Planning for the future with an irrigation audit

If you have realised your irrigation system is no longer fit for purpose, Adrian Mortram answers some important questions about what you should do next.

 

It is the time of year when irrigation becomes a prevailing thought in the minds of course managers and greenkeepers throughout the UK as systems are spring commissioned in preparation for the year ahead. 

At the time of writing in spring 2021 lockdown measures are slowly being eased, with golf returning to parts of the UK only a few weeks ago. 

I arrived at Troon yesterday, leaving the house in ‐3 degrees with temperatures lowering to ‐6 as I passed through the Beattock area on the M74 with remnants of April snow on the hard shoulder. I am visiting Troon to complete the testing and commissioning of their updated irrigation system on the Portland and Craigend courses, which has included remodelling in preparation for when The Open returns to Troon in 2024.

It is the time of year when irrigation becomes a prevailing thought in the minds of course managers and greenkeepers throughout the UK as systems are spring commissioned in preparation for the year ahead. Despite the cold weather in March and April 2021 we have already seen evapotranspiration rates increasing with the cold dry air absorbing water and causing an increasing loss of water from our surfaces. This early season reduction in soil moisture, when the soil and air temperatures are still significantly reduced and therefore growth limited, is a tricky time for moisture management within our rootzones. If soil moisture measurements are low and areas of turf are showing visual signs of reduced moisture levels, seen often by footprinting, then there is no question it is time to irrigate. This may be hand watering of localised dry areas or automatic irrigation of larger areas with timing of watering being the key in relation to air and soil temperatures.

Irrigation systems throughout the UK vary in their age and complexity, some covering greens only, others covering all playing surfaces and with varying levels of ongoing service and maintenance. Servicing and maintenance are often overlooked. However, these are extremely important to the longevity of the irrigation system. Many irrigation systems, which were installed during the eighties and nineties are nearing, or are well past, the end of their life expectancy. The average lifespan of an irrigation system is in the region of 25 years depending upon installation quality, components and ongoing maintenance (servicing, repairs and upgrades) throughout that period. An irrigation system is the most expensive single item of maintenance equipment on any golf course.

The thought of upgrading or replacing the irrigation system can be a daunting task, particularly as for many most of it is out of sight and therefore often out of mind. Record keeping, historic and current, and good communication, backed up with the ease of photographic evidence (as almost everybody has a smart phone nowadays with inbuilt camera) is very important in keeping the membership informed. The upgrading process often begins with an evaluation of the existing irrigation system including an overview of the irrigation system, its current condition and ideas and options for the way ahead. Depending upon the age and condition of the irrigation system this simple report can provide the impetus for things to move forward. However, if the existing irrigation system is clearly in a poor state of repair and needs replacement, it can be argued that you don’t really need a report to tell you something you already know. If this is true, focus should be on the next stage, which we would call the design process.

 

We are often asked how to procure an irrigation design and as with everything in life there are options in relation to the design process which are discussed below. I know my company is a design practice, however I cannot stress enough the importance of obtaining a scaled irrigation design plan (hydraulic and electrical) specific to your golf course and design specification that meets the golf club’s requirements. This process should not be rushed and should be undertaken thoroughly and diligently, particularly as an upgraded irrigation system should be viewed as a 25+ year investment for any golf club.

In this regard golf clubs have three options:

• Irrigation contractor design 
• Irrigation manufacturer sponsored design 
• Irrigation designer/consultant design

There are advantages and disadvantages of each, some of which are highlighted below:

Irrigation contractor design

• The golf club will need to select a preferred irrigation contractor who they definitely want to install their system. Making this decision with due diligence is very important as the club is looking at a 25+ year investment. Take up references of recent work of the same scale and specification.
• As the customer, the golf club needs to specify precisely what they want to be designed and need to understand the irrigation design parameters and how they interrelate with each other as changing one parameter can have a bearing on the overall design. For example, designed application (precipitation) quantities per day or week.
• There is no upfront cost, although this cost will need to be covered somewhere in the contracting company’s project costings or business overheads.
• The contractor may design the system to secure the project, which would not be in the best interests of the golf club, particularly as they are considering a 25+ year investment.
• Warning: when obtaining contractor designs from more than one contractor, the golf club will never be comparing like‐for‐like in terms of the design, design specification and quantities, hence many irrigation contractors will not provide this service anymore.

 

Irrigation manufacturer/distributor‐sponsored design

• This is often a route to explore if the golf club has a preferred irrigation manufacturer. The manufacturer may sponsor a design on the basis of the golf club committing to them that they will only use their products: sprinklers, valves, control system.
• The manufacturer/distributor will often use an industry designer or consultant for the design, including a design consultation process and preparation of a full tender package.
• However, as a customer you may not have the ability to evaluate other manufacturer’s products and choose which you feel is best for your course. / There may well be no upfront cost, although again this cost will need to be covered somewhere in the manufacturer / distributor / project costings or business overheads.
• Warning: do not obtain manufacturer designs from more than one manufacturer as the golf club will never be comparing like‐for‐like in terms of the design, design specification, quantities and other elements.
• As a company we are often asked to compare more than one contractor or manufacturer/distributor design. We always advise that this process is nigh on impossible as no two designs will ever be equal. This is why many experienced and well‐established irrigation contractors and the irrigation manufacturers will not offer to prepare a design when they know other contractors, or manufacturers will be preparing designs.

