Oak Park Workday, 5/16

[Schoen-hopper]

Next Saturday, Randy Mattingly has offered his time and his truck to get a workday going at Oak Park. We've been needing this for a while and we need to get this place back in top form for the Doo Dah tournament 4 weeks from now. Plan is to meet up around Noon. Till whenever, with a round of golf afterwards. I'll be out to help when I get off work. As far as tools, I'll give Randy what we have in the clubhouse on Tuesday. Bring a scoop shovel or any shovel for dirt work and loading chips. Good rake works good for spreading chips around.

I've requested more dirt and chips be delivered from the city. Waiting to here back, but we should be good. Hopefully have it by Thursday, but may hold off till Friday if there is rain in the forecast.

Plenty to do, here's a list of what I think should happen. Just a rough guideline, those who come can decide for themselves what is most needed.

*Pavers (the plastic honeycomb grate looking thingies). About 25 of those were neatly stacked and tucked away behind 5's green. They sat so long that eventually some hooligans started throwing them around in the woods. Lets find these and bury them in front and behind the tees with the most erosion problems and that haven't been done already. My last post was requesting Tee #9 blue and Tee #18 red. 3 wide x 2 deep on both sides of the pads would take care of all the pavers you will find. Just dig down far enough that the pavers will be only an inch below flush with the pad. Then fill them in with dirt. These are a test project, but are supposed to work for soil and grass root retention, which pretty much helps control the erosion we experience heavily near the tee pads.

*Dirt. We should put dirt near the tee pads that have erosion in front of behind them. Basically, the ones you have to step up on to tee off. Plenty of dirt could be put down in front, and espescially behind to make these more level/playable/look better. I haven't had time to walk the course lately. Someone could do this and take notes. The tees with grass next to them are great as they are. The tees down by the river (holes 11 through 13) might not be worth the effort with all the flooding this time of year, though if they are really bad, some effort could be made. Other areas that may need dirt as much or more than the tee pads are right on the baskets locations that are experiencing erosion. Mainly the ones on the hillsides like 12, 15, 17. Also hole 18 and the practice basket. Anywhere there is a low spot where the basket is.

*Grass Seed. A bit of a lost effort planting this late in the year. But first, we have the seed already given to us. It's either in the clubhouse or I will ask Josh for it. Second, if we are going to put down loose dirt and use these pavers, whatever little seed we can get to grow will help, even if it gets trampled. Just a convenient time to do it with the ground stirred up. We'll just have to keep trying. Let's plant again in the fall (the right time to do it). Seed would be good anywhere dirt is put down. Near tees and pins mostly.

*Retaining walls. Hole 6's short tee got remodeled after someone threw the blocks from the last job that was done there. What we want to do is this: Lets find any of the limestone blocks that have been thrown in the woods around tee 6/basket 5 area. Tear down what has been done on hole 6 and use as many as are needed to put right next to the short blue pad on 18. Bury them a couple of inches and that ought to serve for keeping the mud off the tee pad. At least for a while until we can find some bigger blocks and put them farther from the pad. With the blocks that are leftover, redo 6's short pad using them horizontally instead of vertically. Should just have enough hopefully.

*Chips. This might be the biggest project. We need to put them down thick on all muddy areas like tees, pins, and walking paths in the woods. Holes 1 though 7 need a lot everywhere. Heavy chips really close to the basket will last longer. Chipping the muddy paths really makes a difference. Hard to use too much! About a truckload per hole is what I've found to be a decent measure. The trick is getting people to help that way it isn't 2 guys doing all the shoveling into the truckbed! That is the hard part. I've asked if they can put the chips on the road to do so because it is harder to load them when you can't scrap them up. 18's green and practice basket would be good for chips as well. I know they won't stay by the practice basket location. But if dirt is put down first, and then chips mixed in on top, it'll certainly look a lot better than the pit we have now.

I know it's a tourney weekend. Support the Oz Tour with your presence in Manhattan. But if you aren't going, show some pride in Oak Park and come help keep this course great! Who can come?

[Schoen-hopper]

Who can come out to help?

