Drainage Update - Hole 10

Despite difficult ground conditions, we have made excellent progress on the drainage project on hole 10.

Not only have we excavated the new pipelines for this phase but also the next phase that was planned for next year.

We have also completed the construction of the new drainage inspection manholes.

Some pictures of our progress.

Excavations commence

End of day two

Three of the five drainage pipelines now excavated

Drainage - Hole 10

Last winter, we installed new drainage pipe-work on the left-hand side of the 10^th green and on the approach to the green, which I’m happy to report is working extremely well.

Dec 2011 -Drainage work on Hole 10 

This winter we intend to install additional pipe-work on the right-hand side of the 10^th green and from the 11^th tee to the beginning of the 11^th fairway.

Provided ground conditions are suitable, we also intend to re-contour and landscape some of the surrounding areas to ensure that any surface standing water is channelled into the new pipe-work.


Below I have included details of the planned works

Plan of Drainage Works - Hole 10

Key:

Solid Black Line (A,B,C&D) - 150 mm Diameter Drainage Pipe  
To be installed December 12 - January 13

Solid Red Line - Point B to E & Point B to G - 80 mm Diameter Drainage Pipe
To be installed Autumn 2013

Broken Green Line -  Point B to F
Is an existing drain, which will be connected into a drainage manhole/gully that will be constructed at point B.

Please Note *

In order to create a safe working environment for the course staff, the 11^th hole will be shortened and played from a temporary forward tee, until these works are completed. 

Woodland Management

Some of the team have been working on the woodland area between the 9^th green and 10^th tees recently.

This is an area that was recommended by our Arboriculture Consultant, for thinning out and replanting.

They have been removing some of the invasive sycamore, which are in extremely poor condition and elderberry trees.

By removing some of the poor and suppressed trees will allow the more dominant specimens to develop and mature.

This type of selective thinning will also open up small areas and encourage natural regeneration of tree species and create opportunities for re-planting.  

Once thinning has been completed we will replant with more long-term species, such as oak, beech, birch and ash.

Thinning out the area between the 9th green and 10th tees

Managing the woodland areas in this way will ensure that these areas retain their woodland cover and will therefore be enjoyed by future generations.

Drainage - Hole 15

Today we started another drainage project, this time focusing on the area between the 15^th green and the 16^th tee.

This is another area, which has become increasingly wet over the recent months.

Much of the drainage pipe-work in this area is in extremely poor condition and many of the outlets have collapsed or been damaged by machinery or tree roots.

Unfortunately, progress can be very slow, as no plans of the drainage in this area exist.

Some pictures below of our progress,

Stagnant water in the manhole between the 15th green and 16th tee
Highlighting a collapsed pipe or outlet  downstream.

Three damaged pipes in the same area

Rodding the damaged pipework to clear the silt

Previously backed up water now flowing freely down the newly constructed outlet and into the open ditch

Water now flowing freely from the manhole 

We don’t expect these repairs to solve all the problems in this area but knowing that the water now has an outlet, should help considerably. 

Drainage 16^th Fairway – Update

Despite difficult ground conditions and inclement weather we have made good progress on the 1^st phase of drainage works on the 16^th fairway.  

We have repaired a number of collapsed drains and installed an additional fifty meters of new drainage pipe-work. 

Some of the fairway areas, which were damaged by the prolonged wet weather this summer, have also been repaired.

Repairs almost completed

Due to a ground frost this morning we were able to aerate the area to a depth of 200mm with 19mm diameter tines, which will aid recovery. 

Video - Aeration 16th Fairway

Safety Barrier - Update

The path between the 9^th green and 10^th tee has now re-opened.

The safety barrier has now been erected and the paths surface refurbished. 

Looking down towards the 10th tee

Works completed

Further improvements (weather permitting) will be made in January on the lower section of the pathway.  

Drainage 16th Fairway

This week we have started to repair some of the areas on the 16^th fairway that were damaged by the extremely wet weather we experienced this summer.