Irrigation designer/consultant

• A generic design will most likely be produced that allows the customer to choose which irrigation manufacturer they wish to use. The customer may wish to utilise the products of a specific manufacturer, which is sometimes the case, particularly if they have a good working knowledge and experience with that manufacturer and the personnel who represent them.
• A design consultation process will decide what are the design parameters.
• They will bring with them knowledge, experience and design philosophies from other designs prepared for similar styles of golf course in similar climates.
• A full tender package including scaled plans, specifications and bills of quantity will enable the customer to obtain like‐for‐like quotations/ tenders from chosen contractors. Competitive tendering will also allow for competitive comparable pricing.
• There is an upfront cost very much like engaging an architect in the building world.

Once the irrigation design is finalised, and all the necessary hydraulic calculations (friction losses, pump duties etc) and electrical calculations (central control system etc) have been carefully and diligently undertaken, the quantity of materials and labour required can be calculated. This will then enable accurate budgets to be prepared from which the financial planning, to allow for implementation of the scheme as designed, can be decided.

The procurement of a new irrigation system should be viewed as a long‐term relationship with the irrigation manufacturer, contractor and designer. Therefore choosing the team (manufacturer, contractor and designer) who you feel have the necessary experience and can deliver a quality service is extremely important. Following up on references of previous customers/clients and visiting ongoing projects, which may currently be in the installation phase or who have recently completed the installation, is extremely important when choosing the team. When deciding upon the team you wish to be involved, price should certainly not be the over‐riding factor as the investment into an irrigation system must be viewed over a 20‐25+ year term.

I hope that whatever the condition of your irrigation system, that it manages to see you through the forthcoming climatic conditions the summer of 2021 will bring. Please remember that within the irrigation industry there is always help and a wealth of experience at hand through manufacturers, contractors and designers so please do not suffer in silence. Wishing you all an enjoyable season.

Continue the conversation:

For more information visit irrigationconsultants.co.uk or email adrian.mortram@ irrigationconsultants.co.uk

Where to look next...

Adrian Mortram Associates (AMA)

 

Adrian Mortram is managing director of Adrian Mortram Associates (AMA), who are golf course and sports turf irrigation design consultants based in the UK. He is privileged to have worked at many prestigious golf courses throughout the UK and Ireland and has undertaken numerous education sessions for BIGGA both at regional and national level. In his spare time Adrian leads an active life having mountaineered on six of the seven continents as well as having visited the Arctic and Antarctic.

Contact Adrian Mortram Associates
A: 7 Recreation Ground Road, Sprowston, Norwich, Norfolk, NR7 8EN
T: 01603 400996
M: 07703 221514
W: www.irrigationconsultants.co.uk

TORO | Toro irrigation helps Royal St George's through drought

 

Having begun its relationship with Toro with a fleet deal in 2013, Royal St George’s Golf Club in Kent has continued to trust in the brand, becoming a Toro Total Solutions customer with the installation of new irrigation in 2018 and leasing further machinery in 2019.

And the club, which is the host of The Open in 2021, has had its faith in the brand pay off, particularly when it comes to Toro irrigation that has helped the course navigate a series of droughts in the last three years.

Course Manager Paul Larsen explained: “We’ve had nothing but drought since the new irrigation system was installed in 2018, so it’s been very hard work to keep the standard of the course high and Toro has been instrumental in helping us through that.

“We had Toro Lynx Central Control System and over a thousand sprinklers installed across the greens, tees and fairways in 2018. The flexibility of the sprinklers and precision of Lynx control has meant that we’ve been able to target our irrigation to the surfaces that needed it most

and conserve water through a series of very dry and hot summers.”

It’s this precision that was the main reason for the upgrade in 2018. “We wanted to get to the next level with our irrigation, so that meant getting a system on board that utilised innovative technology,” said Paul. “Being able to control water in millimetres with Lynx control and change the trajectory on the sprinkler heads from 15 to 25 degrees depending on the wind is fantastic.”

With The Open now looming, it’s testament to the quality of course maintenance that Royal St George’s employs that getting the course ready is “business as usual”.

“We haven’t changed how we maintain the course in the run up to The Open because we are always maintaining it to the highest standards for our members,” said Paul. “With the irrigation, we have set moisture levels that we want to achieve throughout 

the year, and with Toro we can see how close we are to those levels and apply the correct amount of irrigation in the right places to achieve that.”

The quality of Toro products has certainly played a part in the excellent maintenance of the course, as has the backup, training and support from Reesink Turfcare.

“Reesink has been brilliant throughout the whole process,” said Paul. “I find that it’s easier to learn a product and get the most out of it when you’re dealing with the right people ‐ and that’s certainly Robert Jackson from Reesink. On the rare occasions we’ve had an issue, he’s been able to find a solution, and the training we’ve had on the irrigation system has been superb.

“The training has meant we’ve become self‐sufficient and can now carry out small projects and adjustments ourselves, for example adding extra sprinklers to some of the walkways. And it’s no different with the machinery backup as well; it’s all excellent,” concluded Paul.

To talk to someone about Toro irrigation products and the finance options available, call Reesink Turfcare on 01480 226800.