Golf courses require quite a bit of maintenance to keep the grass looking lush and green, and a golf course sprinkler system can help. However, storms and extreme weather events such as hurricanes can damage the system, resulting in expensive repairs and lost revenue. Here are two things you should do when you have a system installed to minimize the impact of storm-related damage and keep your sprinklers working great.

Install Surge Suppressors

No matter which type of system you ultimately have installed, they can all be impacted by power surges caused by lightning. However, even minor but chronic disturbances in the electrical grid can degrade the system faster than normal, leading to frequent repairs and possibly replacing the sprinklers earlier than expected.

An effective way to protect your system from power surges is to install voltage limiting devices, also known as surge suppressors. These devices are integrated directly into the wiring and outlets to mitigate the negative effects of lightning strikes and power spikes, quickly reducing the amount of electricity to safe levels and rerouting excess power away from sensitive components.

It should be noted that these surge suppressors work best when lightning strikes occur a few miles away and are not effective against direct hits. Additionally, they may not work as well with particularly intense surges. It's important to talk to an electrician about the different products available and the maximum voltage they can handle so you can choose the best combination to protect your equipment.

Place Critical Computer Systems on Upper Floors

A second thing you can do to protect your gold course sprinkler system is to place computer and control systems on upper floors of buildings and on high ground. This is particularly important if the area where the golf course is located is vulnerable to flooding or the course itself is used as flood plain that protects surrounding property.

The primary reason for this, of course, is to prevent floods from damaging the computerized control system. However, a secondary reason is that putting the equipment in a place where it will remain unaffected also means you'll still be able to access and use the computer to perform operations that may reduce the amount of damage the flood does to other components in your sprinkler system.

Talk to weather and geological experts about the type of flooding — if any — the area receives and how high it's likely to get. Then, look for ways to ensure your equipment is placed in areas that will be minimally impacted by rising waters.

For more information about protecting your golf sprinkler system, contact a local installation company.