Sprinkler wiring repair

Last year, as part of a stormy period, we had lightning strike a spot in #7 fairway. You can read about it and see the pictures here. Some damage occurred to our irrigation system and we repaired what we needed to at the time to remain functional. However, there were a couple of damaged wires in the ground that we elected to delay repairing. Last week, we finally were able to complete the project.

Two individual sprinklers on #7 fairway were not working properly since the lightning strike. Neither was in a high priority area, like around the green. Instead of trenching in these locations during the season and disrupting the fall golf season, we waited. We still had the ability to manually operate the sprinklers; they were just not connected to our central control nor to our radio control system.

One of the new trenches after completion

With guidance from our irrigation consultant, we were able to narrow down, but not perfectly identify the exact location where the wire malfunctioned. The wires had most likely been damaged by the lightning, but not knowing physically how the lightning impacted, spread, and damaged the wire, locating the exact location turned out to be too hard. Thus, a new wire became the only viable repair option.

So, instead of trenching a new wire from our satellite box (the gray boxes scattered around the property), we chose to trench just from the closest sprinkler and wire them in tandem. Now, the two sprinklers are paired (which is very common for us and other facilities) and will operate together as one station.

We were lucky the lightning strike did not do more damage to the sprinklers on #7 or any other hole. Replacing to wires, over a relatively short distance is not too steep of a price to pay to maintain the full operation of our irrigation system.

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please leave bunker rakes inside the bunker once you are finished.

Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:

Ball Marks - How to properly repair

Bunker etiquette

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org