New System: Dry Course Part 1

(This is a multiple part blog about the future effects of the new irrigation system here in Vail.)

I guess when some people hear about a new irrigation system they expect green and lush fairways. Those people must not golf. The entire purpose of this project was to use water efficiently. So I made sure that the important aspects of an irrigation system were in place. Flow and pressure were a major upgrade, pipe size has doubled and flow has tripled. Spacing of sprinkler heads has been corrected and is consistent throughout the entire golf course. With these factors addressed now I can appropriately irrigate to what the turf actually needs.

Over the years of a weaker system, it is easy to over compensate many areas of the course to achieve that"Augusta Effect" so many golfers wish to have. Superintendents have spoiled golfers over the years giving them an illusion that some areas are greener than what actually may appear! By over compensating with water you can begin a cycle that can become hard to stray from. Water-hungry plants like poa annua can be very intrusive throughout the property and take away from other beneficial plants on the golf course. Over the next few seasons I will be learning how to accurately use the system to provide the right color green on the golf course. Over the next week, I will continue to blog about the differences of the old vs. new system and how the learning process has begun.