Technology and Turf-Moisture Management



Turf Guard Installation

 Many advances have been made in the turfgrass industry over the last decade that serve to improve turf conditions and operational efficiency.  New mowers, aerifiers, and sand delivery units are prominent examples of these type of improvements.  Sprayers equipped with GPS systems ensure proper pesticide delivery. More recently, siginificant advances have been made in the area of moisture management.  While this topic receives much attention in areas with a limited water supply, such as the Desert Southwest, it also applies to those of us in the Upper Midwest.  Even with our close proximity to the abundant resources afforded by the Great Lakes, precise irrigation is both good for the environment and turfgrass alike.

In today's climate of heightened environmental sensitivity, most everyone is aware of the need to preserve the earth's natural resources.  An increase in the global population has brought this issue to the forefront of today's environmental issues.  Professional turf managers most certainly understand this, but also understand the benefits derived from proper moisture management.  Conditions that allow for a proper balance of irrigation over time provide healthy turf and improved playability.  Excessive moisture creates an ideal environment for disease development and root loss due to a lack of oxygen in the root zone.  Unnecessary water also leads to undesirable playing conditions such as plugged lies and reduced ball roll.  Successful golf course superintendents realize the importance of proper moisture management and will currently employ advances in technology to best manage irrigation at their courses.The golf course maintenance staff currently at NSCC currently uses two pieces of technology to monitor soil moisture conditions on the golf course.

TDR Field Scout 300



Last year, the golf course maintenance staff began using the FieldScout TDR 300 Soil Moisture Meter.  This portable meter is carried from green to green by a trained staff member.  During the summer month's data is gathered throughout the day.  The numbers obtained from the unit are checked against threshold numbers that have been previously established.  The threshold numbers identify the minimum water requirement for healthy turf.  If the turf falls below the threshold number, nightly irrigation or hand water will be scheduled.



Turf Gaurd

This year, the golf course maintenance staff will begin using a product called Turf Guard which is manufactured by the Toro corporation.  Turf Guard is a system of soil moisture meters that communicate with the central irrigation computer.  Last week, NSCC staff installed these stationary meters in the greens on 1 White and 7 White, along with the fairway on 1 White.  The sensors communicate via radio to receiver in the clubhouse.  The receiver then sends information over the internet to the central computer in the Superintendent's office in the maintenance facility.  The sensors monitor both soil temperature and moisture.  Accurate soil temperature measurements are critical when applying time sensitive herbicide, fungicide, and fertilizer applications.  Additionally, the sensors may be left out during the winter to monitor soil temperatures below snow cover.  As previously discussed, proper soil moisture management is critical for both healthy turf and improved course playability.  These meters provide real-time measurements that are accessible at any time from the central computer at NSCC, as well as remotely from my iPhone and iPad. If the Turf Guard sensors prove valuable, we will have the opportunity to expand to other locations through the golf course in the future.

Fairway Sand Topdressing and Maintenance

Prior to 2008, fairway maintenance at NSCC had centered on core aerification which occurred on an annual basis. This process was beneficial to the turf at NSCC as it alleviated soil compaction, reduced thatch and allowed for proper water, oxygen, and nutrient exchange, but was often completed to the dismay of golfers due to the often muddy conditions for two to three weeks following the process.

In 2008, the Board of Directors approved a new three phase fairway management program that addressed these same goals, while at the same time eliminating the muddy conditions following core aerification by gradually improving the quality of the soil.  The process included:  solid tine aerification (no more cores/mud), aggressive vertical mowing, and sand topdressing. 

At about the same time as this process began, the economy suffered and club membership trended downward.  Tough decisions were made to reduce expenses throughout the club.  The expense of the sand proved to be too much and became a casualty as well.  The golf course maintenance staff has continued to aerify with solid tines and aggressively verticut since this time, but the lack of sand applications has caused the fairways to become thatchy and soft.  Excess thatch reduces playability and creates a moist environment that promotes an environment for disease development.

Why Sand?

