How good would it be to cater to the transpiration rate of each species? In our first year Irrigation program with Ian Morrow, we designed a three hole course and put together the most water conservative irrigation systems that you could come up with in those holes. It included individually irrigating zones, separating your fairways from rough, approaches, greens and so on.This looks totally out of the norm right now and is a tough concept to grasp. Water restrictions will gear you towards a set up like this in the not so distant future.
You will start to see more naturalization and less unneeded turf around your tees. More controlled watering within zone will be accomplished by a higher number of sprinklers with a smaller radius. As water restrictions grow tighter every year, you as a superintendent might have to look at zoning each individual micro climate. Having three to four rows of full circle rotors up the middle of your fairway and part circle rotors to the perimeter will keep the fairway and rough separate to accommodate different transpiration .
Back in the day superintendents didn't really have to be cautious with their watering practices, but times are changing. We are entering into an environmental sensitive time that will require us to adopt styles like this for water conservation. It’s the way of the future and our industry, and we will be seeing more of it.
Back in the day superintendents didn't really have to be cautious with their watering practices, but times are changing. We are entering into an environmental sensitive time that will require us to adopt styles like this for water conservation. It’s the way of the future and our industry, and we will be seeing more of it.
Franz Unterberger
