Restoration Update – Continued Efforts Across the Course
The Hyde Park team has been hard at work completing the final aerations on the new greens, followed by light topdressing and smoothing of the approaches to promote uniformity and playability as we transition into fall. These final aerations help improve infiltration and firm up the new surfaces heading into winter. Staff have also been working through the project punch list—touching up fine grading, trimming edges, and completing detail work around greens and bunkers.
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| Bunker Details |
An important focus this week has been repurposing the excess bunker sand for topdressing the fine fescue areas. This process intentionally creates a slightly nutrient-deficient environment, which helps thin the turf canopy and develop the desired open, wispy texture that improves playability and ball roll through these native areas. The team continues to rake, compact, and topdress the seams on bunker faces and sand lines, giving each feature a finished look that will blend in naturally once fully established.
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| Repurposing of Old Bunker Sand in Fine Fescue Areas |
Erosion control measures have also been added across the newly seeded fine fescue areas. Straw blankets are being installed to help stabilize slopes, reduce washouts, and create a favorable microclimate for germination. These blankets, combined with recent moisture, should provide an ideal environment for seed establishment over the coming weeks.
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| Straw Blankets |
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| Germination of Fine Fescue |
McDonald & Sons have maintained an impressive pace across the property. The crew continues to lay fescue sod throughout the roughs, complete bunker drainage and sand placement, and install Zoysia sod on fairways. Their shaping team remains active on several holes, including the ravine extension on Hole 8, which has quickly become one of the standout features of the project.
Rough grassing with tall fescue will continue into late fall, taking advantage of favorable soil temperatures before the onset of winter. The Zoysia, meanwhile, has started to enter dormancy, meaning most of the remaining sod will need to wait until next spring to fully root and establish.
Even today in the rain, the Hyde Park grounds team continues to push forward—laying sod on tees and finishing the remaining approach areas. The rain has slowed progress slightly, but the forecast looks positive for next week, allowing crews to regain momentum.
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| 007 XL Bentgrass Being Laid on the 17th tee |
The pace has picked up even more with new cart paths being installed on Holes 13, 10, and 11, tying in many of the completed corridors and improving overall site access. The coordination among contractors and the Hyde Park team has been excellent, allowing several areas of the course to advance simultaneously and efficiently.
Ley Irrigation continues to make steady progress toward the finish line, with only two fairways remaining—Holes 8 and 13. Once complete, this will mark a major milestone for the irrigation phase and the project overall.
As we approach the home stretch, the collaboration between all teams—McDonald & Sons, Ley Irrigation, and our staff—continues to be outstanding. Tyler Rae and his team have been on site multiple times over the past few weeks, fine-tuning bunker edges, fairway tie-ins, and grassing details to ensure that the final product reflects the original design intent.
A special thanks goes out to a couple of our members who graciously prepared lunch for all the teams on property last week. Their generosity and thoughtfulness were greatly appreciated by everyone working on site and served as a great morale boost during a very busy stretch of work.
We appreciate the continued patience and support of the membership during this process. The results are taking shape beautifully, and the excitement across the course is building each week as we move closer to completion.
Thanks again for the questions and feedback, please feel to reach out to grounds@hydeparkcc.com
Pat O’Brien
Grounds Superintendent
