In September Ocmis attended the Crystal Fountain Palooza in beautiful Versailles, France!
Our Creative Water Lead, Dan Haines, and Design Engineer, Ben Nix, joined water feature experts from around the world to explore the latest in fountain technology and share our passion for creating mesmerizing water features.
A huge thank you to the team at Crystal – we’re excited for what’s ahead!
Ocmis is pleased to announce the successful completion of a significant irrigation installation at The Mere Resort in Cheshire.
The newly installed system, designed by Adrian Mortram Associates, provides comprehensive coverage across the Greens, Surrounds, Approaches, Tees and a select number of fairways. At the core of the installation is the advanced Rain Bird IC technology, offering precise, reliable, and efficient control across the course. This state-of-the-art solution ensures long-term performance and adaptability to meet the needs of a top-tier resort.
Ocmis also installed a new irrigation pumping system capable of achieving 95m³/hr @ 8.7 bar pressure. The pump set was designed and manufactured in house at Ocmis’ Somerset workshop, featuring high-quality stainless-steel manifolds. Every pump set Ocmis produces is bespoke to the individual project and the pump set delivered for The Mere Resort was carefully engineered to suit the specific needs and operational requirements of the club.
In addition, the project included the installation of a 634m³ lined water storage tank and a GRP pumphouse. The infrastructure was future-proofed with provisions in the mainline pipe network for the potential expansion to full fairway irrigation.
Throughout the project, Ocmis maintained close and consistent communication with the resort and Head Greenkeeper John Quinn, to ensure all expectations were met. The team also provided ongoing support and advice to assist the greenkeeping staff throughout the installation process and for the future.
This has been a standout project for all involved – one that Ocmis looks back on with immense pride. Delivering high-quality irrigation systems while keeping the client’s needs at the forefront remains a core value of the company. Feedback from The Mere Resort has been overwhelmingly positive, further highlighting the success of the installation.
Ocmis extends its sincere thanks to Adrian Mortram Associates, The Mere Resort and John Quinn for their close collaboration and professionalism throughout the project – a partnership that was key to delivering a result that meets the high standards.
We are proud to announce the successful completion of a comprehensive irrigation system installation at the prestigious Luffenham Heath Golf Club, further strengthening our reputation for delivering high-performance irrigation systems for leading golf courses across the UK.
Designed by Adrian Mortram Associates (AMA), this ambitious project represents another successful collaboration between AMA and Ocmis. The new irrigation system covers all major playing surfaces across the course, including Greens, Surrounds, Approaches, Fairways and Tees, ensuring uniformity and efficient water distribution throughout the entire layout.
A key part of the project included the installation of a new GRP pumphouse at the reservoir location, housing a fully modernised irrigation pumping station. The station features stainless-steel manifolds which are precision-engineered and manufactured in our Somerset based workshop. This pump set forms the heart of the new system, providing the power and reliability required to meet the course’s irrigation demands.
To support the club’s long-term sustainability, we also designed and installed a steel gantry and new transfer pumping set at the River Chater abstraction point. This strategic addition enables efficient transfer of water to the irrigation reservoir, securing a dependable water source that will serve the upgraded system well into the future.
A key feature of the installation was the integration of existing infrastructure into the new system. Several pre-installed sprinklers were incorporated to maintain cost efficiency and sustainability, while outdated decoder technology was upgraded with the latest Rain Bird IC Modules. This upgrade ensures seamless compatibility with the advanced Rain Bird Cirrus Pro Control System, delivering precision control and long-term operational reliability.
The completed works provide Luffenham Heath Golf Club with a modern, efficient and environmentally responsible irrigation system that blends leading-edge technology with practical reuse of existing assets. The new setup delivers enhanced performance and resource management, ensuring the course remains in top playing condition while using water as efficiently as possible.
Ocmis would like to thank Adrian Mortram Associates and Luffenham Heath Golf Club for their collaboration throughout the project.
We are delighted to announce the successful completion of Phase Two of the irrigation upgrade at Frilford Heath Golf Club, where OCMIS has delivered a comprehensive new system across the Red Course. The installation brings the Red Course inline with the Blue Course, which was installed in the Winter 2021/22. The newly installed irrigation system covers all Greens, Surrounds, Approaches, Tees and Fairways supporting the club’s commitment to year-round playability and course presentation.
