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Joel_Stewart

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Sand Capping.
« on: October 14, 2013, 03:21:58 PM »
Please discuss.  It's being done at many courses through out the US.  I read that adding sand to clay turns the clay into cement so I assume there must be a way that golf courses are doing this effectively.

Do you till the clay or just add the sand on top to a 6 or 8 inch depth?

Thanks

Jeff_Brauer

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Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #1 on: October 14, 2013, 03:45:44 PM »
Yes, if you mix sand with clay, it might turn to cement.  Usually, the cap is 6-8" of sand placed on top of the clay sub surface.  We normally roughen up the clay subsurface a bit to try to create an interface.  In other cases, we rake it smooth, and add herringbone drains at about 100 ft. intervals, thinking the smoother surface promotes drainage.

I have done it.  Hate it unless absolutely necessary.

First, you have to look at the water discharge rate curves of the proposed sand.  With the wrong discharge and sand, it is possible to create pure soup in the top six inches of sand.  Some sand needs 8-9 inches to drain properly.  Some need on 4-5".

Then, as noted, tiles are almost a must to keep the water from running long ways just under the sand.  You must also decide if you are cutting the sand in like a USGA Green dish, or feathering out the edges, like most sand caps on tees do.  Feathering out takes a lot more sand, especially if you insist all of the fairway keeps the total sand depth, and the feathering must occur in the rough, going from 0 to 6-9" on a gradual, land conforming slope (you don't want an abrupt edge on every fairway)

Thirdly, you have to be cognizant that adding 6-9" of sand will disrupt some natural drainage patterns, and plan catch basins and the like on the high sides where necessary.

So, we only do it where truly required.  We did it at the North course of La Costa and it has improved the turf dramatically, because of the low lying clays have accumulated salts.  On the second course, just completed, we elected to use paspalum in the fw, and went without the sand cap because of its salt tolerance.  We did it at Colbert Hills, but there was just no topsoil at all there.  We have done it in Asia, where it seems to be common practice, even though I am not sure its required every single time its been used.  Really don't know, though.
Jeff Brauer, ASGCA Director of Outreach

Brad Klein

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #2 on: October 14, 2013, 03:46:16 PM »
It worked at Cal Club, Peninsula G&CC and Spyglass Hill. Expensive, but you are basically top-dressing the native soil bed with a porous growing medium of sand. I doubt you'd try to till it in.

Anthony_Nysse

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Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #3 on: October 14, 2013, 04:03:32 PM »
As I understand it, when Olde Stone was being built, all cool season turfgrasses were desired, which would made it one of the southern most courses to have all cool season turf. That being said, sand capping the fairways was VERY important to the survival of the bentgrass in the heat of the summer. This was a 7 figure price tag. They now have zoysia fairways.
Anthony J. Nysse
Director of Golf Courses & Grounds
Apogee Club
Hobe Sound, FL

JMEvensky

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2013, 04:08:36 PM »
Would it be possible to sand cap only approaches,maybe 15-20 yards out,and would it help get the desired result of firmer conditions?

I think I've read,probably here,that sand capping and zoysia don't go together well.True?

Grant Saunders

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2013, 04:34:07 PM »
While not sand capping as such, we have greens that over time have accumulated a 200mm layer of sand through topdressing. This layer has been built up on top of the original soil which sits over freedrining alluvial material.

What I am finding, is that small amounts of rain/water are easily absorbed and he surface remains firm. However, larger amounts that cause the sand to reach field capacity can cause a very soft wet profile limited by the permeability of the soil layer. Surface runoff is greatly reduced because the lateral movement of water is inhibited by the sand. Where straight soil would shed water quickly as precipitation exceeds infiltration, the greater infiltration of the sand means more water can enter the profile but it is then inhibited by the lower infiltration of the soil so it essentially "fills up" and can only drain as fast as the soil allows. Also, the natural drainage of the soil is reduced due to the fact it is buried and never exposed to the air and sun to carry out the drying/fracturing processes that soil at the surface experiences.

