Project Details

Course Manager
Archie Dunn

Consultant
2ic

Contractor
MJ Abbott

Twitter @AuchterarderGC

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System

IC System™

StratusLT™ Central Control

IC CONNECT™ – IC-IN input sensors

751 Series IC & Block Rotors

551 Series Block Rotors

Season-long heatwave

Auchterarder Golf Course Before

Auchterarder Golf Course before the new irrigation system was installed. Photo credit Shaun McNaughton.

Auchterarder Golf Club is a busy private members’ club in Perth and Kinross. For the past 40 years, its greenkeeping team has maintained the club’s parkland course with a rudimentary system installed by a plumber. There were no irrigation heads; just one hydrant at each green. Everything was manually-operated and fed from a 1” mains supply. It had been possible to operate up to six sprinklers with hoses, but deterioration of the pipework had reduced capacity to a single sprinkler. With almost complete reliance on the weather, trying to maintain a good golf course was virtually impossible, but relentless hand-watering had allowed them to get by. They struggled to achieve any consistency. Overseeding was too risky and applying products when the weather dictated, rather than when the turf needed them, meant they never felt in control of their maintenance.

In 2018 the UK experienced an unprecedented, season-long heatwave that pushed the club to the brink of closure. By August, the golf course was tinder dry with soil moisture readings on greens and tee surfaces at 0%. In peak season, and despite around-the-clock hand-watering, the course was unplayable with virtually no grass cover. They lost every green and tee, and all their visitor income which was 70% repeat business.

“This was a textbook example of industry experts working together to deliver the very best solutions for the client. From water and electrical engineering to sprinkler selection, system set-up and operator training, the whole team added value to the project and were completely committed to minimising disruption and ensuring the system was ready to hand over on schedule and within budget.”

— Phil Langdon

Client-centric solutions

A potential borehole location was identified years ago by the late Mike Cranfield. Using divining rods, Phil Langdon was able to hone in, resulting in the availability of 32mᵌ per hour of water. While no additional mains water is needed, the consultants added the pipe and cable for mains water backup into the same trench in case of borehole pump failure.

That was one of many client-centric solutions delivered by the project team of consultants, contractor and irrigation system manufacturer. Power and water were re-routed around the course, and the same trenches used to extend wifi from the clubhouse to the greenkeepers’ compound. A new pump station and water tanks were located to the south side of the course with Rain Bird’s IC CONNECT™ sensor input devices installed, enabling pump performance and water levels to be monitored from the central control. The IC System minimises cable joints reducing possible faults, and Rain Bird suggested conducting sprinkler trials on individual tees, while nozzles were selected for certain areas of the course to ensure optimal uniformity of coverage.

Phil Langdon said; “This was a textbook example of industry experts working together to deliver the very best solutions for the client. From water and electrical engineering to sprinkler selection, system set-up and operator training, the whole team added value to the project and were completely committed to minimising disruption and ensuring the system was ready to hand over on schedule and within budget.”

Auchterarder Golf Course

Auchterarder Golf Course after the new irrigation system is installed. Photo credit Shaun McNaughton.

“The difference is night and day,” Archie admits. “Finally we’re able to get the full benefit of the products and sand we apply and getting much quicker results. We began our autumn renovations the first week in August when in previous years we’d have waited until late September or October. We’ve also received feedback about the improved playability and performance from our members and visitors, which is great for team morale.”

“The Stratus LT central control allows us to monitor and manage the entire system in real-time from anywhere, and with our relatively modest budget I really didn’t think that would be possible,” he admits. “I haven’t had an automated system in my greenkeeping career so it has been a big change, but I’ve found it easier to use than I expected. The support and training we’ve received from Rain Bird and the installation team has been superb, and my deputy and I are looking forward to further fine-tuning over the winter.”

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