Magnolia Opening

 

Good morning Callawassie Island. The big day is here. Final preparations are being completed this morning for the Grand Opening of the Magnolia golf course. The Agronomy Team has been hard at work completing the finishing touches this week ahead of this afternoon's FOCI rounds and tomorrow's FOCI Tournament.   Our first hole locations have been cut in, and our newly made in-house tee markers are set. We all can't wait to hear what you think of our team's incredible work to bring this day to reality.

  

 

Recap of the Project:

 

Drainage: 

Over 17 miles of drainpipe from 2-inch to 36-inch pipe was installed on Magnolia and the Practice Facility. We have seen a dramatic improvement in how quickly the course dries after rain events. This drainage will minimize cart path only days and dramatically improve the course playability. Firmer conditions will be enjoyed allowing for better ball roll and bounce around the course.  

Most of this drainage was installed on our tees, fairways, and approaches. Many high-traffic areas of the rough also had drainage installed. As we continue to learn how water moves differently around the course, we are now seeing rough areas that used to be our dryer areas become our wetter areas. The Agronomy Team has already addressed some of these areas by installing additional drainpipes. More work by our Team will continue over the coming months as we identify other areas that may require drainage support. You can never have enough drainage.  

 

Cart paths:

Nearly 3 miles of concrete paths were installed with curbing at green and tee locations. As you travel around the course, please park at tee and green areas adjacent to curbed sections of the path. Keeping the tires off the grass at these locations will help prevent the grass from thinning along the path edges. We removed the section of the path that crosses the fairway on Magnolia 8. Extra drainage has been installed in this 50-yard stretch of the fairway to ensure dry conditions even during cart path only days. On a cart path only day, exit the path flare on the right and scatter your driving across the fairway to any point along the path section on the left side. As a trial, a grass protection mat has been installed on the left side. The grass will eventually grow through and hide the mat. Other courses have had great success with this matting, and we plan to expand its usage if we see positive results.  

Bunkers:

The Agronomy Team has completed our final bunker depth checking and compaction of the new sand. We are thrilled with how well the new bunkers have performed through rain events. The playability of the bunkers will be equally improved. Please remember to rake the bunkers after play and to knock off your spikes when exiting the bunkers. Always exit on the lower sides of the faces and use the entry and exit ramps built into the bunkers on many of the greenside bunkers around the course. 

 

Grassing:

Over 2 million sq. feet of new grass was planted on Magnolia. The Agronomy Team has done a tremendous job through this turf's growth despite some callous weather conditions from August through October. Overall, the grow-in was a huge success, and outside some minor thin areas on the last couple of holes planted, we have excellent turf coverage going into our first winter. As we discussed on our course tours, think of the golf course and the grass as a 6-month-old infant. It still has maturing to do and must be nurtured along to that maturation.    With the winter months upon us, protecting the turf until growing conditions return will be our focus this winter. Please help us by avoiding obvious high-traffic areas when driving on the course. We expect most cart traffic to enter holes once the curbing ends in front of the red tee. Driving beyond this point and entering the golf hole from different points will help to minimize cart traffic damage. 

 

Magnolia putting greens will perform differently from Palmetto and Dogwood. The new greens will be firmer, and the ball roll will be slower for the first winter. We are maintaining the Magnolia greens at a slightly higher height of cut to prevent stress on the new turf. The Agronomy Team will also continue to use turning boards on the collars to protect the turf from mechanical wear.  

 

 

Overall, we are thrilled with the results of the Magnolia renovation. We expect to have some minor issues pop up via soil settling, additional drainage requirements, concrete cracking, etc. We have a 1-year warranty on all work completed by the contractor, and they will address any issues that may arise.

 

I look forward to seeing everyone on the course, and as always, don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

 

Thank you, and enjoy Magnolia!

 

Billy Bagwell

Director of Agronomy

Rain continues...

All this rain has made work on Magnolia very difficult, but TDI continues to move closer to the finish line.  Grass continues to go down on the Practice Facility and tie in work around cart paths and along OB lines continues.  Hopefully we can catch a drier weather pattern soon to allow the final touches to be completed.  Despite the rain, all the putting surfaces have grown in very well.  Magnolia 8 and 9 are nearly 100% grow in, catching up to Magnolia 1-7.  The tees, fairways and roughs from Magnolia 2-8 are looking great.  Magnolia 8 and 9 were the last 2 holes to be sprigged / sodded and are now 4 weeks old.  Pushing these holes to grow in over the next 4 weeks will be our goal along with all the tie in and finish work.  Sunshine and heat are the recipe we need to finish off strong.  Overall, the new drainage continues to work better then expected.  I can’t think of a better test then what we have experienced over the past month with nearly daily rainfall.  Unlike Palmetto and Dogwood, the Agronomy team has been able to consistently mow the golf course on Magnolia despite the rain.  The bunkers have also performed beautifully with zero substantial washouts.  Overall, despite how young the course is, the drainage is working and will continue to improve as soil structure is built, and the new grass matures. All of our new turf is still young, and we continue to be overly protective of its health.  We still need sunlight and heat to strengthen and mature the turf along with growing in any remaining voids.  So as much I as love the cooler weather of fall, we are all hoping for a very warm September and October.  

