As springtime ramps up across the Southeast, golf courses are entering one of the most challenging moisture management periods of the year. Rising temperatures and inconsistent rainfall often bring dry conditions that reveal themselves on fairways in the form of hot spots. These early warning signs present an opportunity for superintendents to take proactive steps that will combat stress and improve season-long management.
A key starting point is reviewing your fairway irrigation coverage. While it is good practice to perform irrigation audits utilizing catch cans to understand distribution uniformity, moisture content in the soil and how it is affecting playing conditions and turf health requires a laser focus.
Hand-held moisture meters are essential tools in the process of gathering soil moisture data. While typically used on greens, incorporating these devices into measuring volumetric water content (VWC) in fairways is helpful in identifying both wet and dry patterns over large areas that are influenced by slopes, variability in soil types, sunlight and shade exposure, compaction and many other factors. With newer technology, such as the USGA Moisture Meter integrated with the DEACON® management system, readings can be converted into moisture maps that visually highlight inconsistencies.
I recommend creating moisture maps by taking readings every 12 to 15 paces down the middle of the fairway, along with readings to the left and right of these center points using the same spacing until you reach the rough. The maps are quickly and easily generated in DEACON and give superintendents the ability to establish threshold VWC ranges, identify problem areas, and make irrigation system adjustments that shift from being reactive to data-driven precision watering. Additional in-the-field data like system pressure, nozzle selection and head spacing should also be part of optimizing irrigation effectiveness.
When aeration season arrives in the Southeast, insights from fairway moisture mapping become even more valuable. Areas identified as chronically dry may benefit from soil amendments, wetting agent applications and/or additional aeration to improve water infiltration and retention. Persistently wet areas may require deep-tine aeration, sand topdressing and additional drainage to help water move through the soil. Soil types play a central role in this discussion and achieving long-lasting improvements may require soil modification or additional cultural practices.
Ultimately, success during stressful periods throughout the year starts with the moves you make now. By combining moisture mapping and targeted cultural practices, superintendents can promote more-uniform moisture across fairways that will improve turf health and playing conditions.
Southeast Region Agronomists:
Jordan Booth, Ph.D., senior director, USGA Course Consulting Service – jbooth@usga.org
Chris Hartwiger, director, Agronomy – chartwiger@usga.org
Chris Neff, senior agronomist – cneff@usga.org
Mitch Leininger, agronomist - mleininger@usga.org