Irrigation project update

Two weeks ago we started the second half of holes #6 and 7 with the irrigation addition.  We used the same process by rolling up sod, trenching 24" deep, and installing the pipe and wires.

Sod rolled up, trenching lines

This section had very few rocks so it made it a lot easier to work in.

This section had approximately 8,000 ft of pipe and trench, 12,000 ft of wire, and 50 heads of varying sizes being added.

Laying out pipe for installation

Running wires

Lots of wires to keep track of

After everything was installed, back filling and sodding was going to be a huge process.  We were very fortunate to have many members come out on varying days and volunteer their time to help us with the labor intensive process.

Back filling, with many volunteers helping

Compacting the soil is something that is is very important.  My philosophy is, all the dirt that comes out of the trench or hole should go back in.  We have many sunken irrigation trenches on the golf course from the original installation, so we were sure to have proper compaction of our trenches.

Step 1 was to back fill 75% and then wheel pack it with the tractor.

75% of soil back filled

The first 75% is then wheel packed with tractor tires

Remaining 25% is back filled

And then compacted with a jumping jack

Lots of hands on shoveling for final clean-up and prepping for sod

The soil is left 3" high in a mound and the sod is laid on top

 Followed by an asphalt roller for the final compaction and it lays the sod and soil down flat to match the surroundings.

Here is sod that was laid from phase 1 two weeks ago.

With backfilling and sodding down to a final punch list.  It is time to start pulling wires to all the heads that will be staying in the ground.

Vibratory plow

Pulling wires

The small trench made by wire puller is then wheel packed and disappears.

All the irrigation lines have now been filled with water and everything is working electrically with the satellite.

Timing was very important on this project and we were under the gun, as we were getting pushed by mother nature with spring winds and sunny days in the 60's, made for a need to irrigate the greens on these two holes, water the sod, and soon run irrigation on the rest of the turf on these two holes.  Everything turned out good and this week we should have the final clean-up and small punch list items done.

New blog header

I am sure you have probably seen the new header on my blog.  Thank you to Peter McCormick, the Maestro, of TurfNet.com.  A very popular golf course website for superintendents to receive information, education, share knowledge, and network with peers. He gave the blog a fresh new look.

My old header

New blog header

Test plots - Poa Control

Those of you that know me in the industry, and my members here at the club, all know how I love to do research and test new products on small areas of turf or play with rates on old products.  First, for the safety of an application before I go and apply something to everything on the golf course, but also to see if there is a way I can improve our turf conditions even more and maybe find something that would work a little better.

Spraying a small test plot strip last season  on the edge of our practice putting green

Through the season we do small tests on a corner of a green or a portion of fairway with different products at different rates to see the results.  Some things have turned out well, while others have definitely proven to us that it does not work on our soils, our turf, and our conditions.

Last year I blogged about testing a growth regulator to hurt and slow down the poa on our greens to give creeping bentgrass the advantage.  Old blog - Test plots.  The small test area definitely hurt the poa and after our last late fall app in Oct I felt it was probably to harsh for us.

You can see the injured turf on the left edge of the green

Another angle of the regulator hurting the Poa in the front

The test area last fall - application width with 3 different rates

Well this spring as things are greening up, it looks amazing.

Now this spring - look at the reduction in Poa (grayish) turf in the plot area left of the red line

There is about an 80% reduction in our poa, the bentgrass has smoothly taken over and transitioned to be the dominant specie.  The next step would be the question for our greens committee if we want to do a larger test plot and take half of our practice green or half of a green on the course next winter to see the results on a playing area with more traffic.  The initial issue is going to be if we live with the less than desirable conditions for the 5 months over the winter.  Very fun and interesting to see what we can do, and food for thought on future decisions.

The reason we would consider more testing over thw next few years and trying to phase out the Poa is because in our region Bentgrass is definitely the preferred species.  Our summers are quit often over 100 degrees with no rainfall for 3 months, and even though our Poa does well in the spring and fall, it really struggles over the summer and requires a lot of babysittig and inputs from us to nurse it along.

