Golf course maintenance 2008 project suggestions

By Todd Mathews
Golf Course Superintendent
• Irrigation connection - Connect the front 9 and back 9 irrigation systems together for emergency use. The most complicated part of this project is boring under Dunbar road. It would also be a benefit to install a drainage culvert under Dunbar road in the same location.

• Septic line repair - The septic line at the restroom on number 14 has failed and needs to be repaired.

• Bermuda project - After a year and a half of experimenting with bermuda in some fairways, it looks like using bermuda in certain areas will be beneficial to our operation. The board allocated $15,000 in 2007 for bermuda but we decided to put the project on hold until we could collect some more data. Hopefully we can get support from the board in 2008 since we did not spend the allocated funds in 2007. The Fund Tournament will also be working with us on this project. It is estimated that we could save $8,000 to $10,000 per year on fungicide by using bermuda.

• Irrigation addition - Add 5 sprinkler heads to the area between 2 fairway and 4 fairway.

• Restroom upgrades - We would like to upgrade the fixtures in the restrooms on the course. Most of the fixtures have been in use for more than 20 years.

• Rebuild 3 and 5 greens - These 2 greens were in use when the old course was here, about 40 years ago. The drainage systems have failed and the growing media is in very poor condition. The 2 greens are very difficult to maintain during the summer. In 2005, 3 green was closed for over 30 days in the middle of the summer due to excessive wetness. That is totally unacceptable for a golf course operation in this day and age.

• Re-design number 7 - Move the green back about 20 yards and triple its size.