how to determine cost of golf course irrigation system

It also depends on whether you are looking at first-time installation, upgrades, or replacements. Today's golf course irrigation systems can range anywhere from $750,000 to over $3- million and even go up to $5- million in some instances.

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How much does a golf 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 do golf courses irrigation systems work?

These funnel the water flow into the sprinklers. Out of the many kinds of rotary and pop-up heads are used by the Golf Courses to give them a 360-degree turn. This is a chemical that is injected into the irrigation system so it can be spread and absorbed by turf along with the water.

What are the most common irrigation issues facing your golf course?

An older or obsolete irrigation system is one of the most common issues a golf course faces, and typically, they face away from it. Concerned with costs and the time needed for installation, most courses have made do with faulty irrigation systems, and by made do, we mean made a mess.

How do you budget for irrigation?

For proper budgeting, you need to make sure you have covered all of the anticipated costs and some unanticipated ones, too. You base cost is going to be the irrigation system itself. This includes all of the materials needed: sprinklers, pipe, fittings, controls, computers and wire, as well as the cost of installing those components.

How much is a irrigation system on a golf course?

An irrigation system original cost for an 18 hole golf course can range from $500,000 to $1,000,000. Along with that price tag, you will also have an annual service fee of $50K. An irrigation pump station can range from $200,000 to $400,000 each.

How do you calculate an irrigation system?

To calculate the amount of water you use, multiply the width times the length of your yard in feet to get the number of square feet of area. Then multiply that figure by 0.623 to come up with the number of gallons used (or use our calculator below).

How many sprinklers do you need on 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 many acre feet of water does a golf course use?

Water use varies significantly by agronomic region. An average 18-hole golf facility in the Southwest region uses an average of 4 acre-feet of water per irrigated acre per year. An average 18-hole golf facility in the Northeast region uses an average of 0.8 acre-feet of water per irrigated acre per year.

How much water does it take to irrigate an acre of grass?

The rule of thumb is that 10 GPM will water about 1/2 an acre of lawn, assuming you need to water about 3 times a week to keep the grass lush. So if you need to water only twice a week, then you could water more area with 10 GPM of water flow.

How many square feet does irrigation zone cover?

Manual Sprinkler Calculations Each square should equal 1 square foot of lawn. Consider the distance of each sprinkler head. If they distribute water in a circumference of 8 feet around, place them 4 feet apart to ensure every part of the lawn gets watered.

How many gallons of water does a golf course use?

In California, an average 18-hole golf course sprawls over 110 to 115 acres and conservatively uses almost 90 million gallons of water per year, enough to fill 136 Olympic-size swimming pools, said Mike Huck, a water management consultant who works with golf courses statewide.

How do you irrigate a golf course?

0:373:10Watering The Golf Course: From Source to Sprinkler - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOnce the water is on site the pump system sends water through a network of underground. Pipes. SoMoreOnce the water is on site the pump system sends water through a network of underground. Pipes. So that it can be delivered by sprinklers or hoses to where it is needed on the course.

How many sprinkler heads are on a golf course?

“Courses can have anywhere from 500 to 5,000 heads. It's just a matter of what you're trying to do.” Today's technology and equipment have facilitated better irrigation strategies. New sprinklers are much better at putting down water.

How much water does an average 18 hole golf course use?

Using water use data nationally, an 18-hole golf course uses an average of 152.5 acre-feet of water per year to irrigate 80.7 acres of turfgrass.

How much water does a golf green need?

A healthy, high-quality turf may need up to 1¾ inches of water per week to keep it growing vigor- ously under hot, dry, windy summer conditions. This total water requirement includes both rainfall and irrigation.

What is the average irrigation water consumption in gallons per day for an 18 hole golf course in the USA?

approximately 2.08 billion gallonsCourses around the U.S. suck up around approximately 2.08 billion gallons of water per day for irrigation. That's about 130,000 gallons per day per course, according to the golf industry.

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.

What are the benefits of golf?

Edwin Roald, a member of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects, cites seven important health benefits of golf participation: heart health, brain stimulation, weight loss, stress reduction, increased longevity, low frequency of sport-induced injury, and a good night’s sleep.

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.

Do golf courses have booster pumps?

If your golf course is supplied by a municipal water source, you may have a booster pump and backflow equipment. This equipment should also be evaluated, including the incoming pressure and flow from the municipal source. Over the years, changes may have occurred that you were not aware of. Hydraulic network.

Is water important for turfgrass?

Water is essential to all life, turfgrass certainly no exception. Depending on your geographic location, irrigation is more critical in some regions than others, but we cannot deny the importance of a reliable, efficient irrigation system when our livelihood relies on maintaining healthy turf, day after day.

Is golf a good game?

