Why Golf Courses Should Consider an Irrigation Cable Rewire

For many golf clubs across the UK, irrigation cable networks were installed decades ago and have been patched together ever since. While they may still function day to day, hidden faults and ageing infrastructure can cause serious reliability issues, wasted water, and costly breakdowns. At JK Irrigation Ltd, we specialise in golf course irrigation rewires and decoder system upgrades that bring systems back to full reliability and efficiency.

Common Problems with Old Irrigation Cabling

• Ageing insulation – older cables degrade underground, letting in moisture and causing short circuits.

• Poor joints – taped or grease-pot joints eventually fail, leading to intermittent faults and lost signals.

• Overloaded systems – modern decoders and valves often draw more power than old cable networks were designed for.

• Lightning damage – surges through long cable runs weaken insulation and cause hidden breaks

• Unreliable communication – leading to missed cycles, stuck valves, and overwatering.
  
  

The Benefits of a Full or Partial Rewire

• Improved reliability – a new two-wire loop ensures strong, consistent signals to every decoder

• Future-proofing – modern cabling supports the latest decoder technologies from Rain Bird, Toro, Hunter and more.

• Reduced running costs – fewer faults mean less water wasted, lower electricity use, and less engineer call-outs.

• Simpler maintenance – new joints, clearly mapped networks, and robust components make fault-finding easier.

• System longevity – a properly installed cable network should last decades with minimal intervention.
  
  

What’s Involved in a Golf Course Rewire

When JK Irrigation carries out a course rewire, the process is carefully planned to minimise disruption to play:

1. Survey & Mapping – we trace existing cable runs, joints, valve boxes and decoders.

2. Design – a new two-wire loop is planned, often with redundancy built in.

3. Installation – new cable is ploughed or trenched in, with high-quality waterproof joints.

4. Decoder Replacement – new decoders are installed, programmed and tested.

5. Commissioning – the system is tested zone by zone for load, signal strength and operation.
   
   

Recent Golf Course Projects

We’ve delivered rewire and upgrade projects for clubs including Guildford Golf Club, Foxhills, The Buckinghamshire and Addington. Each project had its own challenges, from replacing outdated decoders to integrating new pump sets and tanking solutions, but the result is always the same — a more reliable, efficient irrigation system built for the future.

Is Your Course Ready for a Rewire?

If your system is over 20 years old, if you’re seeing frequent faults, or if you’re planning a control system upgrade, it’s the perfect time to consider a rewire.

👉 Contact JK Irrigation Ltd today to discuss a survey, upgrade, or full course rewire. Our team will help you design a system that’s reliable, efficient, and future-proof for your course.