Irrigation System Evaluation

An irrigation system is the most important tool a golf course superintendent has during peak season. If an irrigation system is inefficient and the coverage is poor, it's time to develop a plan to improve its performance. One way of doing that is to create a detailed, logical document that evaluates the entire system.
Pictures, tables, and graphs should be included as evidence along with the good and bad components of the system. For the decision makers who may not know much about irrigation, this sort of information is crucial.
In addition, each section should provide detailed conclusions, recommendations and cost for improvements.
To begin, the evaluator should provide a detailed background of the system.
• When was the irrigation system installed?
• Have there been any improvements?
• What is the equipment currently installed?
• Are there areas that are difficult to operate to specification due to elevation?
A detailed description of the irrigation system background needs to be followed by evaluating the water supply:
• Is there a permit to take water, when does it expire and does it provide enough water?
• Is the water quality: excellent, poor or mediocre?
• Is there an injection system to better manage poor water quality?
• What is the process to find more water and how much is it going to cost?

From the water supply, the heart of an irrigation system, to the pump station needs to be addressed:
• Where is the pump station located and what is the capacity in terms of pressure and flow?
• Is there a pressure maintenance pump?
• Do the pumps loose prime?
• Are there any transfer pumps, where are they located, what is there capacity and how are they controlled?
• How does the pump regulate pressure?
• What type of pump system is used: centrifugal or turbine?
• Does the irrigation system water in an acceptable period or in the water window too long?
• What is the speed of the various pumps?
• Are the pumps serviced annually and are they dependable?

Pump System Controls
• How is the pump system controlled and what is the logic?
• Is it technically up-to-date, is there a flow meter and does anything need to be serviced?
The arteries and veins of the irrigation system (mainlines and laterals) distribute water to each area of the golf course and can severely impact irrigation efficiency and capacity if the pipe was incorrectly sized:
• Are the pipe sizes too small?
• How often do pipes get repaired and are they pipe or fitting repairs?
• Are the fittings thrust blocked?
• What are the types of fittings installed in mainlines and laterals?
• What type predominant type of pipe installed on mainlines and laterals?
• Is there an accurate as-built irrigation diagram?
In combination with pipe size, it's best to also look at the isolation capacity of the irrigation system:
• Are greens and tees isolated on their own?
• Are the fairways looped and can you isolate each fairway or must you isolate large sections of the irrigation system to repair a break?
• What type of isolation valves are throughout the course and are they leaking?
• Are isolation valves accurately mapped on as-built diagrams to quickly locate and isolate a leak?
• Are the valve boxes accessible and do the isolation valves work properly?

After analyzing the isolation valves, the sprinklers need to be assessed on greens, tees, fairways and rough:
• Are the sprinklers correctly spaced?
• Have the sprinklers been strategically placed while considering: soil structure, plant type, micro-climates?
• Are the rotation speeds, pressure and nozzles consistent?
• Are the sprinklers, level, broken or installed on slopes?
• How much labour is spent on hand watering?

Wiring
• What are the various types of wiring installed and have the splices been done properly?
• Is there record of splices and have they been covered by valve boxes and recorded on as-built drawings?
• Are the current power wires and communication wires correctly sized for expansion?

Control Systems
• Is there a central control or is the irrigation scheduled manually?
• What is the condition of the field controllers and are there repairs that need to be made to electrical components or grounding?
• Are the sprinklers operated individually or grouped and is there room to add additional stations?

Management
• What is the level of management required for the irrigation system?
• Is the management intense, fair or adequate?
• Have the schedules been updated on a regular basis?
• Do repairs get done quickly?

In conclusion, an effective evaluation of the irrigation system is a synopsis of it overall condition. It is important that the document is factual and not exaggerated and that each component is in a logical order and easy to follow.

If done properly, the document may serve as a master plan for upgrading an existing irrigation system, or the primary evidence needed to re-design and install a new irrigation system.

Remember, it is not always necessary to conduct a complete evaluation in one season. If money is tight, it might be a better idea to pick away at a few areas each season, proactively improving inefficiencies, and when the time comes to sell major improvements, everything will already be in place!

