“The future of golf course management is rooted in the fundamentals – proven, reliable techniques combined with hard work from the teams on the ground and emerging technologies”. That’s the message from Simon Doyle, Troon’s Vice President of Agronomy for the international division, following a world tour of Troon experts who visited nine countries across the Troon International network.
Doyle was reflecting on the success of the second Troon International Agronomy Conference in Prague, Czech Republic, alongside site visits to Greece, Portugal, Spain Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, UAE, and Australia in November where Troon’s agronomy experts shared insights and their vision for the future.
Alongside Doyle, Troon International, the international division of Troon, the world’s largest golf hospitality management company, welcomed a host of company experts including Dave Nicholls, Jeff Spangler, Brian Hampson, Clinton Southorn, David Lunardelli and Brianne Kenny.
More than 65 delegates from in excess of 20 Troon facilities across the globe gathered for the Troon International Agronomy Conference, offering an invaluable platform for knowledge sharing, professional development, and collaboration around agronomy best practice, while the site visits to Troon facilities across Europe, Asia and Australasia provided hands-on practical guidance for teams on the ground.
“By adopting smarter decision-making systems we can make more accurate choices, reduce waste, and minimize our environmental footprint,” commented Doyle.
“Technology, including GPS, and sensors, is now allowing us to dial in proven techniques alongside smarter decision-making systems such as Clipping Volume (ClipVol), Growth Degree Days (GDD) and Disease forecasting models which make us much more accurate whilst helping prevent indiscriminate applications.
“The integration of new technologies also allows us to be more precise and sustainable in our approach to course management, all while enhancing the overall golfing experience.”
The tour highlighted several key developments in golf course agronomy that will shape the industry moving forward. These included five important takeways:
- IPM is now ITM. The shift from Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to Integrated Turf Management (ITM) reflects the need for resilience in turf systems to better withstand pests while improving overall sustainability.
- Agronomic Decision-Making System: Dr. Bill Kreuser of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln reinforced the value of using actionable data to reduce waste and improve turfgrass conditions, be it Clipping Volume, Growth Degree Days (GDD) or Irrigation Scheduling. The use of technologies like the Greenkeeper App empowers superintendents to make informed, data-driven decisions that drive both cost-effectiveness and turf health.
- Irrigation is a 20 to 30-year decision so it is important to make well-informed decisions that prioritise the longevity of golf courses. Nicholls and Spangler shared insights on irrigation technology and layout, advising delegates to approach these investments with a long-term perspective in mind.
- Technology: It’s coming, embrace it but learn how to action it correctly and make changes that are helpful…for Troon, AI means Troon Agronomic Intelligence. Troon will only adopt technology (such as autonomy, GPS, sensors) when it is proven and is developing a go to bucket of non-traditional agronomy technologies.
- The importance of simplicity and core fundamentals was underscored by Jeff Spangler, who reminded delegates that high-quality course conditions stem from a deep commitment to the fundamentals of the job—delivering exceptional experiences for golfers around the world.