[Schoen-hopper]

Randy told me last night he will be tied up until around 3pm, but would come out to the park right afterwards. If you can help, show up around 3pm. If you can get a truck, start as early as you like.

[Schoen-hopper]

I just got to thinking, I wonder how I am going to get there with no car. I may need a ride.

[Schoen-hopper]

Big thanks to Randy, Lisa, & Susan for making this happen! Big thanks also to Josh Hull, Nick & Deb, & Plamen!

In 2-3 hours, we did 5 big loads of woodchips and Josh did some awesome stone work on 18's long tee. We covered holes 1-5 & 7 fairly well. 1's green could use some more, perhaps a few other places.

We need to plan the next workday now. First question. Who has a truck or know someone with a truck? Next question: who can help with another workday?

Here's what I think we should do. Let's get the dirt down that the parks dept delevered for us Friday. This will be hard work loading the dirt into a truck. It is heavy. The longer it sets, the wetter, denser, and heavier it will get. Where does the dirt need to go? Low spots. Places that come to mind to me are the practice basket, 18's basket, 15's basket, and all the tees with low spots. The ones that are really low like 9 blue and 18 red we should bury the rest of those pavers. There should be about 25 of them skattered in the woods near 5's basket that we need to find and get in the ground.

After the dirt is put down, we can seed and throw a light layer of chips over the top that'll mix in with the dirt a little. This is better than just throwing chips down, which will just blow away and are not a permanent solution with low spots around tee pads and the low baskets.

Take some notes next time you are out playing and let's make it happen!

This work can be done anytime. But how are we going to organize an effort to get it done? We got to get the word out. I'm working a zillion hours and have home projects, and a league I can't run without a car that needs fixed! So please get the word out and don't just wait for something to happen. I know a lot of people who can help are the people who don't read these message boards.

The soonest day I could possibly help would be Wednesday evening. Not sure I could make that either, maybe. Really anytime a couple of people can get together with a means to transport the dirt will be a good time for course work. Thanks for the help on the course. Looking better...

[Wiggins]

i'm sure Bo and I will be out there sometime this week after 5. We could get a little work done. do you remember which pads have/need pavers.

[Schoen-hopper]

First, you'll need to find them. Someone scattered them in the woods near where they were stacked about 30' in the woods from 5's basket. Some of them are still stacked there, maybe half. I think I remember counting like 25 total last time.

The tees that were done... 1 long, 2 short, 4 short, 17 short, that might be it. I'm thinking the best spot for the rest of them would be 9 blue (on the right) and 18 red (up on top). Those areas are already low and will need some dirt anyway. Another idea would be to bury them on the hillside on 17's green. I don't think there is near enough (though we can get more) or that it would help anyway. They'd probably get exposed and look ugly pretty soon being on the hillside like that. At least on the tees, if they ever get exposed, it'll be easy to throw some dirt on top of them.

So here's a rough possible order of operations....

1) Take notes during a round, or more favorably, a course walk-through on all the tees & baskets that have low spots and need dirt.
2) Find all the pavers by 5's basket in the woods.
3) Dig 9 blue and 18 short out so pavers will set in right behind or in front of the tee pads.
4) Place the pavers adjacent to the tee 3 or 4 peices wide and 1 or 2 rows deep. Fill in with dirt up to just above level. Probably will need more dirt from the pile for this.
5) Load and drop off truckloads of dirt throughout the course on tees and baskets that need it. Baskets that come to mind are the practice basket, 15, maybe 12, and some on 18. Could be some others. On the tees, don't worry about the sides, just the front and mostly, the back.
6) The Drop Zone tee pad for 18 needs some support. Could put blocks down here, but not sure how best. I think we need a FULL truckload of dirt on the side of this. They did pour the concrete deep on the low side, but if this side isn't supported, eventually this thing is going to sink to that side. I know it'll be hard to get dirt to stay there. Need to stomp it down really good. Other ideas?
7) We should seed everywhere we put loose dirt down. Grow some grass right before the tournament. It'll look nice even if it doesn't last and all the grass roots we have in the ground will eventually hold the soil and grow the grass in closer to the bare areas. We'll just have to keep seeding, espescially this fall. Randy has the seed. And the club tools: shovels, rakes, etc). Call me and I'll get you in contact with him. My # is 316-612-7896.
8 ) I think we need to fix 6's stones by the short tee pad. They are not buried well, are starting to lean, and are up too high. Though unlikely, possibly a safety hazard. I think we should re-bury them with the width dimension up (2nd largest dimension). Then we'll have some extras. These could be used on the back or the front of the pads, like 7 or 18's. Or somewhere else on the course.
9) After the dirt is down and perhaps not too long before the tournament, we could throw the rest of the chips down. The dirt is the more difficult job, and should come first. If mixed in right with the dirt, perhaps both would stick around longer. There are about 3 truck-loads left in the pile. We could use another one around the outside of 1's green. 1 load on the practice basket & 18's green (after dirt). And I'm sure there are places on the course for the rest. We may need more. A good idea for the tournament would be to get some more for the river holes. Even though they'll wash away with the next flood, this will be nice for the muddy areas down there, espescially hole 11's fairway and green. If it has recently flooded, we may need a "woodchip bridge" as we've done before on hole 11 near the basket. Digging some big ruts on both sides of that green will greatly reduce flooding if it does rain cats and dogs right before the tourney. We can always ask for more woodchips.

