When Greg Pheneger, golf course manager at John's Island Club in Vero Beach, Fla., saw a New York Times story on UgMO technology, he was convinced that the water-saving system was worth investigating.
"We take our role as environmental stewards very seriously here and, of course, we're always looking for ways to enhance playability," Pheneger said. "UgMO seemed to give us quite an advantage in both areas, so we signed on."
About a month ago, 72 UgMO sensors were installed across two courses at John's Island Club, and already, "we're seeing a 25 percent reduction in water savings on the fairways," Pheneger said. (The third course at John's Island will get its UgMO sensors in early 2010.)
In addition to measuring and regulating soil moisture levels, UgMO is working to get the club's underground temperatures in check and salinity levels under control.
"John's Island Club is right on the ocean, so salt build-up can be a concern for us. Looking at our salinity data, UgMO agronomists came up with a new, more efficient plan for flushing. Now, we're using shorter blasts, with shorter intervals in between – about 30 minutes, instead of a couple hours – and I'll tell you, the change is dramatic. We're right where we want to be," he said.
Not only is the UgMO data helping Pheneger pinpoint his irrigation management and save water, it's also helping demonstrate the reasoning behind his practices to club members. "Our members are very eco-conscious, and they take our watering practices very seriously. With UgMO technology, for the first time we can have a real dialogue with members about smart water use and optimum turf health, and show them exactly why, where and when we need to water for the best result."
