#9 Bridge / Sinkhole Repair

We were fortunate to receive an emergency grant from the city to have our sinkhole issue on #9 bridge repaired.  As you saw in my previous blog post, the sinkhole did quite a bit of damage and was a safety issue. We are very glad to have this fixed and back to normal.  As you will see in the pictures below, the fix was done right and there should be no issues going forward!

Looking south toward #8 - The runways up to the bridge are smooth and the sinkhole is filled

Looking north up #9 - A nice transition going over the repaired bridge

Under the west side of the bridge at the repaired footings

Looking west - The bridge will no longer be able to be washed out under the footings

Looking east - Completed footing repairs 

World Famous Minor Park Sinkhole!

As all of you know, the weather this year has been crazy! This month we broke the record in KC for the most rain ever in May.  We have received over 15 inches at the golf course. Flooding and water, in general, can be one of nature's most destructive powers. We experienced what water can do as we developed a sinkhole on the bridge on hole #9. The powerful rushing waters in the creek washed out underneath the north side footing of the bridge creating a large sinkhole.  As a result, we were forced to shut down hole #8 because of not being able to cross the bridge safely with golf carts. We worked with the Parks & Rec and the Water departments and came up with a temporary solution with a large 11x7ft steel plate. Hopefully just a temporary fix, but for now all holes are open and the bridge is serviceable.

Sinkhole just on the north side of #9 bridge

Another view looking north

At the bottom of the picture, you can see the rock washed away under the concrete footing

Steel plate installed and bridge back open for use

Another view looking north

Irrigation System Recharge

After a very long and harsh winter, the thought of turning our irrigation back on and fully recharging the system is a bit nerve-racking. We had a solid winter season (as far as moisture is concerned) but there comes the day that the irrigation system has to be utilized. Normally we try and wait until the week before we aerify our greens. That way we can water in our amendments, as well as the topdress sand used to fill in our holes. I say that turning on the irrigation system can be nerve-racking because, let's be honest, our system out here is very old!

Also, after the cold winter months, you hope that when you blew out the system back in December, that at least 95% of the water cleared out of the pipes and sprinkler heads. So, the system sits empty for 3 long winter months. I can gladly say that this season when we pressured up the system it was a "normal" recharge with only a small number of issues. Things that can happen from winter include possible cracks in the PVC piping from the cold, some water that may not have been blown out that freezes and expands causing a crack or break in either the pipe or the sprinkler head itself. Honestly, you just never know! If you have been out on the course this season and have noticed a pile of dirt here or there, it's most likely from fixing our issues from the recharge of our irrigation system.

Service T that was cracked on #3 fairway - fixed and ready to go

This is what you DO NOT want to see when recharging the system. Looking from #4 green toward #6 green at a broken pipe at an isolation valve - "Old Faithful"

Another service T cracked way down deep off a lateral pipe on #5 tee

Our guy Mike enjoyed the digging on this one. He is standing on the pipe in the hole that was about 5 feet underground.

Same break on #5 tee after we had taken some parts out.

Irrigation system fully recharged and running smoothly! - #2 Green

Maintenance Building Update : Phase 1 Completed

    Our harsh winter created some difficulties for the construction of our new building.  Snow storms and wet conditions made for many lulls in the building process. We have Phase 1 completed (November - March), which means the building will be used for cold storage of equipment.  Phase 2 will consist of insulation, electricity, plumbing and hopefully the construction of our new offices in the west end of the building.  I will let the pictures speak for themselves...

Nov 2 - Pump truck pouring retaining wall

Nov 2 - Looking inside the retaining wall forms

Nov 2 - Pouring the West retaining wall - looking East

Nov 2 - Pouring the North retaining wall

Nov 6 - Retaining wall forms removed

Nov 7 - Floor with re-bar ready to be poured

Nov 16 - Pouring the slab floor

Nov 16 - Pouring the slab floor

Nov 16 - Pouring the slab floor

Nov 16 - Slab floor all poured 

Dec 3 - Ready for structure

Jan 8 - Steel beginning to go up

Jan 21 - Walls going up on North and Southside

Jan 21 - Looking West

Jan 21 - Looking Southwest

Jan 28 - Building enclosed and roof on

Jan 28 - Looking East, overhead doors not installed

Jan 28 - Looking West

Jan 28 - View from outside looking West

Feb 11 - Overhead doors installed looking East

Feb 11 - Equipment stored safely in the new building

Mar 20 - Prepping for concrete driveway

Mar 20 - Prepped sidewalk for concrete

Mar 21 - Pouring concrete sidewalk on Southside

Mar 21 - Pouring driveway on the South side

Mar 21- Southside driveway

Mar 21 - Pouring East side driveway/sidewalk

Mar 21 - East side driveway/sidewalk

Mar 29 - Present day - Phase 1 Completed!