Spyglass Hill upgrades irrigation system

Golf Course News, Jun 2004

Course News

Tucson, Ariz. - Pebble Beach Co.'s Spyglass Hill upgraded its irrigation system to enhance playing conditions and help maintain its status as one of the nation's premier courses. When renovation is completed later this year, Spyglass Hill's new irrigation equipment will mirror that of the Pebble Beach Golf Links and The Links at Spanish Bay, both owned by Pebble Beach. Equipment includes Rain Bird's Cirrus central control, 500, 550, 700 and 750 Eagle series gear drive rotors, and the Freedom System handheld remote. The new system will help alleviate irrigation challenges and promote a more consistent playing course and healthier turfgrass, according to Chris Dalhamer, Spyglass Hill superintendent.

"Our main objective is to improve the irrigation system so that we can water more efficiently, while reducing water use, and energy and labor costs," Dalhamer says.

Spyglass Hill features various microclimates: heavily forested, shaded areas versus open areas exposed to the sun and ocean; and rough areas with dense, clay soil versus sand-capped fairways. Prior to renovation, Dalhamer didn't have the ability to turn on one rotor at a time. As a result, the microclimates that required different volumes of water would receive the same amount, which caused some areas to receive too little or too much water. As a remedy, the new system will be wired to give Dalhamer the capability to turn on individual heads as needed.

Around the greens, the Eagle series rotors were installed and repositioned. The redesign and addition of the new half-circle heads is designed to offer more precise distribution of water on greens, green banks and around bunkers.

The Freedom system is expected to give Dalhamer access to every rotor on the course via a GPS map and to allow him the flexibility to adjust running times without the need to turn on the heads from the satellites.