Improving irrigation efficiency through technology and data

2026

Northamptonshire County Golf Club has invested in a new irrigation system to provide more accurate and targeted application of water across the course. The system is supported by POGO soil-moisture monitoring, enabling the greenkeeping team to measure moisture levels on key playing surfaces and identify where water is required rather than irrigating uniformly. Evapotranspiration (ET) is also monitored to understand daily moisture loss and help determine irrigation requirements. Combining ET data, measured soil moisture and observations from the greenkeeping team allows decisions to be based on actual plant and soil requirements. Our objective is not to maintain uniformly green turf during dry periods, but to use water where it provides the greatest agronomic and playing benefit. This approach reduces unnecessary irrigation while maintaining healthy, playable surfaces and making more efficient use of an increasingly valuable water resource.