Sandlot

Today was another big day of playing in the sand.  Ryan's crew continues to move along cleaning bunkers out as well as beginning drainage removal.  When starting such a project you assume everything will run smooth and everything under the sand is how it should be.  One thing that we've been running into with numerous bunkers it the edge depth.  We've found in numerous bunkers the edge is over a foot or sometimes even two feet deep.  What this means is either we backfill all that area with sand or backfill with clay and reduce the amount of edge depth.  The difference in both scenarios are as such: if we fill the area with clay we reduce the depth of the edge thus reducing the amount of sand and removing a higher probability of plugged lies, or we fill the area completely with sand and be prone to plugged lies as that area will be hard to firm up along with the need of more tons of sand.  We have chose to utilize our employees and stockpiled clay on property to build up the edges where needed.  Not all bunkers need it but a majority do, my view is no sense in not doing this right when we have the chance.  This process will take some time and grueling labor but in the end the benefits will be worth it. 
If weather holds this bunker project will move quick.  Looking at the extended forecast Ryan and I anticipate the sand removals to be done the week following Labor Day.  Next week we will begin drainage installation as well as sand installations.  Our targeted path is to start furthest from the maintenance shed and work our way through the property a couple holes at a time.  This is like painting yourself out of a room, just in case bad weather develops we're not needing to drive completely across the property.  Great progress is being seen and will continue to take place.  Ryan is doing an outstanding job and Blaine their Construction Superintendent has been tremendous to work with.

Right greenside bunker on number 5.  Notice the deep edge at the backside of the bunker.  These are the areas we are coming in and adding clay to shallow them out slightly to require less sand and make more playable, reduce plugged lies.

Guys adding clay along the edge to the same bunker

Finished product.  Edge of bunker went from 14" deep to 6" deep

Our employees edging the left greenside bunker on 15.  A lot of these bunkers have had a great deal of grass grow into the bunkers over the years.  Edging is a process that needs to take place throughout the year to prevent this situation and keep out bunkers to their original size and character.