An irrigation system is the lifeblood of any golf course. Ours has served us well over the years, but it is reaching the end of its expected lifespan and is due for replacement. We have been working with an irrigation consultant for more than 2 years working on a replacement system and the schedule is to begin work in 2027.
Our current system is 24 years old, and it has worked well.
It is entirely PVC pipe which has a lifespan of about 25 years, so we are right
on schedule. Luckily, we have not had any catastrophic failures that would
warrant a shorter timeline to replacement, we also don’t want to push the
envelope and stretch it too far. Especially nowadays, it is at least 2 years
between when a club decides they want a new system before the new system can be
installed. Contractors are booked solid and materials are harder to get or at
least take longer to arrive, so waiting until we are desperate for a new
irrigation system is impossible.
The new system will be an upgrade over the old system in
every way. Not only will it be new pipe, but we will be upgrading the type of
plastic used. There will still be some PVC (it has shown to be the best for
larger diameter pipe) but the smaller diameter pipe, which runs to the greens,
tees, and fairways, will be HDPE. This is a stronger plastic than PVC and is
expected to last many years longer, so we should be set for the foreseeable
future.
The new system will also give us top-of-the-line sprinklers,
with all the latest technology and sophistication. The new sprinklers can
self-diagnose several problems, each has fully adjustable arcs, they can be individually
controlled, and more. This will be a significant increase in control and flexibility.
Once we become familiar with the system it will give us an improved ability to
manage the water- using only the necessary amount and in only the necessary
locations.
One of the more basic, yet very important aspects of the new
system will be that it is designed for the course as it is currently. Because
the old system is so old, any course changes over that span were not reflected
in irrigation layout changes. These changes include all the Master Plan
renovations, which on some holes resulted in significant adjustments. We did
add some individual sprinklers in certain areas during construction, but we
certainly did not rework the entire irrigation design; meaning on some holes,
the fairway may angle in one direction, but the irrigation system does not
match. This means that using our “fairway” sprinklers can sometimes result in very
little of that water actually hitting the fairway. But the new system will be
mapped to the existing course, so all the twists and turns will be perfectly
matched by the system. We are also adding sprinklers to locations that
previously had none, providing better coverage and healthier turf.
The exact schedule is not set in stone, nor is the exact
installation plan. However, contractors have been selected and booked, and some
materials have been purchased. We will share more information as it becomes
available, but we wanted everyone to be aware of the upcoming work. It will be
an exciting improvement to BW!
Etiquette Reminder of the Month
When parking your cart at a tee or green, please keep all 4
tires on the path.
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
See you on the course!
Joe
jvillegas@bwrc.org
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