BELLE AVENUE BUSINESS SUITES. THIS IS ALL ALSO ON OUR KCCI APP, AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IT TAKES AN ARMY OF WORKERS TO PUT THIS THING ON, INCLUDING AN AGRONOMIST. THEY USUALLY SPECIALIZE IN HELPING FARMERS. YEAH. AND NOW THEY’RE SPECIALIZING IN GOLF COURSES. AND IT LOOKS GREAT OUT HERE. TALK TO ONE OF THE GUYS IN CHARGE, MIKE CRAWFORD, ABOUT THE SCIENCE THAT GOES INTO MAKING SURE THE SURFACE IS PICTURE PERFECT. WHEN WE TAKE A SERIES OF MEASUREMENTS. AND THIS IS A MOISTURE METER, THIS TAKES A VOLUMETRIC MOISTURE CONTENT IN THE GREENS. AND WE MEASURE THROUGHOUT THE GREEN SURFACE. AND THEN AS WE TAKE READINGS, IT GIVES US AN AVERAGE. AND WE’LL TAKE AT LEAST 12 READINGS ACROSS THE GREEN. WE’RE LOOKING FOR DRY SPOTS IF THEY NEED TO TOUCH ANYTHING UP. SO OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE FIRM AND FAST CONDITIONS FOR COMPETITION. COLLECT GREEN SPEED EVERY DAY. SO THIS IS CALLED A STIMPMETER. AND WE DO THIS THREE TIMES. WE CAN MEASURE FROM THIS SPOT TO THE AVERAGE OF THOSE THREE BALLS. AND THEN WE’LL TURN AROUND AND DO THAT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. AND THE THIRD THING THAT WE DO IS WE COLLECT FIRMNESS. THIS IS A FIRMNESS METER. THIS IS MADE BY THE USGA. I’LL TAKE THIS OFF REAL QUICK. AND THERE’S A LITTLE BALL IN THERE. YOU CAN PICK THAT UP. SO THAT LITTLE BALL HAS GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT LITTLE SENSORS IN THERE. WORKS WITH BLUETOOTH. SO THIS THIS BALL IS CONNECTED NOW TO THE PHONE AND IT’S TRANSMITTING THAT THAT INFORMATION THAT IT JUST COLLECTED IN THAT ONE SPOT TO YOUR PHONE. AND WE CAN EQUATE THAT NUMBER TO FIRMNESS OR SOFTNESS. WE SET UP GOALS LEADING INTO THE TOURNAMENT WITH MOWING HEIGHTS. WHAT OUR GREEN SPEED IS GOING TO BE DURING THE TOURNAMENT, ALL THOSE KIND OF THINGS ARE WHAT WE’RE HOPING T
Principal Charity Classic: Agronomists use science to prepare greens at Wakonda Club
Agronomists play a crucial role in golf tournaments, using advanced tools and techniques to ensure greens are ready for competition at the Principal Charity Classic.
Updated: 9:42 PM CDT Jun 11, 2026
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Preparing the golf course for the Principal Charity Classic requires a team effort, with agronomists playing a key role in balancing playability and turf health. Most agronomists focus on improving farming methods, but they also contribute to golf courses by ensuring the surface is ready for tournaments. Competition agronomist Mike Crawford explained the tools and techniques used to achieve optimal conditions. Crawford uses a moisture meter to measure the volume content of moisture in the greens, detect dryness and determine whether specific areas need adjustments. “The goal is to provide firm and fast conditions for competition in the Principal Charity Classic,” Crawford said. He also uses a Stimpmeter to measure green speed for golf balls in various directions and a firmness meter developed by the USGA. The firmness meter is a ball with a lot of sensors that connects to Bluetooth and transmits information collected in one spot to a phone. The numbers then indicate firmness or softness.Crawford and his team also set goals ahead of time for mowing heights to ensure the greens meet competition standards.More Principal Charity Classic coveragePrincipal Charity Classic: Wakonda Club showcases challenging holes and dramatic elevationsPrincipal Charity Classic: Daisy May helps keep wildlife off Wakonda Club’s golf courseNorwalk boy to receive adaptive bike at Principal Charity ClassicPrincipal Charity Classic: Zach Johnson’s favorite sandwich honored at Des Moines deliPrincipal Charity Classic 2026: Your guide to PGA Tour Champions event in Des Moines
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Preparing the golf course for the Principal Charity Classic requires a team effort, with agronomists playing a key role in balancing playability and turf health.
Most agronomists focus on improving farming methods, but they also contribute to golf courses by ensuring the surface is ready for tournaments.
Competition agronomist Mike Crawford explained the tools and techniques used to achieve optimal conditions.
Crawford uses a moisture meter to measure the volume content of moisture in the greens, detect dryness and determine whether specific areas need adjustments.
“The goal is to provide firm and fast conditions for competition in the Principal Charity Classic,” Crawford said.
He also uses a Stimpmeter to measure green speed for golf balls in various directions and a firmness meter developed by the USGA.
The firmness meter is a ball with a lot of sensors that connects to Bluetooth and transmits information collected in one spot to a phone. The numbers then indicate firmness or softness.
Crawford and his team also set goals ahead of time for mowing heights to ensure the greens meet competition standards.
More Principal Charity Classic coveragePrincipal Charity Classic: Wakonda Club showcases challenging holes and dramatic elevationsPrincipal Charity Classic: Daisy May helps keep wildlife off Wakonda Club’s golf courseNorwalk boy to receive adaptive bike at Principal Charity ClassicPrincipal Charity Classic: Zach Johnson’s favorite sandwich honored at Des Moines deli
Principal Charity Classic 2026: Your guide to PGA Tour Champions event in Des Moines