WINTER PREPARATION PART 4

Turf Cover Benefits

Following a recent rain of 1/8" and the subsequent inspection of the golf course we proved out again the benefits of turf covers to minimize ice formation/damage.  Here on #1 green, at a tear in the cover, note the ice developed on the uncovered turf and the lack of ice that was under the cover.  (Noticeable where the turf cover was pulled back and photographed by my foot).  This is especially critical protection to have from winter rain events or warm snow melting events.  It is not a perfect protection but it does provide some confidence from the detrimental effects of ice formation.  We cover all the greens with permeable Evergreen covers, for just this purpose, every fall.  Last winter, the covers provided a critical barrier between the ice and the turf (heavy, thick ice up to 2" thick had formed on all the greens early in the fall of 2011) and allowed us to aerate the ice off the greens without destroying the greens.

WINTER PREPARATION PART 3

Drainage Tile Repair

Here at #18 green we began mapping our tile network at this site.  We had no knowledge of the exact location of the drainage exits other than the fact we had 2 catch basins in the general area.  Using the drainage camera we exposed a section of the drain tile at the front of the green approach and discovered damaged pipe along the exit line.  During construction the irrigation contractor had dug through the drain tile while installing the main line and never repaired the damage upon backfilling.  This helped explain why this area of the rough was always wet during rain or drainage events.  Note the orange "plug" in the drain tile that leads away from the covered green.  This was put in place to stop the water draining from the green from filling the excated hole.  (We had recieved 3/4" rain the day before)

After repairing the drain line we also added a vent access port to the drainage network at the back left of the green in the collar