The Project 2021 - Update #21

Better Billy Bunkers

The Bunkers at Granite Bay Golf Club represent a significant portion of our course renovation project.  The current bunkers drainage system, liner and sand are over 13 years old and have more than reached their estimated lifespan.  They were constructed with what was at the time the best available technology, sand over a hard non-permeable polymer lining with an underlying drainage system. Over time this liner has failed allowing soil particles to mix with sand particles after winter storms, substantially slowing down the sands ability to drain which is the beginning of the end.  Some problems were the erosion of the faces and pooled water after rain storms. 

GBGC bunker erosion after a storm in 2011

In addition to providing poor playing conditions the bunkers required hours of maintenance work to repair them after a storm.

Since our bunkers were last renovated a new system, the Better Billy Bunker system, was devised.  Similar systems are used by virtually every high end course in the world and they create a water-permeable base for the entire bunker, while also helping hold sand to steep faces.  This system can allow up to 1,500 inches of water per hour to pass through the base.  One course in Virginia had hurricane Sandy drop 7 inches of water on its 120 bunkers.  Their crews completed their normal raking maintenance, and then spent a total of 1 extra man-hour cleaning up washed sand in the bunkers. There were just a few rivulets to be smoothed out, with a leaf rake. Previously this would have taken an additional 200+ hours of work.

So how is this magic accomplished?  This simplified image (from Dormie Network) illustrates the system.

The blue represents water which passes through the bunker sand and a porous layer of gravel into a drainage line at the bottom of the bunker, which transports the water away.

Steps to create these bunkers

After the bunker has been shaped, which in our case has been no small undertaking, drainage lines are installed allowing for 2 inches of gravel and 4 inches of sand.

Starting to spread gravel over drainage lines

Then 2 inches of gravel are spread

Gravel almost ready for polymer coating

Then a polymer binder is applied. This results in a sturdy pliable layer of glued gravel which allows water to pass through making the entire floor of the bunker, including the slopes, a permeable drainage field

Applying the polymer binder

The final step is sand installation and the finished bunker is revealed.

Newly shaped and designed "splash" bunker with a  Better Billy Bunker liner system and with Idaho White sand installed on hole #9 at Granite Bay Golf Club.

The Project 2021 - Update #13

 Last Weeks Progress

My intention when our renovation project started was to provide a couple of course updates per week to keep members informed on progress. For various reasons, getting this done has been tough the past few weeks because of the amount of time I have had to spend with hands on construction. The good news  is Ed Reeder, GBGC's resident Golf Committee and Board of Governor's scribe has volunteered to help out, so you will soon be getting  more eloquent and frequent content then what I have been providing. 

Below are some pictures of progress last week which include installation of a new curb for cart path & patio at Tilley's, training and installation of the polymer of the Better Billy Bunker liner and more sod installed around bunkers and greens on #8 & #5.

Monday 4/5/21 we started and finished the demolition of the cart path outside of Tilley's. Wider cart path, new patio seating, fire pit area in the works.

New curb at new Tilley's putting green. The area around Tilley's and # 9 scheduled to be sodded on Thursday 4/15/21. Patio concrete and cart path scheduled to be poured the following Friday & Saturday.

Above is Jerry Lemons (center) , the developer pf the Better Billy Bunker system conducting a training session with Diamond Golf. Contractors must be certified to install the Better Billy Bunker System. In a nutshell there is a  specified gravel layer (minimum 2") installed over a drainage pipe in a ditch which is sprayed with a polymer that adheres and cements the gravel together without filling the capillary (water draining) pores creating a drainage field throughout the entire floor and face of the bunker. Water cannot collect. If water does not collect or back up, sand dose not  load up with water and stay's put even on fairly steep faces.

#2 LH bunker after being sprayed with the Better Billy Bunker polymer.

#1 green side bunker after Better Billy Bunker polymer installation

New sod installed around #8 green and new bunker.

Now sod installed around #5 green and new bunker

Recently installed sod around the new bunker on #5

Above is a shot of just this AM, Monday 4/12/21 of some adjustments the contractor is making to the left hand bank on #9 and softening further the run-up on that left side of the green as well.

The Project 2021 - Update #10

 "On many courses there are far to many bunkers. The sides of the fairways are riddled with them, and many of the courses would be equally interesting and infinitely more pleasurable if half of the bunkers were turfed over and converted into grassy hollows."  ( Alister MacKenzie - The Spirit of St. Andrews p. 57 by Alister MacKenzie)

Bunker Renovation - Shaping

We've settled on a way of cataloging "The Project 2021" course updates using the  labels of   this online format, which are to the left of this update. This way a Member can click on the label and the  content that has been written on any given part of the renovation will be available as a group. 

Todays update focuses on Bunker Renovation. I mentioned the particulars we are utilizing in our new bunkers in a previous course update entitled  Renovation Decisions & Philosophy We will be installing a Better Billy Bunker drainage system and installing Idaho White Sand, the details of which will be covered under the label "Bunker Renovation" as we progress. What we wanted to share today is the particulars on some of the re-shaping of the bunkers that is underway as well as the re-shaping of their associated green surrounds. Below are a series of pictures along with some narrative that show the work in progress. 

This aerial view encapsulates some of the design philosophy that Jay and Salvador are incorporating into the renovation. This is the replacement of the right hand fairway bunker on #9 fairway. The bunker was built right on top of the old bunker and moved seven yards closer to the landing area. Notice the large cut of earth out of the fairway directly in front of this bunker. That cut was made mainly to expose the front edge of the bunker as the land form previously obstructed your vision. Design Philosophy: "...opening up sight lines to make all features visible to competitors." In order to achieve this feature on this bunker GCM had to remove irrigation heads, line & wires which will all have to be put back.

This is the newly added bunker on the left hand side of the fairway on #9. This was added exclusively for the low handicapper while teeing off from the new tournament tee creating the risk reward this caliper of player craves.  Design Philosophy: "Create a fun and rewarding experience for the mid to upper handicapper, and a challenging and rewarding experience for the low handicapper."

Low handicappers will have to hit it 270  from the new tournament tee level to clear this new bunker on the left hand side of #9.

Above is the redesign of the greenside bunker on #1. The bottom of this bunker is 12" higher then it was but the design feature I like the most is the finger coming down in the middle of the bunker separating the right portion from the left. The size, shape of this finger was indeed form following function as players can enter or exit this bunker from above easily. Design Philosophy: "Make subtle adjustments to the course to enhance original design and make the course play like it opened today without losing the integrity of the original design concepts." 

Another view of greenside bunker on #1.

Another view from the landing area.

The beginning of the new greenside bunker on #4. This shape begins with the lead shaper on a 
 D-4 Caterpillar.

View from afar of the same bunker taking rough shape along with the rest of the green surround and approach.  

Diamond Golf's finishing crew beginning the finishing process of the new greenside bunker on #4.

Obviously there is allot more work to go on just bunkers alone not to mention the rest of the course and I'm looking forward to sharing more as we continue to progress phase to phase all the way around the course. Thanks as always for your support!