It's not the Superintendent

[Sean Remington (SBR)]

RDecker - Thanks. That will go up on my office door.

 

[Norbert P]

This year we host the PGA Tucson Open Monday qualifier and I'm going to have those puppies firm and fast again, even though I know they will be pissed again.

  Damn the torpedoes!  Full steam ahead!

  Onward Rocanante!

[RDecker]

A Clayman,
You bring up an excellent point/argument.  Often times we discuss and hear talk of how golfers enjoy the changes in conditions and how they challenge golfers to adjust their games.  Yet at the club level as a Super I far more frequently hear members clamoring for consistency so the can hone their game and especially their putting stroke.  Which brings up the often baffling question of who does the superintendent try to safisfy, the majority of the members, the board members who are ultimately the "boss" or just the ideal the super has in his head.  It is no small task trying to satisfy 300,400 or as many as 500 people simultaneously so more often than not you make a realistic decision to satisfy the people who sign your checks and approve your budgets and raises.  It seems like a sucky way to look at the game of golf but it's reality.

[Don_Mahaffey]

Slag,
The statute of limitations on using quotes is one year!

jgosselin,
Maybe in PA irrigation is an art, but in an arid area that gets less then 10 inches of rain and is heavily regulated on water use, irrigation is very much a science.  

[Sean Remington (SBR)]

Don - I agree with your Art vs. Science of irrigation point. Here in the east we rarely have more than two weeks of consistent weather and on our soils it is very difficult achieve that ideal maintenance meld for a consistently long period. The best managed courses use as much hand watering as possible. This doesn't leave much room for science. However, I wouldn't cut yourselt short on the art end of things. It sounds like it has taken you quite a lot of time and experience to get the most out of your system. That to me is the art of adapting your science on a huge scale with very little room for error. You can't just turn the thing on and walk away.

TEPaul - I understand your frustrations with soft approach areas. Last year was probably one of the worst for this situation because of all the rain. Another factor to consider would be thatch. I think these areas need to be aerated and topdressed much more often than they usually are at most clubs, mine included. It can be hard to find the time and money for additional topdressing.  However, the future may be bright as many top level eastern courses have begun topdressing all fairways and approaches with sand.  This does not come cheap but in time will go along way toward helping the course play firmer. I requested an additional $30,000 for sand to use on my course in the coming year but was unable to get it approved.  There's always next year.

[A_Clay_Man]

Rdecker- Feeling your pain of trying to satisfy everyone sounds like no fun. Since I am not typical, especially when it comes to the sense and sensibilities of a pampered membership, I do see the value in having the golf course transition more than just twice a year. I know I am speaking outside anyones box, but I'd love to hear how much healthier it is for the turf.
p.s. Remeber, the louder they bitch, the better you've done your job. So long as you still have one.

[John Gosselin]

Don,
Let me rephrase as I agree with irrigation in general being science.

Controlling moisture on golf course fairways and greens for playability is an art, not an exact science.  

[G_Tiska]

If a super waters by ET that is generated by the computer the course will be wet and soft. I usually water about 50% of daily ET.

[Don_Mahaffey]

G,
Like you noted, what really matters is what % of ET you use as a base and how often you replace ET. I've seen it written many times that certain cool season grasses need 100% of ET to survive. I've never seen turf that was managed well require 100% ET replacement. In the desert where it doesn't rain, the lowest I was ever able to go for a few months was 60% of ET. One other thing, it's important to know what method is being used to calculate ET. The Penman-Montieth (sp) method was developed for turf, but often what you will see in the news is pan evaporation which usually is higher then Penman-Monteith. One person's 50% may be anothers 80% if ET is not being calculated in the same way.