Let's Dig It! - Drilling the Well, Safety Measures for the Community
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Westbrook Village Golf Club
Course Conditions
Let’s Dig It!
Drilling the Well, Safety Measures for Community
Updates for Building the Lakes Well!
Drilling the Well, Safety Measures for Community
Updates for Building the Lakes Well!
This is the second of a series of articles dedicated to keeping the membership and community informed and safe as the new Well build continues.
WBVGC has selected the driller (Arizona Beeman Drilling), the well permit has been issued by the AZ Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and the excavation of the site has been completed. Somewhere around the 19th to the 22nd of September the site will be prepped for the digging portion of our Well.
WBVGC has selected the driller (Arizona Beeman Drilling), the well permit has been issued by the AZ Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and the excavation of the site has been completed. Somewhere around the 19th to the 22nd of September the site will be prepped for the digging portion of our Well.
It is going to get noisy and messy at the site location. Before the drilling begins, 16-foot high sound panels will be placed around the area (see the blue line in the picture below). Once the primary drilling rig has been mobilized there will be 3-6 weeks of 24/7 activity behind those walls.
A large part of the Lakes Golf Course parking lot will be dedicated to construction vehicles, equipment and safety zones (see red markings on picture below). There will be a fire hydrant hose stretched across the parking lot from the hydrant to the Well construction site.
Entry to the parking lot will be restricted to the West (Bistro) entrance. Parking is "first come, first serve". The Lakes Recreation Parking Lot is available for parking during the construction for Golfers, Tennis players and Sunset Bistro patrons. Please be alert while crossing the road and walking through the parking lot to your destination. It is recommended you just park across the street to begin with versus driving through to see if a spot is available. If you see there is a spot from the roadway, then drive on in slowly and claim your spot.
The horseshoe pits have been removed, the tree marked with an X in the picture below has been removed and another tree trimmed back to prevent damage. The HOA and the Golf Club will work together in replacing trees, shrubs, plants etc to beautify the area when all the construction is done. Meanwhile, please pay attention to and respect the construction area restrictions for parking and walking.
Entry to the parking lot will be restricted to the West (Bistro) entrance. Parking is "first come, first serve". The Lakes Recreation Parking Lot is available for parking during the construction for Golfers, Tennis players and Sunset Bistro patrons. Please be alert while crossing the road and walking through the parking lot to your destination. It is recommended you just park across the street to begin with versus driving through to see if a spot is available. If you see there is a spot from the roadway, then drive on in slowly and claim your spot.
The horseshoe pits have been removed, the tree marked with an X in the picture below has been removed and another tree trimmed back to prevent damage. The HOA and the Golf Club will work together in replacing trees, shrubs, plants etc to beautify the area when all the construction is done. Meanwhile, please pay attention to and respect the construction area restrictions for parking and walking.
For those with a deeper Well curiosity (pun intended), below is picture of what the “hole in the ground” will require to become a Well. We are drilling down 1000 feet with a 20” diameter to the aquifer. Take a moment and examine the products that go into keeping the hole "a hole" and to protect the pump that will be placed inside the casing.
The purpose of our Well is to provide irrigation water to the golf course and our HOAs. We would like to pump as much water as possible in the least amount of time and within our Acre Feet (AF) water allocation. So without making you a well expert (Clear Creek Associates provides that knowledge and experience), the stated purpose for our Well, along with aquifer limits and state requirements, guide the well design and the selection of products that will support our purpose.
Meanwhile, this is an exciting time for Westbrook Village and the Golf Club. With this new Well, we have the ability to continue the Water Lease Program with our Village HOAs and continue to have a consistent and uninterrupted water supply source for the Lakes Golf Course for years to come. Westbrook Village Golf Club members (owners) are residents of the Village too. Our property values are tightly linked with the success of the Golf Club. Originating HOA documents prohibit financial support from our HOA funds. However, if each home donated just $100 a year, the Golf Club and our Community would be partners in ensuring continued property value growth. Your donations would support the costs of the water features, trees, plants, xeriscape projects, and the Well, just to name a few. Checks may be mailed to Westbrook Village Golf Club, 19260 N. Westbrook Pkwy, Peoria, Arizona 85382.
