TORO Nestled within the Murlough Nature Reserve, Royal County Down Golf Club stands as proof of the natural beauty of Northern Ireland’s landscape. Renowned worldwide, it is consistently celebrated as one of the greatest golf courses ever designed. However, maintaining its traditional links conditions while embracing modernity poses unique challenges. For the club’s team, ensuring the greens and fairways remain firm and true to their heritage is a priority. This goal led them to Toro and Reesink Hydro-Scapes, resulting in one of the UK’s most ambitious irrigation projects. The club’s irrigation system, originally installed in the late 1990s with a Toro CDS control system, had served well for over two decades. However, technological advancements and the need for even more precision called for an upgrade. David Morgan, the club’s secretary, noted the dual responsibility to conserve water while maintaining the course’s legacy: “We have a social responsibility to manage our water usage, as well as an obligation to the course and our members to present it as a traditional links course.” Revamping the system meant aligning it with modern standards while minimising environmental impact. The existing 1990s double-row fairway sprinkler layout had water frequently applied to rough and unmanaged areas, so basically where it was not wanted or needed. However, the polyethylene mainline pipework remained in excellent condition and could be incorporated into the new design. Further complexities arose from integrating three new holes added to the Annesley Links over the past decade. This integration required revising the entire system layout to ensure optimal coverage and efficiency. Specialist irrigation designer Adrian Mortram crafted a design centred entirely around Toro technology. Key components included the Toro Lynx LSM control Preserving Irish links with modern solutions Royal County Down has modernised its irrigation system with Toro technology to maintain its traditional links course and conserve water. 8
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