During the month of February we carried out a comprehensive irrigation audit in Desert Springs, Almería. The importance of irrigation in the southeast of Spain is critical, given that there are two circumstances that make it one of the greatest conditioning factors in the quality and results of a golf course: a high cost of water and very high water needs due to its arid climate.

Desert Springs made a modification of its original irrigation design, establishing a “hard line” between desert zones and the playing area, thanks to the installation of part-circle sprinklers on the perimeter of the irrigated surface. This water conservation strategy is now being broaden thanks to the audit, and will lead the club to make a more efficient water use.

After an intense week of field work together with the Head Greenkeeper and the Irrigation Technician, we gathered all the necessary information to assess the situation, identified the critical aspects and made the proposal of actions within the framework of the audit report.

We drew up a work plan for the maintenance team in which all the recommended actions are included so that the performance of the irrigation system reaches its maximum potential. With the irrigation audit that we are carrying out, the club intends to expand their strategy of water conservation, becoming more efficient in its use. It will be needed to carry out works in the pump intake system in the water reservoir, and sprinkler configuration.