The BEST way to improve the drainage is to first regrade the surface. Grading would be at a minimum of 2 to 3%. Minimum. Then, in low swales, run pipe and gravel in trenches to out laying low points. This accomplishes several improvements. 1. Drainage. 2. More interesting and fun, enjoyable playing surface with varying sloping lies. 3. More fun and challenge for golfers. 4. More beauty as surface is not flat, but appears like waves or dune like movements. 5. Create a variety of shots needed to play well.
@@turftipswithbrianyouell ... thank you...I work as a Golf Architect....Stirling & Martin.. several courses designed in Europe, Morocco, S. America... Drainage is key.. 👍
That would remove all the grass which isn't the point work with what you have. If they have 5 inches of clay yes new drainage will help but verti-drain with is aeration up to 12 inches deep, you would do this several times a year and top dressing after wards, this way you get sand in the 5 inches of clay where water can drain faster and reach the rest of the sand much quicker. A lot of courses have clay for fairways and have perfect drainage because of this, just having proper drainage where you need it and proper maintenance through the years to so no standing water occurs. We can have several inches of rain one day and have carts back on the fairways in 24 to 48 hours.
Blair, y ou would be surprised how easy it is to solve problems without removing the entire fairway and grading it over. I'm a superintendent of a private course with a million dollar budget so I'm able to do everything I want if the board approves certain things. We have A4 bentgrass greens, zoysia fairways, bentgrass tees and a mix of bluegrass fescue in rough. I vertidrain the fairways twice a year and topdress 3 times a year for drainage since we can get hurricanes or thunderstorms with 6 to 12 inches of rain and thatch but we also verticut and aerate. The course is reaching 30 is years old so we do work on drainage and add drainage here and there when needed.
@@chosen1one930 ...there are various ways to skin a cat...your method is inferior, and more costly over the long run. Maintenance should be efficient, and proper. Any golf construction company would tell you, surface drainage should be a minimum of 2%..preferably 3 or 4 minimum. Any golf architect would ditto that, of which am i.
