Frost discussion

It is frost season again. We have been lucky that we have had very few cold mornings so far, and the ones we have had have not resulted in extended delays. Nevertheless, it will happen soon, and everyone should be prepared (More reading to be found here, here, and here.)

Frost is frustrating for everyone- especially the Grounds department. Our ability to prepare the course is reduced or eliminated entirely, all the frosted turf is susceptible to damage, and trying to manage the golfer’s expectations along with the weather is difficult.

We make every effort possible to provide the best conditions each day. This does not mean conditions are the same every day- the course will not play the same on a rainy spring day as it does on a dry, early summer day- but our goal is to make each day the best it can be. All our maintenance is aimed at improving turf health and providing good conditions. Frost makes this particularly difficult.

Typically, a frosty morning happens before a day of nice weather and busy golf course. We have lots of people wanting to enjoy the course and the Grounds department is not able to adequately prepare the course due to the delay. We achieve everything we can, but sometimes it is not feasible to fit an entire morning of maintenance in between when the frost lifts and when golfers are ready to play. This is hard to manage.

We also must be weary of causing damage to the turfgrass. We must wait also. While our time is not wasted while we wait (there are ALWAYS things to do!), we still are not able to start our regular morning routine. We cannot get our machines on the grass and most times we cannot even walk on the grass (the exception being when the frost is in some areas but not others). Protecting the turf is important, so we wait just like the golfers. All of this comes to a head when the frost starts to break: we hurry out and try to get the course prepared as quickly as possible, but we also try to let the golfers go at the earliest possible moment. Care must be taken not to rush back onto the grass though.

We cannot control the weather- including frost. We want the delay to be as short as possible just like the golfers. Educating everyone on the reasons for the delay can help in tempering golfer’s expectations of when they may get to play. We walk a tightrope between what we want to accomplish, letting everyone enjoy the course, but protecting it also.

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please stay off all grass surfaces during a frost delay.

Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:

Ball Marks - How to properly repair

Bunker etiquette

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org