During this phase of works, we are concentration on the area of the fairway that runs adjacent to the open ditch.

We are also trying to locate and inspect any existing drainage pipe work, to determine its condition.

Some pictures below of our survey and progress.

A manhole backed up with with stagnant water 

And the reason - a collapsed drain 

We have already uncovered a number of collapsed drains, some of which are being cleared and repaired.

Unfortunately, some of the damaged drains are beyond economical repair and will require replacing.

One of the areas requiring a new drain

A new drain almost ready for the pipe work and gravel

Subsurface Aeration

In an attempt to break up some of the deep-rooted compaction in some of our greens, we have this week hired a Robin Dagger.

The Robin Dagger has a single 30 mm x 600 mm tine, which is driven into the ground by an air hammer.

Once the tine is fully inserted a burst of compressed air is released horizontally in three directions at the base of the tine.

The air pressure at the point of release is around 100psi. 

The compressed air creates fissures in the soil, alleviating compaction and allowing water to penetrate more deeply.

Below is a short video of the Robin Dagger working on Ravelston’s 5^th Green. 

Safety Barrier

Today, contractors began installing a safety barrier on the pathway between the 9th green and 10th tee and despite some difficult ground conditions, good progress has been made. 

Post hole drill

First three sections installed

This essential maintenance work is expected to last 4/5 days and is required to be completed before the introduction of buggies next spring.

Irrigation Pumphouse – Power Supply

Members are advised to proceed with caution when parking in the practice ground car park or when accessing the bottom side holes from this car park.

We are at present installing a new power supply cable to the Irrigation Pumphouse, replacing the existing cable, which is now beyond economical repair.

Works are expected to be completed by Friday 16^th November.

Excavating trench for cable

Cable ducting installed

Safety Matting

Earlier in the year we installed non-slip, impact absorbing safety matting on a number of areas on the golf course.

The product has proved so successful and versatile, we are now using the matting in a number of other areas on the course.

Safety matting being installed on the slope down from the 7th tee

Matting being used to prevent excessive wear round winter tee mats .

A perfect solution for slippery steps

Drainage - 12th Green

Recently we commenced drainage and landscaping works on the 12^th green.

Because of the way the green has been shaped and contoured the rear section of the green is prone to flooding, particularly, after prolonged and heavy rain.

Flooding on the 12th green

To help alleviate the problem we have decided to install two sections of 80 mm diameter perforated pipe on the green and construct a drainage outlet.

Drainage outlet completed

We are also lowering and re-contouring a section of the left-hand green-side banking, this will allow rainwater to flow freely away from the green during heavy rain. 

Part of the green-side banking being lowered

Once the pipework has been installed and surface levels established, re-turfing will begin.

  

Drainage - 4th Green

Today we started a relatively small drainage project on Murrayfield's 4th green.

I am sure you have seen and had to play around the water that collects on the rear section of this green after heavy rain.

To combat this flooding we have installed a 50 mm diameter perforated pipe and a surface drainage grate, which will channel the water away from the putting surface.

Checking the levels before installing pipe-work

Existing drainage outlet located 

Pipe-work installed and drainage gravel being added

Re-turfing almost completed

 The project should be completed tomorrow morning, ahead of the forecasted rain…

Golfline - New Phone Number

To All Members of Murrayfield GC & Ravelston GC

The golfline phone number has changed.

It is now 07783 157721

The message informs members, on a daily basis, when the course is closed, when certain holes are open, if temporary greens are in play and any other relevant information.

We hope members will find access to this information  useful.

Bill Lyon
Golf Course Manager

Drainage - 18th Green

This week we started a couple of drainage projects, one on the 12^th green, which I will cover in a later post and another on the 18^th green.

We have been concerned for some time about the amount of standing water in the hollow on the right-hand side of the 18^th green.

So this week, we decided to excavated the hollow and investigate.

It had been thought that there was drain in the hollow but after excavating down all we discovered was a sump filled with rubble.

Turf and top soil removed - exposing the water level

It was quite clear that the sump had only been installed to assist in draining the small hollow on this side of the green.

