Bullet points on Water Conservation methods of Golf Courses Cancel The title field is required!

1. Michael Sullivan

   

   5 posts
   
   10/11/2017 8:10 AM

   Hello All
   Posted a message on FB after here a speaker at our local meeting discussing our State of CT Water Plan, that is in the works. I ended it by asking people to cut back on home lawn irrigation as we are entering drought conditions again here in CT. Somewhat predictably, I received a question regarding what methods Golf Courses are using for conserving water as we use more than several homes system put together.
   As I am running for the Planning Commission in town, I want to make sure I answer this clearly and concisely. Would appreciate a few bullet points to hit on.
   
   Thanks
   
   Michael Sullivan
   203-395-7751
   msullivan@stamfordct.gov

   
   
   
   
2. David Brandenburg

   

   3 posts
   
   10/11/2017 8:10 AM

   It depends where you are in the world but some that come to mind for the upper Midwest in general include.
   
   Newer turf varieties that tolerate less water
   Wetting Agent use to get more out of the water you do apply.
   Less watered turf - native areas, shorter / narrower fairways, part circle heads to stop watering ponds, natives, asphalt etc
   Irrigation system audits followed up by needed changes to heads, nozzles and proper head spacing.
   Proper irrigation timing.
   Accepting less than bright green turf.
   
   For our course wetting agents sprayed on fairways along with new nozzles on the Toro 690's or converted most to 800 series heads had had a major impact on water use. I no longer have to over-water the centers of our fairways to keep the edges green.

   
   
   
   
3. Ronald Conard

   

   4 posts
   
   10/11/2017 8:10 AM

   David Brandenburg, CGCS said: It depends where you are in the world but some that come to mind for the upper Midwest in general include.
   
   Newer turf varieties that tolerate less water
   Wetting Agent use to get more out of the water you do apply.
   Less watered turf - native areas, shorter / narrower fairways, part circle heads to stop watering ponds, natives, asphalt etc
   Irrigation system audits followed up by needed changes to heads, nozzles and proper head spacing.
   Proper irrigation timing.
   Accepting less than bright green turf.
   
   For our course wetting agents sprayed on fairways along with new nozzles on the Toro 690's or converted most to 800 series heads had had a major impact on water use. I no longer have to over-water the centers of our fairways to keep the edges green.

   
   
   
   Good points. I'd add to the list monitoring tools and methods (i.e. soil probe, TDR, E.T. data, lysimeters if used, and historical tracking of use rates)

   
   
   
   
4. James Schmid

   

   1 posts
   
   10/11/2017 2:10 PM

   A lot of basic agronomic practices contribute to water conservation. Aerification improves infiltration and reduces runoff and ponding, also allows any rain to soak in before running off. Topdressing, whatever contributes to thatch management.

   
   
   
   
5. Craig Zellers

   

   0 posts
   
   10/23/2017 12:10 PM

   Michael,
   Here out west we have been through the same thing and developed a great strategy with "talking points". I advise you to check out http://californiagcsa.org - click on the water conservation section and I think it should help you a ton. It includes the obvious things such as golf courses use 1% of the fresh water in California. Golf courses employ well over 120,000 people. Golf's economic impact is close to 13 billion. Most recently - golf courses made for great fire breaks here in NoCal. Good luck on the commission. Feel free to call if you have specifics or need to talk to some key people in our state.
   Craig
   Golf Irrigation Consultants
   (415) 342-1030