Weathering the Storm: Hyde Park Keeps Moving Forward

Over an inch of rain fell at Hyde Park, slowing progress today as both the McDonald & Sons crew and the Hyde Park Grounds Team focused on cleanup across the course. Erosion controls are being reinforced, and washouts repaired to ensure stability going into the next round of work.

Despite the weather, significant progress continues. Rough shaping of bunkers is nearly complete, with about eight remaining to build. The rough and fine fescue areas are performing well, aided by straw blankets and hydro mulch to ensure quick germination and early establishment.

Fine Fescue Germination #10

#9- Rough Grow-in

Tyler Rae and his team were on site multiple times last week and are pleased with the progress as we continue to move forward through the final stretch of the restoration.

This week’s focus:

• Hyde Park Grounds Team

  • Sodding of hummocks on holes 17 and 16

  • Hydro seeding and hydro mulching fine fescue areas on holes 14 and 15

  • Continued aerification of greens to improve infiltration and smoothness

    

    #11- Approach 

• McDonald & Sons

  • Installing bunker drainage and continuing sod placement in rough and fairways

  • Reinforcing erosion control measures ahead of additional rainfall

  • Constructing tees on holes 16, 10, 1, 9, 17, 13, 12, and 18

  • Installing drainage in approaches on holes 18 and 17, the final fine-turf areas to be grassed

  • Excavating the ravine on hole 8

  • Beginning cart-path installation on hole 13

As we move deeper into fall, shorter days and cooler temperatures are beginning to affect drying times and  productivity. Even so, we are very pleased with the progress and optimistic about the weeks ahead.

Thank-you to the membership for your continued support and patience as we complete this important phase of the restoration, please free to reach out via email: grounds@hydeparkcc.com

Pat O'Brien 

Grounds Superintendent 

October Momentum: Draining, Shaping and Growing-in

Following a brief pause after receiving 1.2 inches of rainfall, work on the golf course restoration has resumed in full force yesterday. This week, Golf Course Architect Tyler Rae will be on-site to collaborate with the McDonald & Sons construction team to review and approve bunkers across the property.

The Last Green Being Sodded- #1

Several major milestones have recently been achieved. The #5 and #6 corridor of bunkers has been completed, showcasing the classic Ross-style forms that define this project. Approximately 70 percent of the new irrigation system has now been installed, significantly improving system efficiency and future reliability. All new greens have been sodded, and roughly 15 acres of rough have been seeded.

New Turf Type Tall Fescue on #2

After the recent rainfall, the fairway drainage systems on Holes 4, 5, and 6 were put to the test and are performing exceptionally well, confirming their effectiveness in managing surface and subsurface water.

The coming week will see continued progress with drainage installation and grassing of approaches on Holes 2, 8, 9, and 11, along with tee grassing on Holes 7, 8, 14, and 15. Cart path work will continue on Holes 14, 7, and 6, with touch-ups and final grading taking place on Hole 4 to improve transitions.

The Hyde Park Grounds Team has been hard at work hydro-mulching fine fescue areas on Holes 4, 5, 10, and 15, helping stabilize slopes and promote uniform establishment. The team continues to aerify the newly sodded greens to enhance infiltration, improve surface smoothness, and encourage rooting through the sod mat layer.

Recent Aeration of the 10th Green

As the project advances into mid-October, visible transformation continues throughout the course, bringing the design vision closer to completion each week.

On behalf of the entire team, thank you to our members for your continued support, patience, and enthusiasm throughout this restoration. The progress achieved to date reflects a tremendous team effort, and we are excited for you to see the results. Please reach out with any questions or feedback-grounds@hydeparkcc.com

Pat O’Brien, 

Grounds Superintendent