Turfhugger Exclusive - Dutch Elm Disease Immunization Product Approved for Canada

I learned of a new treatment for Dutch Elm Disease (DED) a while ago and have been waiting patiently for the Pest Management Regulatory Association (PMRA) approval to notify Turfhugger readers.

I’m pretty excited to tell the Turfhugger readers of Dutch Trig, brought to the Canadian market by Urban Forestry Innovative Solutions (UFIS), even before the official Press Release date! For a list of other countries distributors go here.

Instead of concentrating solely on the Dutch Trig product, I decided to contact Mike Thibeault of UFIS to talk a little about the general DED concerns.

Turfhugger – I understand the Product has just been approved for use in Canada. Where else is it registered?

UFIS – On October 19th 2009, Health Canada’s PMRA approved Dutch Trig for use in Canada. Dutch Trig is also being used in Holland, Germany (complete EU registration is pending) and across the United States.

Turfhugger – What type of success/failure rate are they experiencing?

UFIS - Historical rates are 99% effective (first year numbers are often not quite as effective since this is a preventative and some trees already sick get injected and still die) in The Hague where 10,000 trees have been injected for many years the efficacy rate is above 99% and since they treat almost 1/3 of the cities elms the overall incidence even in untreated trees has reduced over time.

Turfhugger – Any other way of controlling the disease? Beetle controls?

UFIS - Some basal spraying is tried with limited success especially when weighed against the environment concern of pesticide spraying. Fungicidal treatments have been tried in the past but currently nothing is registered in Canada. Bans on moving firewood and a strict inspection and sanitation (removing and destroying diseased trees quickly) protocol are the only current methods to slow the spread. We seek to augment these methods by providing a proven preventative especially for feature elm trees in the urban environment.

Turfhugger – Why not just plant resistant Elms? What benefit does an Elm tree have over others in our landscapes?

UFIS - Historically, DED resistant elms do not have the typical shape and stature of American Elms and as such few have been planted. More work is being done on this all the time and that may provide a future for elms. Our focus is not on new plantings but rather treating the mature elms that are still part of our urban fabric. We estimate at least 1 million elms in municipal inventories across Canada with the highest numbers in central and western Canada. In many cities and towns across the prairies elms are one of the few trees that flourish in the extremes of climate. It is an extremely hardy tree that can withstand winter temperatures and its vase shape and beauty add tremendous landscape value.

Turfhugger – What is the process of protecting a tree with Dutch Trig? Associated costs?

UFIS - The process is a 2 to 5 minute injection into the current growth ring. This is done every spring. As for costs, a 50cm DBH Elm would cost about $50.00 to $55.00 to inject every year (+ Labor)

Turfhugger – Who can apply? What kind of license is required?

UFIS - The label will require the injection to be performed by a certified arborist.

Simple Tips to Increase Efficacy

Trying to get the biggest bang for your buck is the name of the game these days with a suffering economy and rock bottom budgets. When laying out your budget for the next year, chemicals can top the list as being one of the more expensive line items. It is important to get your money’s worth each time you go out to control pests. There are a few tips that I stand by when applying high dollar fungicides and long-term insect control. Knowledge is the key. Knowing the target, knowing your product, and knowing proper application procedures.

Knowing the target is key when control is needed. So many people rely on calendar applications, which are not very accurate. Every year brings different conditions so relying on a calendar application can result in money lost because your timing was off.

