Irrigation & Watering Practices
In the past, irrigation was applied according to the calendar. Amounts and timing were determined by guesswork and habit. Now we have scheduling tools, enabling a more thoughtful approach.

A "water budget" uses a checkbook-like process. Best suited to climates where rainfall and underground water table are not significant contributors to plants, a water budget starts with the amount of water available in the soil, adds any rainfall, and subtracts amounts used up by plants. The result, or ending balance, is the amount of water to replace with irrigation.

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a commonly used estimate of water use by plants. ET formulas calculate inches of water lost per day from transpiration (breathing) by plants and evaporation from the soil. ET values are often available for your region from university or National Weather Service sources.

Soil monitoring is another way to schedule irrigation scientifically. Using the correct tools and techniques, you can decide if and when to irrigate to maintain optimal soil moisture levels at all times.

Did you know that improper watering can cause disease problems? Some turf diseases develop only after an extended period of leaf wetness and warm temperatures. It is often a good strategy to irrigate in the hours just before dawn. At that time, air temperatures are lowest and plant surfaces, often already wet with dew, will dry quickly.
At Baker Hill, our new Rain Bird irrigation system has a computer that enables individual head control. Each station (head) can be adjusted via computer to a decoder switching system for site specific conditions such as slope, exposure, soil, shade, turf type, etc. This feature coupled with double and triple row design allows us to fine tune and put almost the exact amount of water needed in the right place. Water budget  ET adjustments are made with our Davis Instruments Grow Weather Station.

The new Flotronex pump station is a variable speed drive system that pumps up to 1000 gallons a minute at 150 psi. It sort of runs like a variable speed drill that uses less power and causes very little water hammer that can damage piping. Also inside the pump house is the fertigation system where we can spoon feed the grass with fertilizer and other nutrients whenever we water. Fertigation accounts for 60-70 % our fertilization needs. We also use this system to deliver millions of beneficial bacteria that are antagonistic to certain turf diseases. The Bio Ject machine brews these bacteria in the pump house  We also inject wetting agents into irrigation water to help maximize soil percolation. The irrigation system has proven to be a great tool for delivering more that just water.
Watering Practices at Baker Hill
The best way to promote healthy roots is to water deeply and infrequently. We will be able to accomplish this more as the course matures.  Site specific adjustments need to be made to the irrigation computer on the new holes regarding sun, wind, slope, soil, exposure, etc.

Over-watering promotes all sorts of problems like poa annua and other weed invasion, turf disease infestations, soil compaction, etc.

There will be times that fertilizers or chemicals will need to be watered in during the day. Efforts will be made not to interfere with your round.

Syringing greens will sometimes need to be performed during hot stressful weather. This is a light sprinkling of water usually done during the hottest part of the day to prevent wilting.

The bulk of all the watering at Baker Hill is performed at night (just prior to dawn). We do this to avoid golfers and lower wind speeds and electric power rates.

Any watering needed on greens and tees will be done "between" groups with emphasis on not disrupting play. This also applies to hand watering with hoses.

Fairways generally are watered by a computer program that cannot be paused  so be aware that sprinkling starts at the green end of the fairway and progresses toward the tee end.
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