Learning the Ins and Outs of New Golf Course Construction

What compelled Koprowski to build a golf course from scratch with no previous experience? “You have to be a golf psycho … which I am,” he says with a laugh. “I remember being 7 years old and doodling courses while the teacher was talking. I was that kid.”

It’s a childhood dream come true for Koprowski, who had a distinguished career in the Air Force and then with several nonprofits. He wasn’t an expert in golf course construction or a billionaire, so how did he pull it off? “The key is to have a pretty big risk tolerance and to know someone like Kyle Franz. He was the first person in the industry who took me under his wing and showed me the ropes when I moved to Pinehurst.”

Franz was working on a project at Southern Pines Country Club when Koprowski called him out of the blue and asked if he could be part of it. “Kyle welcomed me with open arms and threw me on a machine and I learned how to shape.” Just a few years later, the two were designing a golf course together.

Along the way, Koprowski also added Nick Mazella, the highly regarded golf construction expert, to help them oversee the project—now named Broomsedge—and identify key contractors who would be a good fit for the design/build process they would use. Selecting the right golf course irrigation partner was near the top of that list.

“I’m a golfer, not an irrigation expert. I just wanted the water to come out of the faucet and keep the grass alive. Fortunately, I met Nick Mazella and asked him to help with his expertise and know-how. He helped to set up our dance partners: irrigation, turf, construction, etc. He was invaluable.”

Identifying a Golf Course Irrigation Partner

Why was Rain Bird identified early on to provide the irrigation component? “What was most important to me was to have guys that do it the right way and are responsive when things go wrong,” says Koprowski. “Customer service is huge to me.”

The nature of the design/build process also pointed to Rain Bird. “I wanted a supplier who is flexible and willing to adjust on the fly because that’s what golf course design and builds require,” says Koprowski. “Things change quickly in the field, so we need a partner who works with us when we make game-time decisions. We did interviews and we felt like the folks at Rain Bird and (local distributor) Ewing really got it. They were game for that kind of build.”

Something Curtis Bruton of Ewing said early on stuck with Koprowski: “He said that not everything is going to go right, and anyone who tells you everything is going to go right is wrong. But I can promise you we’ll be there at the beginning and for the long haul. That matters to me. It didn’t feel like a sales pitch. It felt like the truth.”

Installing the Two-Wire Irrigation System and Rain Bird Pump Station

Ewing’s local knowledge of the Sandhills and experience at nearby facilities gave them a leg up on getting the irrigation system developed and into the ground. “The area is special,” says Ewing’s Eric Martin. “Being able to use that Sandhills landscape means big fairways, rolling hills and pretty much everything is right in front of you. The Broomsedge really stands out. It feels like a throwback to the old days of golf.”

How did that translate into the design and installation of the irrigation system? “The name of the game is making things simple,” says Martin. “They have huge greens, and huge greens require huge heads, so the 952 made sense. The goal was ‘fewer heads, farther throw.’  The 952 is a full circle that can also be adjusted to throw a half circle depending on what you’re trying to water.”

Martin also notes that this is a fully integrated Rain Bird irrigation system, including the Rain Bird pump station. “You can have real-time feedback and see exactly what it’s doing through the CirrusPRO golf software. The Monitor Control Alert (MCA) feature also allows you to monitor and start or stop that station from your phone.”

Sustainability—both environmental and economic—also mattered. “Courses today want efficiency: not just in how they use water, but also energy and money. The ‘reservoir to rotor’ approach lets them do that. They can water by ET rates, rotation, etc. You can really dial the system in to do exactly what you want.”

Finally, Martin says the two-wire IC System™ is a game-changer. “In the past, nobody could really tell if a solenoid was out. They just knew there was a problem. Now you can have real-time data. Every day you’ll know what’s working and if anything isn’t working perfectly. What Rain Bird has done with their two-wire system that sends you daily reports is remarkable. Then the efficiency of being able to water by rotation. And finally knowing what nozzle is there and being able to control it all with a map on your phone is a big help for busy supers.”

Ewing’s Bruton says it was a special project for his team. “For me, it was amazing working with Mike. He was out on a dozer (at Southern Pines) when I met him and I quickly learned he wasn’t a billionaire doing a project for fun. To see him have the passion to pull this together was great.”

Realizing Simple, Accurate Golf Course Irrigation

“A brand-new golf course is actually harder,” says superintendent Shawn Fettig. “It’s kind of like a toddler. It’s very fickle and always a challenge.”

Fettig had previously worked at older courses with aging irrigation systems. “The beautiful thing about these new systems is the accuracy. It’s great to be able to water from pre-set programs instead of just time.” He also loves Rain Bird’s individual head control. “That’s the biggest perk of a two-wire system for me.”

Fettig was also new to the Rain Bird pump station but he liked what he found. “I definitely see an advantage of having the same system for the pump house through to the sprinkler heads. Everything is on the same page.” He says the interface of the Rain Bird station is a lot simpler for supers like him who aren’t super techy. “Everything is at my fingertips. The biggest thing I’ve seen is the simplicity, the ease of use, and instant access to data.”