We Made Water

We are very proud to announce on 10/13/17 Pasatiempo Golf Club made recycled water for the first time.  As a golf course superintendent, with almost 20 years in the business, I can say this project is something I am very proud to be associated with.  Bogard Construction and SSA Landscape did a great job building and managing our project through record rainfall and challenging design changes.

We are now working our way through the system, fine tuning software and hardware issues.  We will continue to operate the system and make water as needed until the rains take over.

Items Remaining to Complete:

• The landscape irrigation is being installed this week with plant material onsite within the next 10 days
• The restroom and cart path will open once we receive final inspection from the county

• After all the contractors have completed their work the gold tee on #14 will be rebuilt 
• The old restroom on #15 tee will be removed

Valve opens for the first time 

Secondary from Scotts Valley hits our pressurization vault 

First recycled water to hit the turf

Water Project Update

The water project has been moving at a blistering pace since the end of the winter rains.  We are on track to finish construction mid August and begin our 2 week startup procedure.  There are numerous requirements from the city, county and state before we turn on the treatment facility but the list is getting smaller each and every week.

Completed

• 500k gallon tank
• All building foundations and walls
• Pump station 
• Filters
• Underground piping and electrical

In Progress

• Finish work on all buildings
• Above ground piping 
• Sewer connection 
• Finish grade 
• Landscaping
• PG&E connection 
• Cart path
• #14 gold tee

We are extremely excited about our current state of the water project.  If you have any questions or would like to see the project up close please contact myself or Scott Hoyt.

Water Project Update

After a long winter we are finally seeing significant progress around the storage tank.  Building foundations are being poured today and underground utilities are underway.  Above is an updated time-lapse of the tank site.

Scott Hoyt attended the Regional Water Control Board meeting in San Luis Obispo last week and received our recycled water permit.  The permit to produce and distribute recycled water on property marks a significant milestone for this project and Pasatiempo.  

Last week the City of Scotts Valley completed the diversion structure at the intersection of Graham Hill and Sims Road.  The structure was needed to divert recycled water to our property.  The city can now start construction of the new pipeline on Sims Road.  The existing 6" pipe will be replaced with a 12" pipe from the intersection at Graham Hill Road to our property.  The larger pipe is needed in order for us to receive the amount of water agreed to in the contract.

Please don't hesitate to contact Scott or myself with any questions.

Rainfall Update

I started a blog post last week about our near record rainfall season.  As I revisit it this week our crew is hand watering greens after 4+ days of 70 degree weather.  Predicting weather is a failed cause but I do hope we receive more rainfall this season.  It's not because I want to break all the records or keep carts on the paths.  I want a little more rain to make all the rain we received seem worth it.  It doesn't really matter how much rain we get during the winter.  It only matters when we get it.  If we spread 30" evenly over 6 months it will conserve more water than 100" over 3 months.  Sure,  it helps replenish aquifers which is extremely important for many of our potable and agricultural needs within the county but, once the atmospheric river turns off it doesn't take long for us to be right back into irrigating.  I would hate to see us pay a potable water bill over the next 60 days that increased almost 40% last October after 60" of rainfall.

So now back to our near record season.  The chart below shows this year compared to the 5 wettest years in Santa Cruz since 1948.  As you can see we are a few inches from a record season.

Just a reminder we will be closed for aeration April 10th-13th.  Limited practice facilities will be open during aeration.  Ken will send out a schedule as we get closer.  Thank you for the positive comments about the golf course and as always if you have any questions or concerns please contact me or stop by my office.

Winter Course Conditions

The bulk of the pineapple express, atmospheric river or whatever else you want to call it is coming to an end.  We faired well compared to several courses in the area.  We received 5" of rain with very little damage.  A medium sized pine tree fell along the ditch on #14 and a few small slides are visible along the barrancas.  The bunkers should be back to normal by this weekend.  Overall I feel like we dodged a bullet the past 48 hours.  

To be honest, I had no expectations going into winter this year.  Coming off a fairly wet El Nino  (42") I was hoping for an average year of rainfall (30") spread out evenly October-April.  Some of this had to do with the fact that as much as we needed the rain to replenish our water supply I selfishly wanted the winter to be mild so we could finish our water project on time.  So far, it seems both are working in our favor.  

The water project is still on time after picking up a few weeks during the construction of the tank.  Our master schedule shows us back filling around the tank January 15th-February 1st.  All we need is a 10 day stretch of no rain this month to complete.  

We are also on pace for a very wet year.  Our total rainfall since October 1st is 30" with a few more inches predicted over the next 48 hours.  If we continue with average rainfall amounts over the next 90 days we could easily eclipse the 40" mark.  

Since 1948 Annual Rainfall Totals

• 40"- 50"  10 times (last year being one of them)
• 50"- 60"  2 times 
• > 60"       1 (1997-1998)

Loch Lomond reservoir is over the spillway and the rivers and streams are at capacity.  

You might think with all the rainfall the course would be almost unplayable.  This couldn't be further from the truth.  The significant investments in cart paths, drainage, bunkers, and top dressing are providing playable conditions throughout the winter.  As I type this post we are mowing greens.  The weekend looks clear and should make for a great round of golf.