Hydraulic Tree

In preparation for the warmer weather of the summer... do we have summer here? We have re-written the hydraulic tree on our central control computer.  This computer operates the irrigation system in the most efficient way possible, as long as it is programmed properly.

If you would like to read more about the irrigation system you can visit www.turfhugger.com for a four part series called system check.  I wrote this series a while back to help explain the importance of the irrigation system and the procedures that can be taken in the spring to ensure there will be no suprises come summer.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

Justin Ruiz, CGCS
justinr@indiansummergolf.com

Broken Sprinkler Head

Today we had a broken sprinkler on #17.  The head was struck by the rough unit mowing around the tees.  It was quite a fountain.

The irrigation system on the golf course is a little different than the irrigation in a homeowners lawn.  We have pressurized lines to each individual head.  So when a head breaks, it shoots water out like a fountain.  At your house you have a valve manifold that holds the water back until it is opened.  Then once opened it runs multiple heads.  Unfortunately you may not catch a break until it washes something out or create standing water over night.

A prudent practice would be to head out in your yard over the next month and turn on you irrigation system.  It has been quite a while since we have needed to water and as the weather improves and watering becomes necessary, you might catch something before the turf struggles and your flower bed washes into your lawn.

If you have any questions please contact me.

Justin Ruiz, CGCS
360.459.3772
E: justinr@indiansummergolf.com

Water in Washington??

Photo courtesy of http://www.turfhugger.com/

There is nothing like having kids.  It is by far the most rewarding thing that you could possibly do in life.  As they get older and start to become more aware of their surroundings, they can think of some pretty unique things.  My wife was driving in the car and my daughter asked her why Washington was named Washington.  You know kids, always question everything.  Before my wife could explain to her a reason for the name, my daughter had already came up with her reasoning.  She said, "is it because everything is always getting washed by the rain?" 

I am enamored at the fact that even though Olympia may get quite a bit of rain, irrigation is still an important task for us as turf managers.  Spending the last ten years in Arizona water was a fighting word.  Conservation was required, not just an option.  The experience that I have gained from this style of water management has played well into my forte of asking why things are setup in a certain fashion.

Computer controlled irrigation is an important tool for us.  When the computer is programmed  properly is takes, pipe size, equipment specs, pump station flow, weather calculations, etc. and uses all this information to manage the irrigation system to operate over 1000 sprinkler heads on the course efficiently.  Without programmed computer management you run the risk of too many heads running at the same time resulting in less than desirable distribution.  Without good distribution, playability suffers and water is wasted. 

With that being said, our central control computer did not have a hydraulic tree programmed into the computer.  The absence of a hydraulic tree removes the computer’s ability to properly manage nightly watering.  The computer is only as good as the information that we give it.

Photo courtesy of http://www.toro.com/

To make a long story short Christian, our irrigation technician, is starting the tedious task of creating a hydraulic tree that will give the computer the correct information to manage all the sprinklers properly.  If you would like to read a little more in depth article on the central control computer, click here.  If you have any question about the irrigation system or would like to see what we are working with please feel free to contact me.

Justin Ruiz, CGCS

justinr@indiansummergolf.com

360.878.0479