Currently there is no formal drainage in the greens and we are looking at a combination of drains, mole ploughing and vertical soak holes in key areas to try and counter this problem.

Anthony_Nysse

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #6 on: October 14, 2013, 05:01:02 PM »
Would it be possible to sand cap only approaches,maybe 15-20 yards out,and would it help get the desired result of firmer conditions?

I think I've read,probably here,that sand capping and zoysia don't go together well.True?

We sand capped approaches at Colonial during the renovation.
Anthony J. Nysse
Director of Golf Courses & Grounds
Apogee Club
Hobe Sound, FL

Jonathan Mallard

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2013, 05:05:27 PM »
Yes, if you mix sand with clay, it might turn to cement.

I'm not sure about this one. And it may be just me being an engineer picking a knit.

Cement itself is typically used as a binding material. Typically, it is part of the paste that when mixed in with other materials (sand, aggregate, other admixtures, water) cures into concrete through hydration - most commonly from the calcium-water reaction induced by heating and then crushing limestone.

Another commonly used cement is asphalt.

I think the answer to your question, and why Jeff hedged with 'may' depends on the composition of the clay you're dealing with. The quick answer to me would be that a clay that has some calcium in it certainly could tend to set with the addition of water - which is aided from the sand.

However, some (typically marine) clays will liquefy and cause pretty spectacular landslides with the addition of water. Here's a pretty good explanation of what happened. at 5:30 in the video, they start to show the clay sliding in real time thanks to an amateur photographer who captured the event.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3q-qfNlEP4A


Joel_Stewart

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2013, 06:06:23 PM »
Regarding Cal Club. Al mentions the process in his GCA interview.

"We started with a huge drainage sub-structure (in some cases six feet deep), then a fine network of herringbone drainage 20 ft. on center on every fairway covered with 4 inches of new sand blended to a depth of 8-10 inches to create a sand gradient versus a pure sand cap."

Not sure why they used a gradient vs. a pure sand cap?  

Dave_Wilber

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #9 on: October 15, 2013, 12:45:27 AM »
Regarding Cal Club. Al mentions the process in his GCA interview.

"We started with a huge drainage sub-structure (in some cases six feet deep), then a fine network of herringbone drainage 20 ft. on center on every fairway covered with 4 inches of new sand blended to a depth of 8-10 inches to create a sand gradient versus a pure sand cap."

Not sure why they used a gradient vs. a pure sand cap?  

That was my work.

1.Cost.
2. Decent material on site. Just needed some drainage and tillage.
3. Schedule to haul in that much material didn't work.
4. That much suitable material unavailable due to #1 above.

But yes, in short, Cal Club wasn't capped.
---------
Dave Wilber
Wilber Consulting--Coaching, Writing Broadcasting, Agronomy
davewilber@yahoo.com
twitter: @turfgrasszealot
instagram @turfgrasszeal
"No one goes to play the great courses we talk about here because they do a nice bowl of soup. Soup helps, but you can’t putt in it." --Wilber

Dave_Wilber

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #10 on: October 15, 2013, 12:48:42 AM »
Jeff's explanation above is awesome and right on point.

Just because it is sand, doesn't mean it's great. And every material has a different moisture release curve so it makes planning and production very tough.
---------
Dave Wilber
Wilber Consulting--Coaching, Writing Broadcasting, Agronomy
davewilber@yahoo.com
twitter: @turfgrasszealot
instagram @turfgrasszeal
"No one goes to play the great courses we talk about here because they do a nice bowl of soup. Soup helps, but you can’t putt in it." --Wilber

Thomas Dai

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #11 on: October 15, 2013, 03:11:34 AM »
One of the best aspects of GCA is following discussions like this one with it's contributions by folk 'in the know'. Interesting and educational. All the best.

Anthony_Nysse

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #12 on: October 15, 2013, 05:55:19 AM »
Jeff's explanation above is awesome and right on point.

Just because it is sand, doesn't mean it's great. And every material has a different moisture release curve so it makes planning and production very tough.

