how much flow from a well to irrigate an 18 hole golf course

How much water do I need to irrigate my golf course?

Feb 20, 2015 · In the Southwest, courses use on average 1,303,392 gallons per year per acre, while an 18-hole course in the Northeast uses only 260,678 gallons of water per acre annually. Golf course irrigation systems can be supplied water from many different sources, including potable, effluent, surface (ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams), and groundwater.

How efficient is overhead irrigation on a golf course?

An average 18-hole golf facility in the Northeast region uses an average of 0.8 acre-feet of water per irrigated acre per year. Annual irrigation water cost also varies significantly by agronomic region. Golf course facilities in the Southwest region had the highest water costs – approximately $107,800 per year for an average 18- hole golf course.

How do golf courses irrigation systems work?

Aug 09, 2013 · SOURCES OF GOLF COURSE IRRIGATION WATER In 2009, The Environmental Institute for Golf published a report titled Golf Course Environmental Profile - Volume II: Water Use and Conservation Practices on U.S. Golf Courses . A sur- vey in the report provided a breakdown of irrigation water sources for average 18-hole golf courses in the United States.

What percentage of water do golf courses use?

Jan 28, 2013 · Pumped into reservoir 1st. Rarely river because water quality issues 18 hole Golf course require 2,000 gallons per minute of water flow rate. Caution re particulate matter such as algae, aquatic weeds, sand, debris, fish, frogs, and snails. Effluent water can be used 8.

How much water does a 18-hole golf course use?

In California, an average 18-hole golf course sprawls over 110 to 115 acres and conservatively uses almost 90 million gallons of water per year, enough to fill 136 Olympic-size swimming pools, said Mike Huck, a water management consultant who works with golf courses statewide.

How much water does it take to irrigate a golf course?

Using water use data nationally, an 18-hole golf course uses an average of 152.5 acre-feet of water per year to irrigate 80.7 acres of turfgrass.

What is the average irrigation water consumption in gallons per day for an 18-hole golf course in the USA?

approximately 2.08 billion gallonsCourses around the U.S. suck up around approximately 2.08 billion gallons of water per day for irrigation. That's about 130,000 gallons per day per course, according to the golf industry.Jun 18, 2015

How much water does a golf green need?

If a golf course has 3.2 acres of putting greens, it would require 208,530 gallons to flush all putting green root zones. In other words, 2.4 inches of water would be needed across the putting surfaces to reach saturation.Jun 16, 2017

How many gallons of water does a golf course use per day?

Audubon International estimates that the average American course uses 312,000 gallons per day. In a place like Palm Springs, where 57 golf courses challenge the desert, each course eats up a million gallons a day.Jun 11, 2008

Do golf courses use too much water?

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. golf courses consume more than 2 billion gallons of water per day, and since one in every 17 of U.S. courses is located in arid and semi-arid California, our 921 courses consume a sizable chunk of that total daily.Jun 18, 2021

Why do golf courses drink water everyday?

Typically, putting greens are irrigated at night or early in the morning. However, during periods of hot weather or low humidity, turf may need additional water throughout the day because soils can quickly dry out. Light watering during the day helps keep putting greens healthy and playing well.Jun 16, 2017

How many acre-feet of water does a golf course use?

Water use varies significantly by agronomic region. An average 18-hole golf facility in the Southwest region uses an average of 4 acre-feet of water per irrigated acre per year. An average 18-hole golf facility in the Northeast region uses an average of 0.8 acre-feet of water per irrigated acre per year.

What do golf courses use water for?

Golf courses use a great deal of water for irrigation and other purposes. A typical 150-acre golf course uses approximately 200 million gallons of water a year, enough to supply 1,800 residences with 300 GPD of water.Mar 29, 2021

Why do they put sand on golf greens?

Sand helps cushion leaf tips and crowns and reduces algae. Increased Firmness – Turf produces organic matter in the upper rootzone that creates soft, spongy playing conditions. Regular sand topdressing, along with core aeration, improves surface firmness and resiliency.Dec 2, 2015

How often should golf greens be rolled?

Rolling Basics Some superintendents choose to roll in conjunction with regular mowing, often rolling two to four times, or more, per week. Conversely, some superintendents choose to alternate between mowing and rolling to reduce plant stress during hot temperatures or periods of slow growth.

How often are putting greens watered?

Twice a week is sufficient, and even three times in' the driest weather would do no harm. Sprinkling keeps the roots so near the surface they are more likely to be affected by the heat of the sun. I favor watering very late in the day, but would prefer to have it done at night, if possible.

How efficient is golf course irrigation?

Golf course irrigation systems are normally in the 80% efficiency range, the highest achievable efficiency with overhead irrigation. The general public looks at the large green expanse of a golf course and the amount of water it uses and assumes that the golf course is wasting water.

How much water does a golf course use?

In the Southwest, courses use on average 1,303,392 gallons per year per acre, while an 18-hole course in the Northeast uses only 260,678 gallons of water per acre annually. Golf course irrigation systems can be supplied water from many different sources, including potable, effluent, surface (ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams), and groundwater.

Why use effluent water for irrigation?

