Rain Bird goes underground

Tucson, Ariz. – The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards in Sunset, S.C., and Omni Tucson National Golf Resort and Spa in Tucson, Ariz., have installed Rain Bird Golf’s Underground Hose Reel, a new tool for superintendents that allows for quick and easy spot irrigation and won’t damage turf or disrupt play.

The Cliffs at Keowee Vinyards Golf Course is part of The Cliffs Communities, which are gated residential communities located in the heart of the Carolina Preserve. Tri-State Pump and Controls worked with Daniel Brazinski, vice president - golf maintenance and Mike Harbin, director of golf maintenance for The Cliffs Communities, to facilitate the installation of the hose reel on the 11th hole of the course. Sodfather, an irrigation contractor from Spartanburg, S.C., completed the installation.

Omni Tucson National Golf Resort and Spa installed the hose reel on the first hole of its recently opened Sonoran Course. Home of the PGA Tour Chrysler Classic of Tucson, Omni Tucson National, was selected as one of Golf Digest’s 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America. Horizon, one of Rain Bird’s distributors, helped coordinate the installation with Michael Petty, head golf course superintendent for Omni Tucson National. Ben Orozco, assistant golf course superintendent, completed the installation.

Horizon provided the irrigation equipment – including two Rain Bird pump stations – for the recent renovation and expansion of the Sonoran Course. The installation of the hose reel highlighted Horizon’s ability to provide complete irrigation solutions for golf courses.

Rain Bird introduced its hose reel product to help save money and preserve optimal golf course conditions, done by reducing turf damage and hose wear caused by transporting hoses across the playing surface. Rain Bird’s Underground Hose Reel is ideal for installation next to greens and is designed to help crew members respond faster during periods of extreme heat stress or dry conditions.