Golf de
Saint Germain
Overview
Located near Versailles, just 11 miles from the center of Paris, Golf de Saint Germain is a prestigious venue in the top twenty of Golf World’s Top 100 in Continental Europe. With two courses—an 18-hole layout designed by Harry Colt in 1922 and a 9-hole Genets course—the club has hosted numerous international competitions, including the 1985 French Open.
Despite its rich history, the course’s 1980s irrigation system had become outdated, struggling to meet modern demands.
Challenge
Over time, the club’s aging irrigation system began to fail, resulting in inconsistent coverage and increasing maintenance difficulties. Spare parts became nearly impossible to find, and old sprinklers missed large areas of the course. Greenkeeper Jean Eric Simonnot recognized the need for a complete renovation.
Before committing to a solution, Simonnot visited several other courses, including venues in the UK, Italy, and Golf de Joyenval in France, where Rain Bird irrigation systems were already in place.
Objectives
- Reduce Water Consumption
- Enhance Course Playability
- Simplify Maintenance and Management
Solution
To address these challenges, the club appointed Frédéric Quillien of K Consult as their irrigation consultant. Quillien’s role was crucial in reducing water consumption while maintaining high-quality playing surfaces. He performed hydraulic studies and helped secure a subsidy from the local water agency, which helped finance the project.
The renovation, executed by Arrosage Concept between October 2023 and April 2024, involved expanding the lake’s capacity, replacing old pipes, and upgrading to a Rain Bird® IC System™ with CirrusPRO™ Central Control. More than 1,200 new Rain Bird rotors—including the 952IC, 752IC, and 5004SS—were installed, ensuring consistent and efficient water distribution across greens, fairways, and tees.
Quillien also provided data and custom tools for weather analysis, disease forecasting, and pump station feedback, further enhancing the system’s performance.
Results
Greenkeeper Jean Eric Simonnot praised the new system, particularly the ease of transitioning from the old Rain Bird Nimbus II decoder system to the IC System™.
“Seeing CirrusPRO™ in action at other courses helped me realize it was exactly what we needed,” Simonnot said. “We can now independently monitor and adjust watering for greens, fairways, and tees, ensuring uniform coverage while using far less water. The system is intuitive and simple to use, and with Rain Bird’s support through GSP, it’s continually evolving.”
Benefits of Renovating:
- Water Efficiency: Significant reduction in water usage due to precise control and monitoring.
- Ease of Maintenance: Rain Bird rotors are easy to repair, reducing downtime.
- User-Friendly Software: The CirrusPRO™ system’s intuitive design simplifies operation and adjustment.
- Tailored Solutions: Custom tools for weather and disease forecasting allow for better course management.
Key Takeaways
- A modern irrigation system with advanced central control software can drastically improve water management while reducing labor.
- Courses that prioritize sustainability and efficiency can benefit from custom solutions such as weather analysis and disease forecasting.
- Transitioning from an older system can be seamless, especially with hands-on support from Rain Bird’s professional team.
Testimonial
“The whole Rain Bird team was incredibly professional and supported us throughout the process. My only regret is that we didn’t make the switch sooner!”
-Jean Eric Simonnot
Greenkeeper
Golf de Saint Germain
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Maridoe Golf Club
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North Oaks Golf Club
In 2022, North Oaks Golf Club — one of the last designs by the great Canadian architect Stanley Thompson — was ready for a total irrigation makeover just as John Cameron returned to become superintendent. The club was committed to a new system and largely left it to Cameron to sort out which system and pump station technology would be best for their 70-year-old course. In the end, the Minnesota club went with Cameron’s recommendation and installed the Rain Bird® CirrusPRO™ system and a Rain Bird pump station. Why? It all came down to quality rotors, simple programming, seamless integration, and the ability to deliver consistently great conditions.
