Sean Nolan

You could kinda say that I’m a data phenom. We try to collect as much data as we can. Everything before the GS3 ball though all we did collect was green speed. We do tissue testing weekly, we do clipping yield. Try to correlate everything with different sprays, different agronomic practices that we’re doing. So definitely we were collecting data before GS3. But GS3 has been, obviously, a game changer with the fact that we can now measure trueness and smoothness. I find myself trying to improve those numbers than just trying to increase green speed.

So we got it at the end of the season last year. So we had a good fall season, getting used to it. But this year, we used it extensively, every day.

Day to day, we’re always doing it in the morning. Occasionally, we might do it in the afternoon. But we’re doing it on three different greens in the morning, including two new greens we built last year. I was getting some pushback on the greens, like “the greens don’t seem as firm, or they don’t seem as fast.” So we started collecting data on those greens as well as an older green that we’ve always done. And that really helped me a lot, ‘cause the proof is in the pudding with the data.

I would say they all play an equal role. I think the ones I try to look at the most is probably trueness, and right behind that is smoothness. I think green speed, unless I’m seeing a super low number that’s out of the box. I really don’t find myself chasing green speed that much. I think I’m pretty comfortable with what I think we need to do to achieve our target range. I think looking at that smoothness and trueness number and being able to see how that number moves. For instance, if we go out and vent greens in July, I will be able to know from the data set that I’m really not affecting that smoothness and trueness number that much. We have very undulating greens here so I’m not looking to put 13.6 on a daily basis. We’re more in that 12. 12.5 range where membership is comfortable. You get much faster than that then things get out of hand. By having the greens roll smooth and true is super important. And being able to measure that has given us a little separation.

To a certain extent. In greens committee meetings, I’ll get questions about venting or we’ll go over venting. And I’ll always put in the presentation the data set and graphs from DEACON and how it affects ball roll…..it’s so minute, no one can really tell.

On a daily basis, sure. We might skip firmness if we get an inch and a half of rain.

Absolutely. So greens and approaches are strictly hand-watered with us. Guys are out there every day doing that. We definitely see that correlation between moisture management and firmness, for sure. I think we saw that with the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, which was huge. We were really able to compare our moisture meter numbers with firmness numbers. That really helped guys connect the dots that way.

I don’t know if it’s changed……I think it’s solidified some of the practices we’ve done. We’re big on topdressing. Our goal is to top dress weekly. The golf schedule, weather can dictate that. At minimum, it’s bi-weekly. But we are very close to hitting that goal of weekly topdressing. And I think, by doing that, seeing where we’re getting those numbers, smoothness and trueness, is huge for us. Entering clipping yield as well, being able to correlate that with weather. I know if our dewpoints are above 67, 68, creeping into the mid 70s. our grass is going to start flying out of the ground. And then our greens speeds are gonna suffer, smoothness is gonna go up, trueness is gonna go up. Timing that with the proper applications, plant growth regulators, things of that nature, I think is huge for us as well.

We mow greens at least once a day, outside of Mondays when we’re closed. We’ll roll instead on Mondays. We’ll skip Tuesdays, but we’ll roll Wednesday through Sunday. With member events, we might do a roll in the morning and roll in the afternoon. And we might double cut if we’re trying to achieve a higher green speed.

Being able to collect data on smoothness, trueness is a game changer for our industry. People can always say “yeah, my greens are the smoothest in the world, they’re so true”, but being able to have a data set to actually prove what you’re trying to do behind the scenes, as far as aeration, top-dressing, all those things that affect the player experience for that day, or for a week if you’re aerifying, really helps validate why you’re doing those things.

I would definitely say “use it.” I think the more data you can have, the more you have in your arsenal to justify the agronomic practices that you’re doing. I think the GS3 ball can come in handy, just because it’s real-time data. It’s an easy thing where everything is stored: you don’t have to take a Stimp, then go back to a spreadsheet and input everything. If you forget a few days, then you have to remember everything you did. Everything is already collected for you. Having it more organized and more data sets is a no-brainer for any club.

I would say top-dressing for sure. I see, in those weeks that we’re not able to do a top-dressing on a green, I can definitely see those numbers creep up a little bit. I can see the firmness numbers creep up a little bit as well. And justifying and going out to vent greens: everyone knows we need to do it. We have to get oxygen down in the soil, especially during those hot, humid times, to maintain a healthy plant. Oftentimes, golfers see that going on and it’s like “what are they doing, the greens are rolling so good?” Now you’re able to correlate and explain that we’re really not affecting green speed or ball roll as much as you might think. And here’s the data set to prove that.

Yes, this was the first USGA championship that I was the superintendent for. It was a wonderful experience, not just for me but also the membership here at Brae Burn. We’ve hosted the second most USGA championships here in Massachusetts. It really brought the membership together and made them proud of their golf course. I think we hit a home run. The ’28 Women’s Amateur is coming here and we have a lot to live up to for that one. Using the GS3 ball and having the USGA collect all those data sets on all the greens and the firmness on all the greens with the GS3 ball, we were super consistent.