Golfdom, April 2010
After the Deluge The shock and awe of large scale flooding can be blinding to superintendents But it can also open their eyes 48 Golfdom A p r i l 2 0 1 0 Continued on page 51 on how to prepare for future rain events C atastrophic flooding across the country in 2009 brought back bad memories for Brad Babeck golf course superintendent of the Territory Golf and Country Club in Duncan Okla Last years flooding reminded Babeck of the four rain events that dumped between seven and 10 inches of rain on his course in the spring and summer of 2006 Fortunately Babecks golf course wasnt damaged badly The flooding his course experienced also didnt compare to the flooding that courses in Georgia Iowa and others states experienced last year Still Babeck says the flooding was enough to make him want to renovate his course to keep flood damage from ever happening The superintendents whose courses were flooded last year find themselves thinking like Babeck And they expect to continue such repairs and renovations well into 2010 Last September a flood in Georgia classified by the U S Geological Service as a once in 500 years flood wreaked havoc on state golf courses which were left covered by dirt The putting greens were under water so long that they suffocated and died Bridges on the courses were washed away and electrical infrastructure was destroyed Already soaked from a wet season there was nowhere for water to go long before the flooding occurred Four holes at the Atlanta Country Club were under water says Mark Esoda the courses certified golf course superintendent The flooding produced rapid moving and standing water that in some cases stayed for days Once silt and debris including By Curt Harler Contributing Editor PHOTO COURTESY PATRIOT GOLF CLUB
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