golf course damage

Well we have just had the worst cloudburst I have seen in 2 years. The fairways and greens have soon drained but it looks like the course may be closed for some time to repair the damage to the bunkers.

This morning I could see two stretches of sand perhaps 20 yds wide running from the far side of the 10th into the lake. I thought at first it was sand from the sandy waste areas by the 16th, but when I walked across this afternoon, the bunkers have been stripped bare right down to the foundations. The plastic drainage pipes are uncovered.

Also the lake level has risen about 4 ft and half the 10th fairway is under the lake. Also the front of the 11th green is under the lake, as is the front bunker with just the rake floating above the water. The tops of the red water hazard posts are just above the water mark.

At the other end of the 10th the ladies tee is under the lake. Water from the lake on the 10th is rushing down the buggy paths into the 18th lake. Some areas of buggy paths are under water and covered in rocks, sand and general debris. The buggy path at the side of the 12th green is impassible with a massive lake in front of the green.

This will not be a quick fix - I would think the paths could be cleared quickly, but the bunkers have all been devastated and may take weeks to repair.

Can't see the course being open for some time. Althought surface water evaporates quickly. the level of the lakes is above the edges of the fairways and unless they can drain it it will not subside naturally. More unsettled weather is forecast.for the next few days.

My camera is out of action or I would have posted photos.

Barry

Sounds pretty spectacular Barry. You need to borrow a camera to let us see !!  Needn't worry about my patio plants withering in the heat then ?

I'm sure Terry will be on the case for the CDA site.

Once it has drained I think they'll just reopen with a few bunkers as ground under repair.  The good news is - free drops all round!

Youngers

You may think it is a joke but this is a major disaster for the resort. i have been round the 1st 12 holes this morning and although the lake levels have subsided and the fairways are drying out, the course is now closed and in my opinion it will be for weeks rather than days.

I have spoken to a greenkeeper who says he has never seen anything like it. Condado is the only course in the area to have suffered so badly.

The design of the course is the underlying problem with so much of it being mounds of sand which have no grasses and vegetation to bind it together, so every thunderstorm will just wash it away.

The staff will not be able to clear the buggy paths of sand and rubble until it has dried out, but the short term weather forecast is bad so that will not happen any time soon. Every hollow on the fairways is covered in sand from bunkers and the surrounding mounds.

At the moment they are hosing sand off the greeens. The major task when the weather improves will be to re lay the bunkers. Some can be repaired by simply replacing sand, but many are stripped of sand with drainage pipes exposed and they basically need starting from scratch.

The staff have worked so hard to give us a great course so I for one don't appreciate the situation being treated as a joke.

Barry

Hi Barney........Thanks for the update - even if it sounds like a disaster.  Please keep us informed over the coming days / weeks of the course recovery.  These storms are really early this year - normally don't start until end of Sept / Oct....

Keep in touch & Thanks

Nick

Forecast on a 10 day system I use is Glorious sunny weather.

Barry,

thanks for the update  - which I agree is a clear concern for all us keen golfers.  Hopefully Olagolf will step up to the mark and get the course back to its fine state sooner rather than later.  Hopefully their efforts on the greens will ensure the prompt removal of bunker sand will reduce potential for any lasting damage.  Whilst it would appear from your (and others) views that these storms have been exceptional in their ferocity, I do hope Polaris (for the apartments) and Olagolf take the necessary steps to ensure we don't all suffer as badly in a future deluge, and our course and complex in general continue to develop and mature to the benefit and enjoyment of us all.  My fingers are well and truly crossed for my next proposed society outing in early Sep, keep us all updated.....

regards,

Anthony McNally

Hi Barney,

    you mention a design problem, is some of this due to the course being so new that the plants haven't had time to establish their roots to bind the place together or are these areas just be landscaped with sand and covered over?

Yes Michael

It is probably because the plants haven't had time to mature to some extent but even if they were say 4 years old the sand between them would still be the route that water would take and it would still head across the fairways and into the lakes.

