The Challenge: A Mid-Summer Failure in a “No-Drive” Zone
In July, during the critical peak of the irrigation season, Bass Rocks Golf Club experienced a failure in one of its four water wells. While the course had backup sources to prevent an immediate catastrophe, Superintendent Chris Donato operates with a prevention-first mindset: leaving a well offline in the summer heat creates an unacceptable risk.
The primary challenge, however, wasn’t just mechanical—it was logistical. The failed well was located deep within the course, accessible only by traversing manicured fairways and narrow golf cart paths. Bringing in a standard, heavy-duty rig was impossible without risking significant damage to the turf and cracking the asphalt paths.
“It wasn’t a dire emergency given our backup wells, but you don’t want to lose any water source for a couple days. So as soon as I noticed it, I gave you guys a ring.” — Chris Donato, Superintendent
The Solution: The Maher Advantage
Understanding the sensitivity of the site, we deployed a specialized Smeal Pump Hoist to handle the repair. This unit provided the perfect balance of power and precision: compact enough to navigate the tight access roads without causing damage to the golf course grounds, yet powerful enough to execute the work efficiently.
- Rapid Mobilization: Our team responded immediately, arriving on-site the day following the initial call to assess and execute the repair.
- Surgical Access: Operators navigated the Smeal rig down the cart paths and across the approach areas without leaving tire tracks or displacing turf.
- Pump & Motor Replacement: We performed a complete “pull and replacement” of the down-hole assembly, removing the compromised pump and motor and installing new components to restore full capacity.
- Autonomous Execution: The crew managed the project independently, checking in with the Superintendent periodically and to confirm the successful restoration of flow.
The Result: “Simple, Painless, Efficient”
The well was brought back online immediately, securing the course’s water supply for the remainder of the season. Most importantly for the club’s operations, the work was completed with zero collateral damage to the grounds.
- Status: 100% Operational.
- Turf Impact: Zero.
- Client Experience: The team communicated clearly, executed the fix, and left the site exactly as they found it.
“Simple, painless, efficient. I was very comfortable with you guys being here and taking care of everything… It was certainly a load off my mind.” — Chris Donato, Superintendent
