Greens Facilities Update

 

Over the last few weeks, the contractors have made excellent progress and have almost completed all interior works in the main storage area.

In the welfare block the tradesman have been extremely busy and are at the finishing stages of the fitting out.

Work on the wash-down, fuel and chemical store is well advanced and is on schedule to be completed early in the new-year.

A great deal of exterior work still remains to be completed, including the parking area, forecourt and landscaping works, some of which will be undertaken by the greens staff.

Some pictures taken earlier today. 

Main storage area

Chemical, fuel and wash-down storage building

Concreting the forecourt

Drainage 10th Hole - Update

We have now completed the small drainage project on the left-hand approach to the 10^th green. The pipe-work has been installed and the drainage trenches have been backfilled with gravel and a binder layer of grit, the trenches were then topped up with fresh root-zone and are now ready for re-turfing.

Drainage trenches completed

Drainage pipework being installed

It is our intention during the next spell of frosty weather to extend these drainage works round the left-hand side of the green. This additional drainage will help considerably in removing a great deal of the standing water, which affects this area after heavy rain.

One of our goals going forward is to address areas such as at the 10^th hole and tackle our drainage problems. These small projects add up and will, eventually, in time make a big difference to the condition and playability of the course. 

Drainage 16th Hole - Update

Drainage contractors are now on site and have commenced excavations, they are at present working in the woodlands south of the ladies 17^th tee.

The contractors have exposed the existing manhole and the first 12 metre section of pipework has now been installed.

New 450mm diameter drainage pipe 

New drainage pipe work being delivered

Contractors commence drainage works

This schedule of works is expected to be completed by the of January 2012. 

Please note: 

That the 17^th teeing grounds are closed and that all golfers must use the temporary forward tee.

Course Closed

Unfortunately, because of adverse weather conditions both courses today have remained closed.

Following the snow at the weekend, overnight sub zero temperatures have now left playing surfaces frozen and both courses unplayable.

Hole 17 - December 6 th 2011

Hopefully the weather will improve over the next few days and some golf is available at the weekend. 

Drainage Works Update - 16th Fairway

Drainage 16^th Fairway

Phase 1 – Installation of a new 450mm drainage outlet pipe from the 16^th fairway.

Background

The existing drainage outlet from the 16^th fairway runs through a 250mm diameter pipe from the end of the open ditch to a manhole just passed the irrigation tank.

From this manhole it crosses the roadway and into another manhole in the southwest corner of the grey car park. At this point the water drains into a stone/rubble drain, which connects into an inspection chamber 25 meters south of the men’s 17^th tee.

From our investigations the piped section that runs underneath the access road is in extremely poor condition and has collapsed in a number of different places and is now beyond economic repair. 

The stone/rubble drain section, which was installed when the area was still a working quarry some 125 years ago, runs underneath the mound on the right-hand side of the 17^th tee, which is now a wooded area.

Results from the recent site survey estimate the stone/rubble drain at a depth of 7 meters, the flow tests indicates that the drain is in extremely poor condition, undoubtedly contaminated by soil and tree roots.

Planned Works

Because of health and safety regulations we have appointed drainage specialists to undertake this program of works.

They will install a new 450mm diameter solid pipe, starting from the existing manhole beside the irrigation tank and extending 100 metres east, through the rough adjacent to the 16^th fairway. At the first opening to the men’s 17th teeing ground an inspection chamber will be constructed at a depth of approximately 6 metres. The pipe will then take a ninety-degree right turn, crossing the access road and 17^th tee before finally connecting into the existing inspection chamber 25metres south of the 17^th tee.   

When the pipe-work has been installed, the trench will be backfilled and levelled ready for seeding in the spring.

Red flags showing line of new pipe-work

At this point the pipe-work crosses the road and 17th tee

Drainage Works - Hole 10

In the last few days we have commenced drainage works on hole 10. 

We are at present working on the left-hand approach to the green and are in the process of installing a 150 mm diameter perforated mains pipe, with 60 mm diameter laterals. 

Some pictures of the progress:

Trench for mains pipe-work almost ready

Excavating trenches for laterals 

Course Update - December 1st 2011

Course Update

Since my last update we have now finished the rebuilding and enlargement of the 18^th yellow tee. Turfing has now been completed and in the coming weeks the tee top will be rolled and lightly top-dressed with sand to assist in firming and smoothing of the surface.

Despite the heavy rain that we have experienced recently, the bunker alterations on the 17th hole are progressing extremely well. The bunkering on the left-hand side of the fairway and left greenside have now been completed and on the right-hand we have almost finished the reshaping and ground works ahead of turfing early next week.

We are also at present aerating the tees on both courses with 14mm diameter solid tines to a depth of 90mm. We would normally lightly top-dress the tees with sand following this type of aeration but the weather and ground conditions need to improve before this operation can commence.  

Looking ahead to next week, we have some drainage work and path repairs to look forward to on Murrayfield and on Ravelston we have some shrubs that require transplanting and providing the weather is suitable, we hope to progress the path at the 6^th teeing ground.