Pete Dye Visits; Restoration Update

Mr. Dye made his third site visit to TFP last week (the first since construction started) and it was a successful work session. He arrived at the Plantation around 3:00 pm on Friday afternoon and worked on the course until dark. Mr. Dye was accompanied by Tim Liddy (Project Architect), representatives from MacCurrach Golf Construction (including Allan MacCurrach, CEO) and Nelson. The first order of business was walking from golf hole 9 backwards to golf hole 5 to review the details of the proposed golf course. In particular, we discussed the infrastructure installation and demolition program currently taking place. The evening finished with a wonderful dinner at the Clubhouse where Mr. Dye and company continued the discussions from the field. Friday was a great team building day.

Saturday morning started with breakfast at the Main House where Mr. Dye took time to appreciate Mr. Ford’s old home and proclaimed, “I haven’t been in this house in 30 years… but it still looks the same”. He exited through the back door and said, “What a spectacular view”, then, he paused in admiration… After, it was quickly back to work. We arrived at the staging area and joined the rest of the restoration team. First, we walked holes 9 back to 7 and reviewed those golf holes again, taking detail architectural direction from Mr. Dye. Next, we transitioned from the front 9 to the back 9. Mr. Dye gave particular attention to golf holes 10 and 15. He shared his vision for the 10^th and 15^th putting greens, and before we knew it, the staff from MacCurrach golf had the greens “roughed-in” (a term in golf course construction used to describe preliminary construction activity) for his review.

Mr. Dye staking the 9th green at TFP

Finally, Mr. Dye ended his visit back at the staging area, but not before reviewing the 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th golf holes again for the third time. The team adjourned and Mr. Dye smiled with approval. His next visit will be in several weeks after the restoration team has completed his directives.

Much progress has been made since the start of the restoration. A list of the work currently being performed includes:

·         Mainline irrigation installation on the club’s main road and major road crossings is being conducted

·         Cart path removal on the front 9

·         Roto-tilling and bermudagrass clearing continues

·         Irrigation pump house disassembly continues

·         Greens complex demolition

·         Bulkhead removal at golf hole 7

·         Cordgrass removal on the back nine

·         Golf hole design and development being implemented on holes 7, 9-11 and 15

·         Storm drainage installation at holes 7, 9, 10, 15, 16, 18 and the practice facility continues

·         Materials continue to populate the main staging area at the practice facility

·         Photographic documentation is being conducted

Mr. Dye and Tim Liddy calculating their next move

Restoration Update

Enjoy the latest photos and captions from the course. Another week is coming to an end and progress on the project has been aggressive. Please make sure and join us for the next golf course tour early next month to see all the improvements being made first hand. 

#18 before the restoration.

#18 with the bermudagrass killed and ready for the demolition program.

#18 green after the sand has been harvested from the core. The demolition continues...

#2 green before the restoration

#2 Green awaiting demolition.

A panoramic shot of the 9th green being roughed in.

#9 tee complex development.

#7 golf hole roughed in awaiting Mr. Dye's comments.

#6 green complex demolished quietly awaiting Mr. Dyes arrival.

A look back at #7 from behind the new green complex which was recently developed.

Restoration Update

The week of October 14th-19th was full of activity at TFP golf course as construction activity continues to grow.



This new 18 inch concrete pipe will play a critical role at the 15th golf hole. The pipe will serve as the main transportation vehicle of water during storm events. Previously, no storm water management systems were in place at the 15th golf hole. This will be a quality improvement.  

MacCurrach Golf installing a concrete storm water management basin at the 15th hole.

Roto-Tilling the 16th golf hole.

A new lake side bunker at #7 Fairway will help prevent future bulkhead collapses.

#7 Fairway being graded to achieve positive drainage. The previous topography at the 7th hole restricted water flow causing saturated conditions. The new grading plan compliments water flow and will allow water to move across the playing surfaces at 3%.  

#9 Green complex roughed in.

Restoraton Video Update

Play the video to see the latest pictures of the course. Also, join us for a golf course tour on October 15th and see first hand the progress being made.

