Water transfers and lightning.

Although it isn't even June yet, the irrigation pond between 10 and 18 has been steadily receding. So, we decided to fire up the pump down at the Treat road reservoir pond we have and start moving some of that water into the irrigation pond which you may have noticed gushing in by 18 tee. This pond is about 10% of the irrigation pond's size and we are able to pump it nearly dry. This week our timing was lucky because, after we let the pump run for a day (it takes two days of pumping to empty the Treat road pond) it rained and filled up the pond again, giving us more water to pump into the irrigation pond. Last year we didn't pump out of Treat road at all, so hopefully this year's trend doesn't continue. However, if it does we'll be able to conserve enough water to keep the course irrigated.

Pond slowly filling up. After 1.5" of rain the last two nights the water level is coming up. 

With the heavy rains came heavy lightning, which can wreak havoc on our irrigation system. After the storm on Tuesday night we had 17 of 31 boxes without communication to the main computer in our office. The problem is that the lightning causes fuses to blow inside the satellites around the course. They blow to keep the surge of power from hitting all the boards inside the boxes, which also means that the communication from the main computer can't reach the modem inside the box. So, when the fuses blow they are doing their job. Since I've been at Barrington I've never seen more than 9 or 10 boxes have their fuses blown in one night, so I'm sure it was a good show. Restoring communication is as simple as putting in new fuses, which is quick and inexpensive. If you see me or anyone else poking around in these boxes after a thunderstorm, chances are pretty good this is what we're up to. 

This is what the inside of each box looks like. The surge board is in the lower left hand corner. 

This is what the fuses look like when they're blown. The far left one is black and burnt (normal for a blown fuse), the second from the left is blown apart (not normal). The right two are not blown. This is the first time I've ever seen a fuse physically blown apart. I was pretty excited. 

Ian 

Irrigation, boxwoods and cart traffic.

This week we had a lot of irrigation leaks to fix before we could move forward with some of our projects. It's very frustrating at times, but it happens. At the range we had five leaks show up when we filled the lines and two of the leaks were below the new cart path. We knew something like this may happen, which is why we wanted to find the leaks before we paved. At the clubhouse we had a few small lines to fix, which was no big deal. What turned into a bit of an issue was when the 2" line we were working next to decided to let lose without warning after we left. Thankfully, Mark was still on site and able to valve it off, but luck wasn't on our side this week. 

One of the leaks at the range. 

This is not good. 

The head works better when it's connected to the pipe in the ground. 

The new beds at the clubhouse are nearly finished. All that's left is to plant some annuals in front of the boxwoods. Also, a few guys came in and fixed the wall in spots where it was starting to come apart; they are doing a great job. The final product looks pretty nice and we hope that you like it. 

Finally, I'd like to ask that everyone does their best to keep from driving in the fescue areas. We want people to stay out because once the fescue gets beat down it takes a long time for it to recover. Now, I realize this is likely cart traffic from one of the outings, but I just wanted to get it out there. Thanks a lot! 

I hope everyone enjoys the holiday weekend, it looks like we're in for some great weather! 

Ian 

Bunkers, flowers and seeding.

This week we were able to add sand to the bunkers and finish off the sodding. The sod will need some time to establish but, pretty soon you'll be able to play out of the new bunkers. They should be much more consistent and we think they're a great improvement for the course.

At number one the construction company finished extending the pipe from the left side of the fairway and grading over the top. This will eliminate some water hazard and an eye sore. They seeded the area yesterday, along with the haul road left of the green. We are mostly done with the big projects on this hole and it looks much better now that you can see what it's all going to look like. 

The new flower beds are planted and there should be plenty of color around the clubhouse this summer. We also finished sodding that back hill and will plant boxwoods in the beds along the back side of the veranda sometime next week. This refreshing of the flower beds was necessary, as the plantings that were there last year had become far too overgrown and really limited the view from the veranda. We hope you enjoy the new look. 

The work at the driving range is also winding down. Everything was seeded on Friday and the path should be paved early next week. As with the work at number one, you can really see what the finished product is going to look like and we think everyone will enjoy the updates at the range. 

Once again, we thank you for your patience as we plug away at the projects, they are great upgrades to the course and we appreciate your support. There aren't a lot of courses investing in themselves right now so we're lucky to work at a place that is. We're also lucky to work at a place that hosts the Brown's outing. Enjoy the weekend!  

Ian 

Bunker work and healing greens.

Work continued this week on the bunkers and we have been able to make a lot of progress. The bunkers were sprayed with the Better Billy Bunker polymer and we have started adding sand and sod to the bunkers at number 1 fairway. Tomorrow we will continue sodding on the first hole and finish up on number two and three early next week. Not only do they look good but, they are going to hold up much better to rain events and there won't ponds in the new bunkers! It should save us a lot of labor and you a lot of headache after it rains.

Spraying base layer of gravel with polymer.

Adding sand.

Finished bunkers.

While we're working on number one we're also extending the culvert at the beginning of the fairway so that, instead of a creek being in front of the first fairway bunker, it will just be grass. This should not only improve sight lines but also help play-ability.

Digging down for the new pipe.

Installing new pipe. We will back fill this, grade and seed so that it is a smooth playing surface.

The warm weather has also helped to heal greens in after last week's aerification. We sprayed fertilizer on them twice and the great weather has them almost completely filled in. I'd imagine you won't even know we did anything by early next week.

May 6.

April 29

















We'll keep plugging along and we appreciate your patience as we finish up!

Ian

Opening day.

Today is opening day, the weather is perfect and the course is packed. If you're playing this weekend, then you'll notice everything that was done this week. The nice weather helped us out a lot and we were able to start getting caught up on some of our projects. We finished laying the sod at #3, cut in the edges on the bunkers on #1 and #2 and filled with pea gravel. They are ready to have the Better Billy Bunker polymer sprayed on, which will happen Monday. After that we will add sand and finish sodding the entry points. 

The bunkers are starting to look like bunkers again. 

The range project is also coming along nicely. The old path has been back filled with soil and the new path has been graveled and is almost ready for paving. Everything is starting to take shape and you can really tell where the new path will be and how much will be added onto the range tee. The range tee gets a lot of use, so the more teeing ground you have the better. 

New path and tee extension. 

What I'm sure anyone who is playing will notice is that we aerified greens. We know that this wasn't an ideal timing for an aerification, but it really was the earliest date we could get on the greens. However, unlike the fall when we pull cores, we use solid tines in the spring so it isn't as disruptive and the greens heal in quicker. Furthermore, we've already fertilized to get them growing faster so it shouldn't be too long until they're back to good. Aerification is essential to maintaining healthy greens that are firm and fast, so we really do appreciate your patience. 

Small holes will fill in quickly. 

I hope everyone enjoys the really nice weather this weekend and plays well. But if you're game is still a little rusty, just remember what it looked like last Thursday and be glad the sun's out!  

Ian