Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Sean Dudley
/ Categories: News

Rain Bird releases new 500/550 Series of rotors

Rain Bird has released a new line of rotors designed to help golf course staff better water smaller areas of their course, such as tee boxes and compact greens.

The new 500/550 Series feature a variety of Block, SAM/Hydraulic, and valve-in-head versions.

The 500 Series models offer a radius of 8.5-14.3 metres and a full-circle, 360-degree arc, while the 550 Series covers a radius 8.5-14.4 metres, and have an arc that can be adjusted from 30 to 345 degrees.

The rotors can be installed into existing Rain Bird golf rotor cases that were manufactured as far back as 1992. This means clubs may not need to dig up golf rotor cases already installed to introduce the newest series to their course.

The 500/550 series rotors are also compatible with Rain Bird’s Integrated Control System. This provides central control and allows users to directly move or instruct every rotor and valve they have.

“Being able to add new golf rotors without having to change any of the control hardware is a real boon,” said Jimmy Sandison, Rain Bird golf area sales manager for the UK, Ireland and Iceland. “And having the ability to water smaller areas more efficiently is becoming more and more important. Course managers are increasingly under pressure to use water more wisely, as well as delivering aesthetically pleasing and healthy playing surfaces. These golf rotors allow for precise and more efficient irrigation of smaller course areas. As nozzles offer higher flow rates and emit larger water droplets that cut through wind – features not commonly found in rotors with a short throw radius – water can be applied exactly where it’s needed in a shorter amount of time.”

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  • Lovely Golf Course

    The new series help staff better water areas such as tee boxes and compact greens

  • Lovely Golf Course

    The 500 range radius of 8.5-14.3 metres and a full-circle, 360-degree arc

Sean Dudley

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