Just to go off of what Dave is saying-many members/golfers/people has a misconception of sand, believing that sand is sand. Particle size is VERY important to what you're hoping to get out of the sand. A very angular sand will pack and a very rounded particle sand will have difficult packing. Finding the desired balance between the 2 will give you the right percolation rates and firmness. This is very important when choosing a bunker sand and topdressing sand.
Anthony J. Nysse
Director of Golf Courses & Grounds
Apogee Club
Hobe Sound, FL

Jeff_Brauer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #13 on: October 15, 2013, 09:07:45 AM »
In the "one thing leads to another" category, another point to consider is that at least initially, the sand cap will probably use more irrigation than you put on the fw before. At La Costa, we took out 25% of the turf to save irrigation, but gave much of that savings back to the sand capped fw.  We think it will balance out as the roots and thatch develpe.

And, if the rough is still clay based, then you may have some issues with over watering the rough to get the fairway the proper amount of water.  This is similar to a USGA green being cut into clay soils, and requiring part to part circles throwing in and out to get each area the proper amount of water.  At the very least, your super will have to carefully adjust his/her run times.

Jeff Brauer, ASGCA Director of Outreach

Joel_Stewart

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #14 on: October 15, 2013, 02:16:17 PM »
Good photo at Poppy Hills.  Luckily they are near the sand and probably bought it for a low price if not for free.


Greg Tallman

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Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #15 on: October 15, 2013, 02:18:05 PM »
Would it be possible to sand cap only approaches,maybe 15-20 yards out,and would it help get the desired result of firmer conditions?

I think I've read,probably here,that sand capping and zoysia don't go together well.True?

We sand capped approaches at Colonial during the renovation.

Anthony, How far out did you go? Did it vary based on the playing characteristics of each hole?

Anthony_Nysse

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #16 on: October 15, 2013, 05:41:26 PM »
Would it be possible to sand cap only approaches,maybe 15-20 yards out,and would it help get the desired result of firmer conditions?

I think I've read,probably here,that sand capping and zoysia don't go together well.True?

We sand capped approaches at Colonial during the renovation.

Anthony, How far out did you go? Did it vary based on the playing characteristics of each hole?
  


We went out a little farther on some of the longer par 4's  and #3-250yd par 3.
Anthony J. Nysse
Director of Golf Courses & Grounds
Apogee Club
Hobe Sound, FL

Ulrich Mayring

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #17 on: October 16, 2013, 01:27:50 PM »
Why would you ever want to not sand-cap a clay-based course? Obviously, cost (initial and on-going) is a factor - but it is not a reason, it is an impediment. I am looking for reasons: when is a clay-based course better off without sand-capping?

Ulrich
Golf Course Exposé (300+ courses reviewed), Golf CV (how I keep track of 'em)

Jon Wiggett

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #18 on: October 16, 2013, 01:52:46 PM »
Ulrich,

Not all clay soils drain badly and of course it depends on the location and climate.

Jon

Dane Hawker

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #19 on: October 16, 2013, 02:50:37 PM »
We have quite a few of these around the course, mostly on the approaches to the greens.
The existing area is excavated to 150mm deep. Drainage is installed then sand.

They work really well, but they are a maintenance nightmare.
They need more water and require regular sanding and renovations just like greens.




David_Tepper

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #20 on: October 16, 2013, 03:05:36 PM »
Dane -

Can you tell us what course your pictures are from?

DT

Dane Hawker

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #21 on: October 16, 2013, 04:13:58 PM »
North Shore Golf Course in Auckland, New Zealand

David_Tepper

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #22 on: October 16, 2013, 05:10:42 PM »
Dane -

Thanks for the info.

One more question...on how many greens at North Shore has this approach drainage system been installed?

DT  

Dane Hawker

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #23 on: October 16, 2013, 06:03:12 PM »
Hi Dave

14/27 Green Approaches
1 full fairway
3 part fairways


David_Tepper

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sand Capping.
« Reply #24 on: October 16, 2013, 06:30:30 PM »
Dane -

Aside from mowing heights, it sounds like you have effectively increased the amount of green (or green-like) turf maintenance you have to do on the course by 50% or so. Am I right about that?

DT

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