A case study looking at how Toro irrigation system brought almost immediate changes and noticeable results to Royal St David’s in North Wales.
The customer
Royal St David’s Golf Club
The equipment
Lynx control system with Lynx Smart Hub
240 Flex sprinklers with LSM module on greens and fairways
145 T5 Rapidsets on all tee surfaces
215 PRN 590GF sprinklers for newly installed walkways
168 LSM modules on tees and walkways
19,000m Toro jacketed communication cable
The background
Following on from a five-year environmental management plan put together by Natural Resources Wales and the STRI to improve the ecology of the site, the next step for the ultimate in site protection, water sustainability and efficiency was a state-of-the-art irrigation system to conserve the traditional sandy links feel of the course and improve all playing surfaces.
This was the starting point in a project which saw Toro, Reesink Hydro-Scapes, Adrian Mortram Associates and Green Irrigation work together to install an irrigation system that brought almost immediate changes and noticeable results.
The brief
With an incredible 46 years of service from the club’s previous Toro system, links manager Rhys Butler could no longer rely on the functionality of the system’s hydraulics (pipe work) and electrical operation (cabling) – there were too many leaks happening. A full upgrade was needed.
Rhys had been impressed with Toro’s performance and longevity over the years and how it had met the course’s needs, as well as the service from Reesink Hydro-Scapes, which meant he didn’t look anywhere else when choosing what to go for again.
When it came to installation, the project needed to be carried out while the course was open.
The challenge
Installation had to take place while the course was open for play due to the composition of the course with natural dune slacks and a high-water table in winter. This was one of the biggest challenges for Adrian Mortram from Adrian Mortram Associates, as he explains: “There are very few irrigation systems in my career that have been installed in high season, on an existing course that is being played on throughout the summer and having to work around the players. But there was no alternative, it would not have been possible to joint the pipe work or cables in trenches under water.”
The club still needed to be able to irrigate efficiently to prevent damage to the sward, and it was a very dry summer which meant the water had to be supplied and applied manually.
However, it was a situation adeptly managed by contractor Green Irrigation which, according to Rhys, “prioritised getting water available as soon as possible which really helped us to produce and maintain good surfaces for our members through installation.”
The solution
The club chose the Flex series of sprinklers on greens and fairways, T5 Rapidsets sprinklers on all tee surfaces and 590GF sprinklers fitted with Precision Series Rotating Nozzles for newly installed walkways. All new mains and controls were required as was full fairway irrigation for the first time. The entire system is controlled using Toro’s Lynx Control System with LSM technology.
Adding irrigation to fairways and walkways was specified to maintain healthy grass, reducing the need for fertiliser inputs to recover drought-stressed areas.
Accurate monitoring of soil moisture and weather conditions to enable precise and timely irrigation was provided by a TDR soil moisture sensor, irrigation software, and hardware, along with weather station information. And updated technology was required with to-the-second runtime accuracy across all newly installed stations via either the central controller or remotely using Toro’s smart apps. This would allow the app to be used in the field to give a level of flexibility and control to water dry spots, water in wetting agents and be minimalistic with water application as is natural for a links course.
The results
At conception of the installation the grass was visibly starting to strain due to the prolonged dry summer conditions. As each hole was turned on the difference was almost immediately noticeable to members thanks to the irrigation accuracy provided.
The new irrigation system successfully decreased the significant amount of water that was previously lost due to leaking pipes and LSM technology has given much greater accuracy of water application and run times.
Greens, surrounds and tees are much stronger and more complete than before due to better irrigation coverage and consistency in application.
The sprinklers now deliver water accurately and efficiently to playing surfaces, reducing wastage.
“The Toro range of products chosen exceeded our expectations and the installation couldn’t have gone any better.
“The project has transformed Royal St David’s Golf Club: Membership has increased, visitor income has doubled, and our rankings have improved. This is because the irrigation system has given us moisture control on the golf course to produce great playing surfaces.” Rhys Butler, Links Manager, Royal St David’s.
For more information, visit reesink-hydroscapes.co.uk
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