Sandy Driving Range Tee Cancel The title field is required!

1. Damian Moreau

   

   0 posts
   
   3/15/2013 8:03 AM

   We have a driving range tee that is topdressed by hand each day in the area that the golfer is hitting. It is usually thick in a line across the tee then the ropes are moved back and the same the next. After 10 years of this the tee has built up a sand layer and its like hitting out of a bunker each time you hit a ball. I can aerify and put more of a soil type mixed with sand back in the holes but not sure how much effect this will have? We will probably rebuild them next year but I am looking for some suggestions on how to make the tee surface better until then. After they are rebuild any suggestions on how not to end up with this problem again. I was thinking of getting with a local sand company and mixing soil with the sand instead of straight sand. This will be costly over the long haul so wondering if I just need to plan on resurfacing them every so many years?

   
   
   
   
2. Keith Fellenstein

   

   0 posts
   
   3/15/2013 10:03 AM

   I have sourced an affordable compost product that is screened down to a size that can be used on fairways (and tees). It could be mixed with sand, or topdressed stand alone on rotating basis. If you have the resources, you could even create your own compost.

   
   
   
   
3. Corey Eastwood

   

   80 posts
   
   3/15/2013 11:03 AM

   I agree with the compost. Also no complaints about scared clubs from the sand.

   
   Corey Eastwood CGCS, Stockton Golf & CC, Retired
   
   
4. Ryan Sears

   

   1 posts
   
   4/10/2013 7:04 AM

   Damian, I was faced with this exact issue a couple years ago. We have very heavy use on our tee which is only about 13,000 sq.ft. So you can imagine how often they were returning back to the old hitting areas that were too sandy. My other concern was keeping the tee surface level. I stopped topdressing the tee daily. I trained the pro shop to use up every sq. inch of turf possible before moving the hitting zones back. Then once 1/3 of the tee had been used we came in with our deep tine aerator and aggressively aerated that section. Drug the material around to smooth the undulations and by the time golfers returned to this area it was healed in pretty good.
   
   What you should know about our tee is that is was built with a 4" sand base then sodded. My problem was that the sod came in with soil/clay so aerating is actually breaking down that layer and mixing into the sand for me creating a somewhat sand soil mix. I also fertilize every 6 wks with 5 bags of Bio Flora crumbles which is like crack for zoysia! If you have any other questions Id be happy to chat. Email is rnsears@ccmo.net