Golf Course Construction Update 9/19/09

Bill Love, the Carolina Colours Golf Course Architect, will be returning to Carolina Colours next week.  This trip will be Bill’s 3rd trip in the past month.  Why the frequent site visits?  GREENS!    Yes, we are now in the process of seeding the greens on the golf course.  The greens on the golf holes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 were approved and seeded first.  These holes are already showing lots of green grass.  On Bill’s second trip, he approved the greens on golf holes 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, and the two practice putting greens adjacent to the Carolina Colours Social Pavilion.  During Bill’s visit next week, September 21st-22nd, Bill will approve greens on the other side of Brice Creek for golf  holes 13, 14, 15 and 16.  This trip will conclude the greens approval process for all 18 golf holes.

Many of you might think “But I thought the greens were built many weeks ago.” and you would be correct.  Drainage, rock and greens mix installations were complete many weeks ago.  But seeding is another precise step in the greens process.  Prior to Bill’s arrival, the greens are probed to ensure proper depth of the greens mix and also also make sure the mix follows the contour of the rock layer which sits on the contour of the sub-grade. Next the green surface is “floated “to smooth the mix surface.  Upon his arrival, Bill’s inspection process will be to re-shoot (measure) all the grades on the green surface for compliance to originally approved contours.  Bill will make sure there are no spots that are too fast or too slow on the green and there are at least 8-12 pin placements  on each green with no more than a 2.5% slope.

Once “blessed” by Bill, the seeding process is quick with an application of fertilizer, followed by micro nutrients and then seed.  Our greens are seeded with a blend of A-1 & A-4 Bent grass at the rate of 2 pounds per 1000 square feet.  Once seeded, the greens are “dimpled” with a small ATV with knobby tires. Apply water (lightly and frequently) and you have a golf green that should be ready to go in 6-8 weeks.

Kip Peregoy, Carolina Colours Project Manager