The Club thanks those residents who recently made donations. We hope every home owner in Westbrook Village recognizes how important it is we work in harmony, like the Well and the pump, for the future of our community.
Please be cautious when you are in and around the Lakes Parking Lot and obey the blockades, taped off areas, no parking restrictions and walkways – they are there to protect YOU! Thank you for your attention and we apologize for the inconvenience during the Well construction time. Keep your eye on the target – a new Well for Westbrook Village Golf Club and Westbrook Village.
The next “Let’s Dig It” article will follow the construction progress and offer some FAQ’s around the question of “Why don’t we use City Water?”.
Meanwhile, this is an exciting time for Westbrook Village and the Golf Club. With this new Well, we have the ability to continue the Water Lease Program with our Village HOAs and continue to have a consistent and uninterrupted water supply source for the Lakes Golf Course for years to come. Westbrook Village Golf Club members (owners) are residents of the Village too. Our property values are tightly linked with the success of the Golf Club. Originating HOA documents prohibit financial support from our HOA funds. However, if each home donated just $100 a year, the Golf Club and our Community would be partners in ensuring continued property value growth. Your donations would support the costs of the water features, trees, plants, xeriscape projects, and the Well, just to name a few. Checks may be mailed to Westbrook Village Golf Club, 19260 N. Westbrook Pkwy, Peoria, Arizona 85382.
The Club thanks those residents who recently made donations. We hope every home owner in Westbrook Village recognizes how important it is we work in harmony, like the Well and the pump, for the future of our community.
Please be cautious when you are in and around the Lakes Parking Lot and obey the blockades, taped off areas, no parking restrictions and walkways – they are there to protect YOU! Thank you for your attention and we apologize for the inconvenience during the Well construction time. Keep your eye on the target – a new Well for Westbrook Village Golf Club and Westbrook Village.
The next “Let’s Dig It” article will follow the construction progress and offer some FAQ’s around the question of “Why don’t we use City Water?”.
Westbrook Village Board of Directors
WBVGC Lakes Well - Let's Dig It! - Site Selection
Let’s Dig It!
Site Selection!
Updates for Building the Lakes Well!
The “Let’s Dig It” articles will be dedicated to keeping the membership and community informed as the new Well construction gets underway. Detailed water well information in the “Let’s Dig It” articles are excerpts from the text “The Art of Water Wells” by Marvin Glotfelty, Clear Creek Associates’ Principal Hydrogeologist and our Consultant/Project Manager for the construction of the Lakes Well.
Where will the Well be located?
The current Well site is in the middle of the courtyard of Village Square. Village Square was built around the old Well. Each time Well repairs occurred, big rigs had to enter through the courtyard where casings, liners, pipes, pumps, etc were placed on the adjacent ground area. Over the last several years, the Village Square residents have been most understanding with the noise and mess that came with those repairs. Therefore, a new Well site not only considered the construction and future repair needs, but the respect of neighboring homes and the community at large.
The new Well location, as required by Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR), must be within 660’ from the existing Well location. That meant somewhere in this circle.
The new Well location, as required by Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR), must be within 660’ from the existing Well location. That meant somewhere in this circle.
How does one determine the site location?
It begins with the 660’ radius from the existing Well. Pulling water from the aquifer, which is complex to say the least, also brings with it below-ground considerations that are not apparent from the ground level. I won’t try to explain the aquifer in these articles for there is abundant information available on the internet via a google search of “Arizona Aquifers”. Clear Creek Associates conducted the required Well Site Study, Well Impact/Spacing Study, and Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) permitting process for replacement Well construction. Suffice it to say, it requires a lot of discussion and state permits to settle on the site that will provide water to the golf course and community into the future years.
The area located between the tennis courts and Westbrook Parkway, of which is Golf Club property with an agreement between the Club and the HOA for its use for the Tennis Courts and horseshoe pits, fell inside the 660’ circle. The BoD, our consultant and the pump company zeroed in on the best alternative within our restrictions and needs. Right in the middle of the existing horseshoe pits!
