Videos of Storm Waters on 12/23/12

Thanks to Russ VanderSluis for these videos of the storm waters on #8 & #3 from Sunday 12/23/12.  We received 3.5" of rain in 36 hours.

 

We've already received over 14" of rain this season!

 

The Golf Channel's Michael Breed shows how to properly fix a ball mark!  This is one of the best demonstrations I've seen!

http://www.golfchannel.com/media/golf-fix-tip-breed-basics-ball-marks-121012/?cid=facebook_V_fix_BREEDSBASICSBALLMARK

Some of the Storm's Aftermath

We received over 6 inches of rain in the past seven days.  Here are a few photos of some of the aftermath.

The photos show how bunker sand gets contaminated during storm events.  The underlying soil gets washed into the sand following heavy downpours.   And over time, the soil tends to work its way down to the bottom of the bunkers.  This is a big reason why the bottom of the bunkers tend to stay wet following rains and irrigation events.

Most bunkers on the Stanford Golf Course were constructed in 1994 without liners under the sand.  New techniques in bunker construction use polymers to seal off  the soil, so the bunker sand stays cleaner and plays more uniformly.

Forecast is WET the Remainder of the Week!

We picked up 1.31" of rain this morning in the first wave of storms.  More rain is forecast for tomorrow evening into Friday, then another wetter wave is projected Saturday night.  In all we could pick up 5" of rain by Sunday evening.  Golf carts will be parked for a while!

New Concrete Cart Path at #2 Tee

New concrete cart path being installed at #2 tee:

The New Practice Green Along #1 Has Opened

The new practice green along #1 has opened for limited play.  The new green's surface is still a bit tender, but it is maturing nicely.

The green and bunkers are available for use by Stanford Constituents, Golf Teams, and PE & Rec. classes. Sign in is required.  Contact the Golf Shop at (650) 724-0944 to sign in.

Upper Pump Station Replacement

This video shows the removal of the old PSI pump station skid from the pump house near #10 tee.  The side of the building was opened up to allow for the change out.  The new pump station, shown below, has a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) making it 25% more energy efficient. 

Sod Down, Green Seeded on #1

Here are a few photos from the recent work on the Practice Green on Hole #1:

Projected opening - Late October 2012

New Irrigation Main for SVGTC

A new irrigation main is going in parallel to Hole #2.  This new line will effectively re-route the source of irrigation water for the Siebel Varsity Golf Training Complex.  This work is necessary due to the imminent construction of Stanford's new Central Energy Plant on the east end of the current Siebel Complex.  The new line will parallel #2 in the native grass, then re-enter the SVGTC just past the right fairway bunker on Hole #2.  Valley Crest Landscape is doing the work.  Please excuse any inconvenience.

Practice Green on # 1 Getting Closer to Completion

We're finally nearing the completion of construction on the new practice green complex on #1.  Irrigation is in and being adjusted.  Bunker floors are being prepared for the Klingstone treatment.  This seals the bottom of the bunkers, preventing soil and rocks from contaminating the sand.  Klingstone was used successfully on all the bunkers at the Siebel Varsity Training Complex.  It is a far superior treatment compared to the old fabric bunker liners.

If all goes well, sod will be installed around the outside of the green on Wednesday 8/15.  The green will then be seeded on Thursday.  Hopes are to be able to open the green and bunkers in mid-October.

A five foot gopher snake seen on Hole #1 at the Stanford Golf Course.  Gopher snakes are good for the course as they eat small rodents such as gophers, moles, voles, rats, and mice.  They are not venomous, but often shake their tail similar to a rattlesnake if provoked.

Driving Range Work for New Blue Tower

Power is being taken from the Driving Range Building to install a new Blue Tower along Campus Drive West at the range entrance.  The Blue Towers are used for 911/Emergencies.  Please excuse any inconvenience.

Earth Moving for New Practice Green

Here's a short video of the equipment taking soil from our stockpile near the water tank to the new practice green area on #1. This paddle-wheel scraper hauls approximately 10 cu. yds. per trip.

Renovation of the Nursery Green on #1 Has Started!

A new practice green and chipping area is being installed to the right of #1 green. Here are some of the preliminary photos of the site stripping. The new green will be elevated with two bunkers -- see the preliminary plan below (click to enlarge the plan). Expected opening will be mid-August.

New Sign Near 1st Tee

(Click to Enlarge)
A new sign has been posted along the path down from the first tee. Recent changes to the label of a commonly used rodenticide have now required the posting of treated areas. The product mentioned consists of small tablets that are placed deep inside active rodent burrows to help control burrowing animals. We utilize the Pest Control Operator Sports Turf Management to apply the product on a bi-weekly basis. This product is a key part of programs to reduce damage from rodent burrows on the course. We have successfully used it for over 20 years and is very safe when used professionally in the golf course environment.

DRY DRY DRY Winter!

Recent data from the National Weather Service.........

CLIMATE...HERE IS A LOOK AT PRECIPITATION TOTALS FOR VARIOUSLOCATIONS IN OUR AREA. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE NORMAL SEASON REFLECTS JULY 1ST THROUGH JUNE 30TH TOTALS..

STATION.......... ...DEC '11.....NORMAL DEC....SEASON TO DATE...NORMAL SEASON
SANTA ROSA..... ..0.09...............5.50...........................4.24...................30.11... KENTFIELD...........0.12........ 9.69...........................6.17...................47.52...
SAN FRANCISCO..0.14...............4.08...........................3.37...................21.21...
SAN JOSE...............0.08...............2.63...........................1.55...................15.83...
SALINAS................0.05...............2.47............................3.63...................14.56...