It’s no secret that UK weather patterns are changing as a result of wider climate change. The country is experiencing shifts in its climate and, as such, the rich tapestry of microclimates that form it.

Temperatures are rising, altered precipitation patterns are causing warmer summers, and milder winters and extreme weather events like heavy rainfall and prolonged droughts are becoming more common.

What are microclimates and where are they forming?

But microclimates are forming and changing, too; and this has far-reaching implications for various sectors, including golf course management, when it comes to irrigation needs.

According to the Met Office, a microclimate is a distinctive climate in a small-scale area, such as a park or part of a city. It is the mixture of many different microclimates that makes up the wider climate for a town, city, or wooded area.

One fascinating example of how microclimates are changing is the successful cultivation of Taittinger grapes in Kent.

What the emergence of Taittinger grapes in Kent tells us about shifting weather patterns

Historically, champagne has been synonymous with France, but climate change has created an opportunity for viticulture in southern England. Indeed, the champagne house Taittinger recognised the potential of the UK’s changing climate, establishing a vineyard in Kent for the production of high-quality sparkling wine.

Taittinger grapes require specific conditions to grow and, traditionally, UK weather has been too cold for grapes to ripen consistently. However, with a warming of over one degree celsius during the growing season in the south-east, there has been a small boom in UK viticulture.

The success of Taittinger’s venture underscores the suitability of the Kent microclimate for grape cultivation, and highlights the broader transformation occurring in the UK’s climatic conditions.

In the East of England, vineyards have also managed to grow Sauvignon Blanc grapes due to the warmer climes. It all sounds great for oenophiles, but how will it affect the turfcare sector and those working in it?

How will changing microclimates impact the golf industry?

For golf course managers, understanding how microclimates are changing will be crucial for adapting practices and ensuring optimal playing conditions for players. 

Understanding specific microclimate characteristics, including how they affect the course and its irrigation requirements, allows for more targeted and efficient water allocation.

Evapotranspiration: the key to getting your irrigation processes right?

Evapotranspiration is the sum of all processes (evaporation and transpiration) that move water from land to the atmosphere. It covers the evaporation of water from the soil surface, the capillary fringe of the groundwater table, and water bodies, as well as the transpiration that occurs when plants take up water and release it as vapour via their leaves.

Why’s this important? Evapotranspiration rates will change from course to course depending on their climate, levels of sunlight, and topography – that is, their microclimate. In fact, rates can even change from neighbouring courses to holes on the same course. 

How does evapotranspiration impact the irrigation needs of your course?

As such, evapotranspiration is a crucial factor when determining the level of irrigation that different parts of your course need:

• Areas with higher evapotranspiration require more irrigation support to supplement the loss of water into the atmosphere.

Increasing temperatures and alterations in humidity and wind patterns have caused evapotranspiration levels to steadily increase. As these increase, humid air directly above the turf is replaced by dry air, and therefore more water is needed to meet the demands of the vegetation (especially during periods of high heat and drought).

Rising temperatures, water scarcity, and competition for limited water resources may require golf courses with high evapotranspiration levels to implement water conservation measures, explore alternative water sources, and adapt irrigation practices to maintain sustainable water use.

How to manage changing microclimates on your course

For golf course managers and greenkeepers, when it comes to changing microclimates, it’s not so much about halting changes as it is monitoring and working with them in an effort to allocate water across courses effectively to compensate for any changes. 

Irrigation technology is key to managing microclimates

Investing in climate monitoring tools and systems to gather accurate and localised weather data can aid in making informed decisions about irrigation, turf management, and course maintenance practices as microclimates adapt according to larger global changes.

Likewise, advanced irrigation technologies that utilise sensors, weather forecasts, and soil moisture data to optimise water usage can reduce waste and promote efficient resource management.

Irrigation technologies you should be using to manage changes in microclimates

With that in mind, here are our top Toro picks:

Toro’s Turf Guard monitors moisture and temperature in the playing surface, delivering data to help manage water usage and retain optimum conditions for the surface and root zone.

Toro’s Lynx Central Control allows you to control your course’s technology using an intuitive interface to customise the system to course conditions and microclimates. The tool gives access to weather and pump station data, intelligent field controllers, Toro Turf Guard Wireless soil sensors, and precision sprinklers, which can accommodate shifting weather patterns. 

Toro’s Lynx LAC decoder, moreover, can be deployed on all legacy wired systems, bringing the powerful benefits of Toro’s Lynx platform within easy reach, including the ability to control irrigation from a desk-top or mobile device. 

The future of responsible irrigation and sustainable golf

Responsible irrigation is our collective responsibility, and this is yet another element to factor in, presenting both challenges and opportunities for golf course managers and grounds teams alike. 

Understanding these changes and their implications is vital for adapting irrigation tactics, turf management practices, and overall course maintenance strategies. 

By proactively embracing sustainable practices, leveraging innovative solutions, and using technology, golf courses can continue to improve their playing conditions amid evolving microclimates. This not only offers an enjoyable playing experience but also safeguards the environment for future generations.

To discover more about how Toro technologies can help to manage changing microclimates on your course, contact us by calling 01480 226800 or email [email protected]