Good Morning Members,
The golf course received approximately 2.6” of rainfall Friday night (close to 6″ for the month) with periods of very intense rain across the property. As a result, several bunker faces on holes 9, 11, and 14 sustained damage from washouts and sloughing along the steep bunker banks.
The primary challenge continues to be the combination of saturated conditions and young Zoysiagrass sod on bunker faces that is still in the process of fully establishing and knitting together. To date, Hyde Park has received approximately 5.6” of rain during the month of May, creating extremely difficult grow-in conditions during a period when zoysiagrass naturally establishes more slowly due to cooler spring temperatures. Unfortunately, the continued unfavorable weather pattern and latest forecasted rain events are expected to further delay overall progress and recovery efforts in the affected areas.
As mentioned before, Mother Nature can certainly be in control at times. Importantly, this is not a construction defect, but rather part of the challenge associated with establishing steep grassed bunker faces during a wet spring weather pattern. In the affected areas, bunker sand has become contaminated and portions will need to be removed and replaced as repairs are completed.
Our Grounds Team and McDonald and Sons have already mobilized repair efforts and are proactively working to protect vulnerable areas ahead of additional forecasted rain chances throughout the upcoming week. Temporary measures including plastic coverings and bunker face stabilization are currently being utilized to minimize additional damage.
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| Plastic Covering Protecting Faces |
Despite these weather setbacks, meaningful progress continues across the property. It has certainly been a typical spring filled with ups and downs, and hopefully we will not lose any additional days to weather this week. The project is now down to the final three bunkers requiring internal drainage work on holes 2 and 17. In addition, most of the mounding work between holes 17 and 18 has now been completed and sodded. The Ley Irrigation crew also has 6 more sprinklers to install, along with completion of remaining punch list items as weather and field conditions allow.
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| Drainage Install Yesterday on #17 |
While these setbacks are frustrating for everyone involved, the course continues to make significant progress overall. The restoration teams remains focused on delivering the highest quality finished product possible while navigating a spring season that recently has brought persistent rainfall and difficult establishment conditions.
We appreciate the continued patience and support from the membership as we work through these weather-related challenges. Additional updates will continue to be shared as conditions evolve.
Pat O’Brien
Grounds Superintendent