Using a prediction model can adjust your timing to the development of your insects or bring your attention to leaf wetness period to plan your prevention of disease. Knowing the life cycle of your target can help you plan your preventative application so your not reacting too late in their development. Knowing how a disease or insects attack the plant is very important as well. I have heard of application that were made for root infecting diseases but were not watered in properly. Simple oversights can cost a lot of money in application and only get a small percentage of control.
Knowing your product is very important. When you try a new chemistry or use a trusted product it is important you are getting the most out of your application. Remember the chemical companies spend millions of dollars testing and registering these chemicals for our use. The testing is definitely in a controlled environment, which we do not have. That is one variable you cannot avoid. Reading the label reveals important information that may be overlooked. Things that people take for granted are, proper application rate, recommended pH of the solution to avoid breakdown and mode of action. This is important information when planning your application. Have you checked the pH of the water you are using to fill your tank? Can you apply with proper dilution? These are all questions that you should be asking yourself when planning out your spray schedule.
The last thing to complete before you load up your tank with an expensive application that you may rely on for extended periods of control is proper calibration. I make sure I calibrate before every application. The first thing that I make sure I have is proper nozzle selection. Nozzles are like different size wrenches for a mechanic. Each one does a different job and not one can do the job of the other. I have a set of nozzles for high volume applications like fungicides, a set for foliar applications. Applying the product according to the proper dilution can make the efficacy much better. When the label recommends 2gal per thousand square feet then applying it at 1 gal per thousand will reduce your efficacy by a good percentage.
Next time you go out to spray your three thousand dollar application that you will trust to have great control for the whole season make sure since you are relying on one spray application that all the variables that you are able to control are spot on. Next time you talk to your neighbor and he is complaining about breakthrough from his application it might behoove you to ask a couple simple questions to get to the root of the problem. Application timing, application rate and proper dilution would be my first questions. You would be surprised at how little things can make a big difference. Taking the time to make sure you applying your chemicals properly can save you time and money.

Top 5 Must Have Accessories for Turf Superintendents

Being a superintendent over the years I have realized that some accessories are more important than others. I have equipment that I use on a daily basis that I rely on for proper operation. I have found that skimping on these things can be costly and spending a little extra can go a long way. I have shortened the list to the top five things that I have found to be most important to me in my environment.


1. A Leatherman: This multi-use tool has been at my side for nearly ten years. I have the Wave and it does everything that I need. I have used in a pinch when an irrigation saw was un-available, I have even used it to trim and lay sod. It has helped me through lightning strikes that destroyed five satellites and shattered hundreds of feet of two inch pipe under ground. Not only has it done a great job but in cases when you get a little over zealous and break something Leatherman is quick to fix or replace the tool no question for 25 years. I have had great success with my Leatherman.

2. A razor knife: I have purchase a cheap razor knife that has replaceable blades. This works great when you have to fertilize wall to wall and you cut open bag after bag of fertilizer. We all know this will dull a knife fairly quickly with the abrasion of the fertilizer. With this handy knife I can just insert a new blade and I am on my way. I purchased the knife from Craftsmen yet again a lifetime warranty. If anything breaks I can bring it back to the store and receive a replacement the same day.

3. Good Flashlight: I have had many flashlights and most of the time have been disappointed that they are not bright enough. I finally started to look at tactical lighting. I have found that the Surefire 9P has a very bright lamp and is small enough to have in your pocket or on your belt. One-piece construction out of aircraft aluminum it also touts a lifetime warranty. Surefire has also done a great job with holding up to their warranty and anything that is wrong is replaced immediately.

4. A Phone with email capability: I was never a person that needed a phone that would receive email but once I had the phone it has given me the ability to communicate better with my membership while spending more time on the golf course. I don’t have to spend an afternoon in the office returning emails. It has been a timesaver for me. I have the MotoQ and many people have the iPhone. I think they are all good.

5. Nice pair of shoes: The last thing on my list and not the least is a good pair of shoes. I am always looking for a pair of shoes that will hold up to the demands of the golf course. Getting wet from hand watering or checking heads, covered with dusty fertilizer and impact on the sole form digging something up. All that and I like my feet to stay dry all day. I have chosen to go with Solomon Goretex lined trail shoes. They are lightweight and comfortable. Most important they have held up for two seasons. That has been the most for any pair of shoes so far. I am getting substantial wear at the end of this season but haven’t lost the fact that my feet still stay dry. Next season I will be purchasing the same shoes.

These accessories are important for daily operation for me. I am sure many people have their favorites and it will vary with the type of work that is needed at your course. I have trusted these tools and shoes for years and have yet to be disappointed. I hope this will help someone that is looking for a great tool to rely on.

Out of Play, Out of Mind - Where is my golf ball?

It is estimated that approximately 2.5 Million golf balls are lost per day in the US alone, requiring for over one billion to be manufactured each and every year. Totally crazy! One of my favorite factoids found on the net was that a single palm tree from the Olympic Club in San Francisco in 1999 had over 200 golf balls lodged within it! Ha!

