how many sprinkler heads on modern 18 hole golf course

Today, a golf course wouldn’t have this problem because it will have four to five heads for the green, two heads for the approach, four, five or more sprinklers for the surround and separate small sprinklers to water the bunker face. This way, you’re precise with your water ring and give each feature only the amount of water it needs.

Full Answer

How many sprinklers are on a golf course?

Mar 03, 2021 · The average 18-hole golf course pumps 2,000 gallons of water a minute. That means your water bill at the golf course is probably a little more than your one at home (hopefully). ... The Sprinkler Heads. Out of the many kinds of rotary and pop-up heads are used by the Golf Courses to give them a 360-degree turn. Fertigation. ... Golf Course ...

How many heads can I put on my sprinkler system?

Jul 11, 2011 · Today, a golf course wouldn’t have this problem because it will have four to five heads for the green, two heads for the approach, four, five or more sprinklers for the surround and separate small sprinklers to water the bunker face.

When is a sprinkler head not an interference in golf?

Feb 20, 2015 · A golf course can have between 500 and 5,000 sprinklers, or even more installed throughout an 18-hole facility. A golf irrigation sprinkler uses 18–45 gallons per minute throwing 50–90 feet with as many as 100 sprinklers operating at the same time.

Is a sprinkler head an obstructive course condition?

Feb 19, 2015 · So the time to irrigate will be close to the same. If an 18-hole course with double row has 282 fairway-rough sprinklers, the same course with triple row would have 422 sprinklers. At $1,500 per sprinkler, the cost difference would be …

How many sprinklers do you need on a golf course?

How many heads are on a sprinkler zone?

How far apart are most sprinkler heads?

How does a golf course irrigation system work?

How do I know how many sprinkler heads I need?

How do I know how many sprinkler zones I have?

What is the minimum distance between sprinkler heads?

How much should a sprinkler head overlap?

How close can a sprinkler head be?

How many sprinkler heads are on a golf course?

How do golf courses get watered?

How many gallons of water does a golf course use?

How many sprinklers are needed for a golf course?

A golf course can have between 500 and 5,000 sprinklers, or even more installed throughout an 18-hole facility. A golf irrigation sprinkler uses 18–45 gallons per minute throwing 50–90 feet with as many as 100 sprinklers operating at the same time.

How efficient is golf course irrigation?

Golf course irrigation systems are normally in the 80% efficiency range, the highest achievable efficiency with overhead irrigation. The general public looks at the large green expanse of a golf course and the amount of water it uses and assumes that the golf course is wasting water.

What are the inputs needed to maintain a golf course?

Depending on the quality of the golf course, some need more inputs than others. One of the needed inputs to maintain a healthy playing surface is, of course, water.

What is a golf course superintendent?

Golf course superintendents are highly educated individuals. They are not only educated and trained in the operation of the specific irrigation control system installed at their facilities, but also in soils and turf grass.

What is pressure regulated in golf course irrigation?

Each individual sprinkler is pressure-regulated so that the sprinkler receives its intended pressure regardless of elevation change or distance from the water supply. Golf course irrigation sprinklers are the most uniform applicators of water of any sprinkler manufactured.

What percentage of golf course water is effluent?

Effluent: 12%. Many golf courses use a combination of sources, hence the total percentage in the list is over 100%. For example, although water may not be pumped directly from a well into the irrigation system due to the large flow required by the irrigation system, the well is instead used to fill an irrigation pond.

What is the percentage of water used in golf courses?

According to GCSAA, golf course water sources break down as follows: Many golf courses use a combination of sources, hence the total percentage in the list is over 100%.

How much does a sprinkler level reduce uniformity?

1. Sprinklers. Did you know that a sprinkler more than 3 percent out of level has a 10 to 15 percent reduction in distribution uniformity? Three percent doesn’t sound like a lot, but unlevel sprinklers can have an overwhelming effect on uniformity. Over time, sprinklers may settle or even sink with years of heavy topdressing. Leveling sprinklers is not as monumental a task as it sounds. You can prioritize your areas and work through the project systematically.

Why are sprinklers important?

And golf courses can have a range of different types from valve in head to spray heads to short radius block rotors. Quality of uniformity is directly linked to spacing in the field for that specific nozzle and pressure.

How to audit golf course water distribution?

