ALLIED UPDATES
WORKING WITH WEATHER
C
oping with the weather is one of the most challenging aspects of any golf course renovation project. While we cannot control the weather, careful planning and preparation can lessen its impact. Giving particular consideration to access and workability will help reduce the risk of weather-related issues. ACCESS Accessing work areas during a golf course renovation project can be challenging in the best of circumstances. Heavy equipment must move through the golf course while avoiding sensitive turf areas, irrigation equipment, course accessories and other important features. Weather can complicate matters further. Rain or snow can make it difficult to access certain areas and increase compaction, rutting and other turf damage. The key to limiting these issues is being aware of potentially challenging site conditions and planning the construction sequence and access plan accordingly. If certain areas are prone to wet conditions, it might be wise to schedule them for work early in the process. That way, if precipitation occurs, it is possible to move elsewhere while allowing wet areas to dry. Worksites that are close to hard-surface access routes can be scheduled for later in the process or during wet weather because they will likely remain accessible. The importance of having a sufficient amount of plywood or plastic boards for travel over turf and sensitive soil areas cannot be overstated. Plywood roadways can allow work to continue in conditions that would otherwise bring a project to a halt. Just remember to periodically shift the plywood around to avoid smothering turf. Cold temperatures can also impede construction access. Frost delays construction travel for the same reasons it prevents golfers from heading off the first tee. If frost is likely in the morning, it is best to get equipment into place at the end of the day and schedule work for the morning that can be done without having to travel across frost-covered turf.
WORKABILITY Even if access is not an issue, adverse weather conditions can render areas unworkable in a variety of ways. Planning and protective measures are necessary to avoid delays and negative impacts on the quality of work. Trying to work with wet or frozen soil often leads to poor results down the road. Having plenty of impermeable plastic covers on hand is invaluable during a golf course renovation project. These covers protect work areas and material stockpiles so that they remain dry during rain events. Maintaining piles of dry topsoil can allow a project to be successfully completed even when the subsoil remains damp and difficult to work with. If covers are not available, tracking over areas of loose soil or compacting stockpiles in advance of precipitation can encourage water to run off, preventing a muddy mess. Covering work areas can also be beneficial during cold weather. Some soils are prone to superficial freezing after a cold night, making them difficult to work with the following morning. Keeping critical work areas covered overnight can allow work to
commence on a cold morning when there might otherwise have been a delay. Installing drainage outfalls early in the construction process can also make a huge difference in workability following wet weather. If rainwater can be quickly directed into pipes, work areas such as bunkers and putting green cavities will dry much more quickly once the sun returns. Otherwise, muddy soil may cause extended delays or may need to be removed altogether and replaced, adding extra work to a project. If drainage outfalls cannot be installed in advance of a significant rain event, it is critically important to pump any standing water out of work areas as quickly as possible. Many golf course renovation projects occur during a facility’s offseason, which usually means that the weather will not be ideal. Being prepared for bad weather can make the difference between completing a project on time and on budget or running into extended delays and causing more damage than anyone is hoping for.
Covering turf and sensitive soil areas with plywood minimizes damage and allows work to continue in conditions that might otherwise delay a project.
GCBAA Earth Shaping News | 3RD Quarter 2018 27