Improving water management at Goswick

Effective water management on sandy links turf

At Goswick Links, a true links course set on pure sand along the Northumberland coast, effective water management is central to maintaining high-quality playing surfaces — especially through the summer months.

For Course Manager Ryan McCulloch, finding a solution that could offer both moisture consistency and operational flexibility was essential.

Consistency without the drop-off

“Water management is a crucial part of our maintenance,” says Ryan. “As the course is on pure sand, we rely heavily on a wetting agent that can hold onto enough moisture between applications.

Since we started using H2Pro TriSmart in 2022, we’ve seen excellent consistency in moisture control — something that would be extremely challenging without a proven product like this.”

Ryan and his team were looking for a product that wouldn’t taper off suddenly during dry spells. “We wanted an improvement in consistency between applications, something more stable,” he explains.

“TriSmart gave us better control. We don’t get the drop-off in moisture levels that we used to.”

Flexibility across the whole course

What initially attracted Ryan to TriSmart was the science behind the product, combined with its practical fit for the whole course. “The technology in TriSmart is something I really like. The fact we can conserve water where we need it in the profile, and that it remains consistent — that was a big plus for us. Also, being able to apply the same product across all surfaces at different rates works perfectly with how we manage the course.”

Monthly applications without irrigation stress

From March through October, the team applies TriSmart monthly — 10L/ha on greens, approaches, tees and walkways, and 5L/ha on fairways where irrigation isn’t available. Despite the lack of irrigation on fairways, Ryan is confident in applying TriSmart even during drier periods without watering in immediately. “We’ve not seen any negative effects. It gives us more freedom in our scheduling.”

The results have been clear. “The biggest change has been the consistency of moisture levels. Even if rainfall or irrigation isn’t perfect, we’re not seeing sudden dry patches or stress between applications. That consistency has helped the team reduce hand-watering and spend time on other priorities.”

Helping tackle problem areas

TriSmart has even played a role in improving problem areas. “We’ve had an ongoing issue with type 1 fairy ring on two of our greens — something that’s been a real challenge over the years. Since using TriSmart, there’s been a noticeable improvement in those areas. I’d say the product has definitely contributed to that.”

Simpler operations and positive team feedback

Operationally, TriSmart has streamlined Ryan’s turf programme. “The club has invested a lot into TriSmart over the last three years, allowing us to treat most areas monthly. Using one product across the course simplifies things and saves time — and with less watering needed overall, there’s definitely a labour saving there too.”

Feedback from the team backs that up. “My colleagues have noticed an improvement in moisture management and the consistency of turf health since we started using TriSmart. It’s made a real difference.”

When asked to sum up the product, Ryan puts it simply:

“It’s a very good quality all-round wetting agent.”

For course managers facing similar challenges — whether it’s managing moisture on sand-based greens or improving efficiency across large playing areas — Ryan’s experience at Goswick shows how H2Pro TriSmart can deliver both consistent results and practical advantages season after season.