Evans prefers allowing the bentgrass to naturally go dormant in winter, so heating mode is used mostly to moderate soil temperatures in spring and help give the bentgrass a jump-start. It’s also ran occasionally in winter to prevent freeze damage to the hydronic system components.
Hydronics seems to be finding a niche on courses in Texas and Oklahoma, thanks in part to Southern Hills’ success. Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, installed a hydronic system during a recent renovation and director of agronomy, Rich McIntosh, reports soil temperatures are now consistently in the mid-70s to low 80s F, even when it’s over 100 degrees outside. Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma, is in the midst of a $31 million overhaul of the entire facility and is installing a hydronic system that will use geothermal technology as its heating and cooling source.
It’s important to point out that hydronic systems require golf courses to make a big financial and time commitment. Not only are the up-front costs significant, but long-term maintenance and operating costs are also substantial. Just the daily electric bill to run one unit during a heat wave can be thousands of dollars. With this kind of price tag, most golf courses are probably not investing in this type of system any time soon, but Southern Hills was prepared to accept the costs and the system has performed as hoped. As a testament to the difference it has made, Southern Hills will be installing hydronics when converting all greens on their West Nine golf course from ultradwarf bermudagrass to creeping bentgrass as part of an upcoming Gil Hanse renovation.
Central Region Agronomists:
Zach Nicoludis, regional director – znicoludis@usga.org
Information on the USGA’s Course Consulting Service
Contact the Green Section Staff