MJ Abbott

Primary & secondary drainage to golf course fairways

Royal Wimbledon Golf Club, London

Introduction

Primary and secondary drainage, including remodelling fairway contours and bunkers

Royal Wimbledon is the third oldest golf club in England, dating back to 1865.

The course was redesigned in 1924, it continues to evolve to keep pace with the game and today provides a tough test over tight fairways with gorse and heather thrown in for good measure.

Following the success of previous drainage installations on three fairways, which were unplayable from the October through to February, the club employed MJ Abbott to carry out a similar scheme on the 18th Fairway. The scheme included primary and secondary drainage, including remodelling fairway contours and bunkers.

The club employed Jonathan Smith of Geo Turf Consulting to advise on the project as Turfgrass Consultant.

Project challenges

Heavy London clay

Ground conditions are heavy London clay. This proved challenging in times of rain, both to maintain the project programme and the high level of tidiness expected during the works.

Access to the club’s compound is a single lane track, making delivery of materials slow and a challenge to manage.

Our approach

Complete drainage solution

The scope of work comprised the following:

  • Installation of 160mm perforated main drainage, to a maximum depth of 1.5 metres
  • Lateral drainage within fairways was installed at 5 metre centres. These comprised 80mm perforated pipe within trenches filled with gravel and an approved sand /soil rootzone at surface level
  • Secondary drainage was in the form of sand slitting, installed at 1 metre centres, to a depth of 300mm and width of 50mm. The slits were installed perpendicular to the lateral drainage, creating a grid of drainage over the area
  • All trench lines were seeded with successful follow-on maintenance undertaken by the club.

Outcomes

In play all year round

Feedback from the greenkeepers and club members has been very positive. This traditionally wet fairway is now in play all year round.