Full 18-hole decoder-system rewire
JK Irrigation completed a course-wide rewire at Shirley Park Golf Club, installing a Rain Bird ESP-LXD two-wire decoder control system onto the club's existing ageing irrigation infrastructure. The project restored full automatic irrigation control across all 18 holes.
The 18-hole rewire
- Full 18-hole golf course rewire
- Installation of a Rain Bird ESP-LXD two-wire decoder control system
- Rain Bird 101 and 202 field decoders
- Mole-ploughed field-cable routes across the course
- New grease pots fitted at every field connection
- Electrical resistance testing across the course
- Solenoid coils replaced where testing or operation showed this was required
- A new control panel at the greenkeepers' sheds
- Transfer of the main control point from the former greenkeepers' office in the clubhouse
- Selected valve upgrades during the works
- Ongoing maintenance support for the club
Rain Bird ESP-LXD control and field decoders
The new control panel was based on Rain Bird's ESP-LXD platform for two-wire decoder irrigation. The images below show the Rain Bird controller and field decoders used for this type of system.
The system used Rain Bird 101 and 202 decoders, predominantly 101s. Every field connection received a new grease pot as part of the rewire.
Course-wide installation in approximately three weeks
The rewire was completed across the full course in approximately three weeks. Mole-plough installation allowed the new cable routes to be installed efficiently while limiting the amount of open excavation across playing areas.
The programme required coordinated access across all 18 holes and careful connection with the retained irrigation system.
Moving control to the operational base
The previous control location was in the old greenkeepers' office within the clubhouse. As part of the project, JK Irrigation installed a new control panel and moved the irrigation control point to the newer greenkeepers' sheds.
This placed day-to-day control with the course team at their operational base and supported full automatic operation across the 18-hole system.
Working with the existing system
The project was a rewire and control upgrade rather than a complete replacement of every irrigation component. JK Irrigation connected the ESP-LXD system and new Rain Bird 101 and 202 decoders to the retained irrigation infrastructure, fitted new grease pots at every connection and upgraded selected valves where required.
Electrical resistance testing was carried out across the course. Solenoid coils were replaced where the readings or operating checks showed this was required, allowing faults within the ageing system to be addressed alongside the new control installation.
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