One of the most important challenges facing the golf-turf industry is dealing with drought stress. At the same time, water conservation is more important than ever before. Because fairways comprise a majority of irrigated turfgrass on golf courses, the ability to maintain quality fairways with minimal irrigation is crucial. However, greater information is required to examine cultural practices that may reduce irrigation requirements and improve turf quality of fairway grasses under reduced irrigation. Michelle DaCosta, turfgrass physiologist, UMass Amherst, research hopes to address some of these questions in the coming years with the help of a new rain-exclusion system.
