Turf
24 JUL 2026
The past week brought its share of challenges, but above all, it reminded us that by working together, we can turn a difficult situation into success.
Following severe thunderstorms, our two transfer pumps that connect the river to our irrigation pond suddenly stopped working. We quickly realized that every hour counted. The level of the irrigation lake was dropping rapidly, and every liter of water became precious.
The turf team did a remarkable job. For several days, the greens, tees, and fairways were watered by hand to preserve the playing surfaces.
For my part, my team and I did everything we could to reconfigure the well’s piping and successfully reconnect to the main line that supplies the irrigation lake from the river. After two intensive days of work, punctuated by numerous tests, adjustments, and back-and-forth efforts, we finally managed to get the water flowing again thanks to a mobile pump rented for the occasion.
This intervention came just in time. We were able to irrigate the driest areas before the 60 mm of rain that fell on Tuesday evening. Re-moistening the soil beforehand allowed this heavy rain to penetrate the soil profile more effectively, rather than running off the surface. It’s a small detail that makes all the difference for the health of the turf.
Every course has its own challenges. At La Bête, damage caused by white grubs was more severe this year early in the season. The last, most affected areas have now been restored thanks to the installation of nearly 8,000 square feet of sod in large rolls—a method that allows us to achieve fast, uniform, and high-quality results.
Every problem has a solution, and our mission is to find it. Some challenges are more complex than others, but I make it a point of honor to always seek out the best solution in order to provide the best playing conditions.
Marc-André Doré, Course Superintendent