Lesson 3: Water, Grass, and the Agronomist
A golf course is a living system that must be constantly managed, not a static construction project. The person responsible for this living system is the superintendent — also called the head greenkeeper or course manager.
The superintendent manages water through a computer-controlled irrigation system that can water every individual sprinkler head on the course independently, at any time, in any quantity. A modern course might have 3,000 individual sprinkler heads controlled by a single central computer.
Grass selection is one of the most consequential decisions in course construction. Different grasses have different requirements: some need warm climates, some cool. Some tolerate shade, some do not. Some stay dormant in winter (and brown), some remain green year-round. The wrong grass in the wrong climate creates a maintenance nightmare.
The superintendent and the architect must work closely together — the design must be buildable with the grass types available in the climate, and the irrigation system must match the water requirements of the chosen grass on the specific topography of the site.
The superintendent manages the course as a living system — irrigation, agronomics, and turf health. The best courses result from close collaboration between architect and superintendent from the very beginning.
Golf courses use enormous amounts of water in areas of the world where water is scarce. How should designers and superintendents respond to this challenge?
Interview your facility’s superintendent (or find an interview with a superintendent online). Find out: (1) what grass types are used at the facility and why, (2) what is the biggest agronomic challenge the course faces, (3) how much water does the course use per year. Write a one-page profile of the superintendent’s role based on what you learn.