IntelliTurf - Artificial Turf and Putting Greens

Synthetic Golf Course Construction

Order of Project:

Design of Course Layout and Routing

Clearing of holes

Shaping of greens, Tees, and Bunkers

Rock Removal in playing areas

Greens and Tees installation

Bunker installation

Irrigation Installation

Sod or Seeding/Sprigging

Grow in Period- 2-3 weeks for sod and 6-8 weeks for seeding/sprigging

Drainage Installation

Maintenance of Synthetic Tees and Greens

Maintenance of natural grass areas and bunkers

Conclusion

Design of Course Layout and Routing

IntelliTurf, based on customer interviews, will survey the area or areas designated for a golf course and deliver the different options to inform all involved of the possibilities available.

Clearing of holes

Once the layout and design of the project has passed the appropriate approval process, tree removal and land preparation will begin to manage the flow of water, playability of the course, and all safety concerns addressed in the layout and routing.

Shaping of Greens, Tees, and Bunkers

Movement of dirt to form the playing area of the course and desired shots outlined in the layout and routing will be installed.

Rock Removal in playing areas

Before any grass can be installed on a golf course, all large rocks must be removed to allow for safe conditions in fairways and primary rough. These areas will be known once the final shaping of the course has been completed.

Greens and Tee Installation

Greens and Tees require rock road bases to be installed under the synthetic turf. This base is around 6 inches in depth and is necessary to create a foundation for the playing surfaces. A single green will take 2-3 days of good weather to install.

Bunker installation

Sand traps or bunkers require drainage and a proper drainage system that reduce maintenance and add to the playing experience. Each Bunker can be installed in 4-5 hours of good weather.

Irrigation Installation

Fairways, the area between the tee box and the green, require irrigation to help preserve the capital expenditure that will be made growing natural grass. During droughts and installation the natural grass will require more water than Mother Nature would provide. Irrigation should be planned as the golf course is routed, but when using synthetic tees and greens, irrigation costs can be reduced by only installing where natural grass will reside and not water the synthetic surfaces.

Sod or Seeding/Sprigging

Sod or seeding/sprigging are the choices a golf course owner has when building a golf course. The installation of sod is the most expensive choice and you get what you pay for. The coverage of playing areas that sod creates cannot be matched for many years when compared to seeding/sprigging. Sod can grow in and be played on in 2 to 3 weeks. Seeding and Sprigging are less expensive and take more time to grow in than Sod. These methods vary, but usually are not ready for play for 8 weeks of growth.

Growth Period

Once the natural grass has been installed, there is a period of time that the course must remain closed to protect the new turf. This period varies depending on the application chosen and the weather during this period. Once the grass has been mown several times and good coverage has been achieved, play can begin.

Drainage Installation

Many debates have occurred on exactly when drainage pipes are installed. When using synthetic surfaces on tees and greens, most projects are very budget sensitive. Identifiable areas where water will collect can be resolved during the shaping phase of construction. Most problems can be eliminated with proper shaping. Problems that occur after natural turf installation and unforeseen areas that are in play or are unsightly, can and should be handled after the grow in period of the natural turf. Some problems will be taken care of by the natural grass and others can be solved most economically once the entire situation is surveyed. Attempting to solve all drainage issues at any other point in the construction process will result in excessive installation of drainage and is seen by IntelliTurf, Inc. as a waste of precious funds.

Maintenance of Synthetic Tees

Two main problems will occur over the life of the tee areas. The first is relevant to all grass maintenance and that is grass will attempt to grow across man made surfaces. Just like your driveways and sidewalks, the edges of synthetic turf surfaces will need to be trimmed. Commercial edging machines are by far the fastest way to accomplish this, but a flat head shove works just fine. The second problem pertains to the sand in-fill of the hitting surface. About ½ inch of sand is place in the turf fibers during construction to provide stability for the turf and a quality hitting surface for the golfer. Over time this sand will be removed by golf clubs striking the synthetic turf surface. This sand must be replaced.

Total time for Tee box maintenance will depend on the size of the surface, but edging should be done as needed and at a minimum of once a month. Resanding will depend on use but should be performed at the beginning, middle, and end of each season at a minimum. Man hours required to perform maintenance on an on course teeing area will be no more than 2-3 hours per season per tee.

Maintenance of Synthetic Greens

Maintaining the edges of synthetic greens is no different than the tee boxes described above. Grass will grow in and on to the surface and must be removed. Killing the grass with weed killer such as roundup is fine. The fibers of the greens are made in such a way that you can alter the speed of the green. Bushing and rolling the surface to attain the desired speed and smoothness must be done at the beginning of each season and performed as needed throughout the year. Keeping any large debris off the surface is also recommended. Man hours required to keep the greens playing like new are 3-5 hours per season per green at the maximum.

Maintenance of Natural Grass and Bunkers

This is the most expensive area of maintenance of golf courses that utilize synthetic tees and greens. Fairways, primary rough, and bunkers all require periodic maintenance. Fairways will need to be mown twice a week during growing seasons. Fairways also require irrigation, fertilizing, and every few years’ aeration. Bunkers need to be raked 3 times per week to maintain playability and to prevent vegetation growth. With Synthetic Greens and Tees, the recommended maintenance of the rest of the course requires 25 to 50 man hours per week. 9-hole par 3 courses can get away with one employee 2 days a week and 18-hole par 72 courses may require one full-time employee.

Conclusion

IntelliTurf approaches each project with the mindset of maintenance elimination. The synthetic surfaces require maintenance and natural grass most definitely requires attention and man hours to play like a proper golf course. Through the use of native grasses, design aspects that are challenging and beautiful but do not place extra burden on maintenance requirements, and common sense when dealing with mother nature, golf courses using synthetic tees and greens can deliver a playing experience that is very economical when compared to natural grass without sacrificing shot values and the enjoyment of the traditional game of golf.

Author: Stan Pennington, Principal

IntelliTurf, Inc.

www.intelliturf.com

stan@intelliturf.com

4043922783

This entry was posted on Monday, February 4th, 2008 at 3:15 pm and is filed under Artificial Turf Information. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.