Wet Start to 2020

       Rivers of water in the fairways has been a common site around the golf course for the last 6 weeks.  During heavy rains, most all the fairways will have rivers running down them with water rushing to drain basins, ponds and creeks.  While this water makes the fairways wet in the low areas, it actually shows the surface drainage for our golf course works quite well.  We do have some isolated areas which need to be addressed across the golf course to help drainage, but overall the course really withstands the rain well.

   Since the start of the year, Marietta Country Club has totaled 13.6 inches of rainfall!  The total amount of rainfall in 2019 for the months of January and February was 12.1 inches.  This combined total in 2019 was the wettest January-February in the last 16 years.  So with 15 days left to go in February we already are ahead 1.5 inches!  More rain is in the forecast for next week, so we should see the record wet start to the year continue. 

During one rain event on Thursday, February 6th, we totaled 3.35" of rain in a 12 hour period, and really started to see some results of flash flooding around the property.  The pictures below show a few examples of the excessive water.

This photo is of #8 Mountain view in front of the green tee box.  The walk path leading to the fairway runs right through this section and it is always wet.  We plan to install drainage this spring to help improve this area, especially during rain events like we have seen this winter.  

#6 Overlook green was very close to becoming the bottom of the lake!  While the water level is not as high as it was in 2009 when Stephen took his infamous picture standing in water holding the flag, it was starting to crest the top of the wall.  On a typical day, the top of this wall is at least a foot above the water level.

I have had quite a few people comment over the years about why the area which separates #7 Overlook tee box from the fairway is not made into a pond.  Well, this picture shows exactly why it can not be a pond.  This low lying area is built as a retention pond to catch water during heavy rains, exactly like it is doing in this picture.  Because the railroad tracks prevent the water from freely moving through during heavy rains, all the water must flow through a drainage system under the train tracks.  If the area was always full of water, it would flood tremendously during a heavy downpour and potentially damage the train tracks.  It is amazing how much rain moves through this area during heavy rains.

This picture shows just how high the water was after the rain ended.  Almost over the bridge!!