#14 Bunker Renovation

This week we completed another conversion of a sand bunker into a grass bunker.  The bunker on #14 was another one that was in need of repair to remain playable.  We decided to grass in the bunker because of its location and susceptibility to washouts after heavy rain events.  As you can see in the picture below, the bunker needed lots of work to return to playable after a couple inches of rain.

Heavy washout with underlying rock exposed.

We started by removing all of the material in the bunker and stripping off the surrounding grass on the face and edges.  Then we began using 20 yards of topsoil to shape the bunker into the way we wanted it to look when finished.  We also added two drainage boxes to catch water coming in during rain events.  The last step was sodding the base of the bunker with tall fescue and the face of the bunker with zoysia.  We did this because the tall fescue will grow a little taller, and will still penalize a shot that ends up in the grass bunker.  The area on the slope of the green was already zoysia so we wanted to continue this along the face.  Hopefully the weather does not turn to hot so the fescue can grow in within a couple weeks.

After sand and grass was removed.

Soil being added to add shape to the bunker.

Soil work almost completed.

After sod work was completed.

Mole Damage

What a way to start a Friday!

Early this morning when we arrived at the course, we quickly realized that someone was working overtime through the night.  That someone was a mole, and he found his way onto #4 green.  This was not the first time I have seen this at Swope.  A couple of years ago, we had a mole cause the same damage to an area on #6 green.  Fortunately, we were able to get the damage repaired before any play got to the hole.  I promise we will find this mole and prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law!

After 30 minutes of repair.