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December 2009
U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open Championship Preparations
By David Wienecke
Winter has officially settled in at Chambers Bay and 2010 is just around the corner. We've already experienced a bit of cold temperatures but our course conditions most days are outstanding since we have no trees on the golf course. Based on the flurry of activity by the Turf Care Center staff and the incredible course conditions, it's hard to believe winter is actually here. This edition of the Superintendent's Update will focus on our progress to date as we count down to the 2010 U.S. Amateur Championship taking place at Chambers Bay August 23-29, 2010.
~ Bunkers
Our staff is becoming master craftsmen in bunker construction and finishing as we work on all 90-some acres of bunkering at Chambers Bay. The goal of this work (including total bunker rebuilding in some cases), is to fulfill the Robert Trent Jones II design team dreams of what the Pacific Northwest and Washington Golf Associations rating called "deep and extreme bunkering." The results are so visually stunning as to almost make you want your ball to land in them just to get a closer look. We have only No. 16 and No. 4 left before we have completed our first phase of bunker work, which breaks down as follows:
~ Phase 1: Edge bunkers to achieve shape and size as originally conceived by the RTJII design team.
~ Phase 2: Complete bunker rebuilding of bunkers with rock contamination by removing sand, screening sand to remove rock, installing geotextile fabric to protect against future rock contamination, installing drainage as needed and installing clean sand.
~ Phase 3/Final Championship Preparations: Adjust sand depths throughout all bunkers for uniformity, fine tuning of edging and shape work, and construction of a new bunker on No. 18 and complete rebuild of the fairway pot bunker of No. 14.
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#3 Green #11 Green
~ Dunes
Chambers Bay has over 95 acres of dunes framing each golf hole and associated with bunkers. When the course was built the dune seeding was done in August and September without the benefit of irrigation or rain water. As a consequence, many dunes are missing complete turf growth as originally envisioned. For more than a year, we have been working to correct this situation by installing new irrigation, removing weeds from the dune grasses and planting grass to fill in bare areas.
~This is the 2nd year we have been hydroseeding to fill in dune grass. The dune grass look is achieved with a blend of Sheep Fescue, Hard Fescue and Red Fescue. Currently, we are at the halfway point of our 2010 dune hydroseeding goals, including bunker islands. Taking advantage of the natural winter precipitation will ensure good germination and growth this spring.
~ Irrigation modifications will ensure great grass establishment throughout the year. The spring and summer of 2010 will have an entirely new look for Chambers Bay compared to previous years. Spring green color will turn brown with tall waving stands of dune grass by August.
~ Our emphasis on ecosystem and habitat management includes removing weeds from the dunes combined with planting grass to reduce weed encroachment and developing a stable dune econsystem at Chambers Bay.
Come by for a visit to our trails, golf course, restaurant and golf shop to see all that is taking place at Chambers Bay. Visit the Chambers Bay 2010 U.S. Amateur Championship website for more information on how to purchase tickets or get involved. Welcome to Chambers Bay, where even if it's winter outside, you can still find firm and fast summer playing conditions.
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