High Tech Water Management

With the onset of the warm summer temperatures, oppressive humidity and elevated nighttime temperatures, proper water management is one of the most important aspects of golf course management during the summer months.

Over the course of the past four years, we have employed moisture meters to measure the soil moisture content of the soil below the greens.

Moisture Meter

These meters have two probes attached to a device that are inserted into the ground at a depth of 1.5-3". When inserted, the probes will read and display the moisture content of the soil, telling us the water content of the soil below. Using these numbers we can quantity how much water may or may not be needed. This has made for very precise and accurate watering of the greens in the last few years. 

In combination with these meters we are also now employing soil moisture monitors inserted into the soil that measure soil water content, temperature and salinity.

     Toro Soil Sensors

A cup cutter size plug is taken out of the green, the sensor is inserted and then then the hole is repacked with soil and the top of the plug. We have employed seven of these sensors- four on greens and three on fairways.

     Monitor being inserted

Vine video of monitor insertion- https://vine.co/v/hBQhuw1wLqD

The soil monitors relay information back to the central irrigation computer allowing us to track soil water content and temperature through the irrigation control system. These monitors are extremely beneficial in quantifying the amount of water the course receives after rain events and irrigation cycles. This allows us to be much more practical and efficient in determining when to water and how much to water.

Graph showing increasing and decreasing water content in 6 green. The orange line shows a dramatic increase during a 1/2" rain event at noon today, 7/1/13.

With the installation of the new irrigation system, fertigation, and now having implemented field sensors, we are now able to operate at a high level of precision and sophistication- all essential elements to proper water management. 

However, there are instances where technology cannot replicate or take the place of physical inspection of manual watering of the most important playing sufaces, the greens. As a result, no matter how sophisticated technology becomes, we will continue to physically hand water greens in the assurance of proper plant health, proper green speed and consistency from green to green.  

If you do see a staff member watering on a green during the summer, please wait until the green is finished being watered or you are waved on to play your shot.  Syringing during the summer months is one of those "necessary evils" that may inconvenience on the course for a brief moment in time but it has long lasting benefits to the health and viability of the greens throughout the summer.

Have a great 4th- god bless this great country!