Llanerch Golf Course and External Activities

 Yesterday we finished edging out the three bunkers surrounding the green and rough shaping the new fairway. We are planning to install drainage in them on Monday. We will also begin edging and draining the new fairway bunker on Monday. Sodding of the entire green surround will begin on Wednesday. Of course, this all is weather dependent. A snow storm could potential push the whole schedule back a few days.

Yesterday was a success for us. The contractors were able to finish sodding 18 green completely before the rain came in last night. The sod came from our nursery by 5 green. I am hoping that it will "knit in" and start to grow roots into the soil within the next 14 days. Weather will be the biggest factor. Unfortunately we can't move to draining the bunkers until tomorrow. The rain has turned the soil into mud.

Today, we are focusing on installing the internal drainage for the 18th green. At the same time, we are also  installing new irrigation heads. We will then smooth out the green surface one more time. The goal is to sod the green by the end of the day tomorrow. We have to finish tomorrow because....you guessed it...rain on Thursday.

Wow! Greg Hufner, from our contractor Total Turf  is standing by a 6 foot long rock that we pulled out of the back right side of 18 green! So far, we have found over 5 large rocks on the right of 18 green that weigh at least half a ton! Total Turf has been great in finding ways to remove them and put them some where else on the course. It is funny what "buried treasure" you find at Llanerch.

As most Members know, long time Assistant Matt Willigan has moved on to become the Superintendent at Fiddler's Elow Country Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Matt spent ten years at Llanerch helping me install a new irrigation system, renovate the golf course and manage the department. I believe Fiddler's Elbow will be a better place place to golf under his stewardship. We all wish him well in his new endeavors and we will miss his trusty companion, Clancy, the black Labrador.

I would like to welcome many more international readers of Llanerch's Blog. They come from many new countries: Cyprus, Bahamas, Bermuda, Peru, Egypt, Vietnam, Brazil, Finland, Philippines, Pakistan, Yemen, Japan, Nigeria and the Ukraine! We are glad to have you visit the Blog!

The 18th Project was suspended on Tuesday because of rain. The contractors will start up again today despite the muddy conditions. We plan to strip the sod around the bunkers and start lowering the right side in preparation of the new fairway. The rain has moved the schedule back a day but we will continue to work on Saturday to try to catch up.

The 18th green restoration starts today. We will start with the removal of a few trees, delivery of construction materials and removal of sod. I plan to include photographic updates as the project proceeds. Of course the forecast rain for Wednesday will delay some of the construction. It would not be the 2011 golf season without some rain.  

Today starts the next phase of installing new fence on Steel Road. Our contractor is removing all the old split rail today. The new black aluminum fence was delivered today and is slated to be finished in November. The new fence will run the entire length of Steel Road and go up Edmonds Avenue to Dill Road.

Rainy September is finally over. We have received over 11 inches of rain over the past month. Between August and September, it rained over 36 inches! Just to put that into perspective, Philadelphia averages 47 inches of rain a YEAR! I am hoping October is finally dry. As for the Restoration of 18, the construction phase will start  October 18th. The tree trimming and removals by Aradar Tree Service will take two day and will also start on the 18th.