PEBBLE BEACH COMPANY CONTINUES IRRIGATION UPGRADE OF ITS COURSES WITH RAIN BIRD®

TUCSON, Ariz. (April 30, 2004) – Pebble Beach Company has reaffirmed its confidence in and commitment to Rain Bird® Corporation’s equipment and service, as Spyglass Hill® has become the latest of the company’s golf courses to upgrade its irrigation system with Rain Bird.

When renovation is completed later this year, Spyglass Hill’s new irrigation equipment will mirror that of the storied Pebble Beach Golf Links®, and The Links at Spanish Bay, both owned by Pebble Beach Company. That equipment includes Rain Bird’s Cirrus central control, 500, 550, 700 and 750 EAGLE™ series gear drive rotors, and the FREEDOM™ System handheld remote.

“ We decided to renovate with Rain Bird based on the strong relationships and successes that Pebble Beach Company has had with them over the past decade,” said Spyglass Hill superintendent Chris Dalhamer. “We’re excited about the support they’ve shown and the new technology they offer. Utilizing cutting-edge technology is important on a golf course like ours.”

Spyglass Hill is undergoing a complete overhaul of its irrigation system to enhance playing conditions and help maintain its status as one of the nation’s premier courses. An annual host of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and the California State Amateur qualifying tournaments, Spyglass is considered one of the toughest and most challenging courses in Northern California. Dalhamer would make a case that it also poses some of the most difficult challenges in terms of efficient irrigation practices. But the new system, he says, will help alleviate these challenges and promote a more consistent playing course and healthier turf grass.

“ Our main objective is to improve the irrigation system so that we can water more efficiently, while reducing water use, and energy and labor costs,” he said. This underscores the importance of effective water management, which Dalhamer will rely on with the new irrigation equipment, for meeting the challenges of the course.

Spyglass Hill features various microclimates: heavily forested, shaded areas vs. open areas exposed to the sun and ocean; and rough areas with dense clay soil vs. sand-capped fairways. Prior to renovation, Dalhamer did not have the ability to turn on one rotor at a time. As a result, the microclimates that required different volumes of water would receive the same amount, which caused some areas to receive too little or too much water. As a remedy, the new system will be wired to give Dalhamer the capability to turn on individual heads as needed.

Around the greens, Rain Bird’s EAGLE series rotors were installed and repositioned in comparison to the previously existing sprinkler heads. The redesign and addition of the new half-circle heads will offer more precise distribution of water on greens, green banks and around bunkers, he said.
“ We used to just run full heads around the greens, so whenever we wanted to water the greens really heavy, we had to water the banks really heavy as well,” Dalhamer said.

The FREEDOM system, meanwhile, will help Dalhamer save precious time each morning as he turns on sprinklers. The handheld devise gives him access to every rotor on the course via a GPS map and allows him the flexibility to adjust running times without the need to turn on the heads from the satellites.

“ It’s an amazing advancement in irrigation to be able to basically operate the central control from the palm of your hand while on the course,” he said.

For more information on Rain Bird products and renovation solutions, visit www.rainbird.com/golf or call (800) 984-2255.

About Rain Bird

Rain Bird Corporation – Golf Division manufactures a wide range of irrigation products for golf courses: EAGLE™ gear drive rotors, the new EAGLE™ Wireless rotor series, field controllers, map-based central control irrigation systems, decoders, swing joints, flow meters, filtration systems, valves and irrigation accessories. Rain Bird central control components are serviced and supported by a comprehensive Global Service Plan (GSP). These products are sold worldwide through an extensive network of specialty irrigation distributors.

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® Rain Bird is a registered trademark of Rain Bird Corporation.

® Pebble Beach Golf Links, and distinctive images of the course are trademarks, service marks and trade dress of Pebble Beach Company. Used by permission. Rain Bird is the Official Irrigation Supplier of Pebble Beach Resorts.

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