The Byrd Course at Sea Trail Resort in Sunset Beach, N.C., is undergoing a major renovation this summer.
The course is receiving new TifEagle ultradwarf Bermudagrass greens, selected tee boxes are being leveled and expanded, bunkers are being rebuilt using the Better Billy Bunker method, Zoysia grass is being place along bunker edges for stability, a new irrigation system is being installed, new bridges are being built, cart paths are being replaced or repaired, and waste bunkers are being improved.
In addition, other areas of the 54-hole golf resort are being built or renovated.
See the Byrd and property renovations through a series of videos, with descriptions of what is being done and why from Sea Trail Resort director of golf operations Jimmy Biggs.
Biggs said a Jones-Byrd clubhouse reopening is anticipated on or around Labor Day Weekend, and the Byrd Course is on pace to reopen by mid-September.
Fraise Mowing
The Fraise mowing process removes the existing grass on greens as well as a specific amount of the dirt below. This machine is being used to remove the top couple of inches from the greens. Traditionally you would use a couple of sod cutters and remove them piece by piece. This is much more efficient.
Green Topdressing
Green topdressing is done with a greens mix to get ready for sprigs. Greens mix is a term for a custom-blended soil that is used for constructing or renovating golf greens. Greens mix typically consists of sand, peat, and soil amendments that are mixed in specific proportions to create a soil that meets the physical, chemical, and biological requirements of the turf grass for golf. In this video on the Byrd Course’s fifth hole the greens mix is being applied as a replacement soil for the entire green profile.
Green Sprigging
Green sprigging involves planting vegetative cuttings, called sprigs, of TifEagle grass into prepared topsoil. Manual sprigging seen here involves spreading the sprigs by hand and pressing them into the soil with a roller. Sprigging has several advantages over seeding, such as faster establishment, lower weed invasion, and better adaptation to environmental conditions.
Bunker Shaping
Bunkers need a drainage system that collects and removes the excess water from the sand surface and the subgrade, and prevents the water from seeping back into the bunker itself. This video on the Byrd Course ninth hole shows the equipment digging out a spot for the perforated pipes and gravel that will connect to the main drainage network on the golf course.
Overview
This is a video of work being done to the 18th hole and new Jones-Byrd clubhouse. The 18th green has a tarp on it. A soil fumigant was used to treat turf grass before sprigging to reduce the risk of disease and weed infestation, and to improve the soil structure and fertility. Tarps stay on for 10-14 days to keep in the gases that eliminate soil-borne pathogens.
