The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Sprinkler Irrigation
Golf Course Sprinkling
There are two separate systems used in the sprinkler irrigation of golf courses, one covering the entire course and one covering fairways only. In either case the most economical method is to use the largest sprinkler possible for uniform coverage with the water and pressure available, keeping in mind power and pipe costs. Both systems use quick coupling valves with a sufficient number of keys and sprinklers to use the available water.
In designing a sprinkler system for either type of coverage it is customary to place two or three part circle sprinklers around the edge of the green and space the fairway sprinklers from these as control points. The part circle sprinklers are placed around the greens so that the greens may be watered separately between fairway watering and to eliminate constant watering of traps.
Narrow fairways are generally irrigated with one line of sprinklers through the center of the fairway while wider fairways are irrigated with two lines of sprinklers, one on each side. The spacing of the sprinklers depends on the available water and pressure.
Use sprinklers suited to the area to be covered. On tees the smallest sprinkler, usually a 1/2" size will more than cover. A small quick coupling valve or a small popup sprinkler is often adequate.
The Airport And Sprinkler Irrigation
A number of designs have been made with varying initial costs and labor application costs. The only actual experience has been with portable pipe during the war by the army. Labor costs under this, system are high, but irrigated turf was definitely proven to be capable of withstanding intensive plane traffic in regions of low rainfall. Turf fields were subjected to 650 landings per day successfully and only required one-third the maintenance of hard surface runways.
The new designs using extra large sprinklers at high pressures with permanent underground piping and quick coupling outlets, installed off the edge of the runways show great promise for greatly reduced cost both for installation of irrigation system and application of the water.
Some are being installed now and detailed data will be available soon. It is expected that costs are easily within the reach of most small airports and with the assistance of the C.A.A., state district engineer and agronomist, you can easily obtain technical advice in designing for turf runways of a durable type. For publicly owned airports, the District Engineers of the C.A.A. should be contacted to determine if Federal Funds are available to finance approximately 50% of the irrigation installation costs.