Dormant Sodding

One thing that we do a lot of here at Lewiston Country Club is dormant sodding throughout the winter. Our mild weather with minimal snow allows us to work out on the golf course about 70% of the time.  All of the turf is dormant, but we can still do projects, prep sod areas, and lay sod.  The sod covers up the soil during winter golf and lays dormant.  Once things began to green up and grow in the spring then the turf roots down.

20 trees were removed this winter, stumps ground, and sodded the stumps in January

Smooth transition come spring of those sodded stumps

It works well for us because our springs tend to have a fair amount of rain.  We do need to keep a close eye on the sod in the spring , as it can dry out very quickly.  If it was a hot dry spring then we could find ourselves handwatering all the sod that we have laid, but most of the time our spring rains allow for a smooth transition.

New forward tee built and sodded in February

Have not mowed, ran irrigation, or anything yet - and roots are 3 inches as of March 21

We are irrigating just that tee right now to keep our shallow roots moist 

This is a concept that works very well for us, because the spring is always so busy getting the golf course ready, starting maintenance, pressurizing irrigation, and all the other work that goes into getting the course ready for play.  That by doing our sod work and larger projects over the winter we can allocate more staff to the project at that time and use labor resources during the spring for course maintenance.

Irrigation trench sodded when the turf was not growing

First mowing of the year

Mowed fairways and approaches for the first time this spring.

We have already mowed greens about a half a dozen times and tees once.  Things are starting to grow and look really good coming out of winter.  Everything looks healthy.

Hole #10

Hole #17

Irrigation Pressurization

We started up the irrigation motors the last two days to start filling the system.  Not exactly that we need to irrigate quite yet, but the forecast for the next 3 days is highs of 61, 63, and 68.  It is very important to fill the system slowly, especially with our old pipes that are very brittle.  If we just fire up the motors and let the water fly through the pipes we will have extreme water hammer causing breaks all over the place.

Irrigation pumpstation

Water coming out one of the drain lines (relief points)

We take about 4 days at a very low flow rate and gradually fill the system, with relief points for air and pushing everything up the golf course till we push all the air out at the highest point.  By having the system filled and ready then when we do need to irrigate we are prepared and don't have to wait the 4 days to get everything filled properly.

Rolling trenches

Smoothing out the irrigation trenches that we have been sodded so far.

Rented an asphalt roller to smooth out trenches

Man does this work slick.  Back fill and leave the sod about 3-4" high, roll over it and it matches the edges perfectly.

Irrigation update

The irrigation project / addition to holes 6 and 7 is moving along very nicely.  After a rocky start to the first half of the trenching, we got all the trenches cleaned out, the pipe, swingjoints, and heads installed, and all the wires ran.

Clean trench - ready for pipe

Rolling out wires

Keeping all the wires organized

We have completed the back fill and sodding of the first part.

Backfilling with a tractor bucket

                         Trenches back filled and ready for compaction

Compacting

Compacted trench

Sod going down, rolled up for 1.5 weeks and started to yellow a little

After the first phase was almost completed we went and opened up the second half.

The sod is rolled up, trenching is complete, and now it is time to start all the installation of pipe.

Sod being rolled up

Trenching

Phase 2 - 8,000 ft of pipe, 10,000 ft of wire, about 50 more heads 

A clean trench

Overview of the second half

The second part with pipe installation in progress

We also have base set for the new satellite that will control all of the new additions.

Base is ready wires and new satellite

Old pipe that is cut through by the trencher needs to be repaired

The old wires are being cut through and ignored because we will be re-wiring all heads on the two holes.  It is amazing that the wires are only about 2-3 inches deep.  This kept us from performing all the proper cultural practices that the turfgrass needs like aerification.

Shallow wires

Equipment being used