NEWSLETTER

February 2017: Valhalla Implements the Third Phase of TDA Drainage Plan

Penny February 6, 2017CUSTOMER PROFILE, PROJECTSdrainage, Valhalla

Roger Meier, Golf Course Superintendent at Valhalla Golf Club, is a busy man. Since arriving at Valhalla in 20110, he has overseen the reconstruction of all of the greens, practice range, renovation of all primary rough areas; along with adding/renovating all of the bunkers, and the installation of a state of the art irrigation system. He has hosted 2 major championships (Senior PGA Championship in 20111 and the 2014 PGA Championship). In his spare time, he serves as President of the Kentuckiana Golf Course Superintendents Association and the Board for the Kentucky Turfgrass Council.

In addition to all of this, he is making steady progress towards implementing the TDA drainage plan that was done for Valhalla in 2011. …

February 2017: Understanding Water Tables and The Capillary Fringe

Penny February 4, 2017February 4, 2017PRODUCTcapillary fringe, cone of depression, water table

UNDERSTANDING WATER TABLES AND THE CAPILLARY FRINGE

There are three types of seepage water. They are seepage water from lack of velocity, seepage water from a hillside spring, and seepage water from a high water table. Detailed descriptions of each of these can be found in “Analyzing Drainage Problems and Applying Proper Drainage Techniques.” The reason that it is necessary to distinguish between the three types of seepage water is that each water type requires a different installation depth to be effective.

This article will focus on the third type of seepage water, which is seepage water from a high water table. The permanent water table is called the “Phreatic water table,” and is the level …

February 2017: Berkeley Hall Club, Bluffton, SC

Penny February 4, 2017February 6, 2017CUSTOMER PROFILE, PRODUCT, PROJECTSBerkeley Hall, Chris Young, Dennis Hurley, Mickey McCord, Turf Drain, Turf Drainage Co. of America

Berkeley Hall Club in Bluffton, S.C. is an incredible facility. The two Fazio courses are demanding enough to host the best amateurs in the country each year at “The Players Amateur,” but enjoyable enough that the national membership makes plays year round. The course is maintained to the highest standards, and the “Berkeley Hall Experience” comes with the expectation of facilities and service at the highest level.

A wet winter in 2016 was keeping Chris Young, CGCS and “Director of Golf Maintenance,” from providing the product that he knew was expected from the membership. He contacted Pat O’Brien, regional agronomist with the USGA, and Pat suggested that he contact TDA. Dennis Hurley and Mickey McCord prepared a plan in …

1st Qtr 2015: Tech Section: Surveying Turning Points

Dennis Hurley February 11, 2015February 14, 2022PRODUCT, TECHNICALbench mark, elevation, rod reading, survey, surveying, turning point, turning points

Surveying Turning Points

Most superintendents had a surveying class in college, but when a skill isn’t used everyday, it can be difficult to remember the lessons that were learned many years ago. I thought it would be helpful to provide a basic chart that could be kept as a reference for the next time you need to survey an area for drainage. This chart can be used in a log book that can be purchased from any surveying store, or created in any program, such as Excel, that can create columns. The six columns are set up as shown below.

There are six columns in your log. The first column identifies the point that is being shot. The second column …

1st Qtr 2015 – Current Projects

Dennis Hurley February 11, 2015January 24, 2021CUSTOMER PROFILE, PROJECTSAllen Storie, Bluejack, Bluejack National, Eric Bauer, Hound Ears, Hound Ears Club, Richard Luikens

Southwest

Bluejack National Golf Club

Montgomery, TX

Eric Bauer Oversees Construction of New Tiger Woods Course in Montgomery, Texas

Eric Bauer is the energy behind the golf course construction at Bluejack National – the first Tiger Woods–designed course to open in the nation. Bluejack National is built on a spectacular undulating property in Montgomery, Texas, north of Houston. Medalist Golf is the contractor, and in addition to the Tiger Woods Design team, Beau Welling and Shane Robichaud are designing the course. The golf course will have one cut of turf featuring firm and fast playing conditions. Everyone was in agreement that with the heavy rainfalls that occur in the Gulf Coast area, drainage was a major priority. Eric

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1st Qtr 2014: Current Projects

Dennis Hurley January 30, 2014January 24, 2021PRODUCT

Midwest: Westmoreland Country Club, Wilmette, IL

Todd Fyffe, Superintendent at Westmoreland Country Club in Wilmette, IL, has overseen the completion of the new drainage system that is designed to store flood waters when they back up on the property.