If our sport is going to make a unified commitment to the environment we must consider and support various "green" efforts throughout the industry, and golf ball use is an easy place for all of us to start. So...what are the options and are they truly "green"?


There are a few manufacturers creating some interesting products. Dixon makes a golf ball that is 100% recyclable, the only one on the market! They will also give you a collection box where customers can return their old balls for a discount on Dixons products. Wilson's Eco-Core product uses recycled tire rubber within the core, but I can't find much more info on them. I'm waiting for a reply from Wilson.

Meanwhile, there are a few that aim to mean well, but fail at being truly "green". My least favorite option is the biodegradable eco-golf balls . These are made from Corn grown in the US, shipped to China for processing/manufacturing and then shipped all the way back here to be shot in to a pond? I fail to see whats"eco" about that. Another common "green-washing" trend amongst ball manufacturers (and most competitive consumer product markets) is the use of recycled cardboard within their packaging. Don't get me wrong I like the use of recycled cardboard but even Mc Donalds is doing that! Look at Nike's "Karma" product for example. You'd think with a name like "Karma" the product would consider it's environmental impact, before and after it's boxed life. Nope.

Of course re-used balls have been popular for years. There are numerous websites where you can purchase previously loved golf balls.

I'm a fan of this guy. Besides whats better than 12 cent golf balls? Check out his site/store here.



Golfers can do their part from the beginning and use products to help track and find golf balls with ease. Some high tech options include the Ballfinder Scout, Radar Golf and the numerous types of Glasses.

There are a number of great articles out there that discuss golf ball loss, here's a few:
BizNet - Where have all the Golf Balls gone? A Billion a year find all sorts of resting places.
Associated Content - Top Three Eco Friendly Golf Balls

Top 5 iPhone Applications for Superintendents

For an updated list please see HERE.

Now besides playing golf, or pretending to drink a pint of beer, iPhones (and other smart phones) have the potential to change the way we manage turf and our time.
Sometimes I'm reluctant to post an article like this because things move so fast. But with that said, here are the top five iPhone applications applicable for Turf Superintendents right now.

Starting with # 5...

#5 - Chirp
Yes, an index of birds complete with photos, sounds and info about each species. Looks very basic, but how many times have you wondered what a specific bird was? I did find a number of news stories about future iPhone applications which plan on using recognition software for everything from wildlife, to trees. This technology will surely change iPhone app's of the future.


#4 - ConvertBot
Basic Application, but for those of us who do not have space left in our heads for conversion rates, this app will do it for you, remember it and so on.


#3 - PureSense will surely be #1 soon, but most Supers do not have the infrastructure capable of supporting the functions of this app. Checking your soil moisture levels and having control of your irrigation system while your on the other side of the planet is possible today with the combination of the PureSense app, a remote soil moisture system like the UgMo and having online access to your irrigation system (or someone at the turf office with a phone). Sounds technical, and it is. In fact I can't find any turfgrass managers/supers using it quite yet. However according to PureSense it is possible.
Right now you can receive "reports and charts summarize soil moisture, climate and irrigation system information to help guide grower decisions and provide a record over multiple seasons. A wide variety of simplified reports and charts can be viewed online, or received via email or on a cell phone."


#2 - Weather Bug
There are two version of this application, Free and the Elite which is not so free.

The free version comes with everything you would expect a weather app to come with plus zoomable temperature contour and satellite infrared maps!

The Elite version is pretty cool, comes with all of the Free stuff plus:

• Full radar animation
• Six additional map layers: infrared satellite, humidity, air pressure, wind speed, next day high and next day low
• 100% ad-free
• Live, local weather conditions and forecasts
• 7-day and hourly forecasts
• National Weather Service (NWS) alerts
• Daily national weather outlook video
• Radar maps with zoom feature
• View live weather cameras (up to 5)
• Time-lapse weather camera animation
• Fast access to unlimited saved locations
• Cached weather data for offline viewing
• Map auto-center function (US only)
• Temperature contour and satellite infrared maps
• Enhanced current conditions with 12 distinct observations
• Touch anywhere map technology allows user to "drop a pin" and view current weather conditions for that location
• Free access to updates and enhancements

#1 - Turfgrass Management is an application (iPhone, iTouch, and Blackberry) that provides pictures, information, and recommendations for grass species, lawn diseases, weeds, and insects. With plans to expand the app functions to provide pesticide labels and provide larger, regional and up to date databases this application should be on all superintendents phones.



