It may not be necessary to sell off the family silver to plan and put into operation a new irrigation system


and green or to encompass fairways, approaches and walkways. Good design, using sprinkler densograms for example, can save water and take into account the need for the conservation of the peripheral landscape. It may not be necessary to sell off the family silver to plan and put into operation a new irrigation system. Provided the overall plan is discussed and approved by all concerned, the grand plan should incorporate all future requirements. A phased development can then be put into operation, for example, installing initially greens and tees but with adequate pipework, cabling infrastructure and pumping capacity to allow for future expansion to encompass aprons, fairways and walkways.


Balancing the infiltration rate with the sprinkler precipitation/application rate and the


incorporation of a correctly positioned weather station and soil moisture sensors, along with traditional ways of observing soil moisture deficit, can be demonstrated to be effective in managing water, some estimates suggesting as much as a 20% saving. However, we should also take into


Water collection and the provision of storage


facilities will be essential in future planning


36


consideration, when planning and designing any system, the complex issues of water resourcing. On the Continent, some countries are already restricting the annual quantity of water which it


is permissible to use. In Denmark, for instance, some courses are restricted to as little as 5,000m3 year.


per


Borehole usage will be, and in many areas already is, controlled under the local CAMS, and restrictions may apply in the future. Water collection and the provision of water storage facilities will be essential in future planning and, depending upon the quantities of water required, continued use of potable water from the public water


system will undoubtedly, at the very least, become prohibitively expensive, if not denied. Climate change is another complex issue. Speculation varies widely. However, over the past few years, few will disagree that the pattern of our climate has tended to be more extreme, in particular heavier, but less frequent rainfall. We must look to the long term to


secure our water resourcing and install some form of water storage facility. For a relatively simple green and tees system in the UK, a storage capacity of some 10,000-15,000m3 should be adequate but, if expansion is planned for the future, then 25,000-40,000m3


may be required. We also need to explore the


sourcing of that water. Water farming and collection of water from the golf course, via drainage and hard standing areas, such as car parks, should be considered. Recycling non-soiled clubhouse water through reed beds and ultra violet filters is another option. Winter abstraction from boreholes, rivers and streams is yet another possibility. This really is long term planning and to discuss it should not be deferred. Remember that degree in foresight I spoke of earlier.


On a global scale, away from the needs of the golf course, water resourcing, or the lack of it, is a very real issue which has already led to inter-border issues and violence; it yet may be a far bigger problem than oil.


In conclusion. Yes, there are some


relatively simple measures which can be implemented to conserve water and improve our irrigation procedures, but there are also some difficult choices ahead. STRI Irrigation Services are available to help in many of the areas covered in this article, from irrigation system audits and feasibility studies for a new irrigation system, through to detailed irrigation design and the production of scaled plans and tender documentation (specifications and bills of quantities). For further information please contact Helen Waite on 01274 518918, email helen.waite@stri.co.uk or visit www.stri.co.uk


Images © John Deere Ltd


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156