It was long over due and is now finally done. "We would like to officially turn on our irrigation system," said North Battleford Golf and Country Club board president Bryce Bohun seconds before the new irrigation system was started. The new system was made official Friday at the North Battleford Golf and Country Club with a presentation to mark the end of summer construction on the course.
Dan Funk and Brian Welsby of Aqua Lawn Sprinkler of British Columbia set up shop on the course and worked 11-hour days, six days a week, since arriving in the Battlefords in June. Like most procets in the area, the weather made for a long and sometimes stressful summer, but the project was completed and Funk is glad to see it come to life in North Battleford.
"This is probably one of the best golf clubs we have ever worked for," said Funk. "The community, everybody was really good to us."
North Battleford Golf and Country Club board president Bryce Bohun said, "It became very apparent to the board and management that a new system was a need more than a want."
The previous system was installed in the front nine holes in 1970 and the back nine in 1982 and the two separate systems were connected in 1987. The life expectancy for the system was 20 years and they were used well past that mark.
Frequent breaks led to hours of costly of repairs and maintenance, pushing the board to move forward with a new system. Another reason for the change was that the system simply couldn't cover all the required spots on the golf course and there was no way of controlling how much water was put where. The former system irrigated nearly 59 acres.
After identifying the course needed a new system the next part of the project was to find funding. The Keepin' it Green - Donate to Irrigate program was born to address the $1.2 million price tag on the irrigation system. The City of North Battleford agreed to cover half the cost making the fundraising goal around $750,000. At this point over $250,000 has been raised and the fundraising efforts continue with packages available for individual and business sponsorship.
The new system, with 926 sprinkler heads, will cover 93 acres and it will increase the water used between 80 and 90 per cent efficiency said Bohun.
This summer, the biggest challenge for Funk and his crew from Aqua Lawn Sprinkler was to keep the course operating at all times. Temporary greens and tee off boxes were used throughout the summer and hole disruption was minimal. All large scale trenching was done in the deep rough out of the main playing area and plowing of the smaller lines was done on a hole-to-hole basis. The holes completed in the early part of the golf season show littler disruption and the course is again in great shape. The golf club's superintendant Grant Sawchyn, who repaired and operated the former irrigation system, welcomed the new project with open arms and is happy to finally see the project completed after a long summer.
"In the whole scheme of things, with a company like Dan has, it was just a pleasure dealing with them," said Sawchyn, who also said having the City on board was key to a project of this magnitude.
"It was a pleasure dealing with the members, who I didn't hear one complain from. More than anything I want to thank Bryce Bohun - over the years this was kind of dying and everyone was hoping that we would just let it go and let someone else deal with it. Bryce wouldn't let it go away. This is 100 per cent Bryce Bohun's project and I congratulate him."
Standing on the top of the hill overlooking the green on the third hole, Funk along with his foreman Bryan Welsby, director of golf Dana Johnson, Bohun and Sawchyn watched as the new system was turned on with a touch of a bottom on a remote in Sawchyn's hand.
"Although the cost needed may seem high, the board feels the completion of this project is an investment in the future of our golf course and our community and will be beneficial for all golfers advancing the playability of the course and provide a beautiful course for years to come," said Bohun in his speech at the golf course Friday.
"It will bring our golf course to the next level. We are highly regarded as it is but this will just put us over the top," said Sawchyn.
When asked what the system will do for the golf course, which was already ranked among the top 10 courses in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Funk said jokingly, "It will give them a lot more grass to cut." Funk added that of the over 70 courses they have worked on across Canada, the semi-private/community course in North Battleford is one of the finest he has seen from a maintenance standpoint.
The Battlefords truly have a top quality golf course and it appears the best is still yet to come.
