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Moving Beyond the Measurement: How to Collect and Mine Data

April 1, 2021 09:00 AM

Moving Beyond the Measurement: How to Collect and Mine Data

No two golf courses are alike. Likewise, golf course superintendents know that different areas of their golf course may need more, or less, water depending upon different variables. The sunny 9^th hole may need more watering than the 4^th hole that is covered by a canopy of trees. The slope of one green or the amount of clay in the soil can affect the turf’s firmness. In addition, weather conditions play a significant role in a golf course superintendent’s irrigation and fertilization plans. Temperature, humidity and even the amount of rainfall overnight can vary within one golf course from one green to the next.

Consider All Factors That Contribute to Turf Health

A well-executed, site-specific management plan takes these different variables into account. To achieve championship-caliber playability, four key factors need to be measured. These include:

Soil Moisture – plant health depends upon the right amount of soil moisture to absorb nutrients and to regulate the plant’s temperature.
Turf Firmness – achieving the desired firmness of turf and bunker sands provides consistent playing conditions for longer drives and faster play.
Turf Health – properly timed fertilizer applications and careful monitoring of pH and EC levels produce better turf quality.
Weather Data – real-time, site-specific weather data provides more accurate information to inform plant conditions.

Identify Site-Specific Data to Collect

Spectrum® Technologies offers a variety of tools that measure these conditions with a selection of models available to meet different golf course budgets and variable site needs. What types of tools should be considered then? There are many site factors to consider for ensuring that the right data is collected to improve a course’s playability and overall turf health. What is the topography of the land, soil type, turf grass type and traffic level of the course? What type of climate conditions are involved? Should frost, rain, snow, salinity, elevation, or water level be considered?

Select the Right Measurement Technologies

Spectrum® Technologies offers measurement tools that when used together can complement a course’s data collection. Golf course superintendents can collect data that shows areas of need in soil moisture, salinity, soil compaction, and turf health. Products such as the FieldScout^TM TDR Soil Moisture Meters capture measurements for soil moisture in less than a second, with settings for standard, high-clay, or sand-texture soils. It is the perfect tool for superintendents who are looking to capture spot measurements for hand-watering or syringing greens for consistent turf health and quality. Spectrum® Technologies’ WatchDog® line of weather stations collects real-time, site-specific weather data, not weather collected at a local airport, which is not always predictable. The WatchDog® 3250 Wireless ET Station, for example, measures temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, solar radiation, and wind speed and direction. After an overnight rainfall, a golf course superintendent can see which areas of the course received different amounts of rainfall with a separate Wireless Rain Temperature/Relative Humidity Station and adjust irrigation run times accordingly. The varied microclimates of a golf course are capably tracked with localized disease pressure warnings available.

Spectrum® Technologies’ FieldScout^TMTruFirm® Turf Firmness Meter measures firmness of fairway landing areas for longer drives and improved bunker sand surface firmness. Based on technology developed by the United States Golf Association (USGA), the meter uses the patented TruFirm® system, which uses a hemisphere-shaped impact hammer that mimics the shape of a golf ball to better simulate golf ball impacts. When dropped from a consistent height, the hammer gives a recorded maximum turf penetration value that correlates directly to the firmness of the turf surface. By measuring the surface characteristics of the turfgrass, superintendents can make better choices on the cultural practices to achieve consistent playing conditions.

Utilize Cloud Solutions and Mobile Apps for Real-Time, Objective Data Collection

Once the right measurement tools are in place, then what? How does a golf course superintendent collect the data into a usable format for more informed decision-making and put a plan into place to improve turf quality and health?

Spectrum® Technologies offers soil-sensor technology with mobile mapping, global position systems (GPS), and geographical information systems (GIS) – to map and analyze data. From there, GIS software is used to sort the data points and organize them into different site-specific management units. It uses a smart phone for time-stamping and geo-referencing the data and can color code to represent a scale of turf firmness or moisture.

The FieldScout^TM TruFirm® Meter and TDR line of Soil Moisture Meters are both Bluetooth enabled to sync with the FieldScout^TM Mobile app to instantly collect and display data on a smart phone or tablet. The app allows users to see and email information on a grid of zones (3 wide by 3 deep), time-stamping and geo-referencing the data and color codes to represent a scale of turf firmness or moisture.

Superintendents also can create a custom map using coordinates, measurements, and mapping software using the SpecConnect® FieldScout^TM Pro. After collecting soil measurements, they can enter the data on a map using mapping software and then use that information to manage the irrigation, aeration, salinity, and product application on their course. They can also set up different alerts and thresholds or use models to plot trends.

The WatchDog® 3000 line of weather stations also can send data to the SpecConnect® Cloud Solution to view current conditions or historical data, using a broad selection of analytical reports from anywhere in the world. Bluetooth connectivity to an Apple or Android smartphone running the free WatchDog® Mobile App speeds setup and displays current conditions. Superintendents can receive alerts via automated phone call, text message, or email immediately when temperature crosses a selected threshold.

Use Measurement Data to Inform Irrigation, Hand Watering, Aeration and Fertilization

Data collection is critical, but it is only part of the equation. How do you take real-time, objective data and translate it into actionable next steps? Here are a few strategies used to turn measurement data into better, more playable turf.

For some golf course superintendents, it helps to test site management theories by starting small — with one green or fairway — and monitoring progress. If the turf improves, then they can expand their testing area. Some may elect to only focus on one technique, such as irrigation, aeration, or hand-watering and syringing greens. For a golf course with more challenges, superintendents can enter the data on a map, using mapping software, and use that information to manage the entire irrigation, aeration, salinity, and product application on their course.

Whatever your method or turf challenge, Spectrum® Technologies has a variety of measurement devices and technology tools to improve turf quality and playability.

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Spectrum Technologies, 3600 Thayer Court, Aurora, IL 60504, Phone - 800-248-8873