Near Zaragoza, Aragon’s capital metropolis in northeastern Spain, Golf Los Lagos first opened in 1997 as a 9-hole course. When its possession modified three years later, the choice was made to increase the course with Ramón Espinosa designing the present 18-hole format, which turned operational in 2002.
Lately, the best problem was sustaining the course at a stage which members anticipated. The sooner irrigation system, put in 23 years in the past in 2001 when the course was expanded, remained operational, because of the efforts of the greenkeeping group till 2023, when the system and discipline controllers turned out of date.
The poor availability of spare components, significantly antenna replacements which now not existed, meant not having the ability to talk with particular person controllers or having the liberty to replace one thing so simple as irrigation instances. Lengthy sections of cable had been changed beforehand and the group cleverly reused electrical plates between controllers to allow irrigation throughout your entire course. Erosion of outdated PVC piping and custom-made steel joints additionally induced issues leading to some employees completely engaged on repairing burst pipes and leaks.
Head Greenkeeper Miguel Monguilod explains, “Irrigation advisor, Kiko Allo, completely understood our wants and supported us with the choice to renovate, which we knew was wanted however then turned rather more pressing at a time when the speed of breakdowns started to exceed the speed of repairs.
“We at all times knew what the advantages of right irrigation on the course can be, however it’s a sophisticated determination, assessing the totally different qualities that competing programs provide. I visited different programs to study their experiences and programs and so now we have taken recommendation from among the greatest in our nation. In the long run, contemplating what we discovered from different golf equipment, our personal expertise with Rain Chicken rotors and the centralised pc system have been key to creating our determination.”
With a brand new Rain Chicken® IC System™ with CirrusPRO™ Central Management software program and the 1200 Rain Chicken rotors now we have put in, we count on an enchancment in grass high quality. Past the development in playability, we count on there shall be vital financial savings in water utilization, in electrical energy, from having the ability to water in much less time, in not having to purchase costly spare components and lastly, saving many employees hours beforehand spent on repairs. “
The challenge was accomplished in April 2024 by contractor Inexperienced Natur with help from the Rain Chicken® International Gross sales Plan (GSP) group who accomplished onboarding and distant entry set-up to allow the course to make use of the system from any machine. Rain Chicken® 702 Collection rotors have been put in for dependable full-circle protection, with 752 Collection rotors delivering full and part-circle versatility and simple arc adjustment.
The principle irrigation pipe was put in utilizing a conventional trench however elsewhere, Inexperienced Natur’s trenchless equipment meant that any harm to the course was a lot lower than had been anticipated, leading to restricted scarring on the course. One of the crucial vital concerns for the membership throughout set up was guaranteeing that as few holes as attainable have been closed in order that members might carry on having fun with the vast majority of the course, making communication between the contractor and membership members important. Set up adopted the deliberate schedule with none main incidents and though remaining changes proved to be extra sophisticated than deliberate, these have now all been accomplished.
Monguilod provides, “From the start Rain Chicken answered all our questions and made a number of visits to the membership to point out us how all of the totally different rotors and pc system labored. Moreover, they’ve proven us nice help when confronted with questions or incidents.
“Because of the proximity of the Pyrenees, now we have the privilege of being in a wetland geographical location and our water comes immediately from a pure aquifer so isn’t handled in any means earlier than getting used for course irrigation. It does have excessive ranges of calcium, lime and salinity however has not induced us any issues with the turf thus far.
“There are not any present restrictions on the quantity of water that can be utilized to irrigate the golf course however membership may be very acutely aware of creating water use as environment friendly as attainable and the brand new irrigation system has been put in with this in thoughts.
“In different components of Spain, particularly alongside the coast and the south the place there are wastewater and salt-water remedy vegetation, there are limitations on the quantities of water that can be utilized however we’re privileged within the north of Spain and are ready in case it’s essential to make cuts.
“It’s nonetheless early to guage the total outcomes of renovation however though the previous few months have been very intense, the influence on playability and course aesthetics can already be felt. Our greenkeeping group now has extra time to work on different components of the course and members are starting to see the outcomes of that and our funding in renovation. Our renovation expertise has been good thus far and we can be found to share that with some other membership that’s contemplating renovation and desires assist.”
Featured Pictures are Copyright ©Los Lagos Golf
