Alternative Irrigation in a Changing Climate

GMA member surveys show that climate-related pitch management, and effective long-term irrigation in particular, is a growing concern for clubs. Groundstaff must maintain consistent playing surfaces while using water more efficiently. Rootzone moisture is a key factor governing play, influencing surface hardness, traction, and ball behavior. Many pitches rely on perimeter or travelling sprinklers and in-field heads which introduce challenges of their own. This session will review current irrigation difficulties and the water-management practices clubs are adopting or could consider. It will then examine alternatives, particularly subsurface irrigation systems that deliver water from below the rootzone, highlighting niche traits of the CapillaryFlow system as one example. Discussion will cover the agronomic principles behind these systems, including how capillary movement can produce a uniform wetting front, their potential advantages and limitations compared with overhead irrigation, and where they may fit within a broader strategy for improving water-use efficiency and surface resilience.