had this trap looking tired.
As you can see, the contour lines have become misshapen. When Geoff started digging into the entry point for golfer and maintenance workers we can see a foot of bunker sand built up into this entry point and into the turf at the lip of the bunker, totally obscuring the original design. We saw this on 16 as well as these points of sand build up create bulges of turf, looking unnatural and counter to the desired aesthetic we are trying to achieve here.
The new bunker eliminates the wasted square footage, reallocating it closer to the green. The new bunker will be deeper and still create a hazard that people will be trying to steer clear of.
We will be completing the sodded portion of this bunker later this week.
Lastly, we have completed what is now an annual practice in doing a deep tine aeration of the greens. We have contracted out the services of Eco Valley Restorations as they do their fall tour of the Maritimes completing this and other cultural practices for golf courses before the snow flies. We have seen the benefits that the deep tine provides; both in the short term with an increase in surface drainage and in the medium-long term with enhanced root proliferation.
As we get closer to the end of the calendar year we are checking off more items off the list. We are hopeful to complete our winter fungicide applications over the next 7-10 days. By the end of the month we hope to have the greens topdressed and tarped. Put to bed until spring.
Comments