Magnolia 8 green nearly 100% grown in

Practice Facility target greens sodded with zoysiagrass

Sod crew laying Tif Tuf on Practice Facility

Practice Facility sod work

Fairway topdressing to help turf grow in and smoothness

Magnolia 5 

Magnolia 1 fairway bunkers

Rainy week

The past 10 days have been very wet.  In fact, this week has been the longest stretch of rain we've had since the renovation of Magnolia began in March.  We are extremely thankful for our run of luck with the weather.  That said, the past week has been tough to get some of the finishing touches needed completed.  Thankfully, all of the grass on Magnolia 1-9 has been installed, minus the tee complex on Magnolia 1 and continues to grow in well.  We hope to complete the Magnolia 1 tee complex next week once the ground has dried out some.  With all of the rain, we have seen the good and the bad that comes from nearly 6 inches of rain.

The Good:

This week has been the first true test our new drainage system has gone through.  With every rainstorm we have, we continue to just say WOW with how well the new drainage is working.  With the Dogwood and Palmetto golf courses becoming nearly unplayable during the rain, the Magnolia course fairways and rough areas that have had XGD drainage installed have remained in mow-able condition. Below are some photos showing the differences between the Magnolia fairways and the fairways on Palmetto/Dogwood.

Magnolia 4 fairway following complete mow out.  Course had received 5 inches of rain prior to this mowing

Fairway density improving day by day.

Saturated conditions on Palmetto 2 fairway with zero XGD drainage

Palmetto 2 fairway after rain

The new Better Billy Bunkers have also been up to the test with zero standing water or washouts throughout the 28 new bunkers on the Magnolia course.  The team was able to conduct a quick bunker check following the most recent rain and get them all shaped back up in a couple hours.  Before the renovation, the magnolia course alone would have taken an entire day to repair.

Magnolia 4 fairway bunker following rain event

The Bad:

The new drainage is working so well, that the areas where XGD pipe hasn't been installed stand out even more.  From the beginning of the project, the drainage scope of work included the fairways, approaches, tee tops, and rough access areas to the fairways.  Other areas of roughs around tee complexes, opposite sides of fairways from cart paths and many other locations have not, nor were planned to have XGD pipe installed.  This week these locations have become saturated much like what we are seeing on the other courses.  These area will be our challenge to manage over the coming months and years.  The good news, we have now had a change to identify these locations and have documented them for further drainage installation.  Some of which we plan to complete prior to the opening of the course later this year.  

TDI crews installing additional XGD drainage to support previously installed pipe

It is important to remember that no drainage system is perfect and we still expect to have wet areas during and after rainy weather patterns.  During rain events, especially ones where rain comes down very quickly, we will still see puddles form, surface water runoff and drain basins back up. The system can only handle so much water at a time and the system needs time after the rain has stopped to catch back up.  Remember the entire islands drainage system is at the mercy of the tides and lagoon levels.  If the lagoons are full and the tides are high, then back ups will occur.  Once the tides recede and the lagoons drain off, the drainage system can catch up and move water off the golf course and through the islands storm drain system.  The new storm water outfall that has been installed left of Magnolia 5 green has helped tremendously with lowering the pond levels more quickly following rain events. 

New storm water outfall moving water off property

Overall, we are very excited about how well the drainage is performing.  With each rainstorm we learn more about how it performs, where it isn't performing well and identifying locations where additional drainage may be needed in the future.  This process will continue over the next several months and even after the course has opened.  Water is having to relearn where to go now that some of the contours have changed around the course.  We are learning where this water is going as well and will make adjustments and additions to the system to help dry the course as quickly as possible following rain events.

Week 16

 We have reached a milestone!  All 9 holes of the Magnolia 9 have been grassed.  TDI completed the fairways and roughs on Magnolia 1 and 9 this morning.  We still have a long way to go to complete tie in work around cart paths and the tee complex on Magnolia 1 but all the sprigging on Magnolia has been completed.  This is great news for the Agronomy Team as we need 6-8 weeks of good hot growing weather to grow in the fairways.  TDI has now shifted their focus to completing the Practice Facility and has begun completing the necessary tie in work around Magnolia to grass all the way to the cart paths.  They will also now begin shaping the areas outside of the cart paths between the OB lines and the paths.  This work will begin on Magnolia 2 and work forward around the course.  We expect this work to move fast and sodding of these areas will take the look of incomplete to complete quickly.   

Magnolia 9 tee complex sodded with Zeon Zoysia

Sprigging on Magnolia 1

Sprigging on Magnolia 9

Agronomy Team watering newly installed sod on Magnolia 9

Week 14

 Where has the summer gone?  We have blinked and August is upon us.  Work continues at a fast and furious pace as we count down to the end of the Magnolia phase.  The focus has been on completing Magnolia 8 and 9 greens to allow the Agronomy Team the needed time to grown these two putting surfaces in before opening.  As we have mentioned in our meetings and other updates, the putting greens take more time to grow in compared to the fairway sprigs.  So having as much time before the weather cools off is our goal.  We also have sprigged Magnolia 8 and 9 at a slightly higher sprig rate to help fill in as quickly as possible.  Below are photos of the greens from finished grading through sprigging.  We are excited to have all 9 greens planted and growing well as we move into August.  TDI will now be shifting their focus to finishing Magnolia 9 and 1 fairway and rough planting along with the Range work.  These areas should move quickly with their entire team working on these areas. 

