Wissahickon Restoration Weekly Update July 26, 2013

We are happy to report Holes #4 and #6 will be wrapping up in the coming days!  Members will observe that most areas where grading occurred have been sodded.  Undisturbed areas will be seeded as sections of the course are completed.  Please view the pictures below to see all of the work that has been completed this week.

Keith Foster previewing restoration progress with PCC's Board of Directors

 Another new, handmade cooler to replace our old green ones

 First cut on 5 green....4 days after laying sod

First mowing (by hand) on advanced, phase 3 grow-in on #11 fwy. Staff adjusting straw from fwy to rough

 

Two truckloads of refrigerated bentgrass for 4 & 6 green

#4 / "The Great Hazard"

This week, Keith Foster included a couple of small areas of regular rough into PCC's "Hells Half Acre" feature.  For members concerned about an errant shot which lands in The Great Hazard, these small areas of "purgatory" will provide nice relief, and a definite sign of good luck.  The bunker sand is already installed, and tomorrow's fescue sodding will put the finishing touches on this grand feature.
Below are pictures from this week's progress on #4 and the "The Great Hazard"

Little bit of activity on The Great Hazard 

 Detailing the bunker floor on the right fairway bunker of #4 driving zone

 Great Hazard with bunker sand

 #4 front bunker with sand being installed on the right bunkers

 A right-hand side view of #4 bunkers near the green

 View of 4 green with  sod around bunkers

 4 green and surround completed!  Proud of our staff for their detail work. They make difficult fwy tie-in work between new and old look easy

#6

All areas which were sodded due to grading are complete.  This includes the green, approach, and the surround sod.  Below are photos of this week's progress on #6.

 Tanto Irrigation installing #6 bunker zone irrigation alongside PCC staff installing matrix liner

PCC staff performing the fairway tie-ins on 6

 PCC staff performing the fairway and approach tie-ins on 6

 Today on #6. Green, approach, rough, and fescue sod

#6 green and surround completed!

 Another view from the fairway on 6

#9

On #9, two optional tees have been added to increase course set-up flexibility.  The championship tee rests immediately behind the left rear bunker on #8 (about 40 feet from the office window at the maintenance facility).  This should prove very challenging for PCC's best golfers. 
For shorter, more casual play, there will be an additional forward tee across Loraine run and to the left.  This tee will eliminate a forced carry over the creek, and gives members a straight shot between the two fairway bunkers.

#9 championship tee roughed graded.....about 40 ft from the Maintenance facility!

Wissahickon Restoration Weekly Update

After another week of hard work we have completed a portion of the Wissahickon Restoration.
Please view the updated time-lapse videos and photos below.

Team Effort!  Keith Foster with PCC's Restoration Committee on a hot Tuesday

Very early rough-grading of the big bunker on 7

Video Updates

#5 Time Lapse

Great Hazard Time Lapse

 #4

“The Great Hazard” on #4 is transitioning from the rough-grading stage to the fine-grading stage. 

During this process our new bunker faces are being sand-capped with our old bunker sand.   As PCC lies in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the U.S., the combination of plenty of annual rainfall with heavy soils can cause native fescue’s to naturally become thick.  Sand-capping is an effort to try to keep the new fescue drier and thinner than what they would naturally want to become.  

We expect final approvals on #4 next week.  This will allow us to sod around bunkers quickly thereafter.

Grading on "The Great Hazard"

Using old bunker sand to sand-cap bunker faces on "The Great Hazard" on 4

 Evening photo of today's progress on "The Great Hazard" on 4

 
#5 / #6

#5 green and #6 tees were buttoned up this week.  This provides members a clear view of our finished product.  Bentgrass green, tee, and approach sod was installed this week.  In addition, the one-third of #5 fairway closest to the green was also sodded. 

#5: green, approach, and some fairway sod going down in the next few days

 

Green sod on 5 going down

Quick after-care of 5 greens sod

5 green complex wrapping up for the day

 6 tees / 5 green


#6

We will be heading down the home-stretch on #6 next week as well.  Sod has already been placed around two fairway bunkers.  We will be lining the remaining greenside bunkers today.  By the end of next week, we hope to achieve final approvals so we can complete the hole within the next couple weeks.

Keith Foster works on perfecting a bunker floor on 6

 Testing bunker-zone irrigation on a fairway bunker on 6



Phase 1 Rough Grading

Rough grading continues on #4 & #7 tees, and all of #7.  Next week, rough grading will begin on holes #8 and #9 as well.

Wissahickon Restoration Update

Great progress was made this week.

#5-  The bunker liner, sand, and sod were all installed this week.   This combination provides a glimpse of the finished look.  We expect to lay the green and approach sod next week.

#4-  Rough shaping of “The Great Hazard” was also accomplished.  It is exciting to see one the club’s post-card features begin to take shape.

 

Please view the updated time-lapse videos and photos below.

 

Drainage and gravel installation on 5 green

 

 Detailed raking of the gravel layer on 5 green

Installation of the greens mix

First matrix liner installed on #5 front bunker.  Sand coming soon!

View of #5 front bunker

First loads of bunker sand on #5

Starting the excavation and reintroduction of "The Great Hazard" at Philadelphia Cricket Club

Keith Foster and the Medalist Golf team evaluating The Great Hazard shaping on #4

 

 Keith Foster and Restoration Chairman, Dr. Greg Guyer, 

discussing The Great Hazard rough grading on #4 

 

 Dr. Guyer having some fun on 6 approving sub-grades with the "total station".

 

 Laying Sod on #5

Close-up of #5, front green-side bunker

 

 #5 with the bunkers sanded and grassed!

 

 Finish grade on 5 green, sod next week! 

 

 Full-scale view of 5 green

 

Time Lapse Video of "The Great Hazard"

 

 Up to date time lapse video of construction at 5 green

 

Wissahickon Advanced Grow In and Week Update

Please view the below video to get an update on the advanced grow in process taking place on Wissahickon.

Below is a picture of two superintendents walk spraying the 17th fairway to minimize traffic on the new seedlings during the germination process.

Hedges removed on the right side of 15.  No longer tight out of bounds on the right side!

Sand build up removed from #4 bunker will allow members to have clear visibility of the green for their approach shots.

Keith reviewing the final grading of #6 bunker.

Installing drainage on #5 tee.

Dialing in the final sub-grade of 5 green with the "Total Station".

Rough grading of the back tee on #4.