Raising/Leveling Irrigation Heads

Proper installation depth and adequate trajectory are important for efficient sprinkler head performance.  Sprinkler heads with 3" risers cannot function properly if set or positioned 4"-5" below grade.  Factory specified performance (trajectory, radius, distribution uniformity) when applying water will be negatively impacted.  In addition, the existence of considerably below grade sprinkler canisters can pose hazards for golfers and workers alike.  With a large portion of our turf dormant in the cool season months we have ramped up our focus on raising and leveling priority sprinklers.
 

Poor grade impacting trajectory and required radius.
Applying water short of intended target.

Very low fairway/rough pair of heads.

Proper leveling and grade.

  

Ugly Irrigation Leak

Managing irrigation at Champions Club is challenging given the drastic elevation changes, course design element favoring collection areas, and poor soil composition limiting infiltration.  With these variables in place and subsequent potential areas of high water velocity within the sub-surface piping, the system is prone to wear and fitting failure.  Below is a not so beautiful example of a failure we recently experienced near the steps leading to #14 green.

Poor as-built diagrams allowed the water to run longer than we all would have liked as the isolation valve noted on the plans did not stop the flow of water.  A flaw in construction that I will discuss in a later post is noted in the middle photograph.  A "collar dam" and created low limits positive surface drainage and forces water to potentially sit for extended periods of time.  The result can cause anaerobic conditions (black layer) and turfgrass decline in these isolated areas.