Find out exactly what your water is costing you.
An irrigation audit is an independent, on-site measurement of how well your watering system actually performs, and where it is wasting water and money. Gen1 Sportsturf tests your system zone by zone, then hands back a costed savings plan your committee or council can act on, within two weeks of the visit.
Measured and presented by David Mason: 32 years in turf, an R&A scholar who has prepared courses for Australian Opens and Presidents Cups. Independent advice, not tied to one brand.
We test every zone, head and valve to find where your water and money are going.
A clear number, and a plan to act on it.
Every audit ends with one figure that matters: how much you could save, and what it takes to get there. Here is what is included.
Full system inspection
Pumps, mains, laterals, heads, valves and controllers, checked end to end for wear, leaks and weak points.
Distribution uniformity testing
Catch-can testing across a minimum of four zones, with precipitation rates, so you can see where water lands and where it does not.
Pressure and controller review
Static and dynamic pressure assessment, plus a full review of how your controller is programmed and scheduled.
Water source and quality check
An assessment of your water source and quality, so the plan suits the water you actually have.
A heat map your committee can read
A visual distribution-uniformity map that shows the problem at a glance, no jargon required to understand it.
A costed, prioritised action plan
The savings calculation in dollars, plus a ranked list of fixes with budget estimates, and a presentation of the findings to your committee or board.
Not included: physical repairs or installation, sourcing or buying parts, and ongoing monitoring. Ongoing monitoring is what a Gen1 retainer covers once the plan is in place.
Priced by the size of your facility.
A one-off engagement with a fixed scope. The figures below are indicative ranges; you get a firm quote once we know your site.
| Facility | Indicative investment |
|---|---|
| Single bowling green or small sports field | $2,000 to $3,500 |
| 9-hole course, cricket ground or football oval | $3,500 to $6,000 |
| 18-hole course or large sports complex | $6,000 to $10,000 |
| Multi-facility or council precinct | Custom quote |
Multi-facility and council precinct audits are scoped individually. We charge a small quote fee and credit it back if you proceed. Travel within two hours of Brisbane (one way) is included; regional and interstate work adds flights and car hire, and remote work adds accommodation, all agreed upfront before anyone gets on a plane.
On site in days. Answers in two weeks.
Scope the site
A short call to understand your facility, your water usage and what is worrying you, then a firm quote.
Measure on site
Two to four days on the ground, testing every zone and the whole system, not a quick walk-around.
Report back
The costed savings figure and the action plan, in your hands within two weeks of the visit.
Present the findings
We present to your committee or board in plain language, so the decision is easy to make and easy to defend.
Most systems are quietly wasting water. An audit puts a number on it.
Most systems are quietly wasting water.
Distribution uniformity below 75 per cent means parts of your turf are being over-watered to keep the dry patches alive, and leaks alone can account for up to a third of the water a system loses. An audit finds it and puts a number on it.
Figures are industry ranges for the kind of facilities we audit, shown to set expectations. Your actual numbers come from your own site and appear in your report.
The savings are real. Someone has to make them happen.
An audit tells you what to do. The savings only land if the recommendations are carried out and the system is watched over time. That is what an ongoing Gen1 retainer is for. There is no obligation, and the audit stands on its own either way.
If you take on a retainer within 30 days of your audit, we credit the audit fee against your onboarding charge.
See the retainer optionsIrrigation audit questions, answered.
What is an irrigation audit?
An irrigation audit is an independent, on-site measurement of how well a watering system performs. We test distribution uniformity, precipitation rate, pressure and controller settings across your turf, then calculate where water and money are being lost and how to recover them. The result is a costed action plan, not just observations.
How much will an audit save us?
Audits on facilities like yours typically identify water savings between 15 and 40 per cent, which can mean anywhere from $6,000 to $80,000 a year depending on the size of the site. Your real figure comes from your own system and appears in your report. If we find nothing worth chasing, you do not pay for the report.
What does an irrigation audit cost?
Pricing depends on facility size, from around $2,000 for a single bowling green to roughly $10,000 for an 18-hole course or large complex. Multi-facility and council precinct audits are quoted individually. You get a firm figure once we have scoped your site, with no surprises.
How long does it take to get the report?
We spend two to four days on site measuring, then deliver the costed savings figure and prioritised action plan within two weeks of the visit. We also present the findings to your committee or board in plain language so the decision is easy to make.
Do you sell irrigation equipment?
Our advice is not tied to any single brand. The fee is for the plan, and the plan recommends what is genuinely best for your turf, sourced across the whole market. We can supply turf inputs and course hardware separately, at subsidised rates for retainer clients, but that is kept apart from the audit.
Who carries out the audit?
David Mason, founder of Gen1 Sportsturf, with 32 years in turf management, an R&A Golf and Greenkeeping Scholarship, and tournament preparation for Australian Opens and Presidents Cups. You deal with a senior turf consultant throughout, not a junior technician.
Book your irrigation audit.
Tell us about your facility and we will scope the audit and send a firm quote. Find savings, or you do not pay for the report.
Prefer to talk? Call David on 0413 737 989