Irrigation Control completes multi-million Euro Cyprus project.

Andy Hisemanin Golf
New watering system at Tsada Golf Club creates better conditions for golfers

Irrigation Control Ltd - the UK's leading sports turf irrigation specialists - has successfully installed a new 1.1 million Euro automated tee-to-green watering system at Tsada Golf Club, which started the golf boom in Cyprus when it opened in 1994.

The Cheshire-based company was called in to provide blanket irrigation to greens, approaches, surrounds, carries, fairways, semi-rough, tees, driving range and practice greens at the club - which features an 18-hole championship course near Paphos.

The project required a complete renewal of the existing irrigation system as part of a major modification of the Donald Steel and Company-designed layout - the oldest of Cyprus's three championship courses - by golf course architects Mackenzie & Ebert.

Leading irrigation consultants Irriplan Ltd designed a system that incorporated more than 22,000 metres of pipe and cable, 800 sprinklers, a brand new state-of-the-art pumping station, a PC control system, a weather station, a lightning warning and protection system and a remote control facility.

All were installed by Irrigation Control during the five-month long project.

Irrigation Control Ltd Managing Director, Phil Breakey, said: "Water is a precious commodity in Cyprus and we had to install a system which provides blanket irrigation for the course while conserving water at the same time.

"Added to that, our team had to ensure the existing system - which was in urgent need of replacement - continued to operate right up until we were able to switch over.

"We were excited to take part in the modification of Tsada Golf Club, as Cyprus is one of Europe's fastest-growing golf destinations and we see the country playing a major role in the ongoing growth of our business."

David Ashley, Golf Course Manager at Cyprus Golf Resorts, who manage Tsada Golf Club, said: "The commitment and professionalism shown by the Irrigation Control team was exemplary; they were very helpful, nothing was too much to ask and they were a pleasure to work with."

Tom Mackenzie of Mackenzie & Ebert said: "This was a highly complex project where the old irrigation system had to be kept working throughout the installation of the new system during the height of the Cyprus summer. Phil and his team performed well and worked closely with the greenstaff and the golf course contractor, John Greasley Ltd, to hit project deadlines. Cooperation between contractors is vital for the success of every project, especially one as challenging as this."

Giles Wardle, Irriplan's founding director, said: "I am impressed with the way Irrigation Control handled the difficult logistics and technical challenges of this project. Their array of top quality machinery and dedicated staff ensured the installation was completed ahead of schedule, despite the very tough ground conditions and blistering heat."

The Cypriot government has granted planning permission for nine new courses and Irrigation Control were in discussions with the developers of one of the courses in October 2006.

To facilitate the Tsada project, Irrigation Control shipped over six container-loads of plant equipment, including their new Ditch Witch HT115 trencher / mole plough machine, the first of its type to be used Europe.

Added Phil: "We believe that owning and operating our own specialised plant is a major advantage, and although moving that amount of equipment overseas presented its own challenge, it was crucial to the success of the project."

Irrigation Control Ltd boasts a fleet of mole ploughing machines and trenchers ranging from 35 horsepower to 115 horsepower along with the latest thrust boring, excavation and electro and butt fusion equipment, many of which were used at Tsada.

Tsada Golf Club was founded in 1994 and is set in the grounds of a 12th century monastery. The occasional 21st century monk can be seen from the 7th tee.

The par 72, 6060 metre long course is situated on the outskirts of Paphos, 550 metres above sea level. It consists of two loops of nine holes with many of the fruit trees, grape vines and conifers planted during Tsada's initial development still intact.

Irrigation Control Ltd is the UK's leading specialists sports turf irrigation company, Set up in 1993, it has worked on sports irrigation systems throughout the UK, France, Spain, Germany and Latvia and has worked on prestigious contracts in golf, football, hockey, tennis, rugby, bowls, and athletics.

Other recent projects include:

· Adding 100 sprinklers to the 300 previously installed by Irrigation Control for the Royal Parks on the sports pitches at Regents Park.

· Installing a fully automatic PC controlled irrigation system at Everton FC's new training ground.

· An extension to the irrigation system to provide blanket irrigation to all pitches at Manchester City FC's training ground.

· 18 holes greens, tees and approaches irrigation system at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lancs

The company manages all size of projects, from replacing single sprinkler heads to full-scale installations and is a 3-time winner of the BTLIA Certificate of Merit Award.
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