Those attracted to it share an uncommon devotion to the game itself. Golf is a healthy game, as well. Fresh air and a practically unmatched opportunity to get steps in for the day, not to mention beautiful landscapes, sunrises and sunsets, along with special moments with friends and family.

What are the components of a golf course irrigation system?

Every course is different and will require a unique approach, but here are some of the main components seen in golf course irrigation systems. Lakes, Canals, Ponds, etc. The Pumping Station.

Why is it important to irrigate when there are no golfers on the course?

Of course, it is also optimal to irrigate when there are not golfers on the course, as most don’t ask for their game with a shower. Your irrigation schedule should be intimately informed by climate and weather.

What is a golf facility services company?

A golf facility services company can provide a free evaluation and create a plan that shows you what changes, if any, you need to make to optimize your irrigation practices. DTE Golf has golf maintenance and management professionals standing by, ready to answer your questions, meet you in person, and tour your course, all for free.

What is the most common issue a golf course faces?

Even more important is to recognize when the old irrigation system has got to go. An older or obsolete irrigation system is one of the most common issues a golf course faces, and typically, they face away from it.

Why is it important to change course maintenance?

Just because you have an irrigation schedule that works that doesn’t mean it will work every year. Even more important is to recognize when the old irrigation system has got to go.

How should irrigation schedules be informed?

Your irrigation schedule should be intimately informed by climate and weather. Depending on your climate, and the season you’re in, irrigation timing and method may have to change, possibly on a seasonal basis. Make sure your course maintenance is being changed often to account for everyday differences in circumstances.

Is less spread over less turf better for irrigation?

Less spread over less turf makes it more necessary for better heads and water pressure. Investigate your pumping station and water sources for longevity. If you already have issues with pressure and water source, you'll need to reconsider the source of your irrigation water. Look at previous repairs.

What happens if the older members continue their membership for only a portion of the term of the dues increase?

If the older members continue their membership for only a portion of the term of the dues increase, they perceive they have paid for only the portion of the renovation they have utilized. The succeeding members pay the balance.

Should member owned clubs have short term renewable debt?

Most member-owned clubs should not be in the interest rate risk business nor should they have short-term renewable debt at the discretion of the lender. Another consideration for borrowing from the local bank is that a club utilizes a significant portion of their local credit capacity with this financing.

Can you use mortgage backed financing to pay for irrigation?

Mortgage-backed financing should probably not be the first avenue to consider as a means to pay for an irrigation system unless the cash flow and credit history are weak. Collateral lenders are less concerned about cash flow and credit history.

Is it prudent to pay for irrigation?

An irrigation system has a long-term useful life and a shorter, but still significant-term, technical life. With depreciating assets, it is usually more fiscally prudent to pay for the asset as you use the asset rather than as a cash purchase. The exception would be if a club has more cash than projects to spend it on.

Can a private club pay for irrigation?

A private club has the option of assessing members to pay for an irrigation renovation. The willingness to do this depends on many factors such as the cost of the memberships, age of the members, recent assessment history at the club and the size of the proposed assessment as it relates to the member-perceived ‘equity’ in their club membership. As an example, a club with high membership cost, stable and full membership, a waiting list, high monthly dues and no recent assessment history might be a reasonable club for assessment. In contrast, a club with little or no cost to join, open membership positions, low monthly dues and a recent assessment history would represent a less likely choice. If members perceive the assessment cost to be a significant portion of, or exceeding their ‘equity’ in, the club, an assessment may not be effective and may drive members away. At clubs where the average age of members is high, there is often a resistance to assessment. These members would typically like to pay for the irrigation system renovation with dues increase over time. If the older members continue their membership for only a portion of the term of the dues increase, they perceive they have paid for only the portion of the renovation they have utilized. The succeeding members pay the balance.

Step 1: Course Needs

Clubs can generally identify what they need to do in the broadest sense. The Course Manager may have provided reports about the current system, recording additional working hours spent hand watering and the increasing costs of maintaining an ageing or deteriorating system.

Step 2: Irrigation Evaluation

Lee Knight, director of specialist sports turf contractor Irrigation Control, suggests clubs consider the following as part of a comprehensive evaluation.

Step 3: Choosing Your Team

Your renovation’s success depends on having the right team in place. Your golf architect, irrigation consultant, contractor, manufacturer and distributor are all specialists in their respective fields and each has an important and distinct role to play in the project plan.

Step 4: Master Planning

As irrigation system enhancements are honed to meet the club’s needs, there are a few additional factors to bear in mind.

Step 5: Irrigation System Design and Specification

Lee Knight says it’s critical that clubs spend sufficient time researching both short and long-term requirements.

Step 6: Selecting Your Irrigation Partner

A successful renovation can be measured by long-term results, so it’s vital to choose the right irrigation partner.

Step 7: Managing The Impact

Any renovation project causes disruption, but this can be managed by having a pre-planning meeting with the contractor to identify the following: