Course closures due to excessive rain

[Jazzman]

Evans Prairies has been closed for three weeks or so due to excessive water on course as a result of rain. So can anyone tell me why the irrigation system has been on for three plus hours watering the fairway and green on the fourth hole that runs along Hendley opposite Big Cypress rec center? Even a section of Palmetto executive course, the irrigation system on a portion that abuts Pinellas has been on since 7:30 am this morning and is still on four hours later. Does anyone monitor these systems to see if they’re working correctly

[dewilson58]

keeping the ponds at a certain level during hurricane season??




:shrug:

[tophcfa]

The courses are designed as flood planes during times of excessive rains. As stated, the sprinklers are run even when not seemingly needed, to lower water levels in water retention ponds. We are currently in peak hurricane season so these ponds water levels need to be managed just in case. After hurricane Irma all Golf was temporarily closed and irrigation systems were constantly running.

[Two Bills]

No one knows where the 'off' switch is!

[Jazzman]

The courses are designed as flood planes during times of excessive rains. As stated, the sprinklers are run even when not seemingly needed, to lower water levels in water retention ponds. We are currently in peak hurricane season so these ponds water levels need to be managed just in case. After hurricane Irma all Golf was temporarily closed and irrigation systems were constantly running.

So if the course is currently waterlogged and you are running the sprinklers to manage the pond level, where does the water wind up? Back in the pond if the fairways and course in general is sloped correctly

[dewilson58]

So if the course is currently waterlogged and you are running the sprinklers to manage the pond level, where does the water wind up? Back in the pond if the fairways and course in general is sloped correctly


The course is not 100% waterlogged. Some of the irrigation water soaks in. Every bit helps. It's a sound practice and has helped us in the past.

[tophcfa]

So if the course is currently waterlogged and you are running the sprinklers to manage the pond level, where does the water wind up? Back in the pond if the fairways and course in general is sloped correctly

I guess that depends on where the water is being pumped from to feed the irrigation system. I have to believe the water is not being pumped out from a pond and shot up in the air right next to the same pond.

[raynan]

I can tell you that Yankee Clipper is very squishy everywhere. They had cart path only but it should have been closed today.

[tophcfa]

Having the golf courses designed as a high rain season flood plains of last resort is actually a very good thing. This should help make it very difficult to build other types of developments on the golf courses and increase the probability of them staying as golf courses. Obviously the same can not be said for the club houses containing the pro shops and restaurants. I suppose having the golf courses second as flood plains would not stop them from being converted into walking trails?

[thevillages2013]

So if the course is currently waterlogged and you are running the sprinklers to manage the pond level, where does the water wind up? Back in the pond if the fairways and course in general is sloped correctly

Same reason you don’t water your lawn in the middle of the day. When the water is distributed by the sprinklers it will evaporate more rapidly in the sunshine . It sure is putting a crunch on tee times with Evans Prairie closed and 9 closed on all the other 27 hole courses on the weekend.

[Rwirish]

This is a smart practice and has been explained every year.

[greenflash245]

they set the timer and go take a nap

[asianthree]

TV controls the ponds so my house doesn’t get flooded by the acre pond that is up 12 feet, and About to flow into the road, to my house. I am good with a golf course closed so the irrigation can empty the pond.

[Qmsp@aol.com]

They have to to reduce the water storage in the ponds

[bear1302]

Evaporation of excess water

[KRM0614]

No they don’t ! They tell homeowners that the sprinklers have rain sensors but they don’t !
There hasn’t been too much rain either they just ran the sprinklers too much

[mtlee024]

Evans Prairies has been closed for three weeks or so due to excessive water on course as a result of rain. So can anyone tell me why the irrigation system has been on for three plus hours watering the fairway and green on the fourth hole that runs along Hendley opposite Big Cypress rec center? Even a section of Palmetto executive course, the irrigation system on a portion that abuts Pinellas has been on since 7:30 am this morning and is still on four hours later. Does anyone monitor these systems to see if they’re working correctly

I played EP last Tuesday 9/8, so I don't know where you get this info. What 3 weeks was it closed?

[mtlee024]

Evans Prairies has been closed for three weeks or so due to excessive water on course as a result of rain. So can anyone tell me why the irrigation system has been on for three plus hours watering the fairway and green on the fourth hole that runs along Hendley opposite Big Cypress rec center? Even a section of Palmetto executive course, the irrigation system on a portion that abuts Pinellas has been on since 7:30 am this morning and is still on four hours later. Does anyone monitor these systems to see if they’re working correctly

I played EP last Tuesday 9/8, wet but playable, cart path only. Where do you get this info, what 3 weeks were closed?

