The Perfect Time for Golf Course Irrigation
You’ll find that most superintendents irrigate the golf course early in the morning before the sun comes up. As the day gets later, the rising sun heats leftover water and evaporates it before it can be absorbed. The wind flow also increases, hampering the uniformity of the water through sprinklers. Of course, it is also optimal to irrigate when there are not golfers on the course, as most don’t ask for their game with a shower.
Your irrigation schedule should be intimately informed by climate and weather. Depending on your climate, and the season you’re in, irrigation timing and method may have to change, possibly on a seasonal basis. Make sure your course maintenance is being changed often to account for everyday differences in circumstances. Just because you have an irrigation schedule that works that doesn’t mean it will work every year.
Even more important is to recognize when the old irrigation system has got to go. An older or obsolete irrigation system is one of the most common issues a golf course faces, and typically, they face away from it. Concerned with costs and the time needed for installation, most courses have made do with faulty irrigation systems, and by made do, we mean made a mess.
A golf facility services company can provide a free evaluation and create a plan that shows you what changes, if any, you need to make to optimize your irrigation practices. DTE Golf has golf maintenance and management professionals standing by, ready to answer your questions, meet you in person, and tour your course, all for free.
