Course redesign sees Oakmere bring in complete Toro Irrigation system

The equipment

Toro Lynx central control system

Infinity T7 sprinklers

The background

For Oakmere Park Golf Club in Nottinghamshire, its redesign and expansion from 27 holes across two courses to 36 holes presented the perfect opportunity to replace its 40-year-old irrigation system whose brittle and cracked pipes were causing the club huge losses of water.

The brief

The club’s director of golf, John Jones, wanted a new system that would help to raise the course’s standards and maximise the playability of its free-draining courses. 

The sandy ground, which retains less water and varies in the way it holds water across the courses, made it paramount for the club to invest in a technologically advanced irrigation system to cater to the unique needs of the turf.

The results

Lynx gave more control to the operator meaning water distribution can be as precise as 5mm to the greens or 4mm to the tees and the weather station monitors the humidity so water is not lost to evaporation. 

The variation provided by the Lynx means different amounts of water can be delivered to different greens, so they are never flooded. Plants are flourishing as the green is never flooded, instead it’s given just the right amount of water. The club saw a significant reduction to its water bills thanks to its new system.

The conclusion

Oakmere Golf Club’s course redesign and expansion presented the perfect opportunity for the club to bring in new technology and bring the entire site above par. Those operating the new system can now exact more control and as a result are already seeing water and cost savings, as well as improved turf quality.