Drought is gripping the western United States once again. The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor has roughly 70% of the West in severe to exceptional drought conditions. With the potential for late spring rainfall quickly fading, golf courses are bracing for what will be a challenging irrigation season ahead. Water restrictions have already been implemented in some states with more almost certainly to come. Understanding what to expect and making a plan to cope will be critical as water shortages are the bane of any superintendent.
Here are a few things to think about and plan for during a water shortage:
Communication
During times of potential turf loss, timely and appropriate communication is key to setting reasonable expectations for golfers at your course. Regular updates from the superintendent with pictures and simple explanations will help prevent surprises.
Salinity Buildup
When irrigation sources are high in salts, regular flushing is necessary to limit the amount of salt buildup in the soil profile. If water restrictions are in place and flushing becomes a luxury that some cannot afford, expect that soil salt levels will continue to creep up during the season.
Irrigation System Audit
Irrigation systems require constant attention to maximize their efficiency. An imminent drought could be the perfect impetus for conducting a thorough irrigation system audit at your course. Nozzle replacement, reviewing station adjustments, turning off heads in out-of-play areas, changing full-circle heads for part-circles, and anything in between can help reduce overall water usage.
Data-Driven Decisions
Use moisture sensing to fine-tune thresholds for your course. Whether you use an in-ground sensor or a hand-held moisture meter, continuously monitoring key playing areas will allow you to make informed decisions on precisely when to irrigate and how much water the turf needs.
Plan For Recovery
While you might be preoccupied with simply trying to survive this irrigation season, creating a plan for course recovery when water becomes available again will serve you and your facility well. Clearly communicating timing, costs and expectations will help the recovery project succeed. Part of a recovery plan could be experimenting with different turf types at your course. Will some other type of grass be not only viable but desirable for your course in the future? Can different grasses provide some insurance against future drought? Oftentimes, these important questions are not asked when water resources are abundant. Now may be the time to start considering long-term solutions to water challenges.
Make no mistake, handling drought on a golf course is tough. Nobody likes to see years of hard work dry up and die when water gets turned off. Unfortunately, dealing with water shortages is becoming more and more common. Whether you are facing a water shortage or not, it is always good to have a plan before the Milorganite hits the fan. The USGA article “Developing a Drought Emergency Plan” is a great place to start. Taking the time to carefully consider how to handle a water shortage will pay off in spades.
If you would like support in handling an impending water shortage, the Green Section has your back. There are many helpful articles and tools on our USGA Water Resource Center. Our regional agronomists can also visit your course to provide site-specific solutions.
West Region Agronomists:
Brian Whitlark, senior consulting agronomist – bwhitlark@usga.org
Cory Isom, agronomist – cisom@usga.org