We previously communicated that, as part of our wider plan to enhance our course playability in winter months, we would undertake some major works to the 11th Green and Fairway.
This work is almost complete now, with only the fine grade silica sand to go into the bunkers. This will be done when the new turfed surrounding areas around these bunkers has knitted into the sub soil, which in turn will allow machinery into the area to offload the new sand.
Our original scope of work was to remove any trees which were deeply rooted into the bunkers or green area, upgrade the green, undertake exploratory work and carry out potential drainage repairs on the fairway.
This has been successfully completed but not without challenges and minor scope changes along the way, whilst also making use of the machinery and labour we had available to us during this period.
To summarise the minor, but required scope changes, on lifting the turf and excavating the area on the left hand side of the green, it was discovered that only one of the tree roots was causing damage to the bunker and the green. We therefore only removed one tree allowing us to retain and preserve others, along with the original bunker.
After excavating the bunker at this side of the green, it was also realised that there was not enough slope to create the intended swale and have rain water naturally drain away. We then decided to improve the drainage from the retained bunker, with links to an additional bunker and new drainage system. This will allow free running water drainage through all bunkers on this side to the new drainage system on the approach, which ultimately outfalls to the ditch.
Installation of this additional bunker set up will provide much needed risk protection for players on the Gents Medal Tees of hole 12 & 13, whilst also resolving serious potential drainage issues. As an added bonus, it’s felt that the aesthetics are much improved, enhancing the features on the approach to the new, extended, well-shaped larger green.
On the right hand side of the new extended green we have created a new swale and drainage system that allows rainwater from the 7th fairway to freely drain along past and connect to the bunker drain outfall and subsequently into the new manifolds leading to the ditch.
The other part of this project was to remove the deeply rooted tree from the side of the fairway bunker, improve the shape and visibility from the tee then improve drainage from the bunker. This turned into more of a job than first envisaged due to saturated low permeability sub soil which the team had to work tirelessly on to develop and complete a more onerous scope of work.
We now have a new drain network in this area from the bunker to the existing manifold and onto the ditch to the side of the 11th. We have uncovered drains from the 7th fairway and these are now tied in and flowing freely to the ditches and pond to the rear of the 12th green.
On this bunker, we have also decided to trial a new design which has proved successful on other courses, by lining it with turf to create natural barrier that would normally be provided by non-degradable material. This method also provides more effective stabilisation, whilst reducing bunker erosion and sand shift during heavy rainfall. As with the greenside bunkers, sand will be placed in the bunker when the surrounding turf is established.
In summary we have managed to deliver more scope, save a well-established tree and improve the drainage around the areas of the green and fairway bunkers, with all costs absorbed within our budget.
This would not have been possible without the tremendously hard work, thought and effort of our own Greens staff. They have worked tirelessly to execute this project, without outside contractors and in some harsh weather extremes. They should be proud of what has been achieved and we as members should be privileged to have such a good team working on our course.
Below are a montage of aerial photos, before, during and after construction.
Les McKirdy - Greens Convener
'Before'
'During'
'After 1'
'After 2'
