DRAINAGE ! is going in at Abridge Golf Club
This Winter has been one of the longest, wettest and ‘trying’ ones for many a year. In fact February has just been announced as the wettest February’s on record! So it’s time to do something about it.
We are going to start installing a Comprehensive Drainage system into Fairways and Approaches to make the Course more playable in the wetter periods. This drainage will never stop some of the excessive flooding conditions we have had this Winter, BUT what it will do is to enable the surfaces to cope with the rainfall and drain the surfaces quicker. At the moment the water has nowhere to go and just sits on the surfaces as the clay subsoil underneath is saturated.
The plans and install methods have been checked by a qualified Drainage Consultant.
The plan consists installing Main, Primary and Secondary Drainage. We have measured and surveyed all 18 holes and then prioritised where we feel is best to start, but this depends massively on ground and Weather conditions and maintenance of your Golf Course.
Overall, we will be laying in excess of 3,500M of Mains Drainage, in excess of 7,000M of Primary Drainage and in excess of 80,000M of Secondary drainage over the next 3-4 years!
MAIN DRAINS
These will be installed in the appropriate places in the Rough just along the edges of Fairways and Approaches.
They will consist of a trench with 100mm perforated pipe covered with a non-woven Geo textile Sock (this helps to stop the silting up of the pipe), the trench will then be backfilled to the surface using 10mm washed pea shingle. These will be visible for a while until the grass grows over the top of the gravel. Inspection points along the Main drains will be installed for us to service and keep the pipes clear.
Backfilling trenches with a 3 Ton Gravel Trailer
PRIMARY (LATERAL) DRAINS
These will be installed in the appropriate places. They are spaced between 5M and 10M apart and connect directly into the Main drains
Primary drains consist of a trench with 80mm perforated pipe, backfilled with 10mm washed pea shingle up to 75mm below the surface. The remaining 75mm will be filled with an 80/20 sand/soil mix. This stops gravel coming to the surface which can ruin mower blades and also help to limit ‘Tiger striping’ during very dry periods. It also gives a good base for grass to grow and ‘knit’ the drainage lines in.
SECONDARY DRAINS
Secondary drains enable surface water to reach the Primary Drains quicker. They are spaced at 1M apart.
Secondary drains consist of closely spaced gravel bands , approx. 20-25 mm wide and injected into the playing surface 200-250mm deep by a vibrating channel opener. Instead of using gravel we use Lytag.
LYTAG is a porous material that is far superior to gravel in carrying water away from desired areas. It can drain up to 10 times faster than 10mm gravel. It’s a recycled material from made from the fly ash, a by-product of coal fired power stations. It’s been used by Drainage contractors for over 30 years. Lytag on the surface does not cause damage to mower blades and owing to its honeycomb design it holds a small percentage of water which helps with stopping ‘tiger striping’ during dry periods.
Also, as no soil is removed in laying secondary drainage surface disturbance is minimal and play can resume almost immediately.
Using a 3ton Gravel bander to install the Secondary Drainage
HOW CAN YOU HELP WITH YOUR COURSE!!
One of the most labour-intensive jobs during the drainage installation will be the back filling of the primary drainage trenches with the 75mm of sand/soil. This has to be done by hand and shovel. It’s your Golf course remember and if you would like to help us with this job it would be greatly appreciated! Two members have already instigated that they would be willing to help at times so if you would also like to get involve please contact me on geoffabridgegolf@gmail.com or leave a message with Lol Green or the office.
WHAT DISRUPTION WILL THERE BE AND IN WHAT ORDER WILL DRAINAGE BE INSTALLED
You cannot make an omelette without breaking some eggs! However, given this Winter we have all just endured I hope to think you will all cope with a little inconvenience whilst we endeavour to make your Golf Course so much more playable. There will be some mess and occasionally we will have to close a whole while certain jobs are carried out.
We have decided on the following strategy, but this really does depend on several factors, weather, the ability to get onto the surfaces with the machinery, staff levels and pressure of Golf. We have also to maintain your Golf Course to the highest standards the main Season.
March 2020 – November 2020. Holes 1- 7
March 2021 – November 2021. Holes 10,11,14,16,18
March 2022 – November 2022. Holes 12,13,14,17
March 2023 – November 2023. Holes 8,9, practice hole and parts of the Driving Range
The above is definitely subject to change. I will update you as much as I can.
I hope you are excited as we are of completing this massive upgrade in your Course.
WITH THE NEW FULL IRRIGATION SYSTEM, A FULL 18 HOLE BUGGY PATH, SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICE AND DRIVING RANGE FACILITIES IN THE COUNTY,THE WONDERFUL NEW CLUBHOUSE, THE AMAZING FOOD SERVING AT ‘THE LOUNGE’ AND JACK WINER OUR NEW HEAD PRO, ABRIDGE JUST GETS BETTER AND BETTER !
BE PART OF IT NOW!
ENJOY YOUR COURSE ENJOY YOUR CLUB……IT’S YOURS REMEMBER!
As announced a few weeks ago the next stage of your Golf Course improvement plan is to invest heavily in Drainage .
