Hi Members,

Just wanted to reach out with some quick information regarding the irrigation system and leaking sprinkler heads over the past few weeks.

We have noticed a much higher amount of heads weeping over the past month, this is due to a lack in hydraulic line pressure.

All of our sprinkler heads have a separate valve at the bottom of the head, this valve is held closed from pressure created via the 4mm hydraulic tube that runs from the satellite box to each individual sprinkler head. We are noticing when the town pressure drops below 80kpa on our pressure gauge we are seeing increased weeping. As it currently stands we have no back up pump to act as booster pump for our hydraulic system hence when pressure drops the sprinklers want to turn on. I have ordered a replacement booster pump and will hopefully be installed by next week resolve this issue. Anything over 90kpa on our gauge is holding all valves on course closed. This issue is also exaggerated due to the age of our system, the valves inside our sprinklers are wearing out which does not aid our situation but this can be managed until we find the appropriate solution to our irrigation system. We do also have a few small scale pin hole irrigation leaks around the course which we are attending to in a timely manner.

Also some minor issues to note is especially the 4^th ladies tee, we are waiting to move the main irrigation valve controller on the 4^th which is causing the heads to leak on this hole. Problem being we need to dig up the path on the 4^th as this valve is located in the middle of the path. So once all major events are completed we will be closing hole to complete these works and also take advantage and improve the overall uniformity of this tee. We also have a poor performing valve on the 5^th tee which will be replaced over the winter months. We are on our last troubleshooting piece for the sprinkler in the middle of the 13^th tee with all roads leading back to a leaking valve in the satellite box itself. We still have two satellite boxes failing to turn on greens 8,14,17 due to cards inside the satellite boxes, these are on backorder due to arrive late April. All in all we have made tremendous inroads this season into out operating system which I refer to as out communications and satellites. Unfortunately we cant control the pipework infrastructure in the ground which causes most of the grieve, it is all part of the game and we will continue to maintain the system until otherwise.

Please keep an eye out on the portal for member information session on select topics presented by myself for any members who are interested in more day to day operation on the golf course, I have this earmarked for late April. I will send out a quick survey next month so I can have you guys choose some topics you would prefer to find a little more information about.

Happy Golfing.

Regards,

Dylan Knight

Course Superintendent

Gisborne Golf Club

 

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