Here are a few that didn't make the cut: MSDS App, Clear Standards (Carbon footprint gps app), Tree ID (helps ID trees), and MyBudge (a Budget tracking software).

What Is A Weed?

What is a weed?

“A plants whose virtues have not yet been discovered”

- Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson -

I'm sure Emerson would agree dandelions and clover in the center of a green could reduce accurate ball roll, therefore have no purpose and compromise the playability function of the turfgrass. However, weed control on a golf course is not restricted to turf playing surfaces (yet! Although I believe the Pesticide Ban in Ontario deals with "Playing Surfaces") much of the weed control on golf courses can take place in non-play turf zones, mostly due to aesthetics and a misconception of what is and what is not a weed.

Weeds are commonly defined as plants that grow in areas that we don’t want them to. In the past that would mean any plant other than an annual in a garden or a variety of turf grass would be eliminated. That’s fine if golf courses were excluded from the surrounding eco-system, but they’re not. The large monoculture of limited variety turf grasses makes golf courses vulnerable to insect and disease infestations because of the lack of biodiversity that would normally control un-natural numbers. Because of this susceptibility to pests it’s in a golf courses best interest to have a diverse landscape and preserve the natural flora which is suited to keep natural pest numbers down.

Many of the native plants that are commonly referred to as weeds are perfectly suited to attract Beneficial Predatory Insects (BPI’s) that prey upon common turf pests. This characteristic of native flora is being employed by some of golf’s finest designers. In 1999 Jack Nicklaus and Jerome Osentowski had incorporated a new idea of Integrated Pest Management, “bio-islands”, into the design at the 18 hole signature Roaring Fork Club located just outside of Aspen Colorado. The bio-island concept capitalizes on native pollinators and BPI’s by attracting and supporting local populations in the interest of offsetting the monoculture effect discussed in the previous paragraph. The plants chosen were a mixture of native wildflowers and shrubs planted in immense gardens located within the golf course infrastructure. More info on this project go here.

Side note: I spoke with Jerome Osentowski about the success of bio-islands, we discussed the various strategies and success stories of bio-islands at a number of west coast properties. However this year's insect inventories are extremely low due to the epidemic of Colony Collapse Disorder. CCD has virtually wiped out the pollinators in many Western U.S. states, primarily the Native and European bees. This is an extremely serious environmental and economic issue as the potential side effects are catastrophic to the ecosystem and food crops. For more information on CCD go to http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/ , or check out Mike Vogt's post about it here, or if you are interested in Jerome’s work go to www.crmpi.com.

To better clarify the definition of a weed we must take into consideration the bioregional origin of the plant. A native plant is one that historically occurs within the boundaries of a given area and is compatible with plants that coexist within the same habitat. An exotic is a species that has been introduced into a range that it had not naturally migrated too. They may be introduced as a horticultural or agricultural specimen, or could be brought in accidentally. An exotic that can successfully reproduce and persist in the wild is considered a naturalized specie; Queen Anne’s Lace is a great example. An invasive plant is one that is difficult to control and can overbear natural plant communities.

Some natives can be considered invasive under special circumstances, such as Staghorn Sumac or various Poplar species that can overpower disturbed urban areas. Likewise some natives can be considered harmful to golfers and employees as they pose irritations such as allergy related threats - Rag Weed contributes to hay fever (NOT GOLDEN ROD!), and some species pose threats of skin irritation like Poison Ivy.

Evolutionary ecologists believe that plants develop these characteristics in order to prevent further disturbances to the soil or the environment. For example Thistles tend to grow in compacted soils and these plants have developed spiky armor in order to make it uncomfortable for future compactors, such as livestock or heavy mowers. Similarly it’s important to acknowledge that these plants pop up when the appropriate conditions exist for their populations to occur. For example many of our “weeds” can be used as indicator species, meaning that they tell us that the soil is deprived of certain nutrients or higher in others. For example Mullen tends to grow in soils that are fairly depleted of N, P, and K, usually the result of direct solar radiation exposure. Take a look at areas around your golf course/property that contain Mullen, have they been disturbed in the past five years?

