Back 9 Ditch Network Update

Progress on the Back 9 ditch network has been tremendous despite wet weather. Pictured below is an aerial photograph of the Back 9 and the progress that has developed in just one week’s time. The yellow lines demonstrate ditches that have been cleaned out and the red lines depict work that still needs to be completed.

Pictured above: progress from last weeks construction activity. 

As illustrated, the ditches servicing 18 golf hole and the Practice Facility have been cleaned. In addition, the “Main Ditch” or main artery of the Ditch Network that all lateral or supplemental ditches are connected too has been cleaned as well. These ditches still need to go through some final shaping and contouring but it is safe to say that step one of removing vegetation from those ditches is complete and looking good.

In the weeks to come, the team from MacCurrach Golf will be transitioning into the red line ditches to commence the cleaning at those sites. The red line ditches will service the far side of the course adjacent to the Ogeechee River and golf holes 10,11,15,16 and 17.

A MacCurrach Golf Construction employee cleaning a ditch adjacent to 18 fairway. 

Construction activity will be limited to the ditch network and the back of the practice facility causing minimal or no disruption to members playing golf. All 18 holes and the practice facility are open for play.       

The Latest Pictures From the Course

Lake Clara at #10

#15 green complex

#11 from the members tee

A look at 15 green and 10 green in the back 

A look at 16 green from the waste area

#13 green complex with Lake Clara in the back

#8 green complex and the oak tree reflecting in the pond

The approach shot at #6

The well guarded #5 green complex 

#4 green complex with companion green side bunker 

#3 green complex and approach shot

Another look at 10 and 15 greens but this time with 10 in the foreground 

Golf Course Conditioning Report

Dear Members,

March is traditionally a popular time for the TFP golf course and this year will be no different. The golf course has much to offer this month including tournaments, clinics and lessons conducted by CW and the Golf Professional Staff. In addition there's no time like March to experience a quiet twilight round that includes you and your best friends in total seclusion on the back nine where the overwhelming feeling will lead you to believe you’re the only group on the course. The month of March has it all and is a special time on your Pete Dye golf course.

The overseeding process has added striking beauty to the golf holes and is a stark contrast from recent spring conditions. The ryegrass turf is simply beautiful. 

The golf course tees, roughs and fairways are in superb condition and with temperatures beginning to rise, the putting greens are coming out of dormancy. The greens are in position to be fast, firm and remarkably smooth for the month of March. 

Mark the following dates on your calender and contact the Golf Shop with any questions:

Golf Club Championship 2013 (March 1–2)

Men’s and Ladies’ Member/Member (March 7–8)

Ladies’ Invitational (March 20–22)

Men’s Invitational (April 4–6)

Enjoy some recent images captured on the golf course. If your thinking about coming down for a round of golf I hope to see you then. 

Thanks,
Nelson

A look at the approach shot at 5 green

A close up of 12 green

#12 golf hole

A look at the 14th green

Looking at 16 green

#11 green complex

#17 green green complex

Looking at the #18 golf hole from the back porch of the clubhouse

#2 green complex

#4 golf hole from the tee

#4 green complex

Azaleas starting to bloom

The bunker complex at #9

#8 green

Back 9 “Soft Start” to Begin Early February

MacCurrach Golf will begin work in February on the back nine ditch network. The purpose of this initial work is to allow us to properly monitor water transportation leading up to the full restoration, which begins in October 2013. From a project management perspective, this is an important element in managing the schedule and mitigating the potential risk associated with excessive rains during construction.

MacCurrach Golf will be using three track vehicles and two rubber tire vehicles to haul vegetative debris to a dig site located at the back of the practice facility (pictured below in blue). The debris will settle in the dig site and will ultimately be covered. The main concentration of activity, including ditch cleaning will be conducted within the borders of the yellow line pictured below. 

Due to the recent excessive rains, the actual work will commence Monday, February 18. The project will take several months. Members will see vehicles working in the ditch network and a mound of dirt at the back of the practice facility (demonstrated below in blue) during the process, but play will not be affected.

TFP Signs Golf Course Construction Agreement with MacCurrach Golf

Club President Bill Coad recently executed the contract with MacCurrach Golf Construction to begin the restoration of the Pete Dye golf course. Acclaimed architects Pete Dye and Tim Liddy are spearheading the design of the project, which will be one of the most extensive private course restorations in the country.

Club President Bill Coad recently executed the contract with MacCurrach Golf Construction 

“This restoration began as an infrastructure project, but we thought it was an ideal time to return The Ford Plantation to the original strategic vision of Mr. Dye,” said Golf Architect Tim Liddy. “While we are repairing the infrastructure, it makes perfect sense to reestablish Mr. Dye’s greens, bunkers, and fairway contouring in the restoration.

MacCurrach Golf Construction Arrives at Ford

Mobilization for the first stage of the restoration project (ditch network cleaning) is complete and MacCurrach Golf Course Construction Company is here. For the remainder of the week, the large earth moving equipment dropped off by the company will be stationed in the waste area at 18 golf hole. Just as a reminder, this does not commence the golf course restoration project from a “golf course” or “golf hole” disturbance perspective. The golf course will remain open during this first stage of the project, which should last 3-4 months. The main “Golf Course Restoration” project starts in October of 2013 and will include course closure. However, the recent mobilization does mean that the construction company will be working in the back nine ditch network but will be confined to that area.