Haines puts PermO(2)Pore to work at San Pedro GC

BENSON, Ariz. - For more than 10 years, Lou Haines consulted with golf course superintendents on porous ceramic technology. Now, as a part owner of San Pedro Golf Course here, the veteran agronomist and golf course superintendent is utilizing his innovative soil conditioning system in his own project.

Slated to open in early December, San Pedro Golf Courses promises a "pure golf" experience that preserves the spirit and tradition of golf.

Carved from high desert terrain in the San Pedro River Valley, 30 minutes southeast of Tucson, Colorado-based Arizona Golf Systems has constructed a much-needed top quality, affordable layout in this area of the state.

With the help of noted Denver-based course designer Mark Rathert they have masterminded a 7,300-yard classic configuration free of real estate development or other distractions from the game. There are no out-of-bounds markers on the course, no trick holes and there are no continuous cart paths.

"One of my pet peeves as a golfer is having to keep cars on paths set too far off to the side. When we say 'car path only,' we mean take it down the middle of the fairway," said Haines. "Our car paths are essentially invisible, because the PermO2Pore root zone helps us achieve a more traditional look and feel. Players are directed to the optimum areas of the fairway, with their view and play unimpeded by car paths."

Haines' proprietary PermO^sub 2^Pore mix of sand and porous ceramic granules creates a specialized root zone sturdy enough to support car traffic leaving natural gravel paths fanning onto the fairways, and gathering again at the gravel paths near the greens. PermO^sub 2^Por is a product made by Agronomic Systems Design Group, which Haines helped them develop.

With little or no compaction to deal with, the maintenance crews only have to control the wear to the turfgrass by managing the traffic patterns. Small metal markers delineate the fortified areas. To golfers, there is no noticeable car path beyond the gravel areas.

The porous ceramic root zone is approximately 12 to 15 feet wide, and extends 30 to 40 yards into the fairway, large enough to be able to redirect cars each day to allow the worn areas of turf to grow and heal.

Haines has also applied porous ceramic technology to putting greens. A similar soil conditioning and drainage system he calls SoilAire alleviates the need for the gravel blanket normally prescribed by the USGA in "perched greens" construction.

"Over the years, the capillary nature of the soil in perched greens is increased by the steady build-up of organic matter," said Haines. "With their capability to retain so much more water, the greens simply do not get enough air and must be aerated more often." Haines added that SoilAire green construction is in place at more than 50 golf courses throughout the country.

A prescribed mixture of sand and porous ceramic placed directly over the base soil results in improved capillary movement as compared to the more traditional approach. As water moves through the SoilAire mixture, it slows at the soil interface, but does not stop. The capillary forces pull excess water through the root zone, while drawing air in from the top as the system reaches equilibrium. The porous ceramic material drains more rapidly and holds equal amounts of air and water in the root zone.

Where USGA specifications require a cavity 16 inches deep to accommodate two separate layers of gravel and soil cavity, the depth of the cavity for the SoilAire mixture is only 10 inches.

"The porous ceramic mixture itself may cost a little more, but the overall green construction costs compare closely to that of a USGA approach," said Haines. "The SoilAire system has the potential to reduce long term maintenance costs, which helps in our objective to provide affordable golf at San Pedro."

Copyright United Publications, Inc. Nov 2002
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