It begins with the 660’ radius from the existing Well. Pulling water from the aquifer, which is complex to say the least, also brings with it below-ground considerations that are not apparent from the ground level. I won’t try to explain the aquifer in these articles for there is abundant information available on the internet via a google search of “Arizona Aquifers”. Clear Creek Associates conducted the required Well Site Study, Well Impact/Spacing Study, and Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) permitting process for replacement Well construction. Suffice it to say, it requires a lot of discussion and state permits to settle on the site that will provide water to the golf course and community into the future years.
The area located between the tennis courts and Westbrook Parkway, of which is Golf Club property with an agreement between the Club and the HOA for its use for the Tennis Courts and horseshoe pits, fell inside the 660’ circle. The BoD, our consultant and the pump company zeroed in on the best alternative within our restrictions and needs. Right in the middle of the existing horseshoe pits!
How do we get the water from the Well to the lake?
Underground 12” discharge pipes will cross the parking lot entryways, down the sidewalk, cross the cart path and into the lake. 18” conduit pipes were placed under the parking lot entryways in order to slide the 12”discharge pipes through and under the asphalt.
What will the Well area in the new site look like when it is complete?
An 8’ privacy wall, approximately 30’x20’, will surround the location of the Well and Well equipment. Two of the four sides will be masonry stuccoed walls and the remaining two sides will be 12’ maintenance gates. The gates will face the parking lot and the tennis courts. The area between the tennis courts and the gate will be xeriscaped for the purpose of a staging area for repair equipment with easy access to the Well. At the parking lot gate, there will be a ramp curb for truck/rig access to the Well. Corner pillars (like at Village Square) will be located at each corner. All sides and the top of the wall will be painted Stone Beige to match existing walls on Westbrook Parkway. The 8’ wall will provide the necessary height for hiding Well equipment, security and noise abatement. The HOA and the Golf Club are working together to relocate the horseshoe pits and once they are reinstalled and the wall complete, the use of trees, shrubs, bushes etc. will enhance the beauty of this area.
As you might guess, this is much more complicated than simply digging a hole in the ground. Basically we dig a hole to get to the water under the surface and then we use a pump to pull the water to the surface. This is done by drilling a Borehole (1000’ deep), securing the earth with a metal casing, filler and concrete, and finally installing a Pump. These are two significantly different components working in harmony to provide maximum gallons of water flow per minute in the least amount of time. Clear Creek Associates will design the water well that will meet our needs in the site selected. That will be our next “Let’s Dig It” article. Well Design and What to Expect.
Meanwhile, this is an exciting time for Westbrook Village and the Golf Club. With this new Well, we have the ability to continue the Water Lease Program with our Village HOAs and continue to have a consistent and uninterrupted water supply source for the Lakes Golf Course for years to come. Westbrook Village Golf Club members (owners) are residents of the Village too. Our property values are tightly linked with the success of the Golf Club. Originating HOA documents prohibit financial support from our HOA funds. However, if each home donated just $100 a year, the Golf Club and our Community would be partners in ensuring continued property value growth. Your donations would support the costs of the water features, trees, plants, xeriscape projects, and the Well, just to name a few. Checks may be mailed to Westbrook Village Golf Club, 19260 N. Westbrook Pkwy, Peoria, Arizona 85382.
The Club thanks those residents who recently made donations. We hope every home owner in Westbrook Village recognizes how important it is we work in harmony, like the Well and the pump, for the future of our community.
Westbrook Village Golf Club Board of Directors
As you might guess, this is much more complicated than simply digging a hole in the ground. Basically we dig a hole to get to the water under the surface and then we use a pump to pull the water to the surface. This is done by drilling a Borehole (1000’ deep), securing the earth with a metal casing, filler and concrete, and finally installing a Pump. These are two significantly different components working in harmony to provide maximum gallons of water flow per minute in the least amount of time. Clear Creek Associates will design the water well that will meet our needs in the site selected. That will be our next “Let’s Dig It” article. Well Design and What to Expect.