[Schoen-hopper]

Randy has the seed. And the club tools: shovels, rakes, etc). Call me and I'll get you in contact with him. My # is 316-612-7896.
.

I've had a couple of people ask what they can do to help. I don't know what I can do. Need a truck, people, and tools. Need to coordinate with Randy if we want to use the clubs tools.

When does everyone want to get together for another workday? How about this Wednesday? 4pm & on? 2-3 hours and a few people can get a lot done. 2 trucks and twice as many people = twice as much done twice as fast.

[Schoen-hopper]

Okay if everyone can't work on the course before then, let's get together this Saturday 5/30. I have to work, but I'll be out afterwards, around 3:30pm. Randy doesn't know what time we can start yet, so I'll try to stay in contact and keep everyone posted. Randy already has a lot on his plate running this tournament. Is there anyone else who can step up to head off this effort? Perhaps before Saturday? Randy has the club tools.

[Schoen-hopper]

Saturday (tommorow) at 3pm.

Show up earlier if you'd like. See previous posts for what need's done. Dirt work w/ pavers followed by woodchips. Josh & Ben planned on fixing the stones on 6's short pad. Need a wheel barrow if you will need some dirt or chips taken down there.

Tee flags, ob string, circles, etc, all planned for later in the week. Let me know if you want to help with that. Thanks. See you at Oak tomorrow.

[Schoen-hopper]

Well, turnout for this was nothing short of amazing.

Actually... I'M SERIOUS.

We dug our pavers in the hot sun, tossed dirt every which way, flipped some seed, chipped, and threw stones around. Couldn't be happier with the way it turned out. Course is looking nice!

Thanks to everyone that came out!!

We plan on having trash pick up at both leagues this week. We'll also be flagging tees, stringing river OB, marking drop zones, marking mandos, posting signs, etc in the coming week. Get with me, Miranda, Deb, Scott, Crispin... if you want to help.

We got all the chips on the course. There is still some dirt left. We hit the high importance areas, but if you are wanting to do some more work at Oak, there are 3 truckloads or so of dirt left in the piles. I'd hit any of the tees with bare spots or low spots. Eventually, grass will grow in there. We plan to do more seeding this fall.

[Schoen-hopper]

Scott plans to paint circles on Thursday and Miranda plans to string the river at HH on Friday. Crispin plans to flag tees & everything on Friday. I can help with mando's & DZ's on Thurs & Friday. Give us holler if you'd like to help. The circles will be the biggest job. Hit me up and I can get you in contact with Scott.

[Schoen-hopper]

Herman Hill trash pickup wasn't too successful. Low turn out and wet weather. Please take a bag through the course if you can. I'll be out there helping Friday evening, but it can be taken care of before then.

[Leo D.]

Hard to pick up trash in 30mph wind and sideways rain.

[Schoen-hopper]

Thanks for coming out Leo! I wimped out on the most difficult league of the season. What did you end up shooting for long-long in the rain & wind?