Renovation update

We are making excellent progress in the bunker renovation project on the fourth hole. I thought I would share a few pictures that I had on my computer that displayed what the hole looked like before the project was initiated. I especially like the oldest picture that includes the dead maples that were removed from along the cart path. The hole looks so much better without them.


We have removed all of the sand that has been contaminated with silt and clay over the years as a result of the flooding and washouts that occur every time it rains. As we cleaned the bottom of the bunker we discovered two old drain lines. The original terra cotta still worked up until it was cut by the most recent drain that was installed with the new irrigation system. The new pipe was completely filled with sand, but thankfully the water is still able to move through the stone which will prevent the hole from filling up until we can install the new drainage.


We have established a rough outline of the bunker edge and are working on shaping the floor of the bunker, which will determine exactly where the new drains will be installed. The new bunker will be deeper, wider, and closer to the edge of the green. This will be more challenging for some golfers, but at least you will have a fair opportunity to recover from a predicable lie. I am confident that the new design will also add interest and challenge to a fairly short hole.


Once the area has dried we will resume shaping the features and begin work on the final drainage design. I hope to have this completed by the end of next week. Once this is complete we will remove the remaining turf from the work area, reshape the features to provide adequate surface drainage, and then install the subsurface drains and catch basins. The final design will account for future renovation work and drainage from the right hand bunker, which will be completed at a later date. Once the drainage is installed and the final shaping is complete we will order the sod, hopefully by early November. I am considering a couple of different sand sources, and have not decided when I would like to add the sand. There is no rush as the bunker will remain closed until after the sod is established, which may take all winter depending on the weather.

Breaking Ground

Thankfully the heat and stress of a long, difficult summer has come to an end. This will allow us to shift our focus away from routine maintenance and move on to projects that improve the condition, appearance, and playability of the golf course. Before this season started the Grounds Committee discussed a number of issues throughout the course that they would like to see addressed. High on the list was the bunkers around the fourth green. While everyone agreed that this was perhaps the greatest opportunity to make a significant improvement, it was unlikely that we be able to fund such a project so we chose to examine smaller projects that would be less expensive but would still have a significant impact on the course. The Course Improvement Tournament in July raised far more money than we had anticipated which meant that we might be able to return to our original goal of correcting the problems on four after all. After purchasing much needed sand for the bunkers on holes one and two, I started investigating the possibility of using the remaining funds to rebuild one or both of the bunkers around the green.
I generally use two main resources when developing a plan for this type of project. First, I use aerial photographs from 1934 to examine how the course was initially built so that I can determine how the original architect intended the holes to be played. Last year this was the key reason we decided to remove the bunkers from the seventh hole, as they were not part of the original design. The second resource I use is the Master Improvement Plan Report developed by Ken Dye. The recommendations in this report reveal opportunities to accentuate the original features while updating the course to account for modern technology. This will be the key reference used for the renovation project this fall.
Due to financial constraints, we will not be able to consult with the architect directly, nor will we be able to implement all of his suggestions. Therefore the finished product will reflect his recommendations but may not be a direct interpretation of his design. One of Mr. Dye’s guiding principals is that “deficiencies of a hole that is too short or lacking in challenge can be corrected by deepening the bunkers”. In the report he also compares the design of this green to work completed by A.W. Tillinghast at Winged Foot where flashed sand faces are used to add visual interest to the golf holes. Therefore, consistent with the recommendations outlined in the plan we will be raising the greenside face of the left bunker to improve visibility from the fairway, as well as lowering the floor slightly to add challenge to recovery from approach shots that fall short of the putting surface.
In addition to the aesthetic upgrades we will be addressing the drainage issues that have caused the deterioration of the existing bunkers. For a number of reasons the existing drain that connects the two bunkers and moves water to the woods right of the fifth tee is not effective. First the pipe does not extend the full length of the bunkers. Second, the stone trench was covered with a fabric that prevents the water from entering the pipe. After we determine the final depth of the bunker we will install new drains that cover the full extent of the bunkers as well as the faces. This should eliminate any contamination of the sand by native soil, which occurs as a result of pooling and washouts caused by heavy rainfall. These pipes will empty into a series of catch basins that will also collect surface water from the area between the fairway and green surrounds. Due to the size of our staff and available equipment, the scale of the project will be much smaller than what is outlined in the master plan and the finished product may not be as dramatic as the architect had intended. Instead, we will provide a modern interpretation of the original design that will resolve the drainage issues, enhance the challenge and visual appeal of the hole, and provide a foundation for further improvements in this area.

The best is yet to come

Today has all the markings of a perfect fall golf day. The morning was clear and crisp, and the rising sun turned the hills of West Suffield a bright golden yellow. As the morning progressed some gray clouds rolled in on the breeze and golfers are reaching deep in their lockers for a pullover. For some it may be a bit brisk for golf, but in my mind this is a sign that the best golf of the year is right around the corner.
Cool, sunny days, and clear chilly nights produce ideal conditions for golf. The greens and fairways will be firm, and the grass will start to slow down providing smooth, firm playing surfaces that require very little water. Combine that with a firm wind racing out of the northwest and you have the makings for a great day of golf. The forty or so days from now until the leaves begin to fall, golf will only get better. The condition of the course will improve daily, and the leaves will slowly reveal their autumn colors, making New England the best place in then world to get out and enjoy an afternoon round.
Perhaps the only thing that could make this story any more appealing is a hearty lunch of shepherd's pie or bangers and mashed in the 19th hole, washed down with a harvest ale. This will surely warm your bones as you look out the window and contemplate your next round, when you vow to atone for the errant shots you left on the course that day.
This is what I have been thinking about all summer when we were forced to endure the relentless heat and drought, feeling more like I was working in a blast furnace rather than a golf course. There is still plenty of work to be done before the leaves start to fall, but the stress level should be much more manageable, and there will be more opportunities to steal away for a day of golf.