Perform a water distribution audit with the assistance of a certified golf auditor. An audit or “catch can test” should be performed in several areas throughout the course. Select areas that are indicative of what you can expect on the rest of the course. The audit will produce several key data points that will give you real insight into how the sprinklers are performing including distribution uniformity as a percentage. Distribution uniformity, low quarter, is a factor of the average volume of the lowest 25 percent of the catch cans divided by the average volume of all the catch cans in the area being audited. A distribution uniformity less than 55 percent is not ideal and can be addressed even without changing the spacing. For comparison, mid-80s and higher is achievable with golf sprinklers and large spacing.

What is irrigation system evaluation?

A thorough irrigation system evaluation never fails to expose deficiencies that you may not have been aware of and offer an explanation to persistent problems. The evaluation will also tell you what is salvageable if anything and you can determine life expectancy of the different components. Whether self-performing an evaluation or working with an irrigation consulting service, the evaluation process is an optimum time to prioritize your irrigation system needs with your maintenance practices and operating budget. Odds are if you are investing time and resources into a system evaluation, the system has been underperforming for years and the number of repairs continues to rise.

How much does an irrigation system cost?

Today’s irrigation systems can range from $750,000 to $3 million-plus for 18 holes and, in extreme cases, exceed $5 million. That kind of money will get you a lot of new bunkers and then some.

Why is it important to have an irrigation system?

A very important piece to any irrigation system is the quality and quantity of the water supply. Understand what is available today and years into the future. As water demands continue to rise, it may be worthwhile to investigate receiving effluent water or capturing more runoff water to be used for irrigation.

Can irrigation consulting be done on your own?

This can be accomplished on your own, but you will get far greater results by contracting with an irrigation consulting service. Suppliers may offer a similar service, but you will not receive the same amount of detail and you are better off avoiding that route.

What is the problem with sprinkler heads?

photo courtesy of steve sakurai. Sprinkler head issues with rotors not coming on, not rotating or being out of adjustment are common issues that superintendents come across, Sakurai says. Sakurai agrees with Vinchesi that a lot can be done in the fall to ensure less stress in the spring.

How to determine minimum operating pressure for sprinkler system?

Verify that your system has adequate pressure to turn on the head. A minimum operating pressure will be determined by the type of sprinkler head on your system as well as the pressure setting. Make sure the controller or decoder has the proper current and voltage to activate the solenoid.

What is feedback on a sprinkler?

Feedback from the sprinkler allows you to verify that the sprinkler head is communicating, able to receive commands and operate even prior to spring operation.”. A spring assessment can ensure an irrigation system is functioning properly before it is needed for the season. photo courtesy of steve sakurai.

What is the most common issue with sprinklers?

The most common issue is making sure the sprinklers are level and at grade, Vinchesi says.

When is the best time to recharge irrigation system?

“Typically, the best time is about one week before you start needing to use your irrigation system,” he says. “If you live in an area that requires you to blow out your system for winter, the best time would be when it’s time to recharge your irrigation system.”

When should irrigation heads be checked?

The course’s irrigation heads should be checked for proper operation in the spring, says Brian E. Vinchesi of Irrigation Consulting Inc. “You need to make sure all the sprinklers go on and off, pop up and down and most importantly – turn,” he says. “You should make sure the nozzle is still in them, but that will be pretty obvious.”

Who is the superintendent of Winter Park Golf Course?

Mondays can be as busy as Saturdays and Sundays. In an industry where big and gaudy are often celebrated, Batcheller receives the daily fulfillment of overseeing the transformation of a city-owned course tipping out at 2,480 yards. Batcheller is the superintendent at Winter Park Golf Course in Winter Park, Fla.

What is a sprinkler head?

Sprinkler heads are immovable obstructions, which are defined as an abnormal course condition in the Rules. You’re allowed free relief, under Rule 16.1, if your ball touches or is on an abnormal course condition, if it physically interferes with the area of intended stance and swing, or “only when the ball is on the putting green, ...

When a ball lies anywhere other than on the putting green, an immovable obstruction on the player’s

The purpose says: “When a ball lies anywhere other than on the putting green, an immovable obstruction on the player’s line of play is not, of itself, interference under Rule 16.1. Free relief is normally not allowed.

What does the Rule of No Interference mean?

The Rule carries on to say “if the abnormal course condition is close enough to distract the player but does not meet any of these requirements , there is no interference under this Rule”.

How many sprinkler heads per zone?

