Irrigation issues...

 We continue to have irrigation issues with our Toro 855 sprinkler heads.  Over the past year or so, I have been seeing a lot of washout in the bunkers that are close to our sprinkler heads.  Before we start blaming the issues on the head itself, we need to identify other possible issues.  About 14 years ago, I replaced all the green side sprinkler heads with the Toro 855's.  Over many years the turf has grown up from our topdressing programs which in turn makes the head sink.  Our plan this fall and the 2021 spring is to go around to all 90 sprinkler heads and raise them up to grade.  We will also raise the quick coupler as well.  This process will allow for better uniform coverage on the turf.  If this does not help with our bunker washout, we will then look at the head.  Is the o ring worn out?  Which way is the water being shed when the sprinkler turns off.  

Not only are we having wash outs, the bottom rock screen is clogging up with material.  I have gone around every year to all the fairway and rough sprinkler heads and checked the bottom rock screen.  It usually takes me about 2-3 days to check all the heads.  I last did it this past May, we are now having problems again.  The problem is course wide but it really is only affecting our block stations and not as much around the greens (which is good I guess.)  I have spoken with many people regarding this issue and they have steered me in a few directions.  This winter I will try and get a diver in to check the bottom of our wet well to see if we have gravel/sand sitting at the bottom.  Also we will check to make sure we have a great seal from the surround earth around the wet well stake.  We will also check the wye strainer in the pump station.  Another possible source of the material is our ageing system.  Our main line is from 1972 and the laterals were installed in the late 80's.  There is a lot of abandoned pipe still in the ground hooked up to the current system.  Who knows how much metal pipe is in the ground.  Could the material be coming from the old cast iron pipe flaking off?  I have our Toro rep coming out to the course next week to help me diagnosed the problem  I do not think this will be a easy remedy to find out what is causing the issue.  Only time will tell...

washed out bunker face at #14 green

edged sprinkler head on the fairway

the carnage from the edge sprinkler heads

Toro 855 rock screen plugged with material

 

2020...

We finally have some cold weather coming in after a long, grueling summer.  My small crew and I were able to keep Arrowhead in great shape despite the little rain we received.  We only had two large rain events all summer.  One took place on May 25th (1.12") and September 6 (1.17") which was a rain/snow mix.  The course held up to the hottest year on record, but we had some stressed turf where our irrigation coverage is not great.  When you a have 48 year old, 90 foot spaced sprinklers system with daily winds every night and morning, not all the turf is covered. We were able to hold it all together with rollers bases in the fairways and rough and dragging hose around green and tee complexes. 

We did a lot of great practices this year which helped our turf and the course playability.  1. We finally were able to edge all the bunkers on the course.  All 68 of them.  We have very large bunkers, that total close to 4 acres.  2. Our greens clean up pass was getting very stressed from our Triplex units.  Even though we only mow the clean up 4 day a week, the hot summer was showing it signs.  Rick, our Senior Assistant Superintendent made the call to only walk mow greens clean ups.  With our small crew, I was a little nervous that we would not be able to get it done, but someway we got it done.  The greens looked so much happier and healthier after.  This practice will continue on in 2021.  3. Both of our rough unit now have canopies on them.  The needed shade for our team members was a hot topic for me as both machines stay out all day mowing, no matter what.  Because of the increase in height of the machine, we limbed up all the interior tress on the course.  Not only did it help the mowers, it also allowed better irrigation coverage to those areas.  Water was know able to hit more turf instead of being knocked down from the low laying branches.

In September, we aerifed all the tees and approaches again.  We did the practice in the Spring, but we had to get back on schedule on when we aerify.  We normally aerify greens and fairways in the spring and tees and approaches in the Fall.  Last Fall, we unfortunately did not aerify tees and approaches due to lack of staff.  I noticed a big difference in health the more we aerify. Maybe we should do it more??

Our last project of the year, was our most fun.  It has been in the making for a long.  Just needed the money and the time.  Last week, we renovated lower #13 tee complex.  There were so many things wrong with it, I am not sure where to start.  It was not aligned to the green and it more humps in it than a whale.  The center hump was 12" above grade.  This was by far the worst tee box on property.  We are were ashamed by it.  After about 20 yards of topsoil and 5 yards of 80/20 mix and 1400 square feet of sod, we know have a proud 500 square foot tee box.