Many areas across the southern U.S. are experiencing prolonged drought conditions and the central region is no exception. Dallas hasn’t seen any measurable rainfall since the first week of June and has only received about 1.5 inches of rain since May 26. The effects of such dry weather are obvious – even bermudagrass growing on roadsides is completely dormant.
Unfortunately, drought and its effect on golf courses only seems to be taken seriously while we are in a drought. This stretch of dry weather is tough on turf but presents an opportunity to evaluate how well prepared your golf course is for drought or even potential water use restrictions – whether mandated or self-imposed for financial reasons. If your golf course is struggling due to the dry weather and you want to make the most effective use of your irrigation water, consider the following strategies:
- Base irrigation scheduling on soil moisture content and evapotranspiration (ET) rate. Irrigating based on “feel” or sprinkler run times is not the most effective strategy.
- Use wetting agents to help improve moisture uniformity in the soil, especially in sandy soils. For more information, read the USGA Green Section Record article "Factors to Consider When Developing a Wetting Agent Program."
- Optimize the performance of your irrigation system. New irrigation systems with precise spacing and nozzle sizing can provide a significant improvement in distribution uniformity, but if a new system isn’t in the cards for a while, consider leveling and adjusting irrigation heads and replacing nozzles too.
- Spend time watching the irrigation system run. That is, actually watch sprinklers operate on each hole to ensure they are working correctly. That big dry spot or wet spot is often the result of a sprinkler not functioning properly.
- Consider developing a water budget to compare your actual use to amount you expect to use each year. There are several factors that influence actual need compared to the calculated need, and a USGA agronomist would be happy to discuss them with you.
- Evaluate whether the grasses you are growing are the best choice based on your water use, climate and other site-specific factors. The USGA has funded millions of dollars in turf breeding efforts and one of the primary goals is to develop more drought-tolerant plant material that requires less water while still performing well. In the transition zone, this often means converting from cool-season to warm-season grasses.
- Develop a drought-emergency plan for your course. Drought and water restrictions can force golf courses to make difficult choices. Having a plan in place for these situations is essential.
- Visit the USGA Water Resource Center. It’s a great hub for even more water management strategies and additional information on the subject.
Understandably, a drought situation raises serious concerns over water use and prompts discussion on how we can improve irrigation efficiency. Although your turf may be struggling, take advantage of this tough situation by implementing strategies that allow your course to make better use of the water that’s available. Our team of agronomists regularly works with facilities and researchers to develop maintenance practices that improve water-use efficiency.
Central Region Agronomists:
Paul Jacobs, agronomist – pjacobs@usga.org
Zach Nicoludis, agronomist – znicoludis@usga.org