Drainage?

[Michael Powers]

Our club was renovated in the fall of 2006, spring of 2007 and drainage work was done on 12 of the 18 holes.  Craig Schreiner, who designed the changes and drainage work told me that the course would be considerably drier in 2008 as compared to 2007 because it took that long for the water to be removed from certain areas.   Is this true

[Lester George]

Michael,

Depending on the soils and the type and amount of drainage, yes, it could be.  A lot would have to depend on environmental conditions.

Lester

[Bill Brightly]

While trees, bunkers and of course, design changes get a lot of discussion here and at golf clubs, I think drainage is really overlooked.

We did the XDG drainage in 4 of our greens and we are really pleased. We will be scheduling the remaining greens over the next few years.  I guess you know to expect some lines on the greens for a year or two?

We also did extensive drainage work in our wettest fairways, and it helped immensly.

Obviously, turf conditions improved. But a real benefit is FAR fewer  course closings and "No Cart Days" or "Carts Restricted to Paths Days." And this, in turn, has helped keep the older members more happy. Which is HUGE if you have ever been on a Board.

[Tony_Muldoon]

I have a second drainage question.

This winter I've have observeved that the temporary greens are often wetter than the surounding fairways.  (Its been quite wet recently).

Is this because?

A) Short grass drains less well on a mild slope than long grass? If so what does this mean for greens?
B) I'm cmpletely unobservant and it's due to other factors like poor positioning of the temporary green?
C) I'm mad, this doesn't exist at all? Logically I think this is the correct answer but it's hard to ignore the feel and sound of squelching underfoot.

Please help me rest at night.
Tony

[James Bennett]

Tony

are the temporatry greens cut in the approaches to the greens?  Do these areas get more irrigation through the summer and autumn than the fairways?

It may be that these temproary greens have one or more of these three characteristics Tony.
A) a wetter sub-soil going into winter, because of the greater irrigation in this area compared to the fairway
B) a higher thatch content in the approachs, leading to less drainiage (do the areas get cored, sanded and dusted with the same frequency as the greens?  I expect not).
C) the greens nearby surface drain to the nearby surrounds, which ahppens to be where the temporary greens are cut.


It may be that there is a competely different answer too (perhaps different soils).  Hard to tell from 12,000 miles away, even with Google Earth.

We had 8mm of rain last week - first rain in over a month.  I think the sprinklers got turned off for a day!  Happened on the night before the Test Match, which just greened up the outfield nicely.

James B

[Bill Brightly]

How about D) You'd think the rest of the fairway was just as wet if you used a putter?

[David_Elvins]

I have a second drainage question.

This winter I've have observeved that the temporary greens are often wetter than the surounding fairways.  (Its been quite wet recently).

Is this because?

A) Short grass drains less well on a mild slope than long grass? If so what does this mean for greens?
B) I'm cmpletely unobservant and it's due to other factors like poor positioning of the temporary green?
C) I'm mad, this doesn't exist at all? Logically I think this is the correct answer but it's hard to ignore the feel and sound of squelching underfoot.

Please help me rest at night.
Tony

Tony,

It might be that higher traffic makes it look wetter?  or actually makes it wetter by compacting soil and reducing drainage? Or they roll it to make it smoother and this has affected drainage by compaction?  

[Wayne_Freedman]

We're doing it at my club,which was built in 1924 on spongy, clay spoil. The back 9 is finished. The front is in process.

A firm came in, digging deep drains every 8 yards, or so, and we have noted significant improvements. No, it;s not perfect, but  we're playing, and balls are not plugging.
Last year, after this much rain, the club would have been closed.
Cost us about $5k per member. Well worth it.

[Norbert P]

 Craig Schreiner, . . . told me that the course would be considerably drier in 2008 as compared to 2007 because it took that long for the water to be removed from certain areas.   Is this true

 Depends on perc rate. If it's 6 feet of sand, of which you probably wouldn't have a problem to begin with except for swales, then you'd see changes within a season. But, if you are clayish, then it may take seasons.    
   

[Norbert P]

I have a second drainage question.

This winter I've have observed that the temporary greens are often wetter than the surrounding fairways.  

Often temp greens are placed on the flats below the slopes of raised greens. Temp greens also get more traffic around this area with maintenance and play.   One more thing, like when we're on greens, we play closer attention to the minutiae of turf.  Then there's liquifaction . . .

[Michael Powers]

The drainage has definitely worked, better in some areas than others and I am sure that there will be additional small projects.  The soil does have alot of clay in it.