Brad Jakubowski is a professor of irrigation and plant science at Penn State’s renowned turfgrass program. In addition to teaching multiple irrigation and turfgrass management courses, Brad has taught meteorology and various sustainability courses and is an advocate of irrigation auditing and conservation. Brad is the 2022 recipient of the Irrigation Association Excellence in Education Award and currently serves on the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Conference Education Task Group. I recently had the opportunity to pose some questions to him on issues related to water usage and turfgrass for golf courses.
Among the things we discussed were the often competing goals golf courses share of providing optimum playing surfaces all while minimizing disease occurrence and meeting the visual (green) expectations of golfers, owners and board members. He first stressed that there is constant research being done to develop the best turfgrasses possible to meet these goals, and that the superintendent is often charged with meeting goals that may or may not be achievable given budgetary and climatic considerations. He emphasized that more water and more chemicals are often needed to keep golf courses emerald green and that not only does this cost more but may not be environmentally sustainable.
When I asked what is being done to develop a new generation of turfgrasses for golf courses, Jakubowski answered as follows: “New generations of turfgrasses are being developed constantly via the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP). NTEP is designed to develop and coordinate uniform evaluation trials of turfgrass varieties and promising selections in the United States, Canada and internationally. Test results can be used by national companies and plant breeders to determine the broad picture of the adaptation of a cultivar. Breeding is being conducted by a number of universities and seed companies across the country and industry.” He mentioned some of the new, 4th generation bentgrass varieties, like 777, Barracuda, Coho, Shark & Pirahna and said there are others close to being commercially available.
Given the current emphasis on water availability, I asked about changes in future golf course maintenance. He said: “Superintendents are continually making adjustments and modifications to their agronomic practices to become more and more sustainable, profitable, and playable with decreasing resources and equipment. You will most likely see an increase in the use of reclaimed water from municipal sources. This may require courses to utilize more salt tolerant grasses. Most courses are doing what they can with what they have. Tracking water use is a management tool. Reclaimed water will become a more frequent solution to cost and availability. Limited if any water quality issues but it can be higher in salt content.” He also suggested that in the more arid regions in the western US, that the use of reclaimed water will increase as will the use of sub-surface irrigation practices. All regions are reducing the number of irrigated acres where practical.
Jakubowski said that all regions are becoming cognizant of inputs, and along with fewer irrigated acres he is recommending more efficient use of irrigation systems, like only using 2 rows versus 3, challenging superintendents with the “Million Gallon Challenge” using a million less gallons each month or year, auditing irrigation systems for efficiencies and paying more attention to how much water is used.
Jakubowski emphasized that water usage depends as much on expectations as anything. This includes the public, management, golfers, society, etc.
I asked what Brad sees as the biggest future problem for golf courses and golf course maintenance as they relate to turf and water usage. He answered: “The misconception between the general public and the golf course being seen as an incredible resource wasting entity. Most golf courses work diligently at trying to be as profitable as possible while trying to meet the expectations of the people that use that facility. To be profitable, they need to be as frugal with water and the resources and practices that impact the amount of water they require. Superintendents will need to be as ‘smart and resourceful’ as possible to make this possible. This will come down to doing even the simplest things. Regular irrigation system maintenance, multiple audits and system evaluation checks, upgrades – both big and small…“
He envisions the biggest changes in golf course maintenance as being an increase in remote sensing techniques, like drones, satellite networks and enhanced weather data. He suggests that irrigation and water use will become more integrated with this technology, and of course fewer acres of irrigated turf.
When I asked about the primary focus of the turfgrass community, Jakubowski listed the following:
- #1. Be smart, be patient, and be willing to accept that not all golf courses will nor need to be Augusta National. Be smart and reasonable with their expectations.
- #2. Be willing to see and accept a little more “brown” out there.
- #3. Be willing to make upgrades or adjustments to irrigation systems even if they appear to be minute improvements.
- #4. Be vigilant and constantly be calibrating themselves to what is going on with their particular facility. For example: As weather changes, evaluate what is happening with the turfgrass and record these responses for future use and reference. With our smart phones and technology, we can do a lot to get from point A to point B.
- #5. Remember that water is finite and will inevitably become harder and harder to get our hands on. We will need to be to the best stewards of what we have available to us at that time. (He then suggested this should be at the top of the list)
Among the other things we discussed were cutting heights. As a longtime fan of fast greens (like many golfers), I love it when greens measure 14′ on the stimpmeter, Jakubowski confirmed that lower cutting heights require more water, more nitrogen and create more stress. Jakubowski shared that there are many ways to enhance green speeds without such stress and cost that are more sustainable. Water either is or will be a problem in the foreseeable future. Golf courses need to be prepared.