For example, at 35 pounds per square inch (PSI) the 5000 Series Rotor using the 3.0 nozzle will use 3.11 gallons per minute (GPM). If your home's water capacity was 10 GPM, you could place 3 heads per zone. Consult the Performance Charts on or inside the box your sprinkler head came in for your head's exact performance data, or locate the performance data in the Support area of this website.

How to measure water flow in a house?

Measure your home's water capacity (flow): Get a measurable container, like a 5-gallon bucket, and make sure no other water is running in or outside the house. Then, turn the faucet on all the way and time how long it takes to fill the container.

What is automatic irrigation system?

9. Automatic irrigation system  Is essentially fixed sprinklers automatically activated by control valves at times preset on a controller.  The times may be from beginning to finish – full automatic  Or beginning is manual activated and ending is at times preset.  Maybe centrally controlled  Or on a few ‘satellites’ which are ‘stand-alone’

What is control valve?

12. Control Valves  Valves – to release water either into lines or into valves.  Manually open or closing  Or remotely by  Hydraulic switches  Electrically operated solenoid  Three important places  At distribution lines  At sprinklers  At pump station

How does precision irrigation help golf?

With precision irrigation, you’re not only conserving water , but you’re also ensuring that fewer fertilizers and chemicals are being washed away on a daily basis. This helps the overall health of the turfgrass and optimizes the effects of the applications while at the same time reducing their overall use of fertilizers, because more chemicals and fertilizers are not being washed away and wasted due to overwatering.

How does precision irrigation help superintendents?

With a central control system capable of precision irrigation, superintendents can control their costs for water, utilities and labor. They can also control irrigation by setting runtime minutes or application inches and let the system help calculate the other variables. These new systems can see exactly how much water will be applied and how long each area will need to be watered. By gathering essential information about how and when to irrigate the fields precisely, superintendents not only save money but also help the environment. This brings us to our next point.

How much does it cost to replace golf course bunker sand?

Comparatively speaking, golf course improvements can range in price. New bunker sand and drainage $150,000 to $350,000; and rebuilding greens $250,000 to 500,000 on average. What do all of these have in common? Unlike the irrigation system, they are all highly visible and can be immediately appreciated by a member or daily-fee customer. The reward for hitting that clean shot out of a new bunker sand or sinking a 10-foot putt on new greens is immediate. Everyone benefits. When was the last time you saw a golfer jump up and down with joy because you have new sprinklers around your greens? It doesn’t happen. No, irrigation system upgrades and replacements are a different animal and should be approached as such.

How much does an irrigation system cost?

Today’s irrigation systems can range from $750,000 to $3 million-plus for 18 holes and, in extreme cases, exceed $5 million. That kind of money will get you a lot of new bunkers and then some.

How important is integrity of conductors and splices?

Whether you have a satellite system or a two-wire system, the integrity of the conductors and splices is also very important to reliable operation. Understanding the material of the insulators and integrity of the splices can determine life expectancy. And I can't overemphasize the importance of documenting repairs – even wire repairs due to high-energy events like lightning or tree roots compromising a wire splice. Is the system properly grounded? I can’t tell you how many times I have come across earth grounds that failed years ago or are insufficient for the components they are meant to protect. Is there a central control computer, if so, what features does it have? What features is it lacking?

Do golf courses need irrigation?

Golf course managers and superintendents face quite a few challenges while maintaining golf courses. It’s safe to say that the lush, beautiful playing surfaces that we enjoy on golf courses don’t just happen. But you already knew that. We know it takes hard work, dedication and patience to ensure that our golf courses look fantastic during the season. Although mowing and maintaining the turfgrass is a crucial component, proper irrigation is just as essential to preparing the playing surfaces to maximize players’ enjoyment and to maintain an amazing looking golf course.

Is precision irrigation good for golf courses?

When it comes to the proper care of golf courses, effective and precise irrigation is often overlooked. But it shouldn’t be. Precision irrigation can be a complete game-changer when it comes to not only the look and feel of the golf course, but also the impact it can have on golf course managers and superintendents’ bottom line for operating costs. The future can be uncertain, and times can be rough, which is why it’s critical to think of ways to save money. Adopting a precision irrigation practice, can save money for golf course managers and superintendents in the long run. Because of all this, it’s safe to say that the practice of precision irrigation is the next big thing to hit the golf industry.