“We’ve opened up vistas and corridors throughout the entire property,” said Boring. “We have so much more availability and flexibility with our Rain Bird system now.” Rain Bird’s CirrusPRO Central Control system allows Boring and his team to streamline irrigation management across the more than 4,000 rotors on the two courses, allowing them to micromanage water and create detailed programmes in response to changing conditions. The rotors themselves, which are a combination of Rain Bird’s 752 and 952 models, are also suitable for managing Baltusrol’s large putting surfaces. “These rotors are a product that has stood the test of time,” said Boring. The Rain Bird Integrated Control (IC) System also enables Boring’s team to manage the irrigation of the courses from a phone or tablet, rather than returning to the computer at the maintenance facility to diagnose any issues. “Having control at the touch of your fingertips while you’re out in the field looking at things has been a game changer for us,” said Boring. “We can go out in the field and adjust heads in real time. The IC System gives us diagnostics at our fingertips.” The Lower course reopened for play in 2021 and hosted its first major championship since the restoration, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, in June 2023. Work on the Upper course began in early 2024 and will be completed in spring 2025. “When we made this decision to restore these golf courses, it was monumental,” said Boring. “We weren’t going to get another opportunity to do this over again. We had to get this right. We had to make the correct choice. And I think we nailed it.” For more on Rain Bird, turn to page 56, or visit www.rainbird.com/golf 13 Baltusrol completed the renovation of its Lower course in 2021 and work on the Upper course began in early 2024 Photo: Rain Bird
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