Meanwhile, this is an exciting time for Westbrook Village and the Golf Club. With this new Well, we have the ability to continue the Water Lease Program with our Village HOAs and continue to have a consistent and uninterrupted water supply source for the Lakes Golf Course for years to come. Westbrook Village Golf Club members (owners) are residents of the Village too. Our property values are tightly linked with the success of the Golf Club. Originating HOA documents prohibit financial support from our HOA funds. However, if each home donated just $100 a year, the Golf Club and our Community would be partners in ensuring continued property value growth. Your donations would support the costs of the water features, trees, plants, xeriscape projects, and the Well, just to name a few. Checks may be mailed to Westbrook Village Golf Club, 19260 N. Westbrook Pkwy, Peoria, Arizona 85382.
The Club thanks those residents who recently made donations. We hope every home owner in Westbrook Village recognizes how important it is we work in harmony, like the Well and the pump, for the future of our community.
Westbrook Village Golf Club Board of Directors
President's Story on Turf/Grass
President’s Story about Turf!
There are three previous articles about Aerification and Summer Transition for our member’s review:
- Vistas Green Aerification Video Update (7/4)
- Summer Transition and Aerification (6/20)
- Summer Transition Update (5/29)
I encourage everyone who desires to better understand course maintenance during this time of year to take a few minutes to read these articles.
The game of golf is different from many other sports because each golf course is different, all the way down to the grass. Being a well-rounded golfer means knowing how to work with different types of golf course grasses. Bermuda, Ryegrass, Poa Annua and Bentgrass all play differently and require specific maintenance processes and schedules. Not all grass types can be found in every part of the country, as certain grass types prefer hot and humid weather, while other grass types prefer cooler conditions. This article will focus on the different fairway grasses used in the Southwest.
The game of golf is different from many other sports because each golf course is different, all the way down to the grass. Being a well-rounded golfer means knowing how to work with different types of golf course grasses. Bermuda, Ryegrass, Poa Annua and Bentgrass all play differently and require specific maintenance processes and schedules. Not all grass types can be found in every part of the country, as certain grass types prefer hot and humid weather, while other grass types prefer cooler conditions. This article will focus on the different fairway grasses used in the Southwest.
Let’s learn about WBVGC fairway grass so when you compare our fairway grass to your home course in the north, south or east, you will have a much better comparison of the difference in color, texture, maintenance schedules and playability. And when you compare high end, middle, and low end courses in the Valley, you will be closer to an apple to apple comparison of the same. As you do that, remember the “value bubble” I have referred to for 4 years. We can slide up toward a high end course or slide down to a low end course by only a few dollars either way before it negatively impacts our member golf experience and operational budgets.
David Escobedo, Jose Murillo, Brandon Evans, Rick Walker and Ray Melton discussing the difference between grasses used by WBVGC and other courses in the Valley. The strip of greener grass is Tifway 419. The lighter color is Common Bermuda.
at WBVGC and in the Valley.
The Lakes GC fairways are Common Bermuda. Our Vistas GC is Common Bermuda with a twist. The twist is of unknown growth and even our USGA agronomist cannot positively identify its uniqueness.
Perennial Ryegrass is used in the transition from Bermuda in the summer to Rye in the winter and is used on both courses during that time.
The Lakes GC fairways are Common Bermuda. Our Vistas GC is Common Bermuda with a twist. The twist is of unknown growth and even our USGA agronomist cannot positively identify its uniqueness.
Perennial Ryegrass is used in the transition from Bermuda in the summer to Rye in the winter and is used on both courses during that time.
So let’s talk Bermuda. This is an exceptional heat and drought tolerant grass. Bermuda is ideal for hotter temperatures. It can be mowed nice and low for those tight lies and last longer before it needs another cut. It has the capacity to withstand heavy use and recuperate quickly. However, it isn’t resilient to cold weather and begins to lose color as it goes dormant from the cold.