This project forms part of a planned three-phase irrigation strategy, with the final phase set to focus on the Green Course in the future. The system, designed by Irritech Limited, seamlessly integrates with the Toro Lynx Central Control System installed during Phase One, allowing for precise, site-wide control and efficiency.
Our team installed nearly 30km of pipework and approximately 1,000 Toro Infinity sprinkler heads during this phase alone, a scale of work that reflects both the club’s ambition and our capacity to deliver large-scale irrigation solutions. The works were carefully coordinated to maintain course integrity throughout the build, with every effort made to minimise surface disruption.
A particular highlight of the project was the installation around the clubhouse area, where we installed 180mm HPPE pipework just metres away from the building. Our team worked with the utmost care, completing the installation with no visible trace left behind, demonstrating our attention to detail even in the most sensitive and high-profile areas.
This installation represents another successful collaboration between Frilford Heath Golf Club, Irritech Limited and OCMIS and we’re proud to have played a key role in delivering this high-specification system and look forward to returning in the future for the final phase on the Green Course.
This week, Ocmis were in Harrogate for the BTME event! It was a fantastic couple of days connecting with our valued suppliers and clients-both new and familiar. It was a great way to kick off what promises to be an exciting year ahead for Ocmis!
Last week, our Creative Water Lead, Dan Haines, and Design Engineer, Ben Nix, visited Dryden Aqua near Edinburgh for an enlightening factory tour. The visit offered a detailed look at the meticulous manufacturing process of Dryden Aqua’s AFM® media and its rigorous quality control and testing procedures.
AFM® (Activated Filter Media) has been the filtration media of choice for Ocmis for several years, and this visit reaffirmed our commitment to delivering the best solutions for our customers. Witnessing the extensive quality control measures in place was a testament to why AFM® stands out in the industry.
The tour also included updates on exciting new products, which Ocmis are keen to incorporate into our offerings when the opportunity arises.
Organised by Golden Coast, the visit provided a valuable opportunity for networking and professional development within the swimming pool industry. We would like to extend our gratitude to Jimmy Lamb of Dryden Aqua and Debbie Squire of Golden Coast for their excellent hospitality and efforts in making this trip a success.
This visit not only reinforced our confidence in AFM® but also served as a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration, ensuring Ocmis stays at the forefront of water management innovation.
Ocmis have recently invested into expanding their growing fleet of machinery by purchasing new Fendt tractors along with advanced trenching equipment to bolster its capacity to meet growing project demands. The new investment shows Ocmis’ commitment to growing for the future.
Should you have any trenching or drainage enquiries, please do not hesitate to get in contact with our main office.
Last week, some of our design team visited the Grundfos offices in Leighton Buzzard for their Groundwater and Irrigation Day. During the event, we had the opportunity to learn about the latest advancements in pump technology, gaining valuable insights and solutions available to help our clients. Many thanks to Grundfos for hosting us.
In response to the rising demand for its services across the UK and Ireland, Ocmis have recently invested in expanding its machinery fleet. Earlier in the winter, Ocmis procured two new Takeuchi Diggers and a cutting-edge Ditch Witch Mole Plough.
The decision to acquire these new machines comes amidst an increasing workload for Ocmis, driven by growing projects and contracts throughout the UK and Ireland. With a commitment to maintaining efficiency and meeting client needs promptly, Ocmis recognises the necessity of its fleet of machinery.
Ocmis intend on increasing their fleet of machinery throughout the year and into the near future. This commitment ensures that, with a steadfast focus on efficiency, quality, and innovation, we can consistently deliver excellence across all aspects of our work.
In February, the design team at Ocmis visited the OASE HQ facility in Germany to receive training on the latest developments in Water Feature programming and animation. This visit highlights the importance Ocmis has in staying up to date with the latest technology in the market to offer the best innovative solutions to our clients. We would like to thank OASE for their hospitality throughout our visit.
Ocmis are thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new CPD programme ‘Bringing Water to Life’. This presentation will introduce you to the world of Water Features and will give a better understanding of the typical details involved in our working process, how we achieve great results in our features and feature a frequently asked questions segment. The CPD sessions are designed for landscape architects, main contractors, landscape contractors and clients. If this sounds of interest and you would like to arrange a visit, please fill out the form below. https://t.co/l546Ol8tVr
Ocmis are currently installing a 144 jet water feature for Waltham Forest Council at the Town Hall. Working for the Main Contractor ISG, Ocmis have been on site installing the system for just over a month and have received the Contractor of the Month award for December. Congratulations to everyone involved!
