White Horse DRAIN Contractors Limited Drainage Consultant Barry F Cooper Established 1957 discusses some of the interesting projects he is currently involved in and gives some SPORTSFIELD and GOLF helpful advice on the subject COURSE DRAINAGE hen I was asked to write an would have thought that the Warticle on golf course whole area was as dry as dust, We are pleased to have been appointed specialist drainage I had to sit and think but once again the men with the drainage contractors for Woodhall Spa very hard on how to condense soil augers came to my rescue, such a vast subject into approxi- finding running sand overlying DESIGN - CONSTRUCTION mately 1,000 words. I thought the clay in some areas and pockets of most sensible approach was to very heavy boulder clay overlying SANDSLITTING relate the story behind the design sand in others. of the drainage scheme on two of After studying the results of the VERTI-DRAINING my current projects which are soil samples it was decided to IRRIGATION both very much out of the ordi- design a system of lateral drains nary when it comes to drainage laid at 1.2 metres deep over the problems. whole site at spacings of 15 RING The first major project I was metres in most areas and 10 involved in this year was the metres in others where the run- OXFORD (01865) 736272 drainage of the new National Golf ning sand was found. 6 LINES Centre at Woodhall Spa. I relate this story to emphasise I knew the existing course fairly how important it is to examine FAX: (01865) 326176 well because the club are clients the whole site properly rather of a drainage contracting com- than make dangerous assump- pany of which I am a Director. tions. Having taken many soil samples The site in general is fairly flat from the existing course I thought and a comprehensive level survey the new project would be very had to be undertaken. This similar and quite straight forward caused a few problems in the to drain, how wrong I was. woodland and we were restricted BARRY F. Half of the site was open farm- to taking a series of levels along land and the other half was all the woodland rides. All pipes planted with commercial conifers being laid on the site are filter which were ready for harvesting. wrapped to prevent ingress of I spoke to the outgoing farmer, sand and because of the amount COOPER and he informed me that at least of water present, even after this four attempts had been made to summer no pipe is smaller than drain the open land which was 80mm diameter. This story also GOLF COURSE still extremely wet. My heart illustrates the folly of laying shal- sank, but at the same time it low drains on golf course sites. made me realise that my investi- The only time I would ever go DRAINAGE gations into this site had got to be along with shallow drains is on a even more thorough than usual, land-fill site that has been turned and two men with soil augers into a golf course. CONSULTANT some 1.2 metres long proceeded When assessing the drainage to take up to 200 soil samples requirements on some golf Advice given on all aspects from all areas of the site, and the courses investigations sometimes findings were remarkable. have to be carried out several of golf course drainage. The open farmland where pre- hundreds of yards outside the golf Drainage consultants to St. Andrews Links vious drainage schemes had failed course boundary to determine was found to have approximately where the best possible outlet Management Committee and numerous 900mm of heavy clay soil overlay- should be. ing sand, and as none of the pre- These courses are usually very other championship courses vious attempts at draining the flat or are links courses affected land had laid pipes at a depth by tidal conditions I am, at the Member of L.D.C.A. greater than 800mm it was clear time of writing, designing a to me that deep drains laid in the drainage scheme to alleviate 61 STATION ROAD, GREAT BOWDEN sand would be required and in problems being experienced on fact this part of the contract is the 13th, 14th and 15th holes at MARKET HARBOROUGH now complete. I am just keeping West Lanes Golf Course, where LEICESTERSHIRE LE16 7HL my fingers crossed now until the areas of silt are causing problems. Telephone: (01858) 467684 system has had a fair test. The outfall to all three fairways is In the woodland area before a 900mm storm water pipe emp- the trees were harvested you tying into the Irish Sea. GAME A comprehensive level survey has a tidal river, which as you can been undertaken to determine imagine poses problems over and the feasibility of draining these above the norm. areas as at first sight it would I now propose to try and help appear that the 13th fairway is greenkeepers on inland courses totally land locked by very large identify probable causes of sand dunes. However, after drainage problems on their own studying the levels, it emerges courses. that if a three metre wide swathe If your course has a heavy clay is cut through approximately 50 sub-soil don't despair, because metres of dunes to a depth of the this is the easiest type of land to patch of silt and the area around drain, much easier than than an overflowing pond can be sand and clay mixed, as the drained very easily, with the Woodhall Spa experience is prov- swathe through the dunes being ing. Stand back and study your reinstated afterwards. own golf course. There may be These areas have been causing parts of one or two fairways that problems for some time now and are very wet during the winter I am sure Head Greenkeeper and other parts of the same fair- John Muir will be relieved the ways that are perfectly dry. problems can be solved. Picture in your own mind, Recently I was involved with a could the fairways in question feasibility study on some very flat have been two different fields at land adjacent to the Somerset some time in the distant past? levels. Once again a comprehen- Is there a tell-tale line of sive level survey was undertaken, mature trees across the course but this time the outfall was into that could have originally been in

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a hedgerow? If there was a be employed as Head Green- hedgerow there, it is almost cer- keeper on a new course being tain that at some time there constructed keep your eyes open would have been a drainage ditch to prevent the two main mistakes there as well. being made during construction Was the ditch piped properly or which are as follows: was the golf course constructed When a green is constructed during a dry time when the ditch the base of it sometimes comes was assumed to be dry? A very from an area all around where it dangerous assumption as I am is sited. The top soil is stripped sure many Head Greenkeepers and then sufficient sub-soil is are finding out after these last "borrowed" to build the base. As two winters. we all know the surrounds and All fields, even in the same area approaches are a vitally impor- have not all been drained at the tant part of the golf course and same time, and the scheme that sometimes the natural drainage drained the field which contained of them is destroyed at the out- the wet parts of the fairways has set. It is much better to import all ceased to function, while the the green base materials from a scheme that drained the field "borrow pit" not in an area of containing the dry part is still general play.

working. I mention this because it The second major sin is to Drainage work being carried out at BIGGA's HQ, Aldwark Manor may help you to make logical ignore existing drains during con- assessments regarding drainage struction work. Broken drains ing "in house" drainage work this • Barry Cooper is a golf course on your own course and also cause absolute chaos during the winter, I wish you all the best, drainage consultant based in impress your Green's Chairman. winter months. and should you need any advice I Market Harborough, Leicester- If you are fortunate enough to To all greenkeepers undertak- am only a phone call away. shire. Tel: 01858 46684. NOT recommended BDURGEIN HIGHLY recommended

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