Welcome to our first issue of Ewing Links Report for 2017! We’re certain you have a robust plan for success in the New Year. Ewing is also looking at 2017 as a year of important steps and opportunities. Here’s a review of what Ewing has accomplished so far:

Ewing Partners with Rain Bird Golf in the Southwest
On Feb. 1, Ewing became an authorized distributor of Rain Bird Golf products. Ewing now offers Rain Bird’s line of golf irrigation products to our golf course industry customers in Arizona and Southern Nevada. Joining Rain Bird is an effective way for us to complement our broad product offering to golf course industry professionals. At the same time, we will continue to work with Hunter Golf in providing you with the services and solutions your course requires.

Ewing’s Golf Team Introduces Brian Hurley as National Rain Bird Golf Sales Manager
Our Golf Team continues to grow, reflecting Ewing’s success in this market and the continuing advances of the golf industry as a whole. Joining our team is Brian Hurley, who now serves as Ewing’s golf sales manager for Arizona and Southern Nevada. Brian also oversees our relationship with Rain Bird Golf. Brian previously served as Southwest sales manager for Harco, and is a longtime partner of Ewing. Please welcome Brian the next time you meet him, or send him a message at bhurley@ewingirrigation.com.

Ewing and the Waste Management Phoenix Open
Ewing’s premier customer event, the annual Pink Lady golf tournament, kicks off every January in Arizona, with the Waste Management Phoenix Open (WMPO) at TPC Scottsdale happening the same week.

The Pink Lady involves three separate events for the different market segments we do business with. Customers enjoyed a game of golf with Ewing at the JW Marriott Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix.

WMPO is one of the first events of the PGA Tour, and is known as the Greatest Show on Grass. Saturday, Feb. 4 was the tournament’s seventh annual Green Out, when players, caddies and fans wore green to demonstrate their support for the environment and for Waste Management’s efforts to brand WMPO as the greenest event on the PGA Tour. The Green Out has raised $390,000 for a variety of local non-profit environmental organizations over the past seven years.

Keeping the momentum going
It’s still early in the year, but Ewing has already accomplished so much. We intend to keep the momentum going all year long, and we welcome you to join us in creating even more accomplishments in 2017!

Steve Sakurai

Steve Sakurai is the National Golf Manager for Ewing Irrigation and Landscape Supply. A graduate of Cal Poly Pomona with a degree in Electrical Engineering, Steve spent 13 years with Rain Bird Golf before serving Ewing Golf for the past 13 years. He can be reached at ssakurai@ewingirrigation.com.

In Willow Park, Texas, Squaw Creek Golf Course has completed a $2.75 million facelift with products supplied by Ewing.

Squaw Creek hired Colligan Golf Design to lead the project, with the intent of restoring the course to its original 1970s glory, based on the design by golf course architect Ralph Plummer, and complementing it with modern touches.

Fleetwood Services was selected as general contractor, and VM Golf took on irrigation contractor duties. Ewing Irrigation supplied the necessary materials, including high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, fittings, wire and drainage products.

Squaw Creek also selected Hunter Golf for its irrigation requirements. Ewing’s location in South Fort Worth managed the shipping, receiving and even some additional orders over the course of the project.

Squaw Creek’s new irrigation system features Hunter Golf’s Pilot Central Control.

A state-of-the-art irrigation system
Construction began in March 2016. Les Hill Consulting designed a new irrigation system with state-of-the-art products to replace Squaw Creek’s aging hydraulic system. The design focused on accommodating all of the course’s improvements, as well as increasing system efficiencies.

Squaw Creek’s new irrigation system features 120,000 feet of HDPE pipe, 760,000 feet of wire, 28 mainline gate valves, 80 lateral isolation valves, 15 controllers managing 80 stations each and 960 Hunter G880/885E VIH rotors and swing joints. Superintendent Chad Shipman and his crew manage the system with Hunter Golf’s Pilot Central Control system.

Improving the greens and tees for every level of play
During construction, all of the greens and their surroundings were enlarged, redesigned and reshaped. In addition, Squaw Creek’s traditionally styled bunkers were redesigned to improve the strategy of the layout and improve visual aesthetics.

Every tee was enlarged and renovated to increase the length of the course where possible, and more forward tees were added to increase the course’s enjoyment for golfers at every level of play.

The project was completed in September, and Squaw Creek reopened at the end of October for limited play. Although rain slowed progress numerous times, the project ended as a huge success. We are thankful that Ewing was able to be a part of the team that pulled it all together.

Squaw Creek opened in 1971. The course features 6,749 yards from the longest tees with a par 71.

Squaw Creek’s new irrigation system features 120,000 feet of HDPE pipe.

Curtis Bruton

Author Curtis Bruton serves as a golf products representative for Ewing Irrigation and Landscape Supply. He can be reached at cbruton@ewingirrigation.com

Water conservation has always been an important topic in the green industry. In the early 70s, my father worked for the Farm Bureau in Illinois, and lobbied for environmental issues, including water conservation. At the time, this did not apply to golf courses—but that is no longer true.

Since I first joined the golf course industry, the public has held the belief that golf courses waste water. However, this is not the case. Our industry is at the forefront of water conservation, and we got here by developing and utilizing products with conservation in mind. Products such as:

• Rotors with improved distribution, uniformity and scheduling coefficients.
• Improved irrigation design with a focus on maximizing conservation opportunities.
• Central control packages capable of making watering adjustments when and where they are needed.
• Grass variety selections that are appropriate to local climates.

Conservation by the numbers
Today, golf courses conserve water and irrigate smartly better than before. The numbers back this up. Here are some highlights from surveys by the USGA Water Resource Center and GCSAA operations surveys:

• Golf courses use less water today. Usage in 2013 was 21 percent less than total usage in 2005.
• Golf courses irrigate with just 1.44 percent of all irrigated water in the U.S.
• About 65 percent of golf course facilities in the U.S have upgraded their irrigation systems in the last 10 years.
• Fewer than 15 percent of U.S. golf courses use municipal water as a supply for golf course irrigation.
• About 12 percent of U.S. golf courses use recycled water for irrigation.

These numbers are a good and promising start, and they go back to my first point: what more can we do to improve the public’s perception of how golf courses use water?

Get involved today
Ready to engage with the public at large? Your local GCSAA chapter is ready for you. GCSAA advocates on your behalf at the local, state and national levels of government, and your chapter can help you take action in your region. Take advantage of tools like community service postings and regulatory bill trackers.

Ready to introduce new water conservation solutions at your golf course? Ewing can help. Whether you’re interested in installing water-efficient rotors and heads, or a new HDPE system, join Ewing in exploring your opportunities. Visit your local Ewing store or reach out to your local Ewing golf rep today.

Mark Baughman

Mark Baughman is Ewing's golf sales representative for Houston, Texas. He can be reached at mbaughman@ewingirrigation.com

Some golf industry professionals may think of Ewing as an irrigation distributor only. After all, it’s in the name: Ewing Irrigation and Landscape Supply. But we do more than provide products and solutions for just your irrigation systems and turf. The bunkers you manage at your course are another important aspect we can assist with. Together with Capillary Concrete, we can improve the strength and durability of your course’s bunkers.

Why Capillary Concrete? It’s a bunker liner that can help eliminate washouts, stabilize sand, reduce labor and improve playing conditions at your golf course. Today, Ewing is involved with many golf courses on their Capillary Concrete installations. Some of these projects include:

Capillary Concrete is safe, easy to mix and easy install.

Hurricane Creek Country Club in Anna, Texas, installed a test bunker under the supervision of superintendent Pat Manning, CGCS.

Memphis National Golf Club in Collierville, Tenn., installed Capillary Concrete in December. Superintendent Casey Nerren completed the work with Ewing and Sanders Golf.

Mount Vintage Plantation Golf Club in North Augusta, N.C., installed Capillary Concrete on nine holes last year. Working with assistant superintendent Jay Garmany, we will install on another nine holes in 2017.

The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif., installed 18 holes in February 2016. Superintendent Troy Flanagan and Frontier Golf Construction completed the work.

Spanish Oaks Golf Club in Bee Cave, Texas, Director of Agronomy Scott Hamilton led a complete renovation with Ewing and Cornerstone Golf.

Torrey Pines North in La Jolla, Calif., installed 18 holes with superintendent Wayne Carpenter and Wadsworth Golf Construction and Key Golf Construction, in May 2016.

