Written by: Paul Leishman
2024
Rapid advances in irrigation technology over the past 20 years have revolutionized the way we manage water on the course. We can now precisely control when, where, and how much water is applied, down to the detail of operating just three sprinklers at a time. Significant improvements in sprinkler and nozzle design, soil moisture sensors, hand-held moisture meters, subsurface drip irrigation, weather-based smart irrigation controllers, and more have made it possible to apply water more efficiently than ever before.
Our new system’s specifications will reduce the watering window from 12 hours to just 8 hours, leading to a 33% reduction in energy usage for running the pumps. Despite this shortened window, we will still have the capability to increase water application by 20% if needed.
The Club has approved this once-in-a-generation project, which will be undertaken over the next 8 months—a challenging task, especially with the course remaining operational throughout the process.
