Friday, August 26, 2016

G.R.P. Update 8/26/2016

This week Landscapes Unlimited finished filling 1,2,17,8 and 9 with greens mix, and is currently working on 18.  1,2,17 and 8 have had sod installed around the perimeter and are scheduled for seeding today with the remaining greens (9,18 and nursery) scheduled for mid-next week. Landscapes completed the renovation and extension of tee space on holes 16 and 2, which also had sod installed yesterday.  They have begun the last major project of the renovation, which is addressing the flood and drainage issues on number 4 and 5 tee.  Currently, a crew is removing sod right of 4 fairway in preparation for work next week.

The agronomy department continues to repair weak areas around the course, which should wrap up next week.  A "bio barrier" was installed around 6 green to help prevent the large amount of roots in the area from encroaching into the greens cavity. During core-out it was discovered that the roots inside the greens cavity on 6 was extensive. The area separating 8 green and 9 tee was also stripped and reshaped, which should improve aesthetics and freshen up that area of the course.  A large velvet mesquite was installed behind 18 green to help soften the area as well as provide immediate shade for golfers exiting 18 green.  

18 green being filled with greens mix.

Final grade work being finished on 16 tee, where the tees were leveled and combined.

The area between the tees was built up and softened, and the black tee top raised 12 inches. 

Finished tee complex following installation of sod. 

Retention area on 4 is being stripped in preparation for next week.
Example of some of the roots located inside 6 green.

Root barrier installed around 6 green.  The little dots in the fabric contain a slow-degrading herbicide which prevents roots from penetrating the fabric. The barrier was installed 19" deep.

Back-filling the trench that contains the root barrier.

The new mesquite required the big guns be brought out to transport and plant.

Finished planting of mesquite tree behind 18 green.  Should help soften the area and provide immediate shade for golfers exiting 18 green.

Salvador Medina getting the first roll on the practice greens today.  Once smoothed and filled in a little more, we should be able to get our first cut.




Friday, August 19, 2016

G.R.P. Update 8/19/2016

We've officially got grass on the putting greens. With a week of watering under our belts, we are beginning to see germination on the greens that were seeded last week.  Landscapes Unlimited finalized the prep work on holes 15, 16, 4-7 and they have been seeded today.  Landscapes is wrapping up the last install of SubAir outfall drainage behind 18 green, and has also cored, graded and installed drainage and gravel blanket on the nursery green located behind the tennis courts. Modification and expansion of the tees on 16 and 2 has also begun, as well as beginning dirt work on the drainage project on 4 and 5.  

The agronomy department installed a large drainage system on 7 approach/fairway to replace the non-functioning drainage in this area and remove excessive drain basins.  Sloping of the right approach was improved to facilitate a cleaner appearance and improve surface drainage.  An additional 75 tons of sand was applied to 4 and 7 drainage to replace lost sand and repair the damage left from the last monsoon storm.  Additional sand will be required as needed to help smooth the fairway.  Work continued repairing weak and damaged areas with new sod and will continue next week, which should hopefully wrap up the majority of sod work needed.

Seedlings beginning to emerge on the putting green.

Darin Brown from Landscapes Unlimited measuring drainage for the nursery.

Francisco doing an excellent job seeding 15 green.

Much like overseed, our greens will require almost constant irrigation in order to encourage germination and seedling development.

Black tee on 16 getting stripped in order to raise and expand.

Improved drainage on 7 approach and fairway.

Some of the excessive and non-functioning drain basins being removed on 7 approach.

Improved drainage and grade to the right side of 7 approach.


Finished project on 7 approach.

An uninvited guest "dropped" into our newly seeded 16th green. Once removed, the damaged surface was leveled and re-seeded.

Saturday, August 13, 2016

G.R.P. Update 8/13/2016

It's been a busy and productive week here at Pinnacle Peak Country Club.  We've officially got seed on the ground and water running.  Putting and chipping green, 10-14 and 3 have been seeded and currently being irrigated.  Drainage outfall work continues, with 9 and 18 remaining.  15, 16, 2, 4, 5 and 7 are filled with greens mix and are scheduled to have sod installed and seeded at the end of next week.  

The agronomy department spent much of the week cleaning up the monsoon storm from last week, as well as mowing the ever-growing bermudagrass.  Weak area on holes 10-14 and 3 were sodded ahead of the greens seeding, as well as a large swath in number 7 approach, where a new and improved drainage line will be installed next week. 


Architect Rick Phelps and Landscapes Unlimited Superintendent Darin Brown survey final grade work on hole 11.

Sod being installed around 11 green.

12 green after sod installation.

Second round of pre-plant fertilization being applied to the chipping green.

Francisco dropping the bentgrass seed on 10 green.

Using the tire tread from a sandpro, dimpling the surface after seed has been spread.  Once complete, it's time to turn the water on.

Profile view of the sand applied this summer to 18 fairway.  1"+ in most fairways.

Javier and Juan installing a fence around the putting and chipping greens.

The purpose of the fence is to eliminate unnecessary and damaging footprints and tracks during this sensitive first grow-in stage.

High heels count as well! Please be respectful of the greens surfaces during this sensitive grow-in period.

Monday, August 8, 2016

G.R.P. Update 8/8/2016

Another productive week at Pinnacle Peak Country Club.  Drainage and gravel blanket installation is almost complete, with the last hole, 18, being completed now.  Sand has been installed on holes 10-14, 7, and 3, with 4 currently being filled.  The putting green area was sodded on Thursday, with seed planned to go down at the end of this week, weather dependent.

The agronomy department completed the last of sand topdressing last week.  A crew completed and repaired the drainage line on 1 and 2 approach, as well as stripped and re-sodded weak areas on holes 1-3.  Fairways and rough continue to recover and strengthen, and mowing frequency will increase as the summer continues.

Friday saw our streak of avoiding rain come to an end, with a powerful monsoon storm coming through mid-morning, dropping over 1" of rain in less than an hour.  We will be spending the majority of Monday cleaning up and getting the course put back together.  Fortunately, the greens project suffered no setbacks, with the greens taking the heavy rainfall extremely well, with drainage working exactly as intended.  

Sod installation on putting green area.

Putting green area after grassing is complete. Starting to take shape.

Drainage installation on 18 green.

Rock swale for drainage outfall on 10 green.


Water flowing down entry to maintenance facility off 8. Traffic was temporarily blocked on Country Club Trail.

Water flowing onto the property at 5 tee.

Water flowing onto the property on 5 tee. 

Water flowing across 4 fairway, leaving a large amount of silt and debris behind.