Golf Course Irrigation Design Errors That Will Cost You

By Melissa Morgan


Any time of the year, property owners can and should make sure their sprinkler system is working correctly. Time and money can be saved through upgrades, revisions and repairs. And, an entire landscape venture can be protected by a good golf course irrigation system design. Besides, property value can be enhanced significantly as well as curb appeal will increase due to a property's beautiful appearance.

Drip system is the practice in which water is provided to plant roots one drop at a time. Pipes are laid out all over the soil, and water outlet points are provided at regular intervals. The outlet is controlled so that only one drop at a time is provided to the soil. The main advantage of this kind of system is that it saves a lot of water. In Perth, which is dry in summers, drip system is a good way to save water and still ensure that your plants are adequately watered.

Sprinklers are very common all over the world. They are used extensively to water lawns. In the sprinkler system, a pipe is provided to draw water from the main water source. Sprinkler heads are fitted at different points in the pipe system. When the system is activated, water from the source is released through the sprinkler heads. The main advantage of this system is that it prevents flooding. Also, since water is provided at a regulated pace, it is absorbed into the soil more readily. You can save water using sprinkler system as well. However, while drip irrigation irrigates roots of plants, sprinkler system waters plants from the top.

Not adhering to the maximum throwing distances also poses a big challenge. The maximum distance you should have between heads should be equal to or less than the maximum throwing distance for that nozzle as specified by the manufacturer (typically three to twelve meters or more). To save on operation, design, maintenance, and installation costs, you really cannot get away with using greater distances.

It is important that the watering devices are fine-tuned accordingly. For slopes, the heads should be pointed slightly upward or downward. There are adjustable nozzles which can be set for different angles and static nozzles that come in various angles. A twelve inch long rubber hose, referred to as swing pipe, should be applied to attach the heads.

Note that there is no 'one size fit all' irrigation system. Different fields have different system requirements, and the choice has to be customized. The main factors that need to be considered while choosing an irrigation system are the type of plants or crop, operational expenses, water availability, initial investment, a source of water, size of the field, labor availability and requirements and shape of the field.

Many people landscapers overlook the excellent automatic rain shut off appliances. They are very affordable, easy to install, and not very big. For those who get wary whenever they see an automatic system running, this is the perfect invention for them. This should be incorporated into any system design plan. In addition, the small nature of the device encourages its portability. The system is thus easily and quickly maneuvered around.

It is important to keep in mind that irrigating equipment is not just one unit; instead, they are an entire system including all processes from the source of water to the final watering phase. So, in addition to choosing the right system, it is also important to ensure that they are installed efficiently.




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