Unfortunately, like many other areas of the course, it simply has not been able to cope with the constant deluges of rain, experienced this year.

In an effort to assist the drainage in the hollow, we have increased the size of the sump and back-filled the hollow with clean gravel.

Increasing the size and depth of the drainage sump

Even with the sump dimensions increased - more flooding

I don’t expect it will make a great deal of difference but it should at least help the surface water drain away a little  quicker. 

Flooding

Some pictures taken earlier today of the course after the torrential overnight rain, which unfortunately closed both courses this morning.

15th Green - Murrayfield

6th Green - Murrayfield

12th Green - Murrayfield

Video - Removing the water from the 12th green 

Greens Update

I am delighted to report that we have successfully completed this autumns greens hollow coring and sand top dressing maintenance programme.

We have removed approximately 35/40 tonnes of organic matter from the greens surfaces, which equates to about 7.5% of the total putting surface area.

Removal of such a significant amount of organic matter will help improve air and water movement through the soil profile.

We have applied over 30 tonnes of top dressing sand to the putting surfaces and plan to apply another 20 tonnes over the next couple of weeks.  

With the weather remaining dry and fine, we took the opportunity to deep tine a number of greens with 12 mm diameter solid tines, to a depth of 250 mm.

Aerating to this depth will not only further enhance air and water percolation, but also encourage and promote deeper root development.

Deep aeration with 12 mm diameter tines to a depth of 250 mm.

Deep spiking (left-hand side of ball) after the green has been hollow cored and top dressed

Steve on the Turf Iron smoothing the putting surface

Deep spiked, hollow cored, top dressed and rolled.

I would also again like to thank the staff for a great team effort this week and the members for their support, tolerance and cooperation during this maintenance programme of works.  

2012 Greens Autumn Maintenance

Greens Autumn Maintenance Update

In almost perfect weather conditions today, we commenced our Greens Autumn Maintenance Programme.

The first fourteen greens have now been hollow cored and cleared of cores, with an estimated 30 tonnes of debris removed from the greens surfaces.

(A massive well done to all the guys, a great team effort)

Hollow coring the 14th green

We have also been able to start sand top dressing operations and have already applied fifteen tonnes of sand to the putting surfaces.

18th Green top dressed with sand

18th Green after brushing completed

Provided the weather remains fine and dry, we hope to complete this maintenance operation by the weekend. 

Greens Autumn Maintenance Programme

Greens Autumn Maintenance Programme 2012

 Week Commencing October 8th

All greens will be Hollow Cored with 12mm diameter tines at 50mm spacing and to a depth of 75 mm, this autumn.

This practice will further reduce thatch; increase oxygen content in the soil, promote root development and make nutrients more readily available to the plant.

 After the green is cleared of cores, it will then be top-dressed with sand and brushed. The green is then rolled to help with smoothness and finally a potash-based fertilizer is applied to promote strong root growth and aid recovery.

Members please note that there will be disruption to play and some temporary greens will be in play during this essential maintenance work.

Undoubtedly, there will be a period of recovery beyond the planned maintenance itself.

Whilst it is appreciated that this will cause inconvenience to members, please be assured that this work is entirely necessary to ensure continued, long-term improvement in our putting surfaces.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the members for their support, tolerance and cooperation during this greens maintenance programme of works

Bill Lyon

Golf Course Manager

October 3^rd 2012 

Course Repairs

In the last few days we have started to repair some of the areas damaged by the extremely wet weather, we experienced this summer.

On the 1^st & 3^rd fairways a number of areas have been hollow cored, over-seeded and top-dressed with sand.

We have also excavated and repaired a number of damaged drains on the 14^th fairway.
These areas have been backfilled with gravel and top soiled, ready for re-turfing next week.

Flooding on 14th Fairway

Damaged pipework - Causing the flooding above

Pipework repaired and back-filled ready for re-turfing

Damaged pipe-work beside 14th fairway bunker (LHS)

More damaged pipe-work on 14th fairway