Restoration Update

Saturday was a busy on TFP golf course...

#2 Green awaiting demolition. 

#9 Green being created.

9 Green

9 Fairway being constructed and awaiting storm drainage installation.



The staging area continues to be populated with construction materials.

The stock pile of sand from the greens demolition continues to accumulate on the practice tee. The sand will be used in tee development later in the project.

Concrete pipe at the staging area... the concrete pipe will be used for storm drainage on the back nine golf holes.

#11 green after the sand matrix was removed and salvaged for tee construction.

A look back at the clubhouse from 15 tee.

Half of the 11th golf hole has gone through the demolition process.

Restoration Update

The Restoration of the golf course is well under way. Here are a few of the early highlights of the work and what to expect next week.

1. Erosion Control measures for the disturbed limits has neared completion.
2. Clearing of the Bermudagrass base has been completed on holes 7,8,9 and 10.
3. Putting green demolition at holes 5-11 and the practice facility have been completed.
4. Storm water drainage is being installed at 16 fairway.
5. Old irrigation sprinklers and the control system have been removed.
6. The Irrigation pump station has been disassembled and is being readied for transport.
7. The tree protection barriers on the golf course have been installed.
8.  The staging area continues to be populated with materials and supplies.
9. Project architect Tim Liddy has made his first visit to review demolition of the course and give direction.
10.  Mobilization of earth moving equipment is nearing completion.

The practice facility putting green was demolished earlier this week. Confirmation of the failed drainage system was evident and it was a strong reminder of why the restoration program was started initially. Pictured above is the piping network of this particular green which demonstrates total failure of the water transportation system critical to putting green maintenance. After further demolition was completed at green sites 5-11, similar conditions were present all.

Stock piling the sand from the old greens will be critical in the development of the teeing grounds to be constructed later in the project. The opportunity to salvage the sand and reuse it was innovative.  

As the greens demolition continued, it was evident to just how much putting space had been lost to encroachment over the last 14 years. The picture above demonstrates 4 feet of fairway grass encroachment into the green making it much smaller.   

Silt fence being installed for erosion control.

The week of October 14-19 looks to be a busy one. Some of the activity scheduled to take place includes:

• Irrigation mainline installation from the pump house to golf hole four and five.
• More general demolition and greens demo.
• Rough shaping of holes 7,8,9 and 10.  



Ford Plantation Looking For 2014 Summer Interns

Job Title:	Summer Intern
Club/Course/Firm:	The Ford Plantation
Address:	123A Ford Maintenance Rd.
City/State:	Richmond Hill, GA
Zip/Postal:	31324
Phone:	912-547-4072
Fax:	912-756-3380
Email:	ncaron@fordplantation.com
Educational Requirements:	Must be currently enrolled in a 4 year turfgrass                                  management program.
Experience Requirements:	Experience on a golf course management staff a plus.
Special Requirements:	Must have a clear-cut objective to pursue golf course management as a career. Punctuality and dependability is required.
Salary Range:	$9/hr, 50+hrs per week
Benefits:	On-site housing and uniforms are provided.
Date Available:	Mid-May
Duties:                     Comments:	Interns will be expected to take part in chemical/ fertilizer applications, learn how to use all equipment, assist in agronomic decision making, and work on various irrigation and drainage projects. Above all, interns will be instrumental                in the grow-in of the newly renovated golf course that began in October 2013.    The capstone of the internship program will be a chance for each intern to run the golf maintenance crew for 4 days at the end of the internship.   The Ford Plantation Golf Club is a newly renovated Pete Dye designed 18-hole exclusive golf course that is scheduled to open October 2014. This is a developmental internship for young professionals with a passion for golf course maintenance and golf course architecture.

 

Follow TFP Maintenance on Twitter

The Ford Plantation Agronomy Team has a new twitter account. We will be using twitter to showcase the progression of the reconstruction project that started this week. Along with newsletters, blog updates and course tours, twitter will be an easy way for members to see what is happening on the golf course.

Please follow us here!