Colorado Golf Industry-The Benefits of Adopting Irrigation BMPs

The supplemental use of water for course play and non-play areas is essential to supporting healthy turfgrass and landscape plant health. It is also necessary for sustaining optimal course playability, aesthetics, marketability, and club membership participation.

The purpose of irrigation BMPs is to help conserve and protect water resources. Additionally, irrigation BMPs provide an economic, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship advantage to those who consider them part of their irrigation management plan.

Approximately 97 percent of Colorado golf courses employ at least three or more water conservation measures. From employing new technologies to maximize scheduling and limit resource use to converting highly maintained turfgrass to native areas, irrigation principles promote water conservation and energy efficiency.

Environmental, performance, and employee benefits from adopting BMPs for Irrigation:

• Conserving water supply

• Protecting existing water quality

• Maintaining optimal ball roll and playing conditions

• Saving water and electricity

• Increasing pump and equipment life longevity

• Demonstrating responsible environmental stewardship

• Retaining knowledgeable and effective employees

IRRIGATION SYSTEMS: TOP WATER CONSERVATION BMPs EMPLOYED BY COLORADO GOLF COURSES

Colorado golf course superintendents surveyed in the recent Colorado Golf Economic & Environmental Impact Report reported that 91 percent are using an irrigation control system to monitor water use, while 84 percent are using irrigation control devices to reduce water use. The following highlights both BMPs.

Irrigation scheduling takes plant water requirements and soil intake capacity into account to prevent excess water use. Plant water needs are determined by evapotranspiration (ET) rates, recent rainfall, turfgrass types, recent temperature extremes and soil moisture. Irrigation scheduling often occurs in the early morning hours before air temperatures rise and relative humidity drops.

Time-clock-controlled irrigation systems preceded computer-controlled systems, and many are still in use today. Electric/mechanical time clocks cannot automatically adjust for changing ET rates. Computerized irrigation control systems allow a superintendent to call in and cancel the program if it is determined that the course has received adequate rainfall.

Irrigation control devices may be installed to allow for maximum system scheduling. Soil moisture sensors can assist with determining scheduling and may help create an on-demand schedule to conserve water. An irrigation system should also have rain sensors to shut off the system after 0.25 to 0.5 inch of rain is received.