Thursday, February 13, 2014

Good Things Come In Small Packages

Every season, at the UMGC, we have a couple of temporary staff members that show an elevated amount of interest and passion about the golf course.  Some have aspirations of working in the industry and some just got bit by the UMGC bug.  These people are a joy to work with because of their dedication and positive attitudes.  All of their efforts and excellent work warrants commendation. 

These few also thrive on challenges.  Greg Wnuk, recent graduate of University of Michigan, had the opportunity to design and execute his “UMGC senior thesis.”  The project, dubbed “Mini Six”, is a 1/120th scale model of the green complex of #6 at the course. 



The model is a living, growing and maintained piece of bentgrass turf that was reclaimed from the #6 green expansion project, which is the signature hole at the UMGC.  It features a “soil profile window” that has an irrigation head (fully operational), drain tile and distinct layers of aggregate soils.  The topography of the green was surveyed in the fall and converted to the scale model.  It will be displayed and maintained for viewing.

Plywood box lined with plastic and reinforced with tension rods to hold the total weight of 175lbs

Live drainage trenched into the clay base to ensure the proper movement of water in the model

Bunkers are molded to spec with modeling clay to be later filled with sand

The original sod, harvested 3 months prior, was kept dormant until planted on top of final grade

View of green from a ½” tall golfer

Upcoming potential projects for inspired young groundskeepers include pollinator gardens in natural areas, butterfly gardens, bat houses and, tree cataloguing/gps/tagging.  We look forward to this upcoming season with new and returning employees that could carry out these inspired projects!  

Here are some extra photos of the project.