Decorative & Secure Retaining Wall
Steel “H” beams (8¼ inches by 7¼ inches) are purchased in 20-foot lengths and then cut into lengths of 8 feet or less that can be handled without heavy equipment. Holes are dug at least 24 inches deep with power augers, and the “H” beam is installed and plumbed. It is then backfilled with concrete and sets for two days minimum. The “H” beams are placed on 105-inch centers. The standard size of 8½ inches by 6½ inches by 8 feet used “relays” railroad ties are creosoted when new and they were not retreated. Deadman anchors are installed into the existing terrain by using scrap “H” beams connected to 3/8-inch stainless steel cables, attached to a v-shaped bracket welded onto the beam, connected to a ½-inch-diameter turnbuckle with a 12-inch draw, followed by backfilling. As each railroad tie is slid horizontally into place, they are backfilled as they continue to rise. The “H” beams cost about $10 per lineal foot a decade ago and the installation labor time varies because of different soil conditions, terrain and weather delays with improved production moving forward. Brad Fellrath, superintendent at the 36-hole Raintree Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, is well-versed on in-house projects. Jim Cervone is the club’s architect.
Retractable Driving Range Tee Rope
The reel with hand crank ($52.99) was acquired from Northern Tool (item No. 49587) and mounted on a 2-inch by 12-inch by 24-inch pressure treated board with wood screws. The Par Aide ¼-inch yellow hollow braid polypropylene rope (item No. 12950, $52 per roll) is 200 feet in length, which is the width of the driving range tee. The rope has duct tape wrapped around the rope every eight feet, which is the hitting width for each tee station, where yellow pine 2-inch by 4-inch by 48-inch tee dividers are placed in front of the rope, painted white with a 45-degree double-cut point at both ends. Each morning the yellow rope is moved four feet behind the previous day’s divots, the boards are wiped down for a fresh appearance, the divots are removed and divot mix soil is applied to the Tifway 419 Bermudagrass turf. The golf bag stands, benches, divot fill containers, club cleaners and waste containers are put in place. Brad Fellrath is the superintendent at the 36-hole Raintree Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jim Cervone is the club’s architect.
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