Lightning Detection System and Saftey

Here at Willow Ridge we have an Electric Storm Identification Device coupled with four sirens on the course. This device can detect when lightning is in the area and alert golfers and employees of the eminent danger. The alarm sounds when lightning is between 0-5 miles from Willow Ridge, meaning the storm is close. The alarm is a solid tone indicating everyone to take shelter immediately, there is no telling if the lightning is on top of us or 5 miles away.

When the alarm goes off drop what you are doing and head to the nearest shelter, if you cannot get back to the clubhouse, maintenance facility or the bathroom on the course it is advisable to find a thick growth of small trees in the woods. Stay away from wire fences, metal pipes, rails, isolated trees, and other equipment.

There is also a two-toned alarm indicating that there has been no lightning strikes in past 15 minutes. It is important to stay alert and cautious during this time because it does not indicate the storm is gone or that everything is clear, it is only an indicator that there has not been a lightning strike within 5 miles for 15 minutes.

This past year the United States had 26 lightning strike fatalities according the National Weather Service. It is extremely important to stay aware of the weather and know what the lightning detection alarm sounds like and how to react. There are four loud speakers that sound when the alarm goes off, located by the first green, the seventh tee, the sixteenth tee and by the maintenance facility.

New Pump

A new booster pump has been installed giving the irrigation system an important upgrade. The old pump was nearly 20 years old and on its last legs. Attempts to repair the pump to get through the season were met with unavailable parts, meaning if the pump was to fail we would be out of luck and with inadequate water available.

Old Booster Pump

The irrigation pump is the heart of the golf course water system, providing the necessary water to much of the golf course. Without the pump, keeping the course green and alive becomes a impossible. It is likely that a lot of our managed turf would stress, becoming brown and dead. The pump is an often overlooked feature of the golf course, when it breaks down everybody can see the results.

New Booster Pump

The new booster pump is state of the art, with computer controls that give us more flexibility to manage the watering schedule. The new pump is more efficient than the old one, and at the same time can output more water. The biggest advancement the new pump has over the old pump is a feature called Variable Frequency Drive(VFD). The old pump is comparable to a light switch, it has two modes On and Off. The new pump is akin to a dimmer switch, there is a sliding scale between On and Off. The pump automatically adjusts its power level and water out to meet demand most efficiently. VFD is a major factor in the reduction of electric costs surrounding the pump station.

New Booster pump internals

Divots, Divots, Divots Everywhere

Divots on the golf course are a common and normal occurrence that we must appropriately manage to ensure a quick and efficient recovery. All of the golf carts are equipped with a green sand mix in divot repair bottles to help us fill divot on the course. The reception of the divot repair bottles has been exceptional and has helped us cut down on tedious divot repair jobs. However, there are generally two types of divots found on the course, and they need to be taken care of in different ways.

Divots of all types, sizes and shape

Thin divots with no soil attached should be filled with sand as per normal routine. This helps to keep the tee surface or fairway level and promotes faster healing. The green sand helps to conceal the divot as well as heat the ground up to assist recovery. It is equally important to not overfill the divots with sand as this can damage the mowers and create an uneven playing surface.

The second type of divots commonly found are larger and have roots and soil attached to the underside of the divot. These are essentially small pieces of sod. The best course of action is to replace the divot in the same direction it came out and firmly tamp it down. By replacing large divots recovery time can be tremendously sped up without affecting aesthetics, play, or maintenance.

Divots such as this one with soil should be placed back and NOT filled with sand.

It is important to differentiate between the two different types of divots and properly mend the affected area. It is important to remember under the etiquette section of the USGA rule book golfers are responsible for repairing their own damage and preventing undo damage by taking divots on practice swings. Proper divot repair is an integral part of keeping our tees and fairways in top shape,