Baker National irrigation system will be upgraded this fall

Baker National Golf Course will replace the irrigation system on the Championship and Evergreen Courses beginning in late summer. Baker National will remain open, but work taking place in September and October may require temporary closure of one or two holes at a time, along with temporary relocation of tees and greens.

Irrigation systems typically have a 20- to 30-year life expectancy. The system on the Championship Course is over 30 years old, and the system for the Evergreen Course is 22 years old. The new system will allow staff to water the course more efficiently and keep it in even better condition.

The project is anticipated to start on Monday, August 22, beginning with work on the mainline irrigation piping. At that time there will be minimal disruption of normal play on the golf courses because work will be taking place off to the side of each hole.

Beginning around Tuesday, September 6, crews will start replacing piping and sprinkler heads hole-by-hole. During this project phase, tees and greens may be temporarily moved or closed, and entire holes may also be occasionally closed. Crews will work on one to two holes per day, and all other holes will be available for play.

Crews will work on the Championship Course first and then move to the Evergreen Course. The goal is to have work on both courses completed by the end of this year; if that proves impossible due to weather, the remaining work will be completed next spring.

Check out Baker National’s Facebook page for project updates and course status. If you have questions about the project, please email BNGCInfo@ThreeRiversParks.org.