Golf Business News – Royal County Down trusts Toro with irrigation system upgrade

Deliveries met expectations when Toro, Reesink Hydro-Scapes, Adrian Mortram Associates and MJ Abbott Limited teamed up to provide Royal County Down Golf Club with a new redefining irrigation system.

The maintenance of normal course link conditions is of utmost importance to Links Manager Eamonn Crawford and his team, who adhere to a strict link maintenance program.

The club needed a modern efficient irrigation system for fairways, greens, tees and fairways to be used as a management tool during droughts. More control was needed in the use and better management of the resource, and it was important to use water sparingly, irrigating only the necessary areas.

David Morgan, secretary at Royal County Down, says: “We have a responsibility to the community to manage our water use, and a responsibility to the course and our members to present it as a traditional link course. This requires a certain level of irrigation control and precision to keep it alive but not green.”

Eamonn and David had done their due diligence by comparing products before specialist irrigation designer and consultant Adrian Mortram, from Adrian Mortram Associates, tendered the project and Adrian was instructed to prepare the specification plans for a complete irrigation system from Toro.

“Having the best technology and resources available is essential to ensure we deliver our link repair program effectively and efficiently and to the best of our ability,” said Eamonn. “There was no doubt that Toro and Reesink were our partners in that.”

The Toro Lynx Central Control system and Smart Hub were mentioned and Robert Jackson, Divisional Manager, Reesink Hydro-Scapes, explains this gave Eamonn “all the information needed to make decisions in real time and run the system with precision from the first sprinkler to the last, controlling the use of water in different areas with different conditions and requirements.”

Toro Infinity and Flex sprinklers were selected to provide accurate and precise irrigation from the well and installation was conducted simultaneously on both 18-hole courses during the winter of 2023, the wettest season and the most severe winter in 25 years. The effects of this on the working conditions of the participating teams should not be underestimated, especially if it adds a link path area in this situation.

But that didn't affect the delivery, as David said: “Overall the delivery met expectations.” All teams came together seamlessly to deliver Royal County Down an irrigation solution on budget and on schedule. “

This system, its design and installation is a classic example of how to redefine irrigation facilities to act as a steward of the resource. Technically, the club has increased its watering area but uses less water and wetting agents and now water can be stored in the lower part of the course.

“Now, we have full control over the management of the system and the use of water,” said Eamonn. “There is no waste, we only use what is needed where it is needed. Irrigation is made really easy with Toro and this is the best system at this time and this process is worth it.”

Jim Price from MJ Abbott concludes: “This is now a fully connected course in real time. To deliver a project of this magnitude in those circumstances on time is a great success story.”