Partner Case Study

Prodata and AEM Help Golf Facilities Balance Course Quality and Sustainability

A familiar dilemma for golf course managers

Overview

Quality and sustainability don’t have to be at odds – they can go hand in hand. With support from AEM’s Davis brand, Prodata Weather Systems is helping golf facilities and turf managers across the United Kingdom and Europe resolve an apparent tension between two of their top objectives:

Deliver exceptional playing conditions – healthy, playable, and attractive turf – with the help of pesticides, fertilizers, and irrigation.
Conserve water and minimize chemical use to protect resources and the environment.

MEET PRODATA WEATHER SYSTEMS

Prodata Weather Systems supplies and installs professional-grade weather monitoring systems across the U.K. and European Union, building its solutions around the proven reliability and affordability of AEM’s Davis weather stations and sensors.

The company supports a wide range of users – from private weather enthusiasts to agricultural operations and sports venues like tennis, cricket, and golf clubs. For golf course managers, these tools provide the insights needed to maintain top-quality turf while minimizing water and chemical use.

Peter Palmer,

Sales and Marketing Director

“Prodata Weather Sytems has worked with Davis Instruments for over 25 years and continues to do so, as they provide excellent quality sensors and solutions at a cost-effective price point with very good reliability.”

When instinct isn't enough

The Challenges

Turf management has long been as much an art as a science. For years, course managers have relied on their trained instincts – carefully observing turf, reading weather patterns, and making adjustments based on experience.

But even the most seasoned judgment can fall short. Without precise, real-time data, decisions often come down to educated guesswork. And that can lead to costly problems.

1. Poorly timed turf treatments

Applying water and chemicals at suboptimal times reduces their effectiveness and can even harm grasses and the environment.

2. Excessive resource usage

Without precise data, managers risk over- or under-applying treatments. Or they risk applying treatments when they are not effective, leading to wasteful reapplications.

3. Environmental damage

Overuse of chemicals and water can lead to runoff into local waterways, harming ecosystems and wasting resources.

4. Turf decline

Grass thrives on precise care. Too much or too little, too soon or too late, can stress turf and degrade playability.

Precision turf management

The Solution

Prodata builds its turf management solutions around Davis’ expandable sensor networks. The Vantage Pro2 GroWeather Sensor Suite sits at the heart of the system, measuring temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, solar radiation, and evapotranspiration. They may also incorporate sensors for leaf wetness and temperature, as needed.

Leveraging the Davis WeatherLink API, Prodata transforms the data from our Davis sensors into customized Climatic and Agronomic Reports for its turf grass customers. The reports offer disease prediction and critical insights into variables like accumulated growing degree days.

The systems facilitate communication with club owners and patrons while equipping course managers with the data they need to:

Optimize pest management

Monitor weather-driven pest and disease cycles to know exactly when treatments will be most needed—and most effective.

Improve irrigation planning

Track moisture levels and evapotranspiration rates to apply water precisely where and when it’s required.

Minimize resource usage

Reduce overall water and chemical use by treating only as needed, which is good for the club’s bottom line.

Reduce environmental impacts

Fewer inputs mean less runoff, helping protect local waterways and ecosystems.

Boost overall turf quality

Precision care improves turf health, resilience, and playability, which ultimately leads to a better playing experience and a better overall reputation for the club.

How to reconcile golf course quality with environmental stewardship

By harnessing precision turf management through AEM’s Davis sensors, Prodata is empowering golf facilities across the U.K. and Europe to deliver outstanding turf conditions while taking their environmental responsibilities seriously.

The results speak for themselves: The Caversham, Chiltern Forest, Staddon Heights, Thornbury, and Wellingborough are just a few of the 100+ respected sport turf facilities already embracing precision turf management.

The Components