In the areas of golf course irrigation and water management, Surtec Golf Agronomy has a dedicated department of experienced professionals, led by Mr. Pablo Muñoz, a Certified Golf Irrigation Auditor and Certified Irrigation Designer accredited by the Irrigation Association of America.
Mr. Pablo Muñoz, Founder and Director of the company, is a recognized authority in golf course water management and irrigation. He is the author of essential irrigation literature in Spanish and a frequent speaker at conferences for Greenkeeper Associations, Golf Managers, Golf Federations, and various technical forums on irrigation and water management within the golf industry.
Surtec
Experts in optimizing quality standards
With more than 17 years of experience, we have collaborated with prominent designers such as Jack Nicklaus, Kyle Phillips and Robert Trent Jones II, thus consolidating our reputation in the sector.
Irrigation audits
An irrigation audit is an extremely valuable tool for identifying issues or suboptimal performance in the golf course’s irrigation system and hydraulic networks. This process allows us to define an action plan aimed at applying water uniformly across playing areas, ultimately improving playing conditions and reducing water and energy costs.
Our irrigation audits include:
Evaluation of the hydraulic network's sizing and condition.
Monitoring pressure levels during nighttime irrigation event.
Assessment of sprinklers: configuration, spacing and performance.
Irrigation uniformity tests on greens and fairways.
Water quality assessment.
Programming and configuration of the irrigation software.
Evaluation of target working pressures and pump station settings.
Assessment of water and energy consumption.
The audit process concludes with a comprehensive technical diagnostic report, which includes the collected data, findings, and a detailed chapter of prioritized recommendations to assist the Club in establishing a strategic plan for optimizing the efficiency of the irrigation system.
Our irrigation audits are conducted by Mr. Pablo Muñoz, the only professional in Europe holding both the Certified Golf Irrigation Auditor and Certified Irrigation Designer certifications. Over the past 8 years, we have successfully completed more than 60 irrigation audits in Europe, South America, and the Middle East, achieving high levels of client satisfaction.
Irrigation system design
In a global scenario of reduced water availability and quality, the irrigation system is undoubtedly the most crucial infrastructure for providing a high-quality golf course while ensuring efficient resource use.
At Surtec Golf Agronomy, we have the most skilled and experienced team in designing golf course irrigation systems. Our specialists in hydraulics, agronomy, and CAD design analyze each project’s unique needs to create a custom-built system. This system is guaranteed to be calculated, sized, simulated, and specified to meet the objectives throughout an extended service life, aligned with the scale of the investment.
In the detailed design phase, our irrigation projects will include:
Water availability and quality assessment.
Calculation of golf course irrigation requirements based on the existing turfgrass species.
Design and sizing of the hydraulic network to achieve the optimal irrigation window for worst case scenario.
Design of satellite or "two-wire" systems based on client needs.
Uniformity evaluation to specify optimal nozzle types and spacing.
Assessment of pressure distribution and determination of optimal operating pressures.
Construction general and detailed plans.
Construction technical specifications.
Line items and bill of quantities.
Construction cost estimate.
During the construction phase, we ensure the integrity of the design by providing the following services to our clients:
System layout review and approval.
Quality control and approval of materials.
Supervision and approval of executed works.
Geometric and financial control of the project.
Interim certificates.
Certificaciones de obra.
As-built plans.
Programming and configuration of irrigation software.
Pump station design
Thanks to our experienced team of irrigation designers and engineers, we have proven expertise in designing pumping systems for golf courses. These systems are meticulously crafted to provide optimal stable pressure conditions for the irrigation system and achieve high energy efficiency in pump consumption.
The general design process for a pumping system includes:
Determination of the desired irrigation window.
Calculation of consumption and maximum flow rates under the most challenging conditions.
Calculation of pressure loss at the most unfavorable points.
Determination of filtration or water treatment needs.
Analysis of site plans to identify differentiated pressure areas.
Design of hydraulic components.
Calculation of required electrical power.
Design of electrical components and monitoring and control systems.
Civil works design.
Our involvement in the design of the pump station provides the following benefits:
The system is tailored to meet the specific needs of your golf course.
An optimal balance between system costs and performance.
A system designed for a prolonged service life, aligned with the scale of the investment.
Reduced electrical consumption due to the use of highly energy-efficient equipment.
Technical specifications that ensure equipment quality.
Documentation that allows companies to bid on the same specifications.
Water reservoir design
The ponds and reservoirs associated with a golf course are essential infrastructure for its annual operation, as they store, capture, and distribute water. In some cases, they also serve as strategic elements in the development of play.
However, for these ponds to function efficiently and optimize water resource management, they must be designed and constructed according to their specific purpose.
In the detailed design phase, the general process may include, depending on the specific case:
Site analysis.
Determination of optimal size.
Hydrological, geological, and geotechnical studies.
Stability analysis.
Earthworks calculations.
Drainage design.
Waterproofing design.
Inlet structure design.
Outlet structure design.
During the construction phase, we ensure the integrity of the design by providing the following services to our clients:
System layout review and approval.
Quality control and approval of materials.
Supervision and approval of executed works.
Geometric and financial control of the project.
Interim certificates.
As-built plans.
Surtec Golf Agronomy has no financial interest in or agreement with any manufacturer, installer or service that it can recommend. This allows the particular interests of each client to be our first and only priority.