Golf Course Irrigation Systems

If you run or manage a golf course, you’re probably under a lot of pressure to deliver immaculate greens, fairways and tees. We’re talking yards of close cropped grass; emerald green and strong enough to withstand hours of heavy play.

But in Florida’s humid subtropical climate, maintaining strong and attractive sports turf is easier said than done.

With temperatures climbing to the high-90s in the height of summer, even hardy or drought-resistant grasses struggle to establish themselves. Then there’s the harsh storms, sandy soils, inconsistent rainfall and increasingly-frequent droughts to contend with.

Golf Club

Not an easy mix, all things considered!

Over the years, many golf course and irrigation designers have attempted to beat Florida’s climate by installing under-designed irrigation systems that focus on one thing: Inundating high-traffic or heavily- played areas with large volumes of water - with no real regard for the long-term risks of overwatering.

A smarter, more efficient way to keep turf consistently green

Here at Hoover, we'll show you a smarter way to irrigate your golf course: Using a modern, well-optimised pumping station in conjunction with intelligent technology to deliver the right amount of water to your greens – when and where you really need it. Every time.

According to the University Of Florida’s Department of Environmental Horticulture, Florida golf courses use approximately 172 billion gallons of water every year. This accounts for about 67% of all total recreational water use in the state.

And as you can probably imagine, there are problems with the all-or-nothing management approach that's often the result of a need to keep turf green:

It Wastes Water

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection points out that Florida’s water reserves are limited and dwindling. As such, golf courses are likely to come under pressure from environmental groups, local neighbourhoods and government bodies for using this water unnecessarily.
It's Not A Sustainable Practice

As summers grow harsher and droughts become more common, golf courses using traditional irrigation methods will find it increasingly challenging (and expensive!) to access the large volumes of water needed to sustain their courses.
It’s Bad For The Environment

Over-irrigating greens, tee boxes and rough can wash phosphates, pesticides and other - equally harmful - chemicals into Florida’s rivers and lakes. This damages the environment and puts many of our native species at risk. Environmental stewardship may not be a top priority for every golf course, but it is becoming more and more important.
It’s Bad For Your Bottom Line

Energy is expensive, and costs are rising year on year. According to the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) the average 18 hole golf course uses approximately 448,123 kwh of electricity a year and a good chunk of that energy is spent running inefficient irrigation systems.

The Smart Solution

Advanced Irrigation Systems Designed For Florida

Our pump stations break with the old status quo, in the sense that they use centrifugal pumps to draw water from irrigation lakes – instead of relying on turbine pumps to draw from costly, dirty wet wells.

Why do we prefer to irrigate from lakes? There are two main reasons. Firstly, lakes are a natural part of Florida’s environment: A living, breathing, ecosystem that’s far removed from the stagnant environment created by the average wet well – and one that’s capable of providing a flexible and healthy water source for your course.

Secondly, irrigation lakes have a near-unlimited lifespan, whereas a 6-8ft wide, 20ft deep wet well will dry up as soon as the water source you’re drawing from (or the water table) drop too low. Then there’s all the hassle of sizing culverts appropriately, keeping on top of debris and ensuring that there’s a good flow of water into your wet well.

We think drawing from a lake just makes more sense. It’s easier, it’s more reliable, and it’ll reduce the environmental impact of your irrigation system by cutting down on the need to use chlorine and other chemicals to clean your water.

But water sources and pump types are only part of the story.

The thing that really sets our pump stations apart is our clever use of modern technology. Every Hoover pump station uses a clever network of variable speed drives and an intelligent control system Hoover Flowguard, to manage your water consumption. Our irrigation systems can be controlled from anywhere in the world, so you’ll be able to tweak and adjust your settings on the fly – eliminating the need to drive back to your office and log into a computer every time you want to manage your system.

We also offer unparalleled after sales support: Our team will always be on hand to help you troubleshoot issues or optimise your system and we always make ourselves accountable.

It’s the perfect solution for busy superintendents and it’s been proven time and time again. In fact, Hoover pumping stations are found on 9,000 sports fields, residential developments and ornamental green spaces all over Florida so if you’re looking for a modern and cost-effective solution with a verified track record, a Hoover pumping station is the only choice for your course.