[Donb0975]

Lots of retention-ponds are high so irrigation system used to lower levels. Water has better chance of being absorbed by ground or evaporating by irragating rather than lying idle in ponds.

[Vonjor@gmail.com]

Since everything is on a bed of sand, it sinks in rather than running off. Makes for soggy golf, but manages pond capacity.

[rjn5656]

Haven't had any problem getting a tee time.

[merrymini]

They have a very sophisticated system to control the ponds and use it for flood control. They are certainly not asleep at the wheel on this one.

[Ladygolfer93]

keeping the ponds at a certain level during hurricane season??




:shrug:

That was the answer I was given many years ago. That they are "automated" but was told the computer settings are not manipulated manually or the whole balance would be off and could cause serious problems; heavy rains, hurricane season, etc. When I first built my home I was horrified, it was one of the worst hurricane seasons for many years, and yet, even with all day all night rains never stopping, the courses were being "watered" constantly ! It was a mystery to me as a new resident. I found the sight bazaar, to put it mildly !

[sallybowron]

Does it go to the aqueducts?

[Bob in Fishers]

They are on timers

[dewilson58]

They are on timers


We all are.

[rjackson1759]

Can anyone tell me where the course irrigation water is stored normally? Surely, they don't pump it out of the adjacent ponds. They wouldn't have enough water during dry season.The courses are designed as flood planes during times of excessive rains. As stated, the sprinklers are run even when not seemingly needed, to lower water levels in water retention ponds. We are currently in peak hurricane season so these ponds water levels need to be managed just in case. After hurricane Irma all Golf was temporarily closed and irrigation systems were constantly running.

[Marathon Man]

Can anyone tell me where the course irrigation water is stored normally? Surely, they don't pump it out of the adjacent ponds. They wouldn't have enough water during dry season.

They can bring the level of the ponds up, if needed, with city water. Quite a system they have. I attended a presentation a few years back. The engineering is quite remarkable.

[zendog3]

So if the course is currently waterlogged and you are running the sprinklers to manage the pond level, where does the water wind up? Back in the pond if the fairways and course in general is sloped correctly

The sprinklers shoot the water into the air. Much of it evaporates in the air. The drops fall onto the grss giving a much larger surface area for evaporation. Of the water that does not evaporate, she flows back into the pond but, some of it soaks into our sandy soil and becomes part of the ground water.

[J1ceasar]

The grass and dirt hold a large amount preventing overflow . thus water didn't need to go "down the drain" and be wasted

[pcacace]

Must be the attitude that “it’s not my job”. Just a guess!

[carolar2000]

The watering during heavy rains is part of THE VILLAGES water usage plan. It keeps the ponds from flooding.

[Northwoods]

I was supposed to play Belle Glade tomorrow. I got a call today.... it's closed.
Note to self - don't request Evans Prairie or Belle Glade for a while. If it rains you'll either be cancelled or cart path only.

[ficoguy]

It’s called reverse watering. Read about it. All courses will be open when snowbirds return and higher rates occur. Evans is clearly mismanaged and has been closed must of the summer. It really stinks

[Jayhawk]

It’s called reverse watering. Read about it. All courses will be open when snowbirds return and higher rates occur. Evans is clearly mismanaged and has been closed must of the summer. It really stinks

It probably won't rain nearly every day during the snowbird season. But don't let that truth influence the chance to rag on the Evans management.

:ohdear:

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

No they don’t ! They tell homeowners that the sprinklers have rain sensors but they don’t !
There hasn’t been too much rain either they just ran the sprinklers too much
They All had Rain Sensors

[Bogie Shooter]

It probably won't rain nearly every day during the snowbird season. But don't let that truth influence the chance to rag on the Evans management.

:ohdear:

:boom:

[TidalWalkers]

The comments on lowering the ponds are 100% correct. Water is also moved from one part of TV to another part through a pipe system to balance water levels. Irrigation allows some of the water to be removed by evaporation. It may seem odd when a course is closed due to wet conditions and the irrigation is on but course management know what they are doing. Been through some hurricanes here and I have never heard of a house getting flooded. The strategy works.

[valuemkt]

I'll take soggy golf courses over water in my house any day of the week. Find something else to criticize the developer.. this irrigation process works as designed. Sorry you can;t chop up some of the courses .

[Bethwill]

They always do this to get rid of excess water. It must help with evaporation, because they have been doing it for years. I believe EP cannot move water around like other courses.

[Vette2014]

The family did not want to spend the money to do it right.