Golf course irrigation systems typically begin to fail after 15-25 years of use as sprinkler heads wear out and old pipes begin to blow out, Scott says. As the system begins to fail, the golf course’s superintendent may spend more and more money just to maintain the current system. Additionally, the technology has changed in recent years so that golf course irrigation systems are no longer on a block system—where one valve controls five to six sprinkler heads. In the new systems, each sprinkler head stands alone with its own control valve. The benefit, Scott says, is that superintendents can now water only the portion of the course that needs watered. Over time, the savings in water costs far outweighs the cost to install a new system, Scott explains.

Formost began receiving materials on the North Ranch Country Club project the first week of December. After a two-week break for the holidays, full construction began in early January. Scott says that work should be completed by August. The Formost crews totaling 30 people are installing 72,000 lineal feet of 6- to 12-inch diameter mainline pipe and 200,000 lineal feet of 2-inch distribution pipe that connects to the sprinklers. The system includes 4,800 sprinkler heads that each distribute 25 gallons of water a minute, up to a 60-foot radius. Each sprinkler has its own wire, which connects to the timers. Formost will install 2.7 million lineal feet of wire on this project.

(Top) Formost Construction using their Bobcat 331 mini excavator to open a trench for pipe installation.(Middle) Digging a test hole to prepare for directional boring.(Bottom Left) Cross connection between two seperate irrigation mains.

Bruce Pettingill is the field supervisor on this project because he ran the initial irrigation replacement 18 years ago and the client requested he be on site. Martin Franco is the lead foreman on the project and according to Scott, is “the best renovation foreman I have.”

Scott currently has six projects underway, including North Ranch Country Club. Four of the projects are “under snow”, Scott says and will be restarted in April. The company typically completes eight to nine full 18-hole golf courses in a year.

The majority of Formost’s work involves installing irrigation systems, although they also build tees and bunkers. About half of their work is the installation of irrigations systems for new golf courses, while the other half involves replacing failing systems. Many of their new installation contracts include a year of maintenance and training the golf course staff on how to blow out irrigation system mainlines when the golf course is located in colder climates.

Scott says that Formost has found their niche and plans to maintain their current size and amount of work.

“We have five project superintendents that have each been with the company over 20 years,” he explains. “If we grow past the point where these five can’t handle the work,then we lose our quality of work.

“We have a
reputation for doing
the best possible job, and for
that reason a lot of our work is
negotiated, not bid,” he continues.

Another reason why the company doesn’t
want to take on more projects each year, even
though there is always that opportunity, is
because most of the workmust be completed
in the summerand Formost doesn’twant to lay off
employees and have its equipment to sit idle in the
winter, Scott explains.

Formost Construction, whose office is in Temecula,
California, employs about 100 people. They work on
projects
throughout the United States and have completed
projects in the Philippines, Kuwait, England,
South Africa, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, and Saipan.
Eighty-five percent of their projects are private country clubs.

Formost’s management team includes: Charles S. Cloud, President; Kent P. Cloud, Vice President; Scott, and Bruce.

For more information, visit Formost Construction Company’s website at www.formostconstruction.com or call Formost Construction at (951) 698-7270.

(Right - Next Page) Formost Construction uses a forklift to help with pipe instalation. (Top, L-R) Jeff Kasper, Estimator; Scott Cloud, VP of Construction and KP Cloud, VP. (Middle Right) Martin Franco, Project Superintendent. (Bottom Right) McElory fusion machine welding 12” HDPE pipe together.