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

Course Tour

 

Turning the Corner

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Restoration Blog 

We’ve reached an exciting stage in the restoration — where rough shapes become playable surfaces, greens take form, and turf starts going down. Over the past five days, the pace of transformation has noticeably quickened, and the golf course is beginning to look and feel like Hyde Park again — only better.

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Green Light on the Greens

This past week’s major milestone was the placement of greens mix in the 15th green — the final new putting surface to be constructed. This marks the end of heavy green construction and the beginning of finish prep and sod work in this area.

As of now, all greens are sodded except for Holes 1, 8, 15, 17, and 18 — a powerful indicator of how much progress has been made.

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Features Taking Shape

McDonald & Sons continued refining key features and expanding progress across the course.

Demo has now begun on Holes 18, 1, and 17, marking the start of the final shaping corridor on the west side of the property. Additionally, the last of the Zoysia sod will be removed from the range field, wrapping up our internal sod relocation phase and allowing full focus on installation.

Paving is close to complete on Holes 4, 5, and most of 6, improving access and defining future cart path flow.

The majority of bunkers across the course are now roughed in — echoing the strategic features of Donald Ross’ original layout.

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Below Ground and Behind the Scenes

Golf Preservations and McDonald and Sons continues to install  fairway and  drainage, currently totaling:

• Over 15,000 LF  feet of 2-inch slit drainage

• 1,108 feet of 4-inch pipe

Ley Irrigation, has installed new irrigation on:

• Holes 2 through 7 in full

• Portions of Holes 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16 and 1

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Turf Establishment: A Major Milestone

We’ve officially entered the grow-in phase. Recent turf accomplishments include:

• 4 acres of Turf-Type Tall Fescue sod installed in surrounds and green complexes

• 007XL Bentgrass approach seeding completed on Holes 3, 4, 5, 10, and 13

• Tee seeding and hydro-mulch applied to Holes 3, 4, 5, and 6

• 3 acres of Fine Fescue seeded on out-of-play slopes

• 7 acres of Tall Fescue seeded in roughs

Each turf zone is being matched to its intended use and environment to ensure long-term performance and aesthetics.

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Grounds Team in Action

The Hyde Park Grounds Team has been hard at work supporting every phase:

• Watering, sodding, and seeding new turf daily

• Mowing and managing grow-in areas

• Aerifying newly sodded greens to improve smoothness and root development

• Collaborating with partners on irrigation, shaping, and finish work

Their focus on detail and consistency is making a big impact course-wide.

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What’s Next

• Sod installation on the final greens

• Final shaping of bunkers and surrounds

• Continued Zoysia sod relocation

• More bentgrass and fine fescue seeding

• Drainage and irrigation progress through the center of the property

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Thank You

To our Hyde Park members — thank you for your continued support and trust.

And to our partners:

• Tyler Rae Design 

• McDonald & Sons 

• Golf Preservations 

• Ley Irrigation

• Technical Choice

• Hyde Park Grounds Team – the glue holding it all together

We’ve turned the corner — and every day brings us one step closer to welcoming you back to a course that’s both restored and reimagined.

Thank-you for your questions and feedback-grounds@hydeparkcc.com

Pat O'Brien,

Grounds Superintendent  

Rolling Forward- 51 Days of Progress

This past week was another productive step forward in the golf course restoration. Thanks to the collaboration of all of our partners — McDonald & Sons, Ley Irrigation, Golf Preservations, and our own Hyde Park Grounds team — we continue to make steady progress on greens, bunkers, drainage, and fairway work.

Our schedule has been challenging and fast-paced, but the team has worked long days to stay on track. Favorable weather  this week gave us an excellent window to advance sod work on key greens and surrounds, push forward with fairway drainage, and continue shaping and irrigation installations.

Several important milestones have been achieved: the Putting Green, Holes 4, 7, 3, 5, 11, 12, 16 and 9 (tomorrow) have all been sodded. The Putting Green, 4 and 7 have been already been aerified, rolled, and mowed multiple times, which is part of our process to build smoothness and promote healthy rooting. Each of these greens is showing good early progress.

The 5th 

~2,900 Square Feet Added to the 5th

The 3rd 

Looking ahead to September, our focus will turn to completing the sodding of all remaining greens. By the end of September, all 18 greens are scheduled to be grassed, an important milestone in the overall restoration timeline.

Next Week- 

The teams will 

• Prepare additional greens for sodding holes 10, 13, 6 and 14 keeping the sequence moving toward late -September completion.

• Advance bunker shaping and tee construction across several holes.

• Continue fairway drainage and irrigation installations, keeping pace with our planned approvals.

