Sun Lakes Country Club
Banning, CA

Project Overview

Sun Lakes Country Club occupies more than 180 acres of some of the most beautifully landscaped land in Banning, California, located in Riverside County. With more than 90,000 rounds of golf played annually, Sun Lakes’ 18-hole golf course has nearly double the rounds played than an average golf course. The club also provides the scenic backdrop for the nearly 3,400 homes that surround the course. Consequently, when a 2002 drought caused the city to shut off 50 percent of Sun Lakes’ irrigation water supply, the whole community expressed concern about the destruction of large areas of turf.

With nearly 180 acres of turf, Sun Lakes Country Club was one of the three top water users in the City of Banning in 2002. With water scarcity becoming a continued issue for the city, the club was not only facing the threat of another water shut-off, but its water costs were also going to increase by nearly 50 percent. Sun Lakes’ General Manager, Tim Taylor, had to find a way to conserve water, and he had to find it fast.

Project Challenges

Sun Lakes has twice the amount of turf than the average golf course, as the homes are marketed and sold for their golf course views. Without adequate water, large areas of the course were dying. Taylor soon realized that converting the non-playing areas from turf to native plant material using drip irrigation would help him manage his water crisis. However, convincing homeowners that converting non-play turf areas to native plantings would both save water and be aesthetically pleasing, was a challenge.

Solutions

In early 2003, the project was approved. It would include the conversion of 4.5 non-play acres from turf with rotor watering to native plantings with drip irrigation. Under the supervision of Golf Course Superintendent Mike Snyder, the club’s on-site maintenance crew was in charge of both the design and installation of the drip irrigation system.

After some research on available irrigation options, the crew recommended Rain Bird Xerigation® products for the project. These are simple to use, reliable, and durable low-volume irrigation products. “Rain Bird’s extensive Xerigation offering provided all the components that we needed for the conversion,” explains Snyder. “Moreover, our Rain Bird sales representative, Dave Palumbo, was extremely helpful throughout the project and showed us how simple the products were to use.”

They decided to install a point-source drip system, which offered the most benefits for the sparse planting areas. In addition to saving water, this system reduced weed growth and extended the life of the mulch. Due to the high-traffic and maintenance concerns, they wanted the most durable system they could find.

Rain Bird’s Xerigation line of products met all of the criteria. They used Rain Bird Multi-Outlet Xeri-BugTM emitters on PVC pipe for the most vandal-resistant and durable system. They also ran 1/4” tubing directly to each plant, and used Rain Bird’s 1/4” Tubing Stakes with Bug Caps to hold the tubing in place. To provide correct flow, filtration, and pressure regulation, the crew installed Rain Bird Commercial Control Zone Kits in all drip zones. The resulting system was durable and provided the precise watering needed for the landscaping.

Savings Summary

Thanks to Rain Bird Xerigation products, the on-site maintenance crew completed the project under their projected two-year goal, while continuing their usual maintenance duties. The newly installed Rain Bird drip irrigation system is saving nearly 4 million gallons of water annually, and has reduced course maintenance. The occupants of the surrounding homes are not only impressed with the visual interest created by the new colorful plant zones, but have also noticed that the drip system mitigates several of the negative effects of the old rotor system such as overspray, occasional brown spots, and rotor noise.

Overall, the conversion yielded a water savings of 69 percent. Nearly 4 million gallons of water were saved each year, resulting in an annual water cost savings of $6,346. Needless to say, the project was a great success. “Rain Bird’s reliable products have helped us achieve both water and cost savings and create an efficient system for a long-term solution,” stated Taylor. In fact, the board of directors was so impressed, they are now considering converting more of the non-playing turf areas to drip, which would save up to 33 million gallons of water per year at a projected annual water cost savings of $52,360. The Intelligent Use of Water™ is a reality for Sun Lakes Country Club.

PRODUCTS USED

• Multi-Outlet Xeri-Bug™
  XBT-10-6
• 1/4” Distribution Tubing
  DT-025
• Commercial Control Zone Kit
  XCZ-100-COM
• 1/4” Tubing Stake with Cap
  TS-025 w/CAP