how to dig up irrigation at a golf course

by Eliezer Satterfield 5 min read

There is no perfect answer other than, move the sprinkler to flat ground. Unfortunately golf courses have lot of sloped areas. The best answer is to slope the sprinkler at half the angle of the slope.

Full Answer

How do golf courses irrigate their turf?

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. You’ll find that most superintendents irrigate the golf course early in the morning before the sun comes up.

Why is irrigation important for your golf course?

Irrigation not only impacts the health of your turf but the quality of your game. Both the Greens and the Fairways rely on moist, healthy blades of grass, which provide resistance to the golf ball. Without proper irrigation, even the most determined golfer wouldn’t enjoy their game.

Why do golf courses have 360-degree irrigation 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. This is a chemical that is injected into the irrigation system so it can be spread and absorbed by turf along with the water.

When is the best time of day to irrigate a golf course?

You’ll find that most superintendents irrigate the golf course early in the morning before the sun comes up. As the day gets later, the rising sun heats leftover water and evaporates it before it can be absorbed. The wind flow also increases, hampering the uniformity of the water through sprinklers.

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 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 long do irrigation systems typically last on golf courses?

The life expectancy of a typical irrigation system varies from 10 to 30 years, depending on the geographic location of the course and the demands on the system. Good preventive maintenance can extend a system's longevity, but sooner or later, your irrigation will need to be renovated or replaced.

How do golf courses water their grass?

Some courses irrigate their lawns with water from onsite water hazards and storm water ponds, reclaimed water facilities or even desalinized brackish or ocean waters.

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 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.

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 long does irrigation tubing last?

Under normal circumstances supply tubing can last up to 8 years.

How long does PVC irrigation last?

Figure 1. Expected Life Cycle of Irrigation System Components*ItemYearsIrrigation system10 – 30 yearsIrrigation control system10 – 15 yearsPVC pipe (under pressure)10 – 30 yearsPump station15 – 20 yearsMar 2, 2015

How do golf courses get rid of weeds?

For warm season turfgrass, Certainty, Sedgehammer, Celero, or Monument herbicides are effective. For resistance management and improved control, mix the aforementioned herbicides with Dismiss and/or Basagran T/O herbicides. For cool season turfgrass, Sedgehammer, Dismiss, or Basagran T/O works well.

How often do golf courses water the grass?

It's better to water “deeply and infrequently,” Cutler says. About a third of an inch every two to three days is a good goal.

What kind of grass is on golf greens?

Grasses are specifically selected for use on putting greens. Bermudagrass, creeping bentgrass and Poa annua are the most commonly managed turfgrasses on putting greens in the United States. A putting green can have more than 10,000 individual plants per square foot.

Where To Irrigate

Golf clubs must establish quality requirements for their courses. This requires club managers to work with players to create a dynamic course. Course designers use different types of grass across the 18 holes. The overarching goal for the designers is to have the highest quality grass on the greens.

When To Irrigate

In general, determining when to irrigate the golf course is done by observing several things in the field. For example, groundskeepers watch for when drought spots emerge. Additionally, they monitor the root zone to see if the grass dries out. Course managers prevent dry spots through timely and sufficient irrigation.

How Much To Irrigate

Advanced computer simulation models are used to determine the ideal amount of irrigation. Computer simulation models describe all relevant processes that occur in the soil-water-grass system. The models also calculate whether there is still enough moisture present in the soil profile to ensure the quality of the grass.

What Statistics We Need

To be able to advise where, when, and how much irrigation a golf course needs requires a few factors.

Features - Water Management

Drip irrigation and hydronic systems offer distinct advantages for course care. These technologies require faith in what isn’t easily seen — though the results are clearly visible.

Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Leinauer worked with Tom Egelhoff, director of agronomy, and his team at Las Campanas. The Sunrise and Sunset courses, both 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature designs, have bentgrass tees, greens and fairways. The rough is bluegrass and there are five teeing grounds on each of the 36 holes.

Hydronic systems

A hydronic system is a closed loop roughly 12 inches below the surface that can circulate warm or cool water to alter the temperature of the soil. It operates in the same way that a heating/cooling system does for a house, but instead of circulating air, liquid is circulating (water, gaseous water or a water-solution).

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