• Work with Tyler Rae and his design team during the site visit, which will focus on green approvals, bunker layouts, and planning the next stage of sodding.

We also want to thank you for the feedback you’ve provided during the project. Tours of the course, social media updates, and these weekly emails have been well received, and we’ll continue to share progress in multiple ways so members can see this historic restoration unfold in real time.

With everyone’s continued hard work and cooperation — and more good weather — we continue to deliver a revitalized golf course that honors the Donald Ross design while improving playability for years to come. We can be reached at grounds@hydeparkcc.com. 

Thank-you,

Pat O'Brien

Grounds Superintendent 

43 Days In- Restoration in Motion

Root Growth-Putting Green

Since breaking ground on July 14th, the golf course restoration has been progressing steadily with the full team of architects, contractors, and our Hyde Park Grounds staff working side by side to bring Donald Ross’s vision back to life.

Design & Leadership

Architect Tyler Rae and his associates Jim Ryan Jr. and Matt Fauerbach have been onsite weekly to direct shaping of greens, tees, and bunkers. Their guidance ensures each feature not only matches Ross’s design intent but also functions for modern playability and maintenance.

Sequencing Strategy

The sequencing of work has been intentional. Construction has focused early on holes farthest from the clubhouse, where travel times are longer and soils hold more moisture. These conditions required more shaping and drainage, and this area also includes several of the new greens being rebuilt (Holes 3, 4, 6, 7, 14, and 15). By addressing these challenges first, we maximize productivity during the long summer days and allow the new greens and bentgrass approaches the longest possible grow-in window before next season.

Green Expansion #5

Our main focus is to have all bentgrass approaches, tees, and sodded greens grassed by mid to late September, ensuring plenty of establishment time before winter. The rough will be sodded later in the project as finishing work.

Construction Partners

• McDonald & Sons – primary contractor, leading green construction, bunker work, drainage, cart path removal, and shaping.

• Ley Irrigation – installing the new HDPE irrigation system; new pipe and sprinklers installed on the Putting Green, Holes 3, 4, 5, and 6.

• Golf Preservations – drainage specialists, scheduled to install slit drainage in fairways on Holes 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, and 13.

• Ewers & Sons – cart path installation and base work.

• Technical Choice – GPS staking and layout support for irrigation

At peak times, there can be 75–80 people working on-site each day, reflecting the scale of this project and the close coordination required among all partners.

Hyde Park Grounds Team

Our Grounds staff have been critical throughout the project — watering and maintaining new sod, assisting with shaping preparation, compacting greens, hydroseeding swales, and mowing completed areas. Their efforts are ensuring smooth transitions between contractors and daily progress across the property.

Bunker Drainage #4 

Jared- Rolling to smooth the putting green

Highlights to Date

• Greens Sodded: Putting Green, Holes 4 and 7 are complete. Holes 3 and 5 are scheduled for sodding this week.

• Irrigation: New irrigation installed on the Putting Green, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

• Zoysia Fairway Expansions: Roughly 70% complete across the course. These areas are establishing well but will require smoothing and refinement next season.

• Bunker Work: Several bunkers have been reshaped and drained, with sod and sand installation beginning.

• Tees: Rough shaping and expansions on Holes 3, 4, 7, 11, and 15 provide new variety in setup and strategy.

• Cart Path Work: Paving has occurred on Holes 5 and 6, while removals have taken place on Holes 14, 11, and portions of 15.

New Greens Grow-In

The new greens have now been mowed several times. The goal at this stage is not to achieve low mowing heights, but to promote smoothness and density through:

• Regular sand topdressing

• Rolling

• Aerification once rooting has occurred

This grow-in process ensures the greens will be health and smooth heading into next season.

What’s Next

• Sod installation on greens at Holes 3 and 5.

• Bentgrass seeding of approaches and tees across the course.

• Fairway drainage installations on Holes 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, and 13.

• Completion of zoysia expansions, with refinement to continue into next season.

• Hydroseeding of fine fescue/native areas.

  

   A view of the 7th

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Despite over 5 inches of rain since July, work remains on schedule. The combined efforts of our partners and Grounds team, the project is on track for substantial completion by early November. Please note, however, that this schedule is weather dependent, and prolonged rainfall could affect final timelines.

To find more information and video clips, please follow Hyde Park Golf & Country Club on Instagram. Follow me on LinkedIn and on X- @pobrienhpgcc, or schedule a tour with the Golf Shop.

Thank you again for your patience and questions during this historic restoration

Pat O’Brien, MSc.

