About Me

My photo
Los Gatos, California, United States
Kevin is currently the certified superintendent at La Rinconada Country Club. Kevin was the Director of Maintenance at Lahontan Golf Club for over 14 years. Some of the responsibilities over the expanse of his career include the daily upkeep of multiple golf courses, natural resources, environmental compliance, and roads and streets. The wide ranging expertise has come from a combination of education and experiences. Degrees in Meteorology (1987 University of Nebraska/Lincoln), and Horticulture (1992 Colorado State), complete the formal side of this important combination of qualifications. A lifetime of experience around golf courses, and the game of golf was provided by Kevin's father.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Years of Drainage Work Paying Off

The return of average rains to the course have revealed improved drainage that is the result of projects and maintenance practices taking place in the last 4 years.

18th green in 2012 with standing water that lasted for days after rain


18th green in 2016 after rain

Greens drainage is always one of the most important factors to good greens. Our aerification and topdressing practices over the last 4 years have obvious results.

#1 fairway 2012
#1 fairway 2016
A great portion of the water that flows onto the golf course comes from the back 9, and the parking lots, finding its way onto the 1st fairway. Additional drainage added during the turf conversion of 2012, and the renovation last year of the old piping, has resulted in a much lower surface flow on the 1st fairway.

Throughout the golf course, years of topdressing has made a tremendous change. This added sand has allowed carts back out onto the golf course after some pretty significant rain events this year, and playability remains high in the fairways where years of sand has been added. Over time the topdressing being added to roughs will yield the same results.

Hopefully the rains continue through winter, and significant drought recovery is achieved. If they do continue, rest assured that the course is draining better than ever, and improvements are continuing.

Kevin