Fine Tuning

Are you noticing some dry spots on the golf course, maybe more than normal? Wondering if that new system is working properly? Well, it is working as it should, we are just getting through the system to do some fine tuning.
We have almost doubled our number of irrigation heads throughout the property and it takes longer to go through every individual head to make sure they are working properly. Irrigation auditing is a continuous job especially through the "getting to know" period. There are close to 3,000 heads on the course and by the season's end I expect to know almost everything about 1,500 of them.
First of all, the system was designed and installed to irrigate properly, or at the very least, how turf grass should be irrigated. For years this golf course lacked uniform irrigated, so we are expereincing areas of turf that have been overwatered for years, which are now getting what the plant should receive. Now that stress periods have set in, the turf is struggling in spots.
Wetting agents are being used to help alleviate some of the stresses and provide consistency. Spiking helps irrigation water penetrate harder surfaces and into the rootzone. Handwatering occurs in the highest stress areas.
Now that all of the heads on the course have been reviewed for communication and arcs of throw, the next step is to adjust nozzles. This can be a 2-3 year process. All of the heads that came from the factory are set to throw a 60' radius. Due to some slopes and tight areas around the greens some of these throws need to be adjusted so we target exactly what is necessary. Factors other than the radius include, pressure, gallons per minute and evaporation rates. We plan to acomplish all greens and surrounds this season. With the snowcover in the winter, we'll have to focus on the tees, roughs and fairways next season. I would guess that 15-20% of the sprinkler heads need to be adjusted in some fashion from the original install.