Why would anybody want to work with anyone else?

Brian Claxton, Golf Course Superintendent, Four Seasons Resort, Nevis

A Smarter Way To Irrigate

Turbine pump stations have their place, but we think they’re a poor choice for the majority of Florida’s golf courses. In fact, we know that a well-built centrifugal pump will outperform a traditional turbine pump in 99.9% of cases.

Valued By Hundreds Of Turf Care Experts

We’re confident that a Hoover pumping station will save you money, water and time. We’ve spent decades refining our solution and continue to do so. We’re excited to help golf courses across Florida build a reputation for irrigating their sports turf more effectively and efficiently.

Courting Controversy

A Better Approach To Irrigating Sports Turf

We understand our solution is fairly controversial. The cost and water savings are considerable, but consultants and course designers who are incentivized to support the status quo often dismiss modern alternatives to more traditional irrigation systems.

Now, we’ll be the first to admit that there are circumstances when a turbine system is appropriate, primarily with a deep well source. Occasionally, the peculiarities of a particular course, water table or micro-climate mean that a turbine pump station can be a viable choice for your course.

But often, the biggest reason that the turbine and wet well approach remains the standard design for golf courses in Florida boils down to a blend of unfamiliarity and even resistance to exploring better ways and industry advancements, self-interest ($), and ultimately the old adage of – “that’s the way it’s always been done,” so some don’t ever question it.

Hoover has been building and installing turbine systems since the mid-1980s and over the course of nearly 40 years we have evolved into offering an approach that is unquestionably more economical, reliable, and sustainable than the cookie-cutter approach the industry has fallen into.

To help you establish whether your designer’s or consultant’s views are not stuck in the 20th century, we’ve developed a list of red-flag statements that betray a limited understanding of current best practices:

Fallacy: "You need at least 120 psi to irrigate a golf course"

High pressures are needed to ensure that your sprinklers reach every yard of sports turf, but you probably don’t need the 120+ psi that your consultant recommended. Most designs and standard operations have fallen behind as technology has advanced and the top-line stats most people quote are completely out of date.

Fallacy: "Turbine Pump Systems are a must-have"

Large turbine pumps tend to be the go-to for golf course irrigation systems because they let you move large amounts of water in a short space of time, but they’re not the best application for most golf courses in Florida that draw from surface water.

Does it really make sense to spend an extra six figures on a wet well when there is a much better way to deliver reliable water to your course that also includes many additional benefits that others simply cannot offer?

Fallacy: "One VFD is good enough."

Intelligent use of high quality VFDs (variable frequency drives) is the key to efficient irrigation. Where some providers try to use one drive for several pumps, we only specify dedicated drives for each pump – ensuring optimal system efficiency and saving you dollars.

HIRIMS Case Study

Case Study: Castellina Community Irrigation

We worked with this gated community in Wellington, Florida, made up of 260 single-family homes, featuring three large lakes. They had a number of issues with their irrigation system, which was installed in 2011. We carried out a phased revamp and upgrade of the existing system resulted in a long-term solution at a much lower cost than starting over. Read our case study on this total irrigation solution.

We Follow A Proven Process

Putting You In The Driver's Seat

When it comes to Florida’s 1,100 golf courses, there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all. Every course has its own peculiarities and unique quirks which is why we always start any engagement with an in-depth consultation.

Our engineers and irrigation experts will review your distribution network and work out what you’ll need from your new pumping station.

Once we’ve got a handle on the challenges you’re facing, we’ll draw up a detailed specification and design; optimized to help you nourish your sports turf and protect your greens.

And once you’ve given us the green light, we’ll take care of the manufacture, installation and setup – sending a dedicated team of engineers, equipped with backhoes, cranes, tools and generators to install your new system.

Our service doesn't stop there either: Unlike a lot of modern manufacturers, we’re committed to building durable systems that can cope with Florida’s unique climate, but we know that things can and do go wrong which is why we offer dedicated aftercare and support to all of our clients.

Irrespective of whether you need help optimizing your water use or repairing a leak, we’ll be on hand day or night to make sure things are running smoothly.

Looking For Golf Course Irrigation?

We’d love to be part of the conversation. Tell us about your project and one of our engineers will be in touch to discuss your needs.