While attending The Pennsylvania State University in 1991, my mentor and famed turfgrass scientist, Dr. Joe Duich asked my fellow students and I, “What is the most fundamental aspect of successful turfgrass management?” Dr. Duich, known for his wit and challenging teaching style had many leery to respond. After a few failed attempts by my classmates to answer his question, Dr. Duich responded, “It’s not rocket science, if you want to be successful at growing turfgrass, you need drainage... drainage... drainage!" He continued, "Surface drainage, air drainage and subsurface drainage are all critical"
Once a golf course is constructed and open for play, surface drainage can be increased by adding catch basins and piping to a water body or slope can be modified through a renovation. Air drainage can be enhanced through underbrush or tree removal (or fans), but are not an option for everyone. However, subsurface drainage is an annual process on almost all golf courses. Subsurface drainage is partially managed through aerification and topdressing, which we do a significant amount of at Olde Florida. However, it can be impacted more significantly through the installation of subsurface drainage.
This summer my staff installed 1,700 linear feet (1/3 of a mile) of subsurface drainage. This brings the total subsurface drainage, or what some refer to as a "French drain" that my teams have installed in my 31 years as the golf course superintendent at Olde Florida to over 16 miles.
The steps in our drainage installation at Olde Florida are fairly simple. First we analyze the area and figure out the best method to get water from “point A to point B”. Once analyzed and determined I paint the drainage project on the turf with a paint gun (the easy part). My assistants then consult our irrigation as-built, a wire tracer, etc., to determine if there are any subsurface items that the staff will need to avoid. Next, a sod cutter with a 12-inch blade is used to remove the turfgrass, and then the hard part begins, the excavation of the soil (and often rock) to a depth of 18 inches and a width of 12 inches. Finally flexible drainage pipe is laid in the bottom and center of the trench, coarse sand (gravel in the past) is carefully installed, compacted and then the sod (with minimal thatch) is re-installed.
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| Trench Excavation |
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| TurfDrain Rolled Out |
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| TurfDrain Ready for Installation |
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| Sand Being Added to Trench |
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| TurfDrain / Sand Installation |
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| Sod Re-installation |
Often when installing drainage we discover existing drainage that was installed at some point over the last 31 years. While still effective in receiving subsurface water moving laterally in the soil, many have lost effectiveness of moving water downward from the surface into the drainage system due to natural buildup of thatch/organic material.
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| Existing Drainage (Old) with 6" of Organic Matter Above |
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| Existing Drainage (Old) 8" Below Surface |
This summer drainage projects included an area in front of #2 approach, in the swell to the left of #3 green, an area at the front right-side of #6 fairway, the chipping area to the right of #6 green, four separate projects on #16 fairway and two projects on the east chipping green.
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| Hole #2 |
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| Hole 2 |
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| Hole #3 |
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| Hole #6 |
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| #16 Fairway |
More information on the
TurfDrain product can be found here.
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