New course, and irrigation system, fit for Kings

The equipment

Toro Lynx Central Control System

Toro Infinity and Flex 800 sprinklers

The background

When the West Link by-pass around Inverness was routed straight through Kings Golf Club, then known as Torvean Golf Club, the club knew it was going to benefit from a new home from the Highland Council who owned the land – and in the summer of 2019, the course, designed by Scottish golf architect Stuart Rennie, opened to great acclaim.

The brief

In the process of relocating with a brand new 18-hole, 6,600-yard, par 70 layout, the club specified a new Toro Lynx central control system and sprinklers to take it into the next phase of its life.

A significant challenge was that the greens and tees of the new site are built on 92 percent sand and 8 percent soil in an open, exposed, breezy location, which gives it characteristics more in line with a links course than inland like it is. The new system would have to combat this, with Declan O’Malley from contractor European Golf Services, helping to choose the system.

The results

The club chose Toro’s Lynx central control system and Infinity sprinklers for all areas but the tees, and the Flex 800 sprinklers on tees. This has provided accurate and uniform coverage to the challenging course construction.

The new course is a real accomplishment to all involved. Throughout the construction, which involved creating 16 new holes and completely renovating two from the existing course, the club needed to ensure there were always 18 holes open for play with timings in accordance to the deadline of phase two of the road construction. There was no room for error in any area.

At completion, it was declared by Course Manager Stevie McIntosh to deliver all he would expect and want from a project and system.

The conclusion

The new system could not be any more different to the old one. It’s easy to use, accurate and provides uniform coverage, plus feedback from the club confirmed using it is a real pleasure.