Research: Drainage
Drainage is an issue as more courses choose to forgo a complete reconstruction for a strip and re-grass renovation. Internal drainage must be evaluated. The photo with the crimped tile was found in a green during a strip and re-grass renovation.
In the recent past, we have worked with courses where: (a) all of the greens failed after a strip and re-grass renovation because the drainage systems were compromised; (b) a complete reconstruction was undertaken because the greens' drainage was compromised; and (c) drainage problems were corrected during a strip and re-grass renovation. The photo with the standing water was taken from a course that opted for a complete reconstruction after tests from multiple greens verified that water could not move improperly through the tile.
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Bunkers
Root Zone:
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NML and ISTRC are involved in on-going research of drainage systems in golf greens and athletic fields. The research became necessary following ISTRC’s undisturbed core testing. Greens continued to have problems in spite of root zones that had very good percolation and an appropriate balance of air and water porosity. In many instances, venting the tile system eliminated the problems. In the other instances, excavation and the physical inspection of the tile/gravel drainage systems found problems that could only be rectified with a complete reconstruction. In some instances, deflocculation locked the gravel into tight chunks. In other instances, the slits in the tile were clogged, or the tile was installed improperly. Crushed tile was a common find in too many greens.
The same problems apply to athletic fields with the addition of another common problem. That problem is the distance between the tile. Golf greens are typically 12 to 15 feet on center with root zones that percolate at 20 inches of water per hour or more. Some athletic fields are built with root zone mixes appropriate for golf greens. Those fields often have footing/lateral stability issues. As a consequence, athletic fields often have more silt, clay, and organic matter in their root zone mixes. The result is a material with slower percolation. The spacing of drainage tile is directly related to the soil’s percolation. A slower percolating root zone requires closer spacing of the tile. The spacing of the tile affects the conditions of the athletic field and should be considered in any decision to renovate or rebuilt.