9 the eagerly anticipated redesign of the final six holes of the Old course. “The closing holes of the three half rounds, the entrance around the clubhouse, the walkways and the practice facility were completely rebuilt,” says Althaus. “Striking individual trees and visual axes were worked out and the course sections were harmoniously connected. The focus was on fully modernising the golf elements of the facility, which included adding a new state-of-the-art irrigation system with a two-row, in parts three-row, system for greater efficiency. “Strong winds and the sandy soil on the island means that irrigation must be precise. In order to achieve the typical links course character, it is also important to only irrigate the playing surfaces. Water conservation was a key consideration, as the need to protect and preserve it is never more acute than in an island setting.” The club opted to implement the Rain Bird IC System. “The system was a clear choice for the club,” says Althaus. “The head greenkeeper has control over every single rotor while information from the field ensures that only the required amount of water is applied with impressive accuracy and uniformity.” The club selected contractor Dennis Brehmer to manage the project due to his experience in all aspects of golf course construction and irrigation. Work began in August and progressed at pace due to Brehmer’s many years of project management and his knowledge about Rain Bird technologies. After just 10 weeks, Brehmer’s team had moved almost 40,000 cubic metres of sand, reconstructed six holes, installed the new irrigation system, and the course was ready for seeding. Crucially for the venue, golfers had 18 holes available for play throughout. “This project is an investment in the future,” says club manager Tom Anlauf. “With our island location, we need a reliable system with lots of technical possibilities and the ability to locate and fix problems quickly. The Rain Bird IC System delivers exactly what we needed. Just as important as the technology is the support we receive from our Rain Bird distributor, Christian Stock, and the experience and close proximity of our contractor, Brehmer. This will continue to be important to us for further conversations in the future.” The new holes are scheduled to open in early June 2023 when visitors can look forward to a memorable and unique golfing experience. For more on Rain Bird, turn to page 51, or visit www.rainbird.com/golf
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