Todd says,

“I am impressed with the ability of the course to soak up a one inch rain and the short period of time the soil remains saturated. In the past, we would have remained saturated for days after a one inch rain, and for weeks after multiple rain events. The fairways are now open to cart traffic the next day following a one-inch rain.”

The healing process has been impressive. Leibold Irrigation did a great job. They used the commercial

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1st Qtr 2014: Tech Section: Could this be why your green does not drain?

Dennis Hurley January 29, 2014January 24, 2021TECHNICALclean-out, greens, problem greens, siphon, siphon system, Turf Drain Siphon System

Do you have 17 well-drained greens, and one that doesn’t perform up to the others, and you aren’t sure why?

In traveling the country for 30 years looking at drainage problems, I periodically run into a poorly drained green on a golf course that otherwise has greens that drain properly. There are the obvious “problem greens” where the superintendent has already identified shade as the culprit. This is usually a situation where, at first glance, there doesn’t appear to be any reasons that its performance should be subpar.

In trying to help the superintendent determine what might be different on his problem green, I always start with questions related to possible problems with the outfall piping. Is it on grade;

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Can you raise your drainage basin in 10 seconds?

Dennis Hurley February 20, 2013September 19, 2022PRODUCT, TECHNICALPerma Basin, raise basin

Perma Basin is the patented basin from Turf Drainage Co. of America that have permeable sidewalls.They not only collect surface water, but also the seepage water that collects around the basins.

One of the most popular features of these basins is the simplicity with which they can be raised. Every superintendent has dealt with basins that have become too low because of thatch accumulation, or maybe they were just installed a little too low.

With a Perma Basin, there is no need to dig the basin up and reset it. Simply take an additional frame, set it on the existing basin, and you will raise the elevation by 1¾” in less than 10 seconds.

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January 2013: Current Projects

Dennis Hurley January 29, 2013January 24, 2021PROJECTS

East Coast

Highlands Falls Country Club

Fred Gehrisch, CGCS Superintendent at Highlands Falls Country Club isn’t afraid to tackle big projects at Highlands Falls C.C in Highlands, NC. Fred’s next big project is the implementation of a drainage plan done by TDA in 2012. Fred will be doing the project in-house. Highlands Falls C.C. sits on one of the most spectacular sites in the Eastern U.S., and presents a formidable challenge because of the shallow rock. Fred will be utilizing gravity, as well as siphon systems and Irrigation Driven Pumps to alleviate the difficulties that come with installing drainage in mountain courses.

Midwest

Westmoreland Country Club

Todd Fyffe, Superintendent at Westmoreland Country Club in Wilmette, IL, has overseen the completion …

January 2013: Tech Section – Difference between drainage envelope and drainage filter

Dennis Hurley January 29, 2013February 14, 2022TECHNICALdrainage envelope, drainage filter, filter fabric, filters, geotextile

One of the most commonly asked questions we receive is, “Isn’t the filter fabric (geotextile used around Turf Drain and Perma Basins) going to clog up?” In the early 80’s, when we first introduced Turf Drain to the golf course industry, I called on golf course architect, Joe Finger in Houston. Joe was a civil engineer. As soon as I showed him the Turf Drain and explained how it worked, he said, “I have never seen a filter yet that didn’t clog up and have to be replaced.” I wasn’t able to counter his statement, but as soon as I left his office, I started my search for the explanation. Since that time, I have spent untold man-hours trying to …

The Turf Drain Siphon System™ is the first drainage system where you can install drainage without the need to grade pipe. Piping can go over mounding or into an ungraded trench.It has application in flat coastal properties where there is a need to take the water a long distance with little elevation change.

Any property where grading pipe may be difficult, such as rocky property or a course with lots of underground obstructions, can benefit from a Turf Drain Siphon System™.