For more information about native plants and potential weed species check out the following web sources:

North American Native Plant Society
Centre for Land and Water Stewardship
Conservation Ontario
Ducks Unlimited Ontario
Forest Gene Conservation Association
Agricultural weed index

A Quick Conversation with Doug Carrick

Here in Ontario, much like the rest of the world, water availability and water quality are big concerns for environmentalists, environmentalists like Doug Carrick.

Although Carrick’s design and renovation portfolio largely consists of projects North of the American border, he is well known through the golf industry for his environmental considerations.

So… in what has developed in to my turfhugger tag line, I decided to learn more!

Turfhugger.com – What techniques or design considerations do you employ to help a golf course use resources conservatively during regular operation.

Doug Carrick – Some of the techniques we use to conserve resources include creating large water storage reservoirs to reduce the requirements for drawing water from aquifers and or streams for irrigation purposes. The reservoirs are designed to collect as much surface water from runoff as possible. Examples include Copper Creek (which is collected entirely from surface runoff and the high flows in the Humber River) Cobble Beach, Eagles Nest and Ballantrae are other good examples of collection of surface runoff into large storage reservoirs. Other techniques include establishment of unmaintained non-play naturalized areas to reduce maintenance requirements and inputs.

Turfhugger.com – I’ve seen a number of new projects where the holding capacity of a large reservoir truly reduced the amount required from aquifers, rivers, lakes or alternative sources. What are some of your designs that employ this technique?

Doug Carrick - Examples include Copper Creek, Osprey Valley, Cobble Beach, Muskoka Bay, Eagles Nest. On renovation projects water storage reservoirs have been implemented at Weston Golf & CC, Islington Golf Club and Sunningdale Golf & CC to conserve water.

Native buffer-zone materials were planted along the banks of Weston's pond on number 4.

Water was drawn down to accommodate aquatic plantings.

Turfhugger.com – What about alternative water sources?

Doug Carrick - Alternative sources of irrigation water include storm-water runoff and effluent water. Ballantrae uses a combination of both. Eagles Nest, Copper Creek, Cobble Beach use storm water runoff to varying degrees.

Turfhugger.com – Is it necessary to keep a pond in play?

Doug Carrick – Ponds do not necessarily have to be in play. Sometimes if a pond is used primarily for storage of irrigation water and has a large fluctuation in the water levels, it is best to try to screen them from view.

Turfhugger.com - Can we still have ponds without buffers?

Doug Carrick – Where ponds are adjacent to play areas on the golf course ie. beside fairways or greens it is preferable to have the pond banks maintained for playability and aesthetic reasons. It is not necessary to always have a buffer adjacent to ponds.

Turfhugger.com – Do you try to incorporate filtration features like buffers?

Doug Carrick – Buffer-zone plantings along water courses is a fairly standard requirements on golf courses today to ensure the protection of water quality and habitat areas adjacent to stream and lakes.

Turfhugger.com – Do you consider runoff from clubhouses or parking lots?

Doug Carrick – When it is possible to direct water from the clubhouse area and parking area into a reservoir we will try to do that. This can be achieved either above ground in swales or underground through pipes. Sometimes it is beneficial to direct runoff water from parking areas etc. through naturalized swales to help filter some of the contaminants out of the water.

Turfhugger.com – On the issue of aquifers, is there an opportunity for golf courses to help regenerate groundwater?

Doug Carrick – Groundwater recharge occurs on every golf course to a certain degree through the infiltration of irrigation water and rainwater back into the ground. The turfgrass is one of the best filters for removing contaminants from the water. Some of the golf courses we have designed show ground water quality on the golf course is much improved from previous agricultural uses or when compared to adjacent agricultural land or other land uses. Osprey Valley, Eagles Nest, Ballantrae, Cobble Beach all have a number of ground water recharge areas within the golf course.

Want to learn more about Doug Carrick?
Doug Carrick Q & A on the Walking Golfer
Doug Carrick - ASGCA