The new fairway maintenance process serves to improve fairway conditions by modifying the underlying soil with the addition of sand. Just as the greens at NSCC were improved over the last 30 years by continual sand topdressing, we aspire to the same outcome on the fairways. We plan to apply roughly ¼ inch of sand per year on the fairways. At this rate, after ten years we will have accumulated a two inch sand base underneath the fairways allowing for improved turf health, better drainage, firmer fairways and improved golf cart accessibility following rain events.

In order to apply the desired amount of sand, the golf course maintenance staff has once again begun to apply sand to the fairways.  We will make three applications in the spring and three applications in the fall.  The first application on the White Nine will be completed by May 1st.  The Red and Blue Nines will be treated immediately following or as soon as the weather permits.

,Even thought the sand is swept into the turf canopy, the fairways will be somewhat sandy for a couple days.  As you play, you may notice that your ball picks up a small amount of sand.  This will occur until the turf grows through sand.  This inconvenience is small compared to the improved fairway conditions that will occur over the next couple of years.

Golf Season Begins With Course In Great Shape

The 2012 golf season officially begins this weekend with the onset of the first major of the year, the Masters. The golf course at NSCC has opened in wonderful conditions. A mild winter, with little ice and minimal sub-zero temperatures, has provided us with a damage free golf course. Additionally, extremely warm temperatures for extended periods of time in March have provided for an early spring green up. Currently turf conditions are 4-6 weeks ahead of schedule. That being said, the golf course maintenance staff has been very busy preparing the course for play and summer:

• Putting Greens: The greens have been verticut and topdressed. Growth regulators have been applied to reduce annual bluegrass seedhead production. Mowing heights and fertility will be manage to allow for adequate recovery and growth.


• Tees: The tees have been verticut and topdressed as well. We will place the tee markers toward the front of tees for a couple more weeks in order to preserve the primary hitting areas for the upcoming season.


• Fairways: The fairways have come out of winter in the best shape that I have ever seen--they currently appear as though it is mid-June. Our equipment technician Jim is currently solid-tine aerifying all fairways. He has completed the White Nine and is currently working on the Red Nine. Once Jim completes this process, the golf course maintenance staff will begin verticutting fairways in preparation for our first sand topdressing application.


• Pump Station Improvements: The pumps in the pumping station on the White Nine have been completely rebuilt and installed. The irrigation system was pressurized yesterday. The golf course maintenance staff will repair all leaking pipes and sprinkler heads in the coming weeks.


• Stump Hole Repair: The warm weather and dry conditions have allowed the golf course maintenance staff to get an early jump on repairing the stump holes created following the removal of trees in the fall of 2011. While most holes were leveled off and seeded, the golf course maintenance staff sodded the largest stump holes located close to the fairways on 1 White and 3 White.

Take advantage of the warm temperatures this weekend and come out and play the course. Follow your round by watching the Masters in the clubhouse!

Irrigation System Maintenance and Improvements

A properly functioning irrigation system is vital to maintaining quality turf conditions throughout the season. The irrigation system is truly the life blood of the golf course during the hot summer months. Without a reliable system, turfgrass decline would be inevitable.

Understanding this, the NSCC Board of Directors approved two major deferred maintenance projects which will guarantee proper irrigation function for years to come.

The Board approved the following maintenance work to the pump station on 7 White:

• Restore the support frame that holds all four pumps above the wet well.


• Restore the 60HP pump to peak efficiency


• Rebuild and add an additional stage to the 20HP in order to meet the higher pressure demand that our system now operates at


• Service the 30HP pump and motor

The Board also approved the following upgrades to the irrigation control system since our current control system is no longer manufactured and now obsolete. In fact, some electronic repair parts are no longer available for purchase:

• Replace the 27 on-course Network 800 controllers with 15 new Lynx controllers


• Replace the 12 year-old central computer with a new computer and software

While these projects do not necessarily have the appeal of a renovation project, they are critical to course conditioning. All installation and repair work is currently underway. The new system will be up and running to begin the season.

