Radrick Farms Golf Course is a 275-acre, eighteen-hole championship course designed in 1965 by Pete Dye. The Radrick Farms property was a gift to the University of Michigan from Frederick C. Matthaei, Sr., a university alumnus and regent who donated the land and funds for course construction. Converted from a gravel mine, Matthaei used arboriculture to grow crops of alfalfa and at least one of every kind of indigenous tree to the state to restore the large sandy swaths into productive farmland.
The Radrick Farms Team continues to embrace Mr. Matthaei’s philosophy of environmental stewardship as the guiding principle in the management of the course and grounds.
The Problem: Inadequate Subsurface Water Circulation
Within the farm, the Fry Pond and Fleming Creek are used as the main water supply for the golf course’s irrigation. The primary challenge was maintaining the health of the Fry Pond, which, together with Fleming Creek, makes up a 5.18-acre water system. The two water sources are tested three times a year for nitrates, pH, temperature, and salinity, and the Radrick Farms Team utilizes the following management techniques to maintain high water quality:
- Establishing vegetative buffer areas along all freshwater shorelines.
- Creating “no-spray” zones around all bodies of water to reduce the risk of chemical runoff.
- Utilizing slow-release foliar fertilizers to decrease the frequency of chemical applications throughout the growing season.
A lack of subsurface circulation and low dissolved oxygen levels led to poor water quality in the pond, and an accumulation of muck/biomass at the bottom.
The Goal
The Solution: Solar-Powered Subsurface Aeration from PondHawk®
In July 2019, one PondHawk Three Diffuser System with 400 feet of weighted airline was shipped to the property to be installed by the golf course management staff. The installation was a partnership between Paul L. Scott, the General Manager, Matt Weiland, the golf course superintendent, the greens team, and Planet Blue. Through the U-M Planet Blue Renewable Energy Demonstration Project Initiative, Radrick Farms Golf Course was awarded a grant to install a solar-powered aerator for one of the ponds.
In September 2019, our founders, Sandra & Craig Burton, visited Radrick Farms to help scout out the installation locations with the Radrick team. The PondHawk system and components had been delivered, but initial installation was briefly delayed awaiting digging clearance from the Michigan DEQ.
Once approved, the system was installed on the pond between the 16th green and the 17th tee box.
System Details: A single three-diffuser system with 400 feet of weighted airline was determined to be the right setup for the 1.75-acre Fry Pond.
Through sustained oxygen circulation, the PondHawk system revitalizes the pond, resulting in clearer water and a noticeable reduction in algae buildup.
Did you know that Radrick Farms Golf Course manages 109 acres of turf?
The Results: Pond Ecosystem Restored
Over six years of continuous operation, the PondHawk system has played a critical role in stabilizing pond conditions by maintaining consistent circulation and dissolved oxygen levels throughout all seasons. When the first maintenance service was conducted in September 2025, observations confirmed a substantial decrease in biomass buildup along the pond floor — clear evidence of a healthier, more balanced aquatic ecosystem.
The service results showed:
Biomass Reduction
Observations in 2025 indicated that the muck or biomass layer at the bottom of the pond had been significantly reduced and eliminated in some locations, confirming the effectiveness of the subsurface circulation.
System Longevity
The PondHawk system was found to be operating at nearly the original airflow (CFM) after only a routine cleaning of the solar panel and checking the pump filter, indicating robust performance and longevity.
Environmental Alignment
The PondHawk installation on the Fry Pond is featured in Radrick Farm's 2024 Environmental Stewardship Guide (pg. 9) and aligns directly with the University of Michigan's broader Planet Blue waste reduction and sustainability goals.
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