The installation of a new irrigation system at Wellingborough Golf Club “stands as a resounding success”.
In the midst of the Northamptonshire countryside, in 160 acres of fine, rolling parkland, the 18-hole championship course at Wellingborough Golf Club regularly hosts premier PGA & County golf events. Founded in 1893, the first nine holes of the original course were initially laid out by Old Tom Morris.
In 1922, the club relocated and, in the 1970’s, purchased the Georgian Harrowden Hall and its grounds. The hall became the club’s elegant home and is now its clubhouse, surrounded by five acres of formal, listed gardens. Since 1998, progressive investment has resulted in fully rebuilt greens and bunkers, most teeing areas and intensive drainage work, improving year-round playability.
Giles Wardle of lrriplan was retained to advise, design, and specify a new irrigation system for greens, green surrounds and approaches, and tees.
He explained: “The design challenge was altering the system architecture to deliver more efficient irrigation and provide cover for surrounds and approaches so these could be cut closer, more often. Another requirement was allowing for fairways, potentially, to be added in the future.
“Originally the club’s water storage tank and pump house were built near the main road, close to the mains water supply. Many years later, an irrigation lake was created at the bottom of the site for winter storage but without power, water had to be pumped uphill and down, which seemed a little strange, but systems often evolve over time in this way.
“The new irrigation system design included putting in a new power supply at the lake, re-siting the pump house there, installing an all-new pumping system and completely re-routing and installing main cabling.
“In this part of the UK, soils are clay over ironstone so not the easiest but today mole ploughs are good and channelled through everything as ground conditions were more benign than anticipated.”
Ocmis was appointed as main contractor, completing a fast-paced installation in 2023 in record time in just under forty working days. The renovation replaced the previous block system with over two hundred Rain Bird 752 Series rotors and an upgrade to the latest generation of irrigation technology, the Rain Bird® IC System™ with CirrusPRO™ Central Control software.
Course Manager Steve Mackie said: “Ocmis had an efficient team of 10 or 11 working long days, every day. They knew technically what to do and worked extremely quickly.
“Only one green or hole was closed at any one time so disruption to play was absolutely minimaI, especially important for us during our peak golfing season.
“Work on the new system coincided with a particularly hot dry spell and so playing surfaces had to be hand-watered while the system was down. Luckily, the turf healed well, bouncing back almost at once, so you could hardly see where work had been done.”
Dan Whaites, Irrigation Sales Manager at Ocmis said: “With competitions taking place throughout the peak summer months we made sure the course was left in a pristine condition during installation.
“Greens, tees, and approaches received timely and consistent watering, mitigating the challenges posed by dry and hot conditions, so that playing surfaces flourished, solidifying the club’s reputation for impeccable course conditions. The installation of the irrigation system stands as a resounding success.
“Greens, tees, and approaches have been brought to life and transformed by the irrigation system, reflecting Wellingborough Golf Club’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards.
“The project was executed swiftly and seamlessly, leaving an irrigation system for the golf club to cherish for many years to come.”
Course Manager Mackie added: “CirrusPRO™ is new and so easy to use — it’s unbelievable, especially as you can access it from anywhere. The difference now is that our irrigation window is only three hours, instead of eleven, we’re applying water exactly where we want it to be and the system measures times, application rates and the exact quantity of water being used.”
