Unusual sprinkler problem

I had noticed an unusual water pattern around one of our sprinklers on the 11th fairway on the weekend. When I turned the twin row sprinklers on to test them, one popped up normally and the other dribbled out and wouldn't pop up properly.

Irregular watering pattern on the 11th fairway

After dismantling the sprinkler, checking the valve assembly, solenoid assembly, selector stem and the screen at the base of the sprinkler casing, I reassembled the sprinkler and gave it a test run. Still no luck. With the sprinkler drive removed from the casing and manually turning the sprinkler on it appeared to have decent flow. I then reassembled the sprinkler again and gave it another run - still no good.

Removal of the sprinkler

Having tried everything I know to find an obstruction in the sprinkler the next step was the pipework. Starting with the swing joint I found shards of broken fibrolite pipe in one of the elbows and further investigation found more in the pipe connecting the swing joint. It took some time to remove it all and recommission the sprinkler.  Again another test and success!!!

Debris in swing joint

Debris from the pipe

This debris is the remains of damage caused by the earthquakes 4 years ago!!! Who knows how many more times we need to do this. 

Sprinkler now working perfectly

  

Course Update

With Summer in full swing our rough is drying out and we are getting good definition between the fairways and the rough. The  unmown areas are now drying out into wispy, tall rough that is giving even more definition.

The dry rough from 15th tee

Wispy rough looking toward the 4th green

So far this summer it has been very dry and with the new control system computer now operational watering has been fairly constant. We have been doing quite a bit of hand watering to try and keep the the soil moisture profile fairly even. Having applied wetting agent to more areas on the golf course, and using the moisture meter, we have had better and more accurate water application. The irrigation system has been reasonably reliable with the occasional repair being made to pipework, valves or sprinkler.

Sprinkler operating on the 12th green

Pipe repair at the 16th tee 

As  a reminder to members greens renovation is booked in for the 16th & 17th February.  Before that we will be venting the greens with 8mm pencil tynes to keep the moisture penetrating into the soil profile. As we have done all summer, sand dusting on greens will be continuing on a regular basis. 

One thing to note is there has been no Nitrogen fertiliser application since early November which has kept the Browntop bentgrass strong and the Poa under stress. I am generally fairly pleased with how the greens are coping with our dry summer and expect the greens to kick on after the February renovations.