After inspecting the course I’m happy to report that, currently, there is no evidence of significant turf loss; not to mention that the course is thawing and breaking out of dormancy nicely. Last fall, the use of heavy topdressing sand coupled with our annual plant protectants insulated the turf’s crown and aided in its winter survival from: low temperature kill, ice damage, desiccation and snow mold. However, before opening the golf course, we must now be patient to allow two naturally occurring events to transpire; thawing of the soil and turf recovery growth.
Another outcome from shallow frost is poorly drained soils. Because the soil is frozen, it will not allow water to drain downward, so all water is being held and saturating the top 2-6 inches. Once a golf ball lands or golfer steps in one of the mentioned areas, the ground will not have any cushion and will cause the surface to spread and lift the sides, much like a ballmark.
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(Left) Off-site
example of cart traffic damage (Right) Range ball plugged in our range fairway after a shot |
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Leaf
tissue that has been setback by overwinter snowshoe traffic.
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Along with everything mentioned above, the current conditions and long-range forecast are not conducive for a March opening. Furthermore, there is no set date for opening the golf course but check your email for updates on the opening of the range and Quarry course. On a positive note, the forecasted temperatures and rains next week will help speed up the thawing process and will then allow us to vent, brush, roll and mow the greens before opening.