Best Management Practices for Maryland Golf Courses

Best Management Practices

• The reliability of older clock-control station timing depends on the calibration of the timing devices; this should be done periodically, but at least seasonally. • An irrigation system should be shut off after 0.25 to 0.5 inches of rain falls. • Avoid use of a global setting; make adjustments to watering times per head. • Permanent irrigation sprinklers and other distribution devices should be spaced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. • Spacing should also be based on average wind conditions during irrigation. • Install wireless soil moisture systems to prevent damage from aeration. • Use soil moisture sensors to bypass preset schedules or for on-demand irrigation. • Use multiple soil moisture sensors to reflect soil moisture levels. • Place soil moisture sensors in the root zones of representative locations within each irrigation zone and in the driest irrigation zone of the irrigation system. • Base irrigation run times on actual site conditions for each head and zone and adjust as needed based on current local meteorological data. • The computed daily ET rate can be used to adjust run times to meet the turf’s moisture needs. • Manually adjust automated ET data to reflect wet and dry areas on the course. • Irrigation quantities should not exceed the available moisture storage in the root zone. • The irrigation schedule should coincide with other management practices, such as the application of nutrients, herbicides, or other chemicals. • Irrigation should occur in the early morning hours before air temperatures rise and relative humidity drops. • Visually monitor for localized dry conditions or hot spots to identify poor irrigation efficiency or a failed system device.

Figure 13. Sensors such as the water sensor (left) and soil temperature sensor (right) can aid in irrigation decision making. Photo credit: Joseph Roberts.

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