GREENS DRAINAGE PLANS

Having previously worked on the west coast of Scotland for four years - Loch Lomond GC, you quickly learn how paramount good drainage is when providing a playing surface and managing turf.

At Pitreavie, in order to maximise use of the main greens all your round and provide firmer playing surfaces, an improvement in drainage is essential.

9th Green after prolonged rainfall in January 2014.

Over the past 12 months, drainage requirements have been evaluated with a progressive action plan to be implemented over the next few years.  There are four different areas needing addressed to fully solve the surface water issues:

• Intercepting excess water before it reaches the playing surfaces.  
• Surrounding vegetation management to encourage drying out.
• Cultural turf management to allow water to infiltrate through the soil.
• Drainage systems to transport the excess water away from the playing surfaces.

INTERCEPTION OF SURFACE WATER

This involves installing drainage in surrounding areas and re-contouring ground to intercept and divert surface water away from the green.  A good example of this would be the recent work carried out left side of 12th green / 13th tee area which has proved successful at diverting water away from the green.


SURROUNDING VEGETATION MANAGEMENT TO ENCOURAGE DRYING OUT

Direct rainfall onto greens or tees cannot be avoided but making sure surrounding vegetation isn't causing shading or blocking airflow can make a big difference to the speed a green dries after rainfall, or a frost disappears in winter months.  Appropriate thinning of trees and shrubs to reduce shade and allow more sunlight will also increase ventilation and help dry out wet surfaces.  

12th Green in regular shade that needs to be addressed.

We are starting to manage trees, shrubs and woodland across the course as part of a wider woodland management plan.  Look out for a separate posts about tree work plans and progress.  As I write this, mother nature is having it's influence with the trees!


CULTURAL TURF MANAGEMENT TO IMPROVE DRAINAGE

Thatch control is paramount for allowing water to infiltrate through the grass, organic matter (thatch) and subsoil giving firm dry playing surfaces.  Excessive thatch causes greens to be too soft and too water retentive.  In some cases we currently have thatch levels 50-60% higher than desirable.

Thatch acts just like a sponge - holds water.

We are developing a solid cultural maintenance program to reduce thatch by increasing aeration, sand topdressing, verti cutting as well as other sound agronomic practices to reduce the thatch layer.


DRAINAGE SYSTEMS

Another stage of removing water from greens is by installing drainage into the sub soil that feeds water away from the green into a positive outlet.  Due to the topography of the course and burns available, we are fortunate to have positive drainage outlets.  

A combination of conventional pipe and an innovative Aquadyne drainage panel is being utilised to achieve this.  Initially we are just installing drains in the lowest parts of the green (or areas that puddle) with view to installing additional drains as required.  The 9th green is the first green to be done (work started), followed by drainage to the 3rd, 7th, 15th, 16th and 18th which are planned at the end of January 2015.

Drains will be intially targeted in specific areas with performance evaluated. 

Aquadyne drainage panels are a sustainable product which are tried and tested. We are using aquadyne because it's durable and there will be less chance of drain lines drying out or settlement. 

Look up posts for each green as the work is carried out.