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Presented in partnership
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When the tap runs dry,
Toronto club begins search
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“Water, water, everywhere …,” exclaims the narrator in the “Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” the epic poem penned by Samuel T. Coleridge in 1798. Unlike the abundance of water faced by this fictitious seaman, contemporary superintendents aren’t so blessed.
Al Schwemler understands this reality. For the better part of the past decade, the property manager at Toronto Golf Club in the Canadian province of Ontario has sought an alternative water source for the private club. Government regulations restricting the use of irrigation water from creeks, along with a noticed deterioration in the water quality, made the Etobicoke Creek, which the course had used for more than 80 years, no longer a sustainable source. In the late 1990s, the quality of the turfgrass also deteriorated, and members pressed the 17-year GCSAA member to find the causes.
Consultants from the USGA Green Section, Texas A&M University and DCS Agronomics were initially hired to help determine the contributing factors causing these deteriorating turf conditions.
“Water quality and soil testing indicated poor irrigation water quality and soil chemistry,” Schwemler explains. “The culmination of these stresses resulted in poor plant health in turf, trees and ornamentals during periods of heat, drought and frequent irrigation cycles. Water-quality testing also indicated high levels of sodium, chlorides and total dissolved salts.”
Tree decline was the most visible effect of the poor water quality. Premature defoliation occurred in most deciduous species while several coniferous species, including hemlocks and white pines, also succumbed to the primary effects of poor water quality. Between 1999 and 2005, approximately 1,000 dead and dying trees were removed throughout the property.
“In the short term, cultural practices such as topdressing, aeration and the use of wetting agents to help water movement through the soil played a key role in helping to maintain quality turf and reduce the impacts of poor irrigation water,” Schwemler says.
In 2002, the club formed a committee to examine alternative water sources and hired Burnside Golf Services to help find a longer-term solution. The club investigated using the Etobicoke Creek, groundwater, city water, Lake Ontario and a combination of all potential sources. Water quality and quantities available guided their decision. After numerous studies, Lake Ontario was deemed the most viable and sustainable irrigation source for the club.
Water from Lake Ontario was first used to irrigate the course last season. Members immediately noticed improved plant health throughout the property.
Schwemler says a $1.1 million project of this scope requires a dedicated team of professionals to provide technical expertise, design and project management. He advises clubs facing a similar water management problem to hire the right
consultants.
While he is pleased with these early signs of water quality improvement brought by the switch to Lake Ontario, Schwemler anticipates it will take three seasons to fully understand the impact of this new water source.
“Water is a precious resource,” concludes Schwemler. “The Toronto Golf Club is relieved to have found an alternative irrigation water source that will provide an adequate supply of good quality water for years to come.”
Ewing Irrigation’s Golf & Industrial division, along with Hunter Industries, has announced its 2007 Irrigation Educational Workshop schedule. One-day seminars on irrigation troubleshooting are offered on the following dates: How much do you know about water resource protection? Debbie Swartz presented a webcast for GCSAA Education that reviews how golf course maintenance practices can affect the water resources of your property as well as those downstream. Visit the On Demand webcast page of www.gcsaa.org to learn more. |
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