Muni Golf Drainage Problems

Community Golf Fan,

I was told early in my career there were only three things that make for a good golf course; drainage, drainage, drainage. I find more often than not, many golf facilities just don't have enough drainage on their course to keep up with the rising levels of golfer expectations. Maintaining and improving course quality is why we encourage every course to be addressing their drainage on an annual basis.

I’ll give you a case study… One of my current clients is a cool little municipal course in northern California, built 100 years ago. For starters, the property's soil is less than idea, being heavy clay, so when it rains, the course holds moisture, and ruins play for days. In fact, in past winters they have cumulatively lost close to a month's revenue while they wait for the course to dry out.

I find that soil is one of the most underappreciated aspects of golf courses, because good golf is predicated on having the proper medium to grow quality turfgrass. This means when a course doesn't have good soils, having proper drainage infrastructure in place can drastically improve a site’s lack of a quality growing medium.

Good drainage design relies on natural swales and terrain features to handle the bulk of the drainage, and having a network of catch basins, and drain lines in place is essential to your operation. This is as important in the dry months, as it is in the wet ones. Efficient irrigation can also play an important role in managing your course's drainage by ensuring the turf receives proper moisture without over watering.

The causes of poor drainage are many, so if this topic resonates with you, it’s probably best to bring in someone who can put together a drainage plan. These plans can be worked on over time, so costs shouldn’t deter action when it comes to making these types of crucial improvements. Click here for a great article promoted by the USGA regarding the drainage planning process and what to expect.

Here's what you need to know:

• Poor soils, lack of infrastructure, and improper construction, are normally the culprits
• Closure times tend to double for courses with poor drainage
• Good drainage helps during the wet and dry months of the year
• An inefficient irrigation system tends to make matters worse
• A long range drainage “master plan” can be implemented over time, and cost effectively

Please remember, we’re around to answer any questions you might have on this topic, or anything else regarding your community golf course! You can send us an email by clicking here, or feel free to give us a ring at the number below.

Sincerely,

Andy Staples, ASGCA