4th Fairway Drainage

I am pleased to report that the second phase of the drainage works on the 4th fairway have now been completed.

I have included some pictures of the progress.

Removing the contaminated gravel to expose the existing drainage pipe.

The first section is ready for back filling

Clean gravel & grit being spread 

Completed works

Murrayfield Golf Club – Drainage 4th Fairway – Phase II

 Drainage 4th Hole

Members will remember that earlier this year we replaced a large section of the main drainage pipe that runs down the left-hand side of the 4^th fairway, the original pipe work had been damaged by tree roots and was beyond repair.

Next week (weather permitting) we intend to commence phase II, the plan is to excavate and refurbish the existing drain, which crosses the fairway at approximately 230 yards from the teeing ground.

We will remove the existing turf (which has an extremely high thatch content) and gravel from over the top of the drain, as this gravel is now contaminated with debris.

This contamination is now slowing infiltration rates and is causing surface flooding, especially after excessive rainfall.

Locating pipe work

Existing gravel contaminated with soil and debris

Once the drain has been covered with fresh 15/ 20 mm diameter gravel, a 50 mm layer of 2-4mm diameter grit will be added.

The grit layer will prevent the new root-zone from being washed down and mixing with the gravel, consequently, ensuring rainwater can drain freely down to the drainage pipe.

Finally, the drainage line will then be returfed with new turf and marked as ground under repair. 

Drainage 16th Hole

We will shortly be announcing plans to start a phased improvement program to the drainage system from the 16^th fairway and hope to commence excavations later this year. 

Autumn Maintenance Programme 2011 - Update

Update - September 20th

Last week we commenced our Autumn Maintenance Programme at Murrayfield, all the tees were hollow cored with 12mm diameter tines to a depth of 75mm and top-dressed with sand.

The tees will receive further applications of sand over the next few weeks to ensure that all the aeration holes have been backfilled and to assist in restoring surface levels.

Hollow Coring 5th Tee

This year we are extending the maintenance programme to include greens surrounds and approaches.

Over the years some of these areas have become compacted and others now have significant accumulations of thatch (organic matter).

This week all the approaches will be hollow cored at the same setting as the tees and top-dressed with sand.

Hollow Coring 17th Approach

If time and ground conditions permit, a number of approaches with excessive thatch levels will be hollow cored and top-dressed again in late October. 

9th Green Surrounds Improvement - Phase 1

Update 

Good progress has been made in the last few days, we have spread the intermediate layer of grit and the new root-zone has been added. 

The grit layer, which is a 2mm to 4mm diameter stone, will stop the root-zone washing down and blocking the perimeter drain and prevent integration of the root-zone with the and sub-base. 

Intermediate Layer Completed

The root-zone is a mix of medium course free draining sand (90% content) and top- soil (10% content).

Ready for Turfing

Turf delivery is expected on Tuesday next week and (weather permitting) Phase 1 should be completed later that day.