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Golf
course superintendents are always looking for innovative
ways to minimize the amount of water used on their
courses. Efficient water use on golf courses is
dependent upon several factors, most notably the
irrigation practices of the turf manager and performance
of the irrigation system.
Proper design and installation are critical for an
irrigation system to perform effectively. Hydraulics,
nozzle selection, control capabilities and climate all
must be considered in the design process. The adjustment
of pumps and regulators, and the replacement of worn
nozzles or other damaged components must be ongoing.
Outdated systems present additional challenges as aging
hardware results in major failures of pumps, controllers
and mainlines, causing the loss of large areas of turf.
To counter such problems, many superintendents make it a
daily routine to spot standing water, repair leaks and
adjust controllers – to correct areas that are too dry
or too wet.
Techniques to maximize irrigation efficiency include
adjusting sprinkler head spacing for uniform coverage,
tailoring nozzle size to the soil texture and utilizing
individual sprinkler head control to ensure flexible
scheduling.
Turf
professionals invest a great deal of time and money into
superior irrigation systems to reduce the amount of
water, as well as money, spent on the course.
What more can be done?
Some
superintendents opt to upgrade hardware or invest in a
completely new system altogether, while others have
decided on irrigation auditors, who help budget
management costs.
Applying a wetting agent ensures that water penetrates
the soil. Studies show that without a wetting agent, 30
to 70 percent of applied water never reaches the root of
the plant. Wetting agents reduce the surface tension of
the water being applied, reducing runoff and
evaporation.
Another effective irrigation practice uses a central
computer controller or satellite systems to manage
irrigation. The central control and satellite control
systems on the market today allow superintendents to
budget water and determine which areas of the course
have special irrigation needs. There are even systems
that can be connected to weather and soil moisture
monitors. These systems only water turf when necessary.
Whatever method is used, the golfer can be sure of one
thing – the superintendent has dotted every “I” and
crossed every “T” when it comes to resourcefully
irrigating their course.
Key
points:
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Efficient water use on golf courses is dependent
upon several factors, most notably the irrigation
practices of the turf manager and performance of the
irrigation system.
-
Turf professionals invest a great deal of time and
money into superior irrigation systems to reduce the
amount of water, as well as money, spent on the
course.
-
Proper design and installation are critical for an
irrigation system to perform effectively.
-
Many superintendents make it a daily routine to spot
standing water, repair leaks and adjust controllers
-
A
central computer controller or satellite system can
be used to manage irrigation.
For
more information regarding golf course management
practices, contact your local superintendent or the
GCSAA at (800) 472-7878 or
www.gcsaa.org.
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