Gleneagles Upgrades Centenary Course Irrigation

The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles is staging the 2014 Ryder Cup and as part of an upgrading of course care facilities 600 sprinkler heads have been replaced. The work was carried out by Souters Irrigation Services, a specialist arm of sports turf contractor Souters Sports set up last year specifically to handle irrigation refurbishment and installation projects.

The course’s irrigation heads had been in use since its construction in 1990 and as Gleneagles Golf Courses and Estates Manager Scott Fenwick put it there was growing concern over their long term reliability. Now in place for the length of the Centenary course are Toro’s dual trajectory full and part circle DT34B and DT35B sprinklers with 15 or 25 degree setting option simply by turning the main nozzle.

“The aim of the upgrade was to see that irrigation on The PGA Centenary Course was always 100% efficient at all times,” said Scott Fenwick.

“Rainfall levels here have actually been steadily rising over the past five years and £800,000 has been recently spent on new drainage. However, there are often dry spells, sometimes lengthy, and it is vital that irrigation kicks-in when needed to maximum effect”.

Using a template for the most effective sprinkler layout, all existing swing joints and heads were removed, replacements installed, and the course made good by sand backfilling and re-turfing.

The PGA Centenary is one of three courses at the world famous Perthshire resort and when it hosts the Ryder Cup in 2014 it will be the first staging in Scotland for over 40 years.

For further information, please contact Souters Irrigation Services Limited on 01236 453030 or visit www.souterssports.co.uk

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