Vaquero Club in Westlake, Texas, installed a test bunker. Ewing worked with Director of Agronomy Matt Weitz on this in-house project.

More projects will continue into 2017. Some of these include:

Barnsley Gardens Golf Course in Adairsville, Ga., with superintendent Lance MacDonald and Westmoreland, will install 18 holes in 2017.

Echelon Golf Club in Alpharetta, Ga., will install 30,000 square feet this year. We’re working with superintendent Todd Lime for this project.

Forest Hills Golf Course in Cornelius, Ore., is beginning an 18-hole project this year. We’re working with superintendent Darren Davenport and Pristine Golf.

Marietta Country Club in Kennesaw, Ga., with superintendent Mark Hayes, is preparing to install Capillary Concrete on 18 holes.

Interested in exploring how Capillary Concrete can provide bunker solutions for your golf course? Visit your local Ewing store today.

Steve Sakurai

Steve Sakurai is the National Golf Manager for Ewing Irrigation and Landscape Supply. A graduate of Cal Poly Pomona with a degree in Electrical Engineering, Steve spent 13 years with Rain Bird Golf before serving Ewing Golf for the past 13 years. He can be reached at ssakurai@ewingirrigation.com.

These courses are under construction or were recently completed with Hunter Golf products, supplied by Ewing.

Country Place Golf Course, Pearland, Tex.
Superintendent: Carter Hindes
Architect: Jeff Blume, Jeffrey D. Blume Design
Irrigation Consultant: Les Hill
Products: Hunter Pilot Central Control, Pilot Field Controller, and G880E/G885E rotors

Crane Lakes Golf & Country Club, Port Orange, Fla.
Superintendent: Bill Esser
Contractor: Lepanto Golf
Products: Hunter VSX, Pilot Field Controller, G885E rotors

Harbor Club on Lake Oconee, Greensboro, Ga.
Superintendent: Jeff Miller
Products: Hunter Pilot Central Control, Pilot Field Controller, G885E/G885 rotors

Heritage Oaks Golf, Brunswick, Ga.
Superintendent: Travis Crosby
Products: Hunter Pilot Field Controller

Oak Hills Golf Club, Spring Hill, Fla.
General Manager: Matt Olore
Products: Hunter Pilot DH-500, G880D/G990D rotors

St. Mark Golf Club, Lake San Marcos, Calif.
Director of Agronomy: Brandon Williams
Products: Hunter Pilot Central Control, Pilot Field Controllers, G885/G884 rotors

Suntree Country Club, Melbourne, Fla.
Superintendent: Jon Cockerham
Irrigation Consultant: Sean Hyduk, Aqua Turf Intl.
Contractor: Mike Roach
Products: Hunter Surveyor, VSX radio, G875/G880/G995/G885 rotors

Timuquana Country Club, Jacksonville, Fla.
Superintendent: Alan Brown
Products: Hunter G880/G885/G990/G995 rotors

Walkabout Golf & Country Club, Mims, Fla.
Superintendent: Juan Perez
Products: Hunter G880/G885/80RT rotors

Wild Horse Golf Club, Gothenburg, Neb.
Superintendent: Josh Mohar
Products: Hunter Pilot Central Control, Pilot Field Controller

Steve Sakurai

Steve Sakurai is the National Golf Manager for Ewing Irrigation and Landscape Supply. A graduate of Cal Poly Pomona with a degree in Electrical Engineering, Steve spent 13 years with Rain Bird Golf before serving Ewing Golf for the past 13 years. He can be reached at ssakurai@ewingirrigation.com.

Masters Tournament
April 3 – 9
Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Ga.

National Golf Day
April 26
Washington, D.C.

Texas Cup
Ridgewood Country Club, Waco, Texas
May 22

U.S. Open
June 12 – 18
Erin Hills Golf Course, Erin, Wisc.

The Open Championship
July 20 – 23
Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, England

Steve Sakurai

Steve Sakurai is the National Golf Manager for Ewing Irrigation and Landscape Supply. A graduate of Cal Poly Pomona with a degree in Electrical Engineering, Steve spent 13 years with Rain Bird Golf before serving Ewing Golf for the past 13 years. He can be reached at ssakurai@ewingirrigation.com.