FINISHING TOUCHES

The irrigation system installation is wrapping up. The system has been running automatically for months now while the last few fairway sprinklers have been installed. The pump station communication with the central computer has been established and the wireless weather station is being installed.

The diagnostics at the central computer communicate directly to each sprinkler head and provide the
status and condition of all of the sprinklers and valves on the golf course in less than one minute.

This technician for ISI solders all of the wire splices in the system.

This hydraulic tamper is used to compact the soil around the sprinkler heads.

The final touches are put on a trench crossing the fairway on the last hole.

BOOSTER PUMP INSTALLATION

The topography at Towson G & CC required a booster pump station to be added to the design. The steep climb up to the clubhouse and other irrigated areas such as 10 tee box, the putting green and the driving range tee need an extra water pressure boost to supply those upper areas with the necessary water and pressure. A location was chosen between the driving range and #1 tee, out of the way. The mainline enters one side of the pump and exits the other side with increased pressure.

The booster station comes preassembled and ready to install.

This station will increase water pressure to irrigated areas uphill.

The irrigation mainline will continue uphill to irrigated areas such as the putting green, tennis court irrigation
#10 tee.

FAIRWAY INSTALLATION CONTINUES

The fairway sprinkler heads are being installed at a rapid pace now that we have had better weather conditions. The installation process does not need an open trench for the lateral line pipe so clean up is quicker and easier. The only holes are at pipe connections and where the new sprinkler heads and quick coupler valves are added. As soon as sprinkler heads are added to the communication wire path each sprinklers information can be scanned quickly from its barcode and uploaded to the central computer.

This sprinkler head just needs to be connected to the communication wire and then it is ready
to be backfilled.

Finishing touches on sprinkler heads and backfilling. 



Two inch HDPE tee being fused. This procedure does not require any glue or mechanical restraints.



Two inch HDPE elbow being fused.

The maintenance staff puts finishing touches on mainline trenches by adding a little topsoil and seed.

Just add water and these trench lines will heal quickly.

FAIRWAY SPRINKLERS BEING INSTALLED

Similar to the greens installation the 2" HDPE lateral pipes are being pulled in using a vibratory plow. This method eliminates the need for an open trench. Using HDPE eliminates solvent weld connections in the pipe. All HDPE connections are butt fused. The process involves heating the two pipes ends that will be joined and holding them together under a constant pressure until the material cools. The result is a incredibly strong weld that has a higher burst point than the pipe. The single communication cable is laid in the trough with the pipe. The Towson system was designed with two wire paths, 550 sprinklers on the red wire path and 550 on the green wire path. Each wire travels back to Doug Halls office where the central control computer communicates individually with each sprinkler providing detailed information on each sprinklers status and condition.

2" pipe and communication wire being plowed.

This sprinkler head is ready to be installed.

The ends of each pipe and fitting were already heated. This machine holds
smaller pipe together while it cools.

Here we see a transition from the PVC sub-mainline to 2" HDPE pipe. 

CONNECTING THE PUMP STATION

With the new screen on the intake pipe, ISI was ready to make the final connection between the mainline and the pump station. The 12" pipe coming from the pump station will feed the entire golf course.

Jimmy and Juan wrestle with the new intake screen.

The steel discharge pipe will be concreted into place.

A massive 10" isolation valve is lowered into place.

A mainline tee is positioned.

The heavy 10" and 12" ductile iron fittings have to positioned using backhoes.