Storms and Flooding

Heavy rains last night (about 2 inches of rain fell at LPGC) has created some issues this morning. Traver Creek is running very high and flooding has made me eliminate the use of carts for today.

#1 green has a new water hazard.

Also, the large tree at the left corner of #4 fairway was toppled last night. This will dramatically change the hole, but the tree was not in good shape and we have been planning for it's demise for a couple of years. You can't replace a tree this size immediately, but steps will be taken soon to minimize how to hole plays.

#4 from the tee.

A closer look.

You can see the small amount of roots. This lead to the tree not being stable enough to withstand last night's wind. Also, the core of the trunk is rotting. You can also see how the bark is ripped off the front of the tree and many marks from where golf balls have struck the tree.

Looking at #4 fairway from #5 tee.

Of course, this guy was surfing a matteress about 1 mile away from the golf course on the other side of the Broadway bridge.

Traver Creek Bank Stabilization

In conjunction with the Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner's Office, we were able to stabilize the stream bank near #12 green with large chunks of crushed limestone. This is known as "rip-rap." It is able to with stand the erosive forces of the stream better than native soils.

Here is the stream from 2009.

Here it is from this spring. Notice how the stream has broken through it's bank.

Here is the picture after the rip-rap has been added.

We also redirected the stream away from the green in a different ox-bow. This is a place were the stream, at one time, flowed through until it eroded and changed it's course.

Here is another area that we stabilized near the cart path.

You can see Karl putting the geo-textile fabric down that helps hold the soil in place.

Here is a video of the rock being put into place.

Precipitation

I have already named too many blog entries Rain (Rain) so I am going with another title.

Walking Bridge on #13

During the last 24 hours, we have gotten 3.04 inches of rain. From the level of Traver Creek, I think some areas upstream from us have gotten more than that. We are closed on the Back 9 today because the bridges are under water.

Walking Bridge on #10

Cart Bridge on #18

Cart Bridge on #12

Cart Bridge on #18

We also had some major flooding on the Front 9.

Pond on #8

#9 Fairway

#1 Green

#3 Fairway



Rain

So far, in the month of May, we have gotten almost 4.5 inches of rain.  This follows an April where Ann Arbor got 1.9 inches of rain.  We had 6 days in April where we got over a tenth of an inch of rain.  On the 13th day of May, we have already equaled that number.  Traver Creek, which runs through the golf course, has overflowed it's banks.  All of this has forced us to close the golf course for at least today.  Hopefully, we will not get much more rain in the near future and the course will dry out for the weekend.

Also, don't forget to check out the A2golf.org homepage for details on how to win a free round of golf in our "Round-A-Day" golf giveaway.