Tree Removal Project

Following a thorough examination of the Blue and White Nines, the Grounds and Greens Committee identified a total of 53 trees for removal. All trees slated for removal were chosen for one of the following reasons:

• Poor Tree Health


• Safety Concerns


• Creating A Poor Environment For Growing Turf


• Playability Issues/Previously Identified In Forse Master Plan

The removal process began in November on the Blue Nine. All work including removal, brush chipping, stump grinding and backfilling has been completed utilizing NSCC staff and equipment. The final seeding of the stump holes will be completed in Spring when conditions allow.

While evergreen trees were the most common tree removed, a few deciduous trees did make the list. The picture above taken following the felling of a willow tree on 3 White illustrates how labor intensive this process is. The diameter of the tree is greater than height of our staff member!

Drainage Projects Complete

The golf course maintenance staff worked hard throughout the month of October in order to meet our goal of completing all drainage projects by the end of the month. The warm weather and beautiful days often pushed our manpower to its limits as we were often faced with preparing the golf course for play as well as working towards completing the drainage projects.

As was mentioned in the previous blog entry, the fairway drainage projects focused on three major areas. The approach to the green on 2 White received an ample amount of drain line to eliminate the ever present wet conditions in this area. As we exited this drain line across the beginning of the 6th fairway, we took the time to install sufficient drainage to alleviate the wet spots in this area as well. After we finished in this area, we turned our attention to the 7th fairway on the White Nine. This area is always troublesome since it sits below the water level of our irrigation pond. Additionally, very little fall is available to move water from the fairway. After installing the proper amount of drain line to aid this fairway, we used the excavator that we rented to install the culvert pipe to clean out the drainage ditch that slowly allows water to move from this area of the course. Lastly, we turned our attention to what has recently become the most difficult fairway to drain at NSCC--6 Blue. In our most extensive drainage project to date, NSCC staff installed over 2,000 feet of drain line in the fairway, rough, and approach.

Golf Course Improvement Projects

At the September meeting, the Board of Directors approved two golf course improvement projects as recommended by the Grounds and Greens Committee. The primary focus of these projects is to improve fairway drainage and to properly manage the trees on the golf course. Prior to the recommendation of the projects, the Grounds and Greens Committee spent three hours reviewing both the White and Blue Nines to assess the value of and prioritize the importance of each project. Rest assured that both the drainage projects and the tree removal project closely follow the golf course master plan as created by golf course architect Ron Forse. The tree removal project will begin in late fall and will likely continue into the winter. The drainage projects are currently underway and will be completed using NSCC staff by early November.

The most challenging component of the drainage project is the replacement of the deteriorating culvert pipe which diverts water below the fairway on 7 White following heavy rain and snow melt. The existing pipe was composed of galvanized metal and had been in the ground for over 20 years. Over time, the integrity of the pipe had been compromised and was no longer viable. After heavy rains, excess water would wash underneath the corroded pipe and began washing out the existing grade. The Grounds and Greens committee has taken a proactive approach and decided that replacing the old galvanized pipe with a new dual-wall, 24" inch PVC pipe was the best solution. This new pipe will last much longer than the 20 years that the old pipe lasted.

NSCC's golf course maintenance staff has nearly nearly completed the project. The old pipe was first removed. Staff next trenched the site in preparation for the new and slightly larger pipe, working carefully around existing irrigation pipe and wires. Staff often checked the grade while excavating and preparing the trench to ensure adequate fall. Following the installation of the pipe, the golf course maintenance staff will backfill the trench with gravel and soil. Once the final grade is completed, the golf course maintenance staff will return the sod to the fairway.

The other drainage projects approved by the Board serve to improve the poorly drained fairway areas on 2 White, 7 White, and 6 Blue. The project on 2 White, near the green, is nearly complete. After finishing this project early next week, the golf course maintenance staff will move forward with the drainage installation in the landing area on 7 White. Following aerification and closure of the Blue Nine putting greens on October 17, the golf course maintenance staff will install an extensive drainage system throughout the entire second half of the fairway on 6 Blue. This project will be completed by the end of October.