Using Data to Transform Golf Course Performance
Bernhard and Company Managing Director Steven Nixon has discussed the growing role of data, artificial intelligence and subsoil sensing technology in golf course management, alongside the importance of education and developing future industry talent, in a new episode of The BIGGA Podcast.
In the episode, Steven shares his perspective on an industry where expectations for playing surfaces continue to rise, while greenkeepers face increasing pressure from changing weather conditions, tighter budgets and fewer available chemical solutions.
Speaking to the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), Steven explains how emerging technologies are helping turf managers make more informed decisions, improve consistency and better understand the conditions beneath the playing surface.
Bringing soil data into everyday turf management
A key topic is Bernhard and Company’s partnership with Soil Scout, whose wireless sensors provide regular readings of soil moisture, temperature and salinity, alongside oxygen monitoring.
By collecting data at regular intervals and at different depths within the rootzone, the technology gives greenkeepers a more detailed picture of changing soil conditions throughout the day.
Steven believes the ability to monitor oxygen levels is particularly significant, providing new insight into an area of turf management that has traditionally been difficult to measure.
The information could help course managers better understand the impact of aeration and other maintenance practices, refine irrigation strategies and build a stronger evidence base for their decisions.
Steven also discusses the potential of AI-powered platforms, including Maya, to bring information from different sources together, helping turf managers identify patterns, interpret data and make more informed decisions.
Rather than replacing professional expertise, he sees technology as an additional tool that can support greenkeepers’ knowledge and experience while improving efficiency.
Getting the fundamentals right
Despite the opportunities offered by new technology, Steven stresses that successful turf management still starts with the basics.
Sharp mower blades, appropriate machinery settings, efficient water use and sound cultural practices remain fundamental to producing high-quality playing surfaces.
With golfers expecting increasingly consistent conditions throughout the year, he believes data can help greenkeepers understand which practices deliver the greatest benefits and make better use of the resources available to them.
The challenge, he explains, is to combine innovation with practical experience, using technology to support good decision-making rather than losing sight of the fundamentals.
Investing in the next generation
The conversation also highlights Bernhard and Company’s long-standing partnership with BIGGA and its support for the Bernhard Delegation programme.
For Steven, the programme is an important part of the company’s commitment to education, professional development and creating opportunities for greenkeepers at different stages of their careers.
The delegation gives participants the opportunity to visit leading golf facilities in the United States and United Kingdom, attend educational sessions and build relationships with professionals from across the industry.
Steven emphasises that the programme is designed to bring together people with different backgrounds and levels of experience, allowing participants to learn from one another and return home with fresh ideas, greater confidence and valuable industry connections.
Reflecting on the future of greenkeeping, he identifies the enthusiasm, ambition and thirst for knowledge of the next generation as one of the most exciting aspects of the industry.
As technology continues to evolve, he believes combining these opportunities for learning with strong practical foundations will be essential to the profession’s continued development.
Listen to the full conversation
Hear Steven Nixon discuss subsoil sensing technology, AI, turf performance, the future of greenkeeping and Bernhard and Company’s commitment to education in the latest episode of The BIGGA Podcast.