Over the past few weeks, I’ve been fortunate to visit several clients, and something that keeps coming to mind is how important it is to create the best possible environment for consistent, high-performing greens sites. Every green on a golf course lives in its own little world. Some are wide open, basking in the sun and wind. Others are tucked into wooded hollows, shaded and sheltered. Some sit high on the property, exposed to all the elements, while others lie low and grow under entirely different conditions.
It’s a bit like my own property. We live on a point where most days are sunny, warm and calm. But walk 200 yards through the woods to the other side, and suddenly it’s windy enough to need a sweater. That’s a microclimate in action.
Early in my career, I remember confidently saying, “We’re watering the greens tonight.” Looking back, I shake my head. Twenty greens in twenty different environments. and we treated them all the very similar. No wonder we ran into issues. It wasn’t until I started thinking of each green as its own unique environment that we really began to see better, more consistent results.
One of the most essential ingredients for turf health is sunlight. Without it, grass can’t thrive, simple as that. Yet it’s incredible how often we overlook its importance. Opening green sites to sunlight not only produces stronger turf that’s more resilient under stress, but it also enhances the natural beauty and character of your course. Trees certainly have a place, but they should be treated as carefully managed assets. Strategically placed, purposefully chosen.
Managing microclimates also means working with the natural landscape the architect gave you. To get the most out of each green, we must thoughtfully consider green surrounds, bunker placement and shape, traffic patterns, irrigation design, drainage infrastructure, construction methods and more, it’s a big process.
So next time your turf professional suggests improving a growing environment, take a step back and consider all the benefits, both agronomic and aesthetic, before deciding. A small change in your microclimate can make a big difference in your results.