The slopes on the fairways and secondary rough have not been affected as the land is covered by grass. Where the sand is exposed the water has cut paths through it in some places a foot deep. The hills are composed of sand transferred from the land where the lakes now are.and are not sufficiently compacted to withstand such downpours. Also the planted trees are few and far between and more trees and bushes (not only grasses) would eventually help to bind the surface.

Every greenkeeper has been out all day hosing the greens and moving sand from the fairways. I have seen some more sand put into the bunker on the 11th, But we need some fine weather, and there is still much to be done.

Barry

Barney - a bunker being stripped to drainage pipes is not a major disaster - there are 2000 people dead and 20m homeless in Pakistan right now so I think we need to put this into perspective.

I guarantee you this will reopen before the bunkers have been properly fixed.  We will just have to play around the green keepers as they continue the clean up job.

Makes you think that the clearing of weeds etc. shouldn't have taken place. I recall these were removed because people complained and thought it looked untidy. What is it looking like now - Any photo's - anyone?

Youngers - I'm assuming Barry meant major disaster for the golf course and the resort rather than one of major disasters that have affected our entire world....then again I could be wrong but somehow I doubt it.

Everything is relative as you point out.  But if you can manage to compare any setback you encounter against a major world disaster then you're a very lucky guy. Most people rightly or wrongly place a little more emphasis on things that directly affect them.  So an avid golfer and resident on CDA may possibly see the damage as a major disaster.

Languageses>en GoogleCE

Think the weeds Had to go .... Though unfortunate timing. Hopefully They can get to fixing the course work and Possibly review What Happened to see If They Can Minimise Any future damage from similar events.

But its not a "major disaster" for the golf course - the sand got washed out of a bunker!

To put into a better perspective they had a storm at augusta national a few years back that literally washed the whole 11th green away - completely gone.  They put it back in a matter of a few months (rest of course was open for play) and they didnt call it a major disaster.

I haven't seen it so if its just some sand being washed out of a bunker then you are probably right.

From what Barry said there could be a bit more to it.  

But again not having seen it I can't comment on the scale of it.

Just to clear up what I said. If you read my post again I said it was a disater for the RESORT - does it have to be on a world scale to qualify?

The defintion of a disaster is that of a personal tragedy which it is for golfers and staff here.

The hard working green keepers will now be put back weeks in their efforts to give us the championship course we were promised.  Work on the greens and fairways will now have to be put on hold.

The costs to the management company are going to be high . Shop staff and marsalls staff have been laid off, with extra wages  and cost of machinery and eqipment being required to put the course back as it should be.

There are many holiday makers who have recently arrived to play their own course (and residents) who do regard it as a disaster.

Lets get it into context, if your water tank in the loft burst and ruined decorations, electrical equipment, carpets and personal posessions maybe then it would become a personal disaster.

Lets not get into another thread where people slag each other off.

Barry

Barry some of really appreciate all that you do with the society and keeping us informed.

Thanks

Mandy

 CHADDYOWL    I LOVES IT YOU BIG HARD BOY

you are too hard for me to fight if that's what you mean

so i will play you in golf or tennis instead will that be ok

This message was last edited by tomgeorge on 20/08/2010.

This message was last edited by tomgeorge on 20/08/2010.

Tom you lily livered weasel!!!

Why do you come on this forum with your iliterate threads that dont make any sense and just get peeps backs up!!

Stick to the Camparsehole thread where you belong!

Waited for you in Clover but you ran SCARED pal!! LMFAO

Barry, you stated that the costs to the management company will be high? You dont mean our management company do you?

Surly we dont all have to pay for the repairs, I thought the golf course was self sufficient? I for one would not be happy if part of my service charge was being used to repair a golf course which I dont use.

Any costs will be incurred by Olagolf on behalf of the banks. There are no financial implications for us owners.

Barry