Bunkers Working As Advertised

Following over an inch of rain, the new bunkers on #1 Red are functioning properly.   There is no erosion around the edges and there is no standing water. 


Below is a photo of how the old bunker looked previously after a heavy rainfall.
It was heavily eroded and mud in the bottom of the bunker

Below is how the same bunker looked today in the middle of a rain.  No erosion, no muddy contamination and no standing water. 

 Notice the standing water in the green but none in the floor of the bunker.

New Bunkers

The bunker renovation on the red and blue courses is complete.  I think you will like the way they play.  The bunkers will be drier and present more consistent playing conditions.

Red #1 bunker following a heavy rainfall
                 
Red # 1 greenside bunker before the renovation

Red # 1 greenside bunker after the renovation

Blue # 6 bunker view before the renovation

Blue # 6 bunker view after the renovation

Red # 9 bunker before the renovation

Red # 9 bunker after the renovation

Aerification - The Whole Story

Why is it necessary to aerify greens, tees and fairways?  Please view the video.

Augusta National -

Each April, golfers across the country view the awe inspiring Augusta National Golf Club as it hosts The Masters.  There is nothing like it. If you haven't actually walked the course, it is impossible to grasp the changing elevations from tee to green.  The shapes and slopes of the greens are tremendously challenging.  A 10 foot putt can easily be 4 putted or putted completely off the green.  Take a look at the photos below.


These beautiful and near perfect conditions do not occur by accident. 
There is no limit to the operating budget at Augusta National.

The greens are SEVERELY slope.

Some putts can have as much as a 30 foot break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Some holes have as much as a 30-50 foot elevation change.
This is why you see balls roll so far on holes like 10, 13, 15, etc.
There is unlimited machinery available for manicuring the golf course.
There are 13-14 fairway mowers on this hole.
Most 18-hole courses have only 3-4 fairway mowers in inventory.

Greens are mowed and rolled as many as 4-5 times a day to achieve the desired speeds.
Greens can be mowed prior and post play.

There are hundreds of volunteers preparing the course during tournament week.


Below shows 9 people deciding on the daily cupping location.

Most courses have 4-5 men that prepare the bunkers for daily play.
There are 22 volunteers preparing the bunkers on this one hole at Augusta National.

7 volunteers check for ball marks on this one green at Augusta National

This is the size volunteer staff for a major event like The Masters.
It is not uncommon to have several hundred volunteers for major events.
Many 18 hole courses have a staff of 18-25 employees.

Imagine having the budget and labor force to have 12-15 employees painting curbs.

Augusta National is closed from May - September every year.
That doesn't happen at other courses in the South.

As you can see, there is no comparison of Augusta National to even the best of private facilities.

Spring Aerification

While many of our members are still at their warmer winter homes out of state, our NCC Golf Course Operations staff is preparing the course for the coming season.  Despite 27 degree temperatures, our staff was beginning the first scheduled seasonal topdressing and aerification procedures.  


These men work in every type of weather conditions to serve our membership.  Much of these necessary practices are scheduled and undertaken at times in order to be less visible and impacting to member play.
                                                                      
                                                

           The greens are being aerified.

Greens are topdressed following aerification

Greens are rolled for smoothing the surface

 

The fairways are being topdressed

Fairway topdressing

This photo below is only 10% of what we will apply each time to the fairways

Fairway aerification is following the fairway topdressing.   This places the sand into the soil profile.

Leaves and winter debris must be cleaned for course preparation.