Bermuda grass flourishes in sites with full, direct sun and good drainage (think aerification and dethatching). It has the fastest growth rate among warm-season grasses. It spreads by both above-ground stems known as stolons and below-ground stems called rhizomes. Mowing heights with Common Bermuda have an impact on look and feel. Because the stolons SPREAD and lay relatively flat as they do that, too high a cut makes the look and feel less desirable. Too high in the roughs slows down pace of play as golfers have to spend more time searching for the ball that has fallen in the grass trap. It also becomes a bit dangerous for our old wrists as we try to exit from its depth.
Many courses in the Valley use another popular hybrid Bermuda grass called Tifway 419. That is the strip you see across fairway #18 Lakes GC.
This is a deep green Bermuda grass with a fine texture. It can handle mowing heights of ½” to 1 ½” . It has excellent weed and disease resistance and is a superior turf for fairways, tees, athletic fields and home lawns. When cut at ¾” to 1 ½ “, it tolerates more wear and better resists weed invasion. It is more resilient in winter months when the grass is dormant. And before you ask, to replace our Common Bermuda with Tifway 419 would be quite expensive and require the course to be closed 6-7 months . And unfortunately it is not possible to make Common Bermuda look like Tifway 419. By way of example, Pebble Creek and Sun City Grand both use Tifway 419 in their fairways.
The ball on the left is on our Common Bermuda and the ball on the right is sitting up on the Tifway 419. Bermuda spreads sideways unto itself and Tifway 419 is darker green in color with a dense medium to low growth habit.Mow High, Mow Low, That is the question!
Grass needs to be mowed and each grass and season has different mowing requirements. We follow the USGA guidance for our Summer Transition and Overseed processes. By so doing, this year has been the best Summer Transition ever. One sign of success is NOT having to lay tons of sod on the course. Another is how well the water is able to sink into the ground to the root structure. This year there has been NO sodding required on the playable areas and we have not even come close the the gallons of water used in the past.
Summer Transition is an ugly time for golfers and a nightmare for Superintendents. David and Jose evaluate thatch level, sand level, compaction, water usage, root structures, and mowing height to prep the course for the 110+ weather months that lie ahead and the October Overseed. The better the Summer Transition, the better the Overseed potential.
When you think about this Overseed process, it is a bit crazy. We seed up with Rye Grass in October just before the Bermuda Grass goes into its dormant stage due to the cool weather. Then in March, we start killing out the Rye Grass so we can get the Bermuda thick and strong during the summer and healthy enough to do the same thing again next year. Grow, kill, care, seed, and repeat. And then Mother Nature either helps, delays or hinders the process.
So what are the best heights for fairway and rough? I spent many hours researching these topics and have regular meetings with David to get educated on what we do here and why. Finding the Right Fairway Height, by USGA, is a great read that addresses the height that delivers both the desired playability and healthy turf. So if you want to know the answer, click here and read away.
Summer Transition is an ugly time for golfers and a nightmare for Superintendents. David and Jose evaluate thatch level, sand level, compaction, water usage, root structures, and mowing height to prep the course for the 110+ weather months that lie ahead and the October Overseed. The better the Summer Transition, the better the Overseed potential.
When you think about this Overseed process, it is a bit crazy. We seed up with Rye Grass in October just before the Bermuda Grass goes into its dormant stage due to the cool weather. Then in March, we start killing out the Rye Grass so we can get the Bermuda thick and strong during the summer and healthy enough to do the same thing again next year. Grow, kill, care, seed, and repeat. And then Mother Nature either helps, delays or hinders the process.
So what are the best heights for fairway and rough? I spent many hours researching these topics and have regular meetings with David to get educated on what we do here and why. Finding the Right Fairway Height, by USGA, is a great read that addresses the height that delivers both the desired playability and healthy turf. So if you want to know the answer, click here and read away.
https://www.usga.org/course-care/forethegolfer/2019/finding-the-right-fairway-height.html
Here are eleven neighboring golf courses you might visit and the fairway and greens grasses used there. We will dedicate a separate email about the grass on greens. For that is a “whole nuther” story!
