Tedious Work

 

While it seems that putting pipe in the ground is easy, just dig and put it in, but I wish it were that easy.  The contractor has to make sure not to break any existing pipes that are keeping the golf course alive right now, so we have to locate them and carefully dig around them.  This main on 8 feeds most of the golf course and if this were to be broken, we would have to shut pumps down, and that is not an option when it is 100 degrees every day.  The white pipe on top feeds the bathroom too and all the wires are for heads.  As you can see our new main lines are going to be right next to the existing making it even more difficult.  

Mainline Installation

 

If you have been out playing this week, you have noticed that the irrigation project is underway.  Mainline installation has begun on the 8th hole and you will see what is involved during and after.  The bottom picture shows what most of the area will look like once the mains are backfilled and cleaned up.  The key is to make it look like they were never there.

Pipe Fusing Underway

 

The tedious process of fusing mainlines together has begun today.  No more cement or gasket joints, just heating/fusing pipes together that if done properly will last 30 years.  Right now LaBar Irrigation will fuse a bunch of pipe together before installing in the ground.  Looks like Tuesday or Wednesday we will start breaking ground along the 13th hole in the rough.

Planning, Planning, Planning

 

Never underestimate how much space you need to create a construction compound.  The entire area by the old house is being used to store materials, equipment, offices and fuel for our irrigation project.  Once the construction gets going it will grow even bigger.  This is a major project with a major contractor!

Irrigation Underway

 

The official flagging of golf holes is beginning with Paul Roche (irrigation consultant), LaBar Golf Irrigation (contractor), Ewing Irrigation (distributor) and Rain Bird Irrigation (supplier) on site.  This is the official beginning of our new irrigation system installation for the next 4-5 months.

Good Improvements

 

Above, the staff ran a 12" trunk line to alleviate the drainage sumps on 18.  This 12" will continue up towards 18 green later this year to provide a drainage source for the new green on 1, all the new bunkers on 1 and all the restored bunkers on 18.  Before, during prolonged wet spells, the sumps would fill up keeping water in the bunkers.  This will not happen going forward.

Belgium block curbing was installed along the practice green to help protect the cart path edge from carts and utility vehicles from pulling off into the grass.  Being a high impact area and visible from the clubhouse, this will clean up the area and offer options for cart path reductions in the future.

A Welcoming Entrance

 

When you look back at our original entrance, it was a miracle there were not more accidents.  The pinch point was right where cars were swinging in and cars were trying to get out.  Now, our entrance will allow cars to safely turn in and out and also allow trucks to make deliveries without damaging our plants.  A great improvement!