At the heart of the newly minted Omni PGA Frisco Resort—a sprawling 660-acre paradise recently voted the #1 Resort Hotel in Texas—lies an often-overlooked battleground: agronomy.

Managing two championship courses (Fields Ranch East and West), a 10-hole short course (Swing), and one of the nation’s largest natural-grass putting courses (Dance Floor) isn’t just about aesthetic perfection. It’s also a massive undertaking in terms of upkeep. 

For Roger Meier, Senior Director of Golf Course Maintenance Operations for the PGA of America, leading an 80-member agronomy team and achieving pristine conditions and championship-level playability across the resort’s golf courses requires more than just a green thumb.

It demands a forward-thinking agronomic approach, leveraging cutting-edge technology to make informed decisions, particularly when faced with the challenging Texas weather.

The Challenge: Managing Weather Risks and Course Conditions

Before partnering with Perry Weather, PGA Frisco faced a harsh reality: the weather dictated operations, often with costly consequences. “Everything that we’re doing is impacted by weather and Mother Nature,” Meier explained. 

“During one tournament, a sudden lightning storm forced us to evacuate players and spectators,” Meier recalled. “The delay in receiving weather information meant we were cutting it too close for comfort. We didn’t have the tools to predict exactly how much rain was coming or how fast. It was a guessing game, and unfortunately, the course suffered.”

The Solution: Perry Weather’s Advanced Weather Data

PGA Frisco’s search for a robust solution led them to Perry Weather, a decision that has proven instrumental in streamlining operations, enhancing safety, and optimizing turf health at the facility.

“We work with a lot of people, especially in golf course maintenance. And we want to be innovators and incubators in the industry as a whole,” Meier emphasizes. “And that’s why we partnered with Perry Weather.” 

The platform’s customization features, including mass notification tools and visual and audible alerts, have been instrumental in streamlining communication during tournaments. “Perry Weather is among the latest and greatest from a technology standpoint.” 

“What stood out to us was the level of precision Perry Weather offers,” Meier said. “Perry Weather is among the latest and greatest from a technology standpoint. Their systems integrate seamlessly with our operations, allowing us to make informed decisions quickly and confidently.”

Hyperlocal On-Site Weather Data: A Game Changer for Golf Course Management

Unlike most traditional weather services that rely on distant weather stations, Perry Weather provides the PGA of Frisco with real-time, hyperlocal weather data drawn directly from multiple weather stations installed across their 660-acre property.

“The nice thing about the Perry Weather stations for us is it’s actually weather data that’s being pulled right from our site,” Meier explains. “It’s not a weather station that’s down the road or in a different location. It’s right here on our site. And it’s interesting because you do see different weather, and you do see different data from each of those weather stations.”

This granular level of detail allows Meier and his team to make data-driven decisions tailored to the specific conditions of each area of the course. They utilize the data for a range of critical tasks:

• Optimizing Irrigation: “Perry Weather’s evapotranspiration component and monitoring rainfall accurately helps us understand how much water loss we’ve had in a day,” Meier notes. “Knowing exactly how much rain has fallen is not just about saving water—it’s about protecting the health of the turf.” 

“Our agronomy teams can now adjust irrigation schedules, and respond to adverse weather conditions with precision.” This data is crucial for applying the right amount of water at the right time to each green, fairway, and tee box. 

• Strategic Timing of Applications: Knowing when fronts are coming through, if rain is expected, or if wind conditions are favorable is essential for planning applications of fertilizers, weeding agents, and other treatments. 

Perry Weather’s accurate forecasting helps the team maximize the effectiveness of these applications while minimizing waste and environmental impact.

• Proactive Disease and Pest Management: Perry Weather’s temperature and humidity data helps the agronomy team anticipate potential pest infestation outbreaks and implement preventative measures, reducing the need for chemical interventions.

Prioritizing Safety with Advanced Lightning Detection

With a team of 80 spread across a vast property, safety is paramount. “Our property is very expansive,” Meier says. “It’s almost two miles from our maintenance facility to the other side of the golf course.” Perry Weather’s advanced lightning detection system, easily accessible via the app and web dashboard, provides the critical early warnings needed to protect the crew from ever-present hazards. “Having the app on our phone and the notifications for lightning for our team is critical.”

The system is configured with a custom alert radius set at 10, 15, and 30 miles, providing ample time to clear the courses and seek shelter when lightning is detected. “If we get a lightning strike within a certain radius, Perry Weather will give us a countdown, and that helps us see how long we’re going to be in a delay,” explains Meier. 

“Are we going to be able to get back out on the golf course, get back to work, or are we going to be pinned down for a long period of time? It helps us just really from a labor-management standpoint too, and really helps to keep our team safe.”

The Impact: Enhanced Agronomy and Safer Golf Operations 

Since implementing Perry Weather, PGA of Frisco has seen a dramatic improvement in safety and operational efficiency. 

“One of the most significant moments for us was during a recent tournament when a severe storm approached the course,” Meier shared. “Thanks to Perry Weather’s lightning detection and automated alerts, we evacuated everyone well before the storm hit.” 

Having immediate alerts makes all the difference between a controlled evacuation and a potential disaster.

Beyond safety, Perry Weather’s advanced features—including rainfall monitoring, wind tracking, and temperature data—have been instrumental in optimizing agronomic management and course conditions. Meier shared an example of using wind data to improve pesticide applications:

“Knowing how wind patterns would affect spraying saved us time and resources while ensuring the best results for the course.”

The support provided by Perry Weather has also been a standout aspect of the partnership.

“Their meteorology team offers 24/7 assistance and works closely with us to adapt the system to our needs,” Meier said. “During a challenging stretch of unpredictable weather, they were with us every step of the way. That level of support is unmatched.”

Even players have noticed. “They’ve commented on how quickly we adapt to weather changes,” Meier shared. “Our agronomy team feels empowered with the data they need to keep the course in pristine condition.”

Looking Ahead: A Continued Partnership 

As the PGA of America continues to host world-class tournaments and grow the game of golf, the partnership with Perry Weather remains a cornerstone of their safety and operational strategy.

“Perry Weather has given us the tools to not only protect our players and fans but also enhance the golfing experience,” Meier concluded.

By embracing Perry Weather’s cutting-edge technology, the PGA of America is not just ensuring safety and efficiency at its new Frisco headquarters, but is also transforming agronomy and course management. This data-driven approach is setting a new industry standard, shaping a future with healthier, more sustainable, and higher-quality playing surfaces for golfers of all levels.