Magnolia 9 ready for sprigs

Agronomy Team sprigging Mag 9

Cutting in sprigs

Watering sprigs after planting

First topdressing of Mag 9 green

Magnolia 9, 5 days after planting

Magnolia 8 green complex

Week 13

 Putting green construction on Magnolia 8 and 9 is moving along.  The past two weeks the team from TDI has taken these two green complexes and transformed them into two much improved putting greens.  Below are step by step photos of this transformation and the USGA putting green construction process.  These greens will be built to USGA spec matching the other greens on the course.  This process includes mirroring the putting surface contours in the sub-grade 16 inches deep.  Once sub-grade is established, drain lines are installed throughout the sub-grade and back filled with drain rock.  A blanket of gravel is spread throughout the putting green cavity 4 inches deep.  Extra care is taken to ensure the 4 inches of gravel reflects the sub grade contours.  The gravel layer should mirror the desired putting surface.  Once the gravel is complete, 12 inches of greens mix is spread throughout the green over the gravel.  Special testing was completed prior too construction to ensure the greens mix used "bridges" over the gravel layer.  This bridging prevents the greens mix from migrating down into the gravel and clogging the drainage.  Once the 12 inches of greens mix is installed, the team from TDI "floats" the green to ensure the final product is a reflection of the sub-grade and ultimately approved by the architect. 

Magnolia 8 green complex before reshaping

Magnolia 8 putting green cavity and sub-grade prep

Magnolia 8 putting green drainage installation

Magnolia 8 putting green gravel layer installation

Magnolia 8 greens mix installation

New Magnolia 8 green complex

Old Magnolia 9 green complex

Demolition of old Magnolia 9 green complex

New Magnolia 9 green sub-grade

Billy Fuller site visit to approve sub-grade contours

Magnolia 9 green sub-grade complete and ready for drainage

Magnolia 9 drainage installation

Magnolia 9 drainage complete and ready for gravel

Magnolia 9 green ready for greens mix

Week 12

 Grassing and grow in is now in full swing.  With Magnolia 3-7 well into grow in focus has shifted to grooming these holes to the correct mowing heights and pushing lateral growth to fill in the voids in the sprigged areas.  With the grass on these holes well established, we can now back off the water a little and dry the soil enough to allow equipment to perform routine maintenance.  The Tif-Tif sprigs have really begun to go sideways now that routine mowing and fertilizer applications are being made.  Successful sprig grow in's require routine mowing to be successful.  Mowing the grass forces the the growth sideways, thus filling in the voids.  Without mowing, too much vertical growth occurs which can lead to a thin turf stand.  We have made one topdressing application and will be making several more over the coming months to help smooth the surface and fill the voids left behind from the sprigging operation, rain fall, etc.  So far the sprigged areas on Magnolia 3-7 are looking great.  The sodded tee complexes have also firmed up enough on these holes that weekly mowing is now part of the routine.  The Zeon zoysia is really impressive and will provide a great playing surface for golf.  The tee tops themselves have been cut down to the playing height we will maintain once open.  Sand topdressing and some light aerificaiton of the tee tops will be required to level out the tees and fill in the sod lines.  Now with Magnolia 3-7 mostly complete, focus has shifted to Magnolia 1,2,8 and 9.  Magnolia 2 fairway has been sprigged and sod laid down the left hand side rough and around the green complex.  The tee complex will be completed next week before TDI moves across the road to Magnolia 1,8 and 9.  Shaping and drainage work is ongoing on those holes and the should be ready for grassing beginning next week and into the the following week.  

Magnolia 4 Tif Tuf sprigs

Magnolia 4 Tif Tuf Sprigs

Magnolia 5 Tif Tuf grow in while green sprigs being spread

Team laying Tif Tuf sod left side rough Magnolia 2 

Nearly completed sod work left side Magnolia 2 rough 

Putting Surfaces:

Wednesday was an exciting day at the maintenance facility, as the Team from Modern Turf showing up to sprig the first set of greens.  Magnolia 2-7 were ready for grass and following some last minute adjustments to the mix to ensure the putting greens were back to the original design, these greens were sprigged with our new Mini-verde turf. We will sprig Magnolia 1 green this week and Magnolia 8 and 9 greens soon once they have been built.  We expect the sprigs on the greens to take 8-10 weeks to grow in and several more weeks after that to "tighten up" to be ready to open.  

Mini-verde sprigs come in burlap bags in back of refrigerated truck

Bags of Mini-verde sprigs

Hand spreading sprigs on Magnolia 3 green

Magnolia 3 completed

Sprigs are cut in following spreading to ensure soil contact

Greens are rolled following cutting in process to smooth surface

Continuous water during daylight hours to keep sprigs hydrated is required.