Irrigation Time

Well, it is finally time.  We have come very close a couple of times in the last couple of years, but this is the year.  That's right we are installing a new irrigation system starting Nov 1, 2016. It is going to be a monster of a job.  Fortunately we have a great product representative, fantastic installers and a great consultant to work with.

Our old system was installed in 1985 and had 850 sprinkler heads in the design. It was a pretty good design for the time.  It had some quirks like having pvc lines that dead ended at every greens head and irrigation lines that ran under greens.  The pump station was adequate for a long time. Over the last year we have brought it to its knees. It originally had 2 50hp motors and 1 30hp motor. As of the other day the last good 50hp motor died so we are currently operating on a 30hp motor only. This is just about enough water availability to water greens only. Like i stated earlier it was built with about 850.  Over time with mechanical failures cost cutting measures and countless other reasons there are probably only about 200 heads on the course that operate. There was an upgrade made about 9 years ago to add new control satellites to the system. While it was well intended it was not a step forward. 

The new system has been judged by 2 irrigation consultants and has been deemed worthy of our needs. It will have 1,775 sprinkler heads on the course and complete landscaping plans ariound the club grounds. There will be a central control that is the "brain" of the system that coordinates the flow patterns and tells heads when to turn on and off.  There will be no more green control boxes on the course that we operate from. They are coming to be replaced with tablets that we can operate the system from anywhere in the world as long as there is a cell signal. We will also have the ability to check the system for trouble and not wait until it shows its ugly face by loosing grass. Our new pump station is going to be on of the nicest in the state with 4-100hp pumps, 1-25hp pump and 1-10hp pressure maintenance pump. The system parts are manufactured by the Rain Bird corporation the largest name in the field of irrigation.
The course will be nine holes at a time when construction starts on Monday the 7th. We will start on hole 10 and work through the back nine first. About 3 weeks in the new wet well wnd pump station will be installed.
We are really excited about the project and hope that our customers are also. If you have any questions about it feel free to stop me when on the course.  Also follow me on twitter for more updated and blog links @bradmarcy and @indianhillsgolf.