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