There are many advantages to using effluent water to irrigate, including lower supply costs and reduced fertilizer and nutrient use. The downside is that the salts associated with the effluent water need to be carefully managed to prevent damage, as many turf species are susceptible to high salt concentrations.

What is a golf course superintendent?

Golf course superintendents are highly educated individuals. They are not only educated and trained in the operation of the specific irrigation control system installed at their facilities, but also in soils and turf grass.

How many sprinklers does a golf course need?

Irrigation sprinklers used for golf courses are much different than sprinklers used for landscape irrigation. A golf course can have between 500 and 5,000 sprinklers, or even more installed throughout an 18-hole facility.

Do golf courses use water?

Golf courses are large users of water, but also very visible users of water due to the “green” of the turf. The large sprinklers that they employ to irrigate with are easily visible from both inside and outside the golf course. However, you might be surprised to know that when compared to other types of irrigation, golf courses are, in general, ...

What is the best source of irrigation water for golf courses?

Rivers, streams, and creeks are an excellent source of irrigation water, assuming flows are reliable. Some- times water is pumped directly from these sources onto golf course turf, and other times it is pumped into an irrigation reservoir on the golf course.

What is the source of water for golf?

Open water sources such as lakes and ponds can be either natural or man-made. Sometimes they are recharged by underground springs, streams, runoff, or wells. Quite often open water sources for irrigation water also serve as a key feature in the design of one or more golf holes.

Where does reclaimed water come from?

Most reclaimed water is produced from municipal sewage treatment plants. It may also be referred to as wastewater, effluent water, or recycled water. Most of the reclaimed water used on golf courses has undergone tertiary treat- ment, which “produces highly purified (and pathogen free) waters, especially if followed by chlorination or ultraviolet treatment for disinfection” (Harivandi, 1994). Reclaimed water is an excellent source for golf courses, but often golf facilities have limited access due to non-existent infrastructure to get the recycled water from the treatment plant to the golf course.

Is there a federal water policy?

In the United States, there is no federal water policy per se , and generally water is treated as a state and local issue. Every type of irrigation water source described above is regulated by myriad local, state, and federal regulations. When investigating a new water source for a golf facility, it is imperative to seek the counsel of an expert in this area.

What is municipal water used for?

Sometimes referred to as “city water,” water from a municipal water system is used by some golf facilities for golf course irrigation. Municipal water is often easy to hook into and provides excellent water quality. However, dur- ing times of drought, municipal water is often the first golf course water source that will be restricted. In terms of cost, municipal water can be expensive to obtain, depending on region of the country.

Is golf course water influenced by location?

Routing and design of a golf course are heavily influenced by its geographic location . Just as a golf course in Florida will look much different from one in Arizona, water sources are going to vary geographically as well. Nevertheless, one thing remains the same in that turfgrass survival relies on access to water. So wherever golf facilities are found, access to a water source is required.

Does golf course need rain?

Although Table 1 does not list rain as a source of irrigation water, it is always the preferred source on a golf course. It is free, clean, and distributed uniformly across the golf course. Unfortunately, natural rainfall cannot be scheduled and often delivers more or less than the turfgrass needs. Arid regions rarely receive routine rainfall throughout the growing season, and when it does rain it can pour, leading to flood events. Conversely, areas with high levels of natural rainfall are not immune from

Where To Irrigate

Golf clubs must establish quality requirements for their courses. This requires club managers to work with players to create a dynamic course. Course designers use different types of grass across the 18 holes. The overarching goal for the designers is to have the highest quality grass on the greens.

When To Irrigate

In general, determining when to irrigate the golf course is done by observing several things in the field. For example, groundskeepers watch for when drought spots emerge. Additionally, they monitor the root zone to see if the grass dries out. Course managers prevent dry spots through timely and sufficient irrigation.

How Much To Irrigate

Advanced computer simulation models are used to determine the ideal amount of irrigation. Computer simulation models describe all relevant processes that occur in the soil-water-grass system. The models also calculate whether there is still enough moisture present in the soil profile to ensure the quality of the grass.

What Statistics We Need

To be able to advise where, when, and how much irrigation a golf course needs requires a few factors.

What are the factors that affect the water availability of a golf course?

These factors can be climate, type of turf grass, agronomic and soils conditions, regulations, and water av ailability.

Why does water use vary?

Each course will vary because of size of the irrigated area and management practices. Also, water use each year will vary depending on climatic conditions. The timing and amount of rainfall, temperatures each month, and sunshine. There is no fixed answer.

Why do golf courses have to change their maintenance?

Many golf courses have had to change some of their maintenance operations on the fly in recent months because of the coronavirus pandemic. Already having to adjust to new protocols, superintendents certainly don’t need to spend time trying to tame a temperamental irrigation system as well.

When will the golf course reopen?

The golf course reopened for members on October 30, 2019.

Why is water distribution important?

“Water distribution is vital to playability every day. Individual head control prevents over- and under-watering, and watering greens that don’t need to be watered. We can water the course in a four-hour window at night, not first thing in the morning [when we’re] running into golfers.” — Clinton Tingen, Golf Course Superintendent, Hobe Sound GC