Course Drainage

With heavy rainfall events occurring throughout the latter half of August and early September, course drainage or the lack of course drainage became very evident this season. Heavy clay soils, extensive shade, flattened topography, along with limited drainage throughout fairways and roughs, allowed areas to remain waterlogged for many days after a rain event.  Standing water in fairways and adjacent rough areas became an ideal environment for disease and scald as the hot sun would heat the water puddles and damage the turf.    

  

Proposed drainage grid on 6 ft spacing

In 2003-04 the course underwent an extensive     drainage project that included the installation of catch basins and large pipe to carry drainage water to the pond or nearby streams. Creating an infrastructure of below ground piping and catch structures was phase one of the project. The second, and most important, phase consisted of installing a drainage grid with pipe installed on six  foot spacing, which would then carry drainage  water to the already installed larger piping and  catch basins.  The grid drainage system would  capture surface water during heavy rain events  preventing casual and ponding water from accumulating on fairways and rough areas.  

Unfortunately, budget reductions after phase one was completed,  prevented any installation of the grid drainage  system to fairways.  However, the mainlines and basins are easily located for future installation.  As  funds become available the process could begin at anytime, which would make an immediate impact on fairway drainage and reduce the soggy conditions experienced this season.