Grow-in Update

Here's a few pictures to update everyone on how the grow-in is going on some of our U.S. Open improvement projects.

Assistant Superintendent Mike Krouse and Eric Mcalister walk mowing #7

The First mow started out at a height of .500 over the whole complex with Flex 21 walk mowers.  We're now down to .450 on the surrounds, approaches and tees, and .350 on the green surface on #7.  We'll probably leave the heights here for the winter then continue to bring them down again in the spring.

#7 complex after the first mow

The bosses inspecting our work

Assistant Superintendent Mark Trenter overseeding #7 after a top dress

We've been very focused on top dressing, overseeding and fertility throughout the grow-in process.  Fertilizer rates averaged around .25 lbs of N/1000 every three weeks depending on the weather.

A recent picture of the 7th green and surrounds

Super Roots on the 13th green

We've seen amazing root initiation on all of the renovated areas whether sodded or seeded.  The picture above was taken on #13 green.  

Overall the process has been very successful and everybody is pleased with the results and can't wait to play the new holes.

  

My son Jones standing on the 7th green...future greenkeeper??

Maintaining "Chambers' Basement"

There has been much discussion surrounding the new pot bunker that was built on #18 over the last winter.  The bunker was put in with the concept of it being a true hazard, and to force players to make a decision with respect to their lay-up shot on the finishing par-5.  With it's placement in the 120-130 yard landing area it more than accomplishes the goal of making players think long and hard about the strategy of how to play their finishing hole.

One thing most people other than the Chambers Bay maintenance staff hasn't thought of, is how the ten foot deep bunker with short-mowed turf extending down the vertical walls was going to be maintained.  Here's a couple of pictures that start to explain the challenges this bunker presents which have nothing to do with golf.

Some of the other maintenance plans for Chamber's Basement include the installation of low-precipitation landscape irrigation heads around the top edge to help with the irrigation issues we're facing with regards to this unique section of the course. 

#7 Green Renovation Update

Over the past several months we've been working hard on the site preparation for the 2015 U.S. Open.  Here are a few pictures of the renovation process of the 7th green that has taken place over the last three months. 

#7 (before)

Rough Shaping

Excavated cavity...ready for drainage and gravel blanket

Drainage and gravel blanket installed

Irrigation installation

Sand-capped and working on finish grading

Hydroseeding (day 1)

Hydroseeding (day 2)

Hydroseeding (day 2)

Hydroseeding (day 3)

View from #5 fairway

View of the finished complex looking up #7 fairway

Stairway to Heaven

Due to the natural shape of the bunkers at Chambers Bay some of them are extremely difficult to enter or exit.  This also causes maintenance issues when trying to maintain turfgrass on these high traffic entry/exit points.  Our solution was to add several sets of stairs to many of the more difficult bunkers, and rebuild the edges/noses in the process.

#16 Greenside Bunker

#4 Greenside Bunker (Steve, Nick, Drew, Jerold and Orlando)

#4 Greenside Bunker

#4 Greenside Bunker

#4 Greenside Bunker (back view)

Throughout the process we made every effort to "hide" the stairs behind undulations and existing contours so that there would be minimal visual impact from the approach angle of the hole.

#4 Greenside Bunker (approach view with "hidden" stairs)