Plan now for better irrigation

Artificial irrigation of golf courses is a very poor substitute for rainfall as uniform coverage of irrigated areas is almost impossible to obtain. This lack of uniformity can be a result of, or a combination of, a number of factors.

Wind, especially on a links course, can be a major factor in the sense that spray patterns can be disrupted. Consequently, some areas receive more water than intended, whereas other areas receive less than intended. There is little that can be done about this as it is not always possible to irrigate in calm weather. Hand watering of obvious dry areas can be undertaken but hand watering should not be viewed as a panacea as it has attendant problems. Uniform coverage is very difficult to obtain and the human factor must also be recognised.

Golf course architects, particulary in recent times, have concentrated on green designs that are severely contoured in order to place a greater emphasis on putting. Furthermore greens are also shaped in a manner that encourages surface water to run-off the green quite rapidly. This is understandable as no architect likes to see his creations gather water after heavy rainfall. Such designs, interesting though they may be from a golfing aspect, do create problems for greenkeepers.

Irrigation systems have, generally, precipitation rates of approximately 13mm per hour, which would be equivalent to very heavy rainfall. Consequently with heavily contoured greens, run-off can be a significant problem with water intended for the root zone of the green ending up elsewhere.

Also, low areas can receive unwanted water from higher areas resulting in major variations in moisture content throughout and between greens.

Again, hand-watering of high areas and tiers, together with wetting agents, becomes a necessity. Inconsistencies arise with green speed, both within and between greens, and these become obvious several hours after cutting. This is unacceptable to greenkeepers and golfers alike, particularly when there is no quickfire solution to the problem. Therefore, moderation in green design is essential if proper irrigation is to be provided during the growing season. Clients employing golf course architects should be aware of this and resist the temptation to allow green contours of Himalayan proportions.

Finally, despite claims to the contrary, irrigation systems do not have the uniformity of coverage that rainfall has and it is unlikely that they ever will: nevertheless, they are the only alternative that we have.

Proper design and installation of an irrigation system is essential if the desired results are to be achieved. Unfortunately, some golf clubs, having expended huge sums of money on irrigation, have been disappointed in this regard. Consequently safeguards should be put in place to ensure that unpleasant surprises do not arise.

Irrigation systems should only be designed and installed by companies with a proven track record in the business. They might be a bit more expensive in the short term but this might be a small price to pay for long-term performance.

Such companies have survived simply because the work carried out by them has been brought to a successful conclusion and, of equal importance, their follow-up service has been satisfactory. When employing a company it is essential to have references and these should be verified both by phone and a visit to the site. The resident greenkeeper is the best person to contact as he is the person charged with operating the system.

It is important to note at this stage that the installation of an irrigation system represents one of the biggest investments a golf club will make and that any failure of the system at a later date would create major waves within the club. Therefore, it is important that all aspects be fully investigated at the planning stage, even if they appear to be an unnecessary over-complication at the time.

The design and specification, when submitted, should be forwarded to an experienced independent expert on irrigation for his observations and any perceived difficulties should then be discussed with the irrigation company and sorted out to everybody's satisfaction. This might appear to be an unnecessary expense but it is insurance and insurance has a price.

The type of system and the make to be installed is important and there are some very good systems on the market. Again, these should be checked out prior to making the decision. The irrigation expert should be involved in this matter.

Having decided on the system, the design team and the contractor, the next step is to put a contract in place. It is amazing how many golf clubs proceed without a written contract and this can only lead to bitter disputes both during the course of the works and after completion. Do not be tempted to draft a contract as there are a multitude of factors to be taken account of in any civil works. There are standard contracts drawn up by the Institute of Engineers of Ireland and such contracts require only minor modifications to suit particular forms of civil works. The irrigation expert can also deal with this important end of the work. Finally, when work commences, proper supervision is essential and, to this end, the club should place a clerk of works on site. He would be responsible for ensuring that the work was carried out in accordance with the plans and specification. There is little point in having matters right up to this stage and then not ensuring that the system is properly installed. If the planning and completion of the work is properly managed a good reliable system should be the end result. In our next article we shall advise on how best to use it for the benefit of the golf course.