Spectrum Technologies, USGA announce turf firmness meter
Spectrum Technologies Inc. and the United States Golf Association (USGA) have launched the TruFirm turf firmness meter that measures the firmness of turf and bunker sands.
Data acquired from the device allows golf course superintendents and sports turf managers the ability to take appropriate actions to reach the desired firmness of golf course greens, fairways, and bunkers, as well as other playing surfaces. It is based on technology developed by the USGA.
The USGA’s primary objective for the development of the TruFirm is to provide championship-caliber playability by managing greens that are consistently firm and fast, the company said. By measuring the relationship between the compaction of the soil and the moisture level, greenkeepers are able to ensure healthy, aesthetically-pleasing greens that offer exceptional playability.
“Balancing the fine line between soil moisture and firmness is an intricate art that presents challenges to even the most experienced golf course superintendents,” said Spectrum Technologies President and CEO Mike Thurow. “Spectrum’s TruFirm provides objective data to help make crucial decisions.”
The patented TruFirm system utilizes a hemisphere-shaped impact hammer that mimics the shape of a golf ball to better simulate golf ball impacts. The mass is dropped from a consistent height and the maximum turf penetration value is recorded and correlated to the surface firmness. The lower the penetration value, the firmer the turf.
Matt Pringle, technical director for the USGA, has been working with firmness and compaction devices for more than nine years. “The USGA is dedicated to advancing technology to improve playability by making better course decisions,” he said. “We decided to bring our technological innovations to Spectrum because of their turf industry knowledge, technology focus, and experience in developing affordable measuring devices.”
Measurements taken by the TruFirm are instantaneous, saving valuable time, and readouts are displayed on a highly visible screen, according to the company. In addition, logged data can be sent via Bluetooth to a mobile or handheld device for plotting specific greens or other surfaces using an associated smartphone app.