The Aging of Our Ponds

Part One – Function

There is a lot more to the two ponds here at Granite Bay then just the strategic value they add to holes 1, 3 & 9. They have a unique history and crucial function to the life of Granite Bay Golf Club. They also like any natural ecosystem have an evolving nature to them that is now beginning to conflict with their crucial function and that is to hold water to irrigate the turf of our course. Solutions to this conflict will not be easy but necessary for us maintain an unobstructed irrigation source.
I wanted to address the issue in a few parts over the next few updates then perhaps put them all together as a blueprint for the future.

•  Part One – The Function of our Ponds
•  Part Two – The History of our Ponds
•  Part Three – The Aging of our Ponds
•  Part Four – The Solutions for our Ponds

From “George’s Lake” the water now flows into another large culvert that feeds a large sump, which is where our pumps draw the water for the irrigation system.
The overriding issue is, and I will elaborate in future editions, is that “George’s lake” is going through what is called an eutrophication process. The effects of this process are that sediment build up and aquatic plant life accumulation are dangerously close to effecting the flow of water out of George’s lake to the pump station.
If we had access to all the water in the Folsom Lake and we couldn’t draw it out of George’s lake we would not be able to irrigate the course. This is why this is an important issue that needs to be addressed.
Next part of this series is “The History of Our Ponds” which will cover some golf course construction history and how the lake design features might actually contribute to the eutrophication process.

Irrigation water path

# 18 Tee Cart Path Extension

 

I think I mentioned on several occasions that we planned to begin the #18 cart path extension project the week immediately following putting surface aerification. Because aerification was pushed forward a week due to the storm and we have the contractor showing up to pour the path on November 2nd, we could not afford to be unprepared so we got started early.

Above is a basic routing plan of the path. Pictured is a turnaround area for the forward tees that is basically in the same location of the current turnaround although it will be reconfigured. Coming off of that turnaround is a path that will head up to a turn around to the left and below of the granite tee. Coming off of this turnaround is a short walking path leading up to the granite and tournament tees. After the upper turnaround and a common decent path, there will be exit path that will head the left where the current location of the water station is. A landscape bed will separate the accent and decent paths. All paths will be curbed to control traffic in the area and help direct in the natural flow.

         Construction Schedule

• October 19 – 30 Excavation & Grading
• November 2 – 6 Concrete Pouring
• November 9 – 13 Irrigation & Landscaping

#18 moving rock at base of path

#18 tee - removing old stairwell

 

#18 excavated path looking down

Aerification Setback

Our scheduled putting surface aerification on October 13th & 14th has been pushed forward to October 20th & 21st due to the unseasonable storm we all received last Tuesday & Wednesday. The storm dumped over 2.25” inches of rain here at the golf course which made the greens too wet to aerify on Thursday, and Friday (today) was heavily booked with play so we decided to push it into next week. We are getting a little late in the season to aerify putting surfaces as a cold snap will really hinder recovery however mild temperatures are forecasted so we should be O.K.
We were able to aerify both practice greens and the chipping green prior to the storm. We felt using a larger tine (5/8”) producing a larger hole on these greens was warranted because of the above normal traffic they receive combined with their small size. We will NOT be using the larger tines (5/8”) holes on 1-18, but will be using the smaller tines (1/2”).
Because we are aerifying a little late in the season this fall we decided to aerify both practice putting surfaces at the same time rather then the separating the two by a few weeks. We had been aerifying one and leaving another alone for a few weeks based on Member request’s and will continue to do so in the future. We just felt that this time we needed to get them both done and not risk recovery issues.

Aerated practice green 5/8" holes