Grounds Superintendent

Restoration Update: Addressing Infrastructure Below the Surface

Restoration Update: Addressing Infrastructure Below the Surface

The grounds team continues to work diligently behind the scenes, tackling key infrastructure challenges as part of our restoration efforts.

Drainage Upgrade on 15

One of the most critical issues we’ve encountered is with the main outfall drain line in the swale on Hole 15. After thorough inspection using CCTV and flushing, it was determined that the existing pipe—original to the 1920s—must be replaced.

Clay Pipe 1920s

Location of Failing Drainage Pipe

New HDPE Pipe for Outfall

This pipe, which was not addressed during the 2005 improvements, will be upgraded to an 18-inch main line. A new, large catch basin will also be installed. The new pipe will be directionally bored through the swale to avoid surface disruption and will collect water from approximately 1,200 linear feet of 12”, 6”, and 4” drain lines servicing Holes 10 through 15.

Repairing Legacy Infrastructure

In preparation for the bore, our team has been locating and repairing old clay tile drainage dating back to the 1920s. These efforts are critical to avoid damaging historic infrastructure and ensure long-term reliability.

Equipment and Materials Mobilizing

McDonald & Sons has begun mobilizing multiple semis of equipment and drainage pipe. These materials are being staged behind the driving range and near the grounds building in preparation for full-scale operations.

Materials Staging at the Grounds

Weed Control Progress

We continue our spot-spraying program to eliminate stubborn turfgrass species like bermudagrass and yellow nutsedge. These species are particularly difficult to control and require targeted applications.

Bermuda Grass Spot Applications 

We’ll continue to share updates as this exciting restoration progresses. As always, thank you for your continued support and feedback.

Thank-you

Pat O’Brien

Grounds Superintendent

grounds@hydeparkcc.com

Questions about the rough?!

Common questions about the rough preparation?

Hole #2- (Image Credits- Brian Laurent) 

As part of our pre-restoration work, a key priority has been the removal of existing turf in rough and native areas. This process is essential to eliminate cool-season grasses and persistent Bermudagrass that compete with our desired turf varieties. Targeted herbicide applications are well underway to clear the way for re-establishment.

These areas will be replanted with a carefully selected blend of Turf-Type Tall Fescue and Fine Fescue, chosen for their durability, playability, and visual appeal. Strategic herbicide applications will continue in the rough over the coming weeks to ensure thorough control of difficult-to-remove species.

Here are a few common questions we’ve received from members since our last update:

1. Why are there still green patches in the rough?

Some areas may still appear green due to deliberate timing in our application strategy or because certain species—like Bermudagrass—are more resilient and require multiple treatments to suppress effectively.

2. What happens next?

Over the coming weeks, we will continue to lightly irrigate and apply small rates of nitrogen. This encourages the remaining turf to stay metabolically active, helping it fully absorb the herbicide. We will also mow periodically to stimulate new growth and open the canopy. 

Mowing of rough to expose living material

Hints of green in the Canopy

3. Can I drive carts in the rough?

We kindly ask that carts remain in fairways. As turf declines and soils soften—especially following rainfall—the rough areas become more vulnerable to rutting and compaction.

Your continued cooperation and support are appreciated as we prepare these areas for the restoration.

If you have questions or feedback, feel free to contact me directly at grounds@hydeparkcc.com.

Thank you,

Pat O’Brien, MSc

Grounds Superintendent

From the Ground Up- What to expect in July

We’re down to the 11th hour, and final preparations are underway as we get ready to break ground on the course restoration beginning July 14th. The project scope is being defined meticulously, and once finalized, a detailed construction sequencing plan will be shared with the membership.

McDonald & Sons Mobilization: July 7–11
McDonald & Sons will begin full mobilization between July 7th - July 11th. During this time, equipment and materials will be staged at multiple locations, including:

• The back of the driving range

• The area behind Hole 1 green

• Designated points across the golf course

Please be aware of increased activity and staging as we prepare for work to begin July 14th.

Rough Preparation: Eliminating Competition
A major focus of our pre-restoration work involves clearing existing turf from rough and native areas. This includes the elimination of cool-season grasses and aggressive Bermudagrass through targeted herbicide applications.

These areas will be re-established using a combination of Turf-Type Tall Fescue and Fine Fescue, selected for durability, playability, and aesthetics.

Fine Fescue & Nursery Progress

• A new 007 XL bentgrass nursery has been seeded behind 4 green and will be ready for fall use

• All remaining stumps have been removed and seeded to fine fescue

Fine fescue areas are performing well, with thinning planned for early fall to refine density and texture

Grounds Staff Responsibilities During Construction

The Hyde Park Grounds Staff will play a vital role throughout the restoration, including:

• Seeding roughs and naturalized areas with fescue blends

• Seeding tees and bentgrass approaches

• Overseeing turf quality and irrigation for nearly 30 acres of sod

• Working alongside contractors and architects to uphold quality standards

Capturing the Process
A professional drone video was recently completed to capture pre-restoration conditions. This footage will be paired with in-house photos and video collected over the past few seasons to visually document Hyde Park’s transformation — before, during, and after the work.