- Sun City CC: Fairways are Common Bermuda and Greens are 328
- Arrowhead CC: Fairways are Common Bermuda and Greens are Champion
- Coyote Lakes: Fairways and Greens are Santa Ana Bermuda
- Briarwood: Fairways are Common Bermuda and Greens Tifdwarf
- Desert Springs: Fairways and Greens are 328
- Cimarron GC: Fairways are Tifway 419 and Greens are PD102
- Granite Falls N and S: Fairways are Tifway 419 and Greens are PD102
- Union Hills CC: Fairways are Common Bermuda and Weeds (their words not ours) and Greens are Tifdwarf and 328 mix.
- Tuscany Falls West Fairway Tifway 419 and Greens are Tifdwarf
- Tuscany Falls East Fairways Tifway 319 and Greens are Tifdwarf
- Eagles Nest Fairways Tifway 419 and Greens are Mini Verde (Under construction)
Westbrook Village Golf Club
- Vistas Course Fairways Unknown Common Bermuda Hybrid and Greens are 328
- Lakes Course Fairways are Common Bermuda and Greens are Tifdwarf
Enjoy your summer! Visit those high end courses at summer reasonable rates. And remember there is no place like home!
Respectfully,
Jill Riedel, President
7/10/20 - Golf Course Maintenance Update
With the arrival of the dangerously high temperatures I would like to remind everyone that there will be some wilting on the golf courses as the turf will go into its defense mode because of the extreme heat. The forecast for the next several days is for temperatures to exceed 115 degrees. Some forecasters think we may touch 120. There is not a plant on earth that thrives in those conditions. Arizona’s native plants shut down in the afternoons when extreme temperatures arrive. Cacti will fold slightly like an accordion and use their thorns to protect their skin. Grass does not have thorns to protect it so it heavily depends on moisture in the ground. Even though we water heavy in the evening the soil and grass lose moisture at an alarming rate once the temperatures exceed 100 degrees. This loss of moisture is called evapotranspiration. We call it ET for short. ET rates increase significantly when temperatures rise and humidity is low. On nights when it’s windy the water from the sprinklers will not hit their intended target very well and that creates issues when daytime temperatures are going to be hot. This forces us to hose syringe and put out portable sprinklers on what we call “hot spots”. Watering “hot spots” is a constant battle throughout the summer and is done at all golf courses regardless of their budget.
Attempting to grow lush green grass in the Arizona desert in the summer provides unique challenges that golf courses in other parts of the country do not have to deal with. Dealing with these extreme temperatures is one of them. In many parts of the country you will see lush green vegetation along highways and common areas. Not here. This time a year most un irrigated vegetation is no more than dry kindling. It is important to remember that course conditions this time of year will not be perfect at any golf course regardless of budgets or staff.
There are several varieties of Bermuda grass. Some are greener than others. Some require different maintenance practices than others. But I can assure you none of them thrive in these conditions.
I hope you found this information helpful. Please remember to drink lots of water, and give your plants a little extra water this week.
Vistas Greens Aerification Process Video
The Vistas recently underwent our annual Aeration/Aerification process and both courses are now open to play. The Vistas Course will close early Saturday-Monday to help with the healing of the greens. The Lakes Course will close for Aerifcation Monday, July 13th - Friday, July 17th.
Golf Green Aeriation (Aerification) is a much needed preventive maintenance procedure that we typically conduct annually. Aerification helps to loosen the soil that has been compacted by golfers and machinery rolling over it. When we pull the cores from the green it gives the roots room to grow and increases oxygen to the roots. We will often do a smaller process where we use needle tines that put small holes in the green throughout the year, but our major greens aerification uses 5/8” hollow tines to pull cores of earth out of the greens which will open the ground and help the roots get air, water and nutrients.
We utilize an eight step process during our greens aerification process.
- Step 1 - Pull Cores
- Step 2 – Break Up Cores
- Step 3 – Blow Greens of Debris
- Step 4 – Water Greens to Help Soil Settle
- Step 5 – Fertilize
- Step 6 – Top Dress with Sand to Smooth
- Step 7 – Drag Sand to fill holes
- Step 8 – Water Greens
These eight steps help keep our greens healthy throughout the season.
David Escobedo, GCS
2019/2020
Business Associate Members
