Much of the south-central U.S. has been exceptionally hot and dry the past few months. Like last summer, some areas have received little to no rain since early June, which has led to water use restrictions and water management challenges. Although there’s no substitute for rain, there are various short- and long-term strategies superintendents can use to manage drought.
Once droughty conditions arrive, some short-term management options that should be considered to maintain the best playing conditions possible include:
Apply wetting agents regularly to promote a uniform wetting front, hold moisture in the rootzone and prevent, or at least delay, the onset of hydrophobic (water-repellent) conditions.
Reduce cart and maintenance equipment traffic to minimize stress on the turf, especially in the afternoon hours when conditions tend to be driest.
If placed under significant water use restrictions, reducing irrigation in roughs and away from landing zones should be the priority. Greens and green surrounds should be the last area adjusted. Hand watering can also help focus the water you do have on the areas where it’s needed most.
Raise mowing heights, hold off on aggressive cultural practices, and do what you can to avoid putting any additional stress on the turf.
Many of the most impactful options for improving drought resistance require long-term planning and action to be taken well before droughty conditions develop. These include the following:
Perform an irrigation system audit and correct any issues. Replacing worn nozzles, making arc adjustments on part-circle heads, leveling irrigation heads, and repairing leaks can save a surprising amount of water and will improve overall turf health and playing conditions.
Develop a drought emergency plan. This plan will outline and help communicate what areas of the course will see the greatest reduction in water use in the event of a water shortage so golfers know what to expect.
Regrass playing surfaces with modern turf varieties that have improved drought tolerance. In some cases, this may mean converting from cool- to warm-season turf. It could also mean regrassing with modern varieties of bermudagrass or zoysiagrass.
Reducing irrigated acreage makes more water available for primary playing areas. This strategy has been common in parts of the country plagued with drought, high water costs and frequent water restrictions.
Subsurface drip irrigation has been used at a few facilities on teeing grounds and preliminary results show a significant reduction in water use. It’s worth staying up to date on this and other technologies that can help you deal with drought.
The USGA Water Resource Center contains a wealth of information for golfers and superintendents on this important topic, including numerous case studies and research projects focused on helping facilities become more efficient users of water. Dealing with periodic drought is an issue that likely won’t be going away anytime soon in the south-central U.S. Have some strategies in place to help you get through the current dry stretch and be better prepared for the next bout with drought.
Central Region Agronomists:
Zach Nicoludis, regional director – znicoludis@usga.org
Paul Jacobs, agronomist – pjacobs@usga.org