In the late 1800s when the USGA was founded, not much data was being collected on golf courses. Since then, superintendents have become meticulous experts at recording the inputs behind their agronomic success. The newest development in data collection is to focus on measurable outputs like putting green speed, firmness, and organic matter levels with an emphasis on how minor changes to inputs can improve results. The shift to focusing more on outputs is a significant one that has largely been made possible by new tools and technology.
Fertilizer application rates, height of cut, irrigation, topdressing applications and maintenance practices like mowing, rolling and aeration are all measurable inputs. With the new technology that exists today, superintendents can focus on how each of these variables affect outputs. For decades, green speed was the only quantifiable output available to superintendents that provided an objective (but limited) measure of playing quality outside of a golfer survey or comment card. When subjective impressions and opinions are the primary performance feedback available, effective maintenance adjustments can be hard to make. Now, we can track and quantify outputs like putting green firmness, smoothness, trueness, sheer strength, organic matter levels, clipping yield, moisture percentage in the soil profile and much more.
With all this data at their fingertips, golf course superintendents are not only becoming more efficient, but are also improving communication. These metrics help quantify expectations and track successes – and can even help explain why sometimes expectations need to be adjusted. Many practices that were conducted on a clockwork routine are being refined and reduced based on documented results – while still maintaining or improving course performance. Superintendents tweak the input, measure the output, make adjustments and improve. The beautiful correlation between all the variables is better understood with every data point.
While all of this is exciting, it's important to remember that this is simply the latest iteration of skilled stewards utilizing the tools available to them. We’ve graduated from operating based on a gut feeling and the club champion’s idea of “good.” As these tools and technologies continue to advance, and as our understanding of how best to use them grows, playing conditions and overall resource management will keep getting better.
West Region Agronomists:
Brian Whitlark, regional director, West Region – bwhitlark@usga.org
Ross Niewola, agronomist – rniewola@usga.org