There are many opportunities for golf courses to use less water, and numerous potential benefits can be achieved by doing so.
The sport of golf is currently experiencing substantial growth; however, it faces significant challenges related to water availability and associated costs, as well as the implications of changing weather patterns.
Stakeholders must recognize these issues, as they pose long-term threats to our golf courses.
Addressing these challenges will require collaborative efforts and strategic planning to ensure the sport’s sustainability and vitality.
I was pleased to learn that water usage on golf courses in the US has decreased by 30% since 2005. This shows a positive trend towards more sustainable practices in the industry.
With the power of advanced irrigation techniques and conservation strategies, including cutting-edge sensors (such as Soil Scout) and irrigation technology (like Rain Bird CirrusPRO), we can harness the water at our disposal with remarkable effectiveness and precision.
Antognolla Golf uses, for instance, artificial lakes that are replenished by rainfall to irrigate the course.
Interoperability is another crucial aspect of operating golf courses, and Valentine Godin, CEO of Maya Global, mentioned this in an interview with Golf Business Monitor.
Antognolla Golf & Rain Bird partnership
Antognolla Golf has recently achieved a significant milestone by being named the flagship course in Italy by Rain Bird, a global leader in irrigation solutions.
Antognolla’s relationship with Rain Bird dates back to 2018, when the Nimbus II Irrigation Central Control system was installed.
However, this new agreement will see the entire network updated with CirrusPRO Central Control software. Antognolla Golf is already equipped with the Rain Bird IC System.
CirrusPRO will enhance the system’s functionalities, facilitating optimal precision irrigation.
This will be achieved by integrating advanced diagnostic capabilities with the system’s ability to deliver real-time notifications to the user regarding its operational status.
Antognolla Golf – GEO Certified since 2021 – also operates a weather station that continuously monitors real-time climate conditions.
The team utilizes this data, in conjunction with a computerized irrigation system, to optimize water usage, resulting in an average water conservation of 25% compared to conventional irrigation methods.
Over the past three years, Antognolla Golf has significantly reduced its dependence on chemical fertilizers, with organic fertilizers now accounting for 80% of the total fertilizers used, while mineral fertilizers make up the remaining 20%.
There is one essential question for which I have yet to receive a response: has a comprehensive framework been established that incorporates all aspects of the golf course’s operation?
I believe such a framework could significantly enhance our understanding of the quality and health of the turf, as well as the overall condition of the golf course.