Weather Shelter Update

Today was barely warm enough to continue with framing the new weather shelter on the 11th hole. This shelter is located about 40 steps in the north east direction from the 11th green. It will cover that void in the middle of the course for anyone caught in a storm. It is accessible from holes 11,12,15,16 & 17.

When the framing is complete, only the roof remains. The roof and wood materials mirror the pumphouse building. There are no inside walls on the building, however there are trees and willows to the west of the building to help protect against the prevailing winds. Inside the building will be a circular bench for golfers to sit as they wait out the storm. The wood will be stained the appropriate color and the lightning protection is scheduled to be installed in the springtime.

Bridge Update

We're still going with the bridges and taking advantage of recent clear days in Vail. We were slowed by a few storms over the past few weeks. The snow is now here to stay, but quite a bit has melted over the last week.
The contractor has stayed busy with finalizing the abutments. The final steps are in sight now, with only the deck frames and the railings remain.
We have about 7-8 inches of snow on the ground, which is actually melting quickly. We have been able to keep access roads cleared and the workers are still productive. The goal is to have the bridges accessible by December 13th.
The nordic community is thrilled to have snow to ski on right now. Most of the track is accessible, however there are some thin spots. Over my five years here in Vail, this is the earliest we have seen snow for the winter. The bridges will be ready to go for the "meat" of the ski season.
Final touches will be completed in the spring which include tying the bridges into the cart paths. There will be some new sod to enhance areas near the bridge. The creek banks will be overseeded with native grasses and willow bushes to stabilize and enhance the creek bank.

Who's Your Favorite

Click on the title of this blog to vote for your favorite golf course in the state. Colorado Avid Golfer Magazine is now using the internet to cast votes on the best courses in the state. Now you have a chance to rank Vail Golf Club where it belongs. Vail GC has made some great changes over the past few years to improve our level of play. An irrigation replacement, pace of play model, structural improvements, Audubon certification are just a few of the reasons to cast your vote today, spread the word.

Coal Bucket Classic, 2010

Steve Simonett (left) was our net winner of the Coal Bucket Classic for 2010. Steve last won the "bucket" back in 1989 and he gets to write his name on the bucket one more time. Seems his game has been just fine through the years.

Paul Seidman (middle) was runner up and Glenn Samuelson, last year's winner, made an excellent host for this year's tournament.

We had about 40 players walk the 12 hole course this year and the weather stayed clear and warm for the day. The tournament marks the end of the golf season in Vail. The Coal Bucket Classic began in 1968 and is the oldest golf tournament in the Vail Valley.

Keep It Moving

The snow fell yesterday and we poured concrete. The sun is here today to reveal the covers and keep it moving with getting the 7th tee built. Yesterday was a good day for getting things done with our projects. Today is dry, but more weather is approaching.

Compaction tests are being performed on the base material prior to construction of the walls. Compaction has been good overall, however the moisture content in the soil has been too high, and has put some bumps in the road. Landscapes is using blankets to keep the moisture off and keep the ground warm as possible. Pictured here is the bottom wall or wall #4. This is the wall along the cart path and holds the most amount of pressure. It has been designed to have a concrete wall behind the decorative stones to ensure the wall will hold.

So far the installation is going very well. The stones used for the wall are named "Rosetta Stone". They are engineered to fit perfectly and provide the stability we are looking to obtain. This particular type of stone is named the "Vail Stone" because it is designed to match the rock outcroppings seen throughout East Vail.

Figuring It Out

No more mowing rough by the maintenance staff here in Vail. We'll save lots on labor dollars. With this new product on sale in golf shops everywhere, we just may have zero need to mow anything again. Click here for golf's latest and greatest technological advancement.

The North Abutment

I have loaded up some new pictures of the projects going on to the blog. Here you can see the creek view of rip rap that has been installed for the north abutment on the 11th bridge.
Back filling the abutment is almost complete. Due to the weather, most likely the cart path will be realigned and replaced in the spring. There will be new sod and irrigation replacement in the spring as well.

The Latest on Construction

We are juggling 4 capital projects, while getting the course ready for the winter.

Before I get into the projects, the Coal Bucket Classic is this Sunday at noon. Show up at the first tee. $10 for anyone who would like a chance to write their name on the bucket. We'll play 12 holes and cap it off at the clubhouse restaurant.

The projects are going great and the weather couldn't be better. The greatest challenge for the bridges is the installation of the abutments on the creek edge. There are four total abutments, two for each bridge. We have one abutment for 11 completed, another abutment on 17 is nearing completion.

The 7th tee is rolling along smoothly. There were some slight field changes that needed to be made due to the complexity of this project. This project is scheduled to be completed early December. The biggest improvement for the winter will be a newly relocated snowshoe path along the creek. We will work with the Nature and Nordic Centers to guide walkers and hikers appropriately through this area when the project is complete.

The fourth and final project is a new weather shelter on the 11th hole. Construction has begun and concrete footers are being poured this afternoon. This shelter is located to the left of the 11 green and easy access.

Stay tuned to the site as more pictures continue to be posted throughout the coming weeks. Please click on the slide show to the right side of the blog for each project.