Maximizing playability today without compromising the long-term health of the greens in the future is a challenge that exists every day a course is open for play. Striking a proper balance between these dual - and at times competing - interests requires not only information that speaks to both, but the ability to consider and address both at the same time. Superintendents operate at the crossroads of (some might say, “in the crosshairs of”) plant health and playability. Pin placement: Playability meets plant health This installment of “What the Tech?” explores how we can bring different types of information together so that the numbers can “talk to each other” when important decisions have to be made. We need technology that builds a bridge from the numbers we have to the actions we need to take. One of the greatest and perhaps most often overlooked aspects to these conversations about technology is that we don’t necessarily need more devices producing more measurements - we need better systems for navigating the vast sea of data we already have. With golf course technology, the current limitations aren’t so much about what we can measure, but rather how we can best use all the measurements. Yes, all of these sophisticated measurement devices come with a price tag, but they are available. The reality of greenkeeping today is, there’s no shortage of numbers out there. Yet at some point, even 007 might have to ask, “What do we do with all of these measurements? How do we translate all of these numbers into actions?” These days, a superintendent’s toolbox looks more like it was borrowed from James Bond than Old Tom Morris. We live in a day and age in which root-zone moisture, salinity and temperature are available at the push of a button in which firmness of putting surfaces and the amount of sunlight reaching them can both be quantified in which miniature helicopters outfitted with infrared cameras can be flown over the entire course to collect a multitude of data points. Let’s be honest: Does anyone out there think there aren’t enough numbers available to them for properly managing their greens? Traffic stop: By maximizing the number of hole locations on a green, foot traffic - which can cause a decline in the playing surface - gets dispersed.
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