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Weather Station


This past week we installed a weather station on our property here at HCC. This tool will provide us with up to date weather information for our golf course. The weather station has a number of sensors and meters within it. We can now monitor and record data on wind speed and direction, humidity levels, UV levels, temperature, evapotranspiration and rain amounts. The ability to have these accurate records is essential in pursuit of our Integrated Pest Management Certification. Having an accurate rain gauge on the property is very important, as the closest monitored weather station is located at London Airport. The variance in location is now completely out of the equation.

The evapotranspiration (ET) data is the amount of water removed from the soil profile from natural elements like temperature, wind speed and humidity. We use this data in conjunction with our irrigation control system to match the amount of water lost with amount that we apply through our irrigation system. We have been using this method of irrigating on our fairways and tees for the past season or so. In the past we had to rely on data from Environment Canada which is accurate, but not site specific. I am working on some software that will allow me to post the weather information on this blog for all of our members to view. The forecast for this week looks great so I look forward to seeing some high temp. numbers as opposed to and ever increasing rain gauge (as it was last week).

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