Restoration Tours Begin in August
Members will soon have the chance to go behind the scenes with guided restoration tours:

• Small group tours (5 members + 1 staff guide)

• Available Tuesday–Friday and bookable via the daily tee sheet

• Self-guided tours and carts will not be permitted

• Tours will be staff-led only, for safety reasons on the active construction site

Looking Ahead: Grow-In & Opening
Weather — especially dry conditions — will be critical to maintaining momentum and growing in turf successfully. While we are targeting a June 2026 reopening, the final date will depend on both weather and turf maturity next spring.

Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm. We’re excited to bring this once-in-a-generation project to life and look forward to keeping you updated every step of the way.

Thank-you,

Pat O'Brien

Grounds Superintendent 

From Blueprint to Bunkers: 26 Days

We’re just weeks away from breaking ground on our historic course restoration, and significant preparation is already underway to set the foundation for long-term course health, playability, and aesthetics.

While the visual transformation begins July 14th, important groundwork has already started — including installation of critical irrigation infrastructure — and detailed planning continues across all major restoration elements.

Irrigation Installation Underway

George Ley Irrigation began work last week, installing the main trunk wire lines across the property — a meticulous and highly detailed process as crews navigate existing drain lines, utilities, and past infrastructure.

Despite the complexity, their progress has been excellent and is helping to support overall project sequencing. Key materials include:
- 140,000 LF – Control wire
- 85,600 LF – HDPE pipe

Main Trunk Wire Install 

Drainage Planning Nearing Execution

Although drainage installation has not yet begun, our planning and material coordination are well underway. The restoration will ultimately include:
- 13,994 LF – 4" Internal Bunker Drainage
- 28,600 LF – Fairway Slit Drainage
- 12,290 LF – Approach Drainage
- 2,400 LF – Green Expansions
- 3,960 LF – In-Green Slit Drainage
- And more across 4", 6", 8", 12", and 18" lines

In total, the drainage scope covers more than 75,000 linear feet — over 14.25 miles — of pipe designed to improve surface conditions and long-term playability.

Materials & Logistics

Our team has worked hard to control material costs and streamline deliveries. Still to arrive:
- 102 truckloads – Bunker sand
- 60 truckloads – Green and tee mix
- 181 truckloads – Sod (fescue, zoysia, and bentgrass)

Coordinating these shipments is no small task — and  the team is handling with precision to minimize disruption and keep the project efficient.

Bunker Sand Storage 

Our Most Valuable Asset: Project Partners

We are proud to recognize the following project leaders contributing to this ambitious effort:
Golf Course Architect
Tyler Rae, Jim Ryan Jr., Matt Fauerbach, Dylan Stevens – Shaper

Irrigation Contractor
Jeff Martin – George Ley Irrigation

Irrigation Consultant / Design
Technical Choice

Tree Management
Guerrein Green

Golf Course Construction
McDonald & Sons

Cart Path Contractor
Ewers & Sons Paving

Project Liaison – Hyde Park
Arron Garrett, Senior Assistant Superintendent

Hyde Park Grounds Staff
The core team supporting daily logistics, field execution, and coordination throughout the restoration project

Bentgrass Greens Sod – Boyd Turf
Tall Fescue Sod – Turpin Farms
Zoysia Fairways Sod – Kentucky Zoysia
Aggregates – Arms Turf
Agronomic Consulting / QC Testing – Moeller Consulting

A Special Thanks to the Hyde Park Grounds Team

We want to especially acknowledge the Hyde Park Grounds Team, whose persistence, passion, and tireless dedication continue to be instrumental in the early success of this project. Their day-to-day efforts behind the scenes — from site prep to material handling — are laying the foundation for what’s to come.

Hillside Seeding of Fine Fescue 

Looking Ahead

Stay tuned for more details as we finalize construction sequencing and ramp up site activity. During peak construction, over 70 professionals will be working on the golf course, all focused on delivering the project by our November completion goal.

We appreciate your continued patience as material deliveries arrive and staging ramps up. As always, dry weather will be key to staying on track.

Thank you for your support as we bring this exciting vision to life, please pass along any questions you may have? 

Regards,

Pat O'Brien 
Grounds Superintendent
Hyde Park Golf & Country Club