These people also start to put in overtime to keep the course properly watered. The irrigation system is operating more during the day than it did previously. There is an increase in the amount of hand watering taking place on the golf course. According to the irrigation consultants and the club managers who have been through the process of replacing a golf course irrigation system, the bottom-line for club managers is to be attentive. With water becoming a precious commodity and the costs of irrigation systems increasing to match their complexity, club managers really need to be involved and pay attention to what has become of one the golf course s most important elements, says Davis.
Irrigation systems can make or break a golf course.
And as any general manager who has earned the wrath of golfing club members because of irrigation problems will attest, it s best to avoid the membership s complaints by maintaining the irrigation system and watching for symptoms of failure. It s critical to keep the golf course and irrigation system in good shape to give the members that blissful, heavenly feeling after they ve finished a round, which is why people golf at your club says Davis. Otherwise, get ready for the flood of complaints to roll in, making your job and your superintendent s job really miserable. Mass. The firm specializes in the design of economical and water conserving irrigation systems for agricultural, residential, commercial and golf course projects. He also teaches irrigation design and water management seminars for the University of Massachusetts, Rutgers University, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and the Irrigation Association.