There are potentially five objectives for water management on a golf green:

• removal of excess rainwater
• reducing soil moisture to encourage root growth
• efficient irrigation – applying only what is needed, when it is needed
• safe utilization of secondary water sources
• water collection and re-use

Subsurface aeration used in vacuum mode is very effective in removing water from soil pore spaces without depleting the useable moisture held by surface tension. For poorly draining greens, vacuum aeration can also reduce the water content of the thatch and upper soil layers to reduce the propensity for algae and disease. Deeper root growth will also be encouraged when the moisture content near the surface is reduced.

Soil moisture sensors are being used more and more on golf courses as their cost of production reduces and their accuracy improves. Monitor-only sensor systems are now available that can give the superintendent real-time data and a history of soil moisture at locations anywhere on the course. Moisture sensors are also capable of automating vacuum aeration systems. They can also be integrated into existing clock-based irrigation systems to maintain the soil moisture within an optimum range.

Subsurface drip irrigation systems (“SDI”) are widely used for both agricultural and landscape applications. Recent system design improvements have increased their reliability and uniformity so that SDI systems are now viable for utilization in golf greens. In addition to reducing water usage by up to 50%, secondary water sources, such as from wastewater treatment plants, can be safely used with less residual chemical accumulation. SDI systems can also be enhanced to permit the capture and re-application of nutrient-rich greens drainage water.

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