We are very pleased our new Kubota RTV X1110 utility vehicles are performing so well on Ocmis’ sites across the country; these are replacing the Kubota RTV900 that have given such good service. The new Kubota RTV X1110 are particularly useful on golf and landscape construction sites for moving people and installation equipment. They are able to carry up to 450kg so are great for transporting materials too.
With The Open Championship returning to Royal St George’s Golf Club in 2020, the south coast club has chosen Toro irrigation to ensure the famous old course is looking its best when the world’s top golfers arrive in under two years’ time.
Royal St George’s chairman of greens Chris Healey (left) shakes hands with Reesink’s Robert Jackson. They are accompanied by, from left, head greenkeeper Graham Royden, Ocmis’ Peter Dawson, club secretary Tim Checketts, Robin Hulme Associates’ Adrian Mortram and course manager Paul Larsen
The simple rationale which pushed course manager, Paul Larson, into lobbying for a Toro irrigation system, when the club made the decision to replace the existing 20-year-old one, was accuracy he says: “I want to irrigate in millimetres and not in minutes.”
Now in place and guaranteeing the kind of accuracy Paul was after is Toro’s Lynx GDC system from Reesink Turfcare, an official Toro UK distributor. He says: “In fairness, the alternative system we looked at did offer the type of accuracy I was looking for, but while I could achieve three millimetres of water on a specific part of the course with one click of a button on the Toro system, the other system required some calculations and seemingly two or three clicks.”
Complete with pump and weather station integration and installed with a course map and Toro’s round-the-clock support in their handheld and NSN apps, the club’s adoption of the Toro system might not have been the case had Paul not given Rob Jackson, irrigation field sales manager at Reesink, the chance of a trial on a small patch of the golf course.
“I told Rob that I’d more than likely stay with the original system provider but that I was happy to learn of anything new as I like to be open-minded. And I’m glad I did. What I found was that Toro was easier, better and more suited to our course. I’ve had full confidence in the company and the system ever since. Everything has been first class,” revealed Paul.
“We have Infinity sprinklers on the greens, surrounds, approaches and fairways, which give us 360 degree spread, and we can control every head on every sprinkler individually. This morning I have had someone out taking moisture levels everywhere on the course and, for example, if we find a reading of 24 percent at the back of a green and a reading of 18 percent at the front we can set the sprinklers to level it out. My goal is round 20 percent,” said Paul who added that the tees have the FLEX B series, with main nozzle multi-trajectory adaptors. “Everything is just so easy to adjust; we are currently tweaking everything so that it will do exactly what we want.”
Paul continues: “The user friendliness means that I am able to sit with my tablet and control the system remotely, safe in the knowledge that we are irrigating the areas that require it and not wasting water by irrigating the rough or tee banks which was happening with the previous system.”
One area of the course which is benefiting greatly from the new system is the pathways, which now have over 1000 Toro 590G sprinklers with Precision Rotating Nozzles (PRN’s).
“Our paths were in poor shape,” says Paul. “We kept turfing them but it just didn’t last, so now we seed with a fairway fescue, something we can do because with the dedicated sprinklers we can keep them irrigated. It’s too dry down here for the paths to survive without it.”
Installation expert, Ocmis, was able to use most of the original pipework, just replacing all the joints and heads, with only a small amount of new pipework so disruption was minimised.
“The work was carried out over the winter and finished by early spring and by closing a hole at a time there wasn’t much disruption to the golf,” said Paul, who is looking forward to preparing the course for what is always a spectacular Open at Royal St George’s.
Club secretary, Tim Checketts, was part of the panel which had put in place a rigorous tendering process designed to ensure the club would identify the best new irrigation system for them.
“At the end of the process Royal St George’s Golf Club was quite clear that Toro’s irrigation system offered us the significant uplift in capability we had been looking for. We felt that Toro gave us the ability to use less water and target it precisely where we wanted it to go and in doing so the new system would support our strategy to encourage the growth of the finer fescue grasses while reducing the percentage of broadleaf grasses on the course.
“Ocmis was chosen as our preferred contractor recognising its track record in delivering major projects to cost and on time and its reputation for tidy and professional work. The company deserves great credit for completing this project despite the considerable challenges posed by the 2017/18 winter,” said Tim.
“As a result of this successful project the Club now enjoys the use of a highly capable irrigation system and we are well placed to ensure the delivery of the course in Championship condition for 2020.”