December 11' - Winter Glossary
With winter knocking on our door, I feel that it’s important to remind you about the seasonal maintenance
activities that will be carried out over the next couple of weeks. These activities are all done with NEXT
SEASON in mind……the goal being to provide the playing surfaces with every possible advantage of getting
though the winter months healthy and problem free. This allows us to put our turf in a more positive position
leading into the early spring.
Frost delays – Now that the temperatures are getting colder, frost delays will become more frequent. The
formation of frost depends on several factors, including but not limited to temperature, cloud cover, wind, dew
point, and humidity. The Greens Department website is generally updated by 7am, and will relay information
regarding any delays. Every effort will be made to get play onto the golf course in as timely a manner as
possible. Keeping play off the course when frost is present is essential for the protection and preservation of
YOUR golf course.
Double cups – A second set of cups will be installed on the greens so that the flagstick can be rotated
between the two hole locations. This helps to spread foot traffic on the dormant turf, thus minimizing
damage. Hole locations through the winter may seem extreme: our strategy is twofold….1) to minimize wear
damage in regular cupping areas, 2) to arrange the winter hole locations in areas where the sun will burn off
the frost more quickly.
Temporary greens – Cups will be placed in strategic areas of the approaches/fairways, and will be used when
the greens are deemed “not conducive” for play. This decision is made on a daily basis and is based on
firmness of the greens, depth of frost layer in the greens, and the weather forecast.
Par 3 tees – These tees will be covered for the winter in effort to help them recover for the upcoming season.
Prior to covering, tees will be mowed one final time, treated for snow mold, all divots filled and seeded, and
topdressed. Artificial mats will be placed in a couple of areas per hole, for use over the winter. The timing on
when to cover and uncover depends largely on temperatures. The covers will remain in place until the early
part of March.
Winter disease control – Greens, tees, and most likely approaches will be treated with a preventive fungicide
application. This application aids in preventing/minimizing snow mold, which would result in blemished turf
that is slow to come out of winter dormancy.
Dormant fertilization – Greens, tees, and fairways will receive on final application shortly after vertical grass
growth has ceased. This allows the plant to take up the nutrients and build carbohydrate reserves over the
winter. These nutrients will be in place for plant use in the early spring when grass growth resumes.
Topdressing – Greens will be topdressed at least one additional time, twice if weather permits. This final
topdressing will provide an “insulating” effect for the turf, as well as promoting surface smoothness. The
second application is desired as a result of the recent Drill and Fill. We are going into winter with a bumpier
surface than normal. The additional sand will help to remedy that.
We are hoping to topdress fairways prior to winter. The key factor here is that the ground must be very firm,
so as to support the weight of the application equipment.
Cart rules – When the ground is frozen and free of frost, cart traffic on the turf is not terribly harmful. On the flip
side, when the ground is not frozen, and there is adequate moisture, conditions are often not suitable for cart
traffic. Even the smallest amount of rain can render the turf unsuitable for cart traffic. This is primarily the
result of low levels of sunlight, shorter days, and little evaporation. The ground just does not firm up quickly in
the off season months. Cart rule decisions are made daily, and are based on observed conditions and the
weather forecast. On behalf of the entire membership, we ask that you observed the posted cart rules.
Please remember that as turf growth slows and eventually stops, it becomes very important to be more
diligent with the care of the course. The recovery of any damage incurred over the winter will lag well behind
normal spring growth/green-up. Less wear and tear over the winter will yield better conditions in the spring.
Ball marks that are repaired properly and divots that are replaced will heal more quickly.
Your care of the course, in combination with our preventive measures, will help to ensure the best possible
conditions as we enter into the 2012 golf season.
On behalf of the Greens Department Staff, I would like to wish you and your families a happy and safe
holiday season.
activities that will be carried out over the next couple of weeks. These activities are all done with NEXT
SEASON in mind……the goal being to provide the playing surfaces with every possible advantage of getting
though the winter months healthy and problem free. This allows us to put our turf in a more positive position
leading into the early spring.
Frost delays – Now that the temperatures are getting colder, frost delays will become more frequent. The
formation of frost depends on several factors, including but not limited to temperature, cloud cover, wind, dew
point, and humidity. The Greens Department website is generally updated by 7am, and will relay information
regarding any delays. Every effort will be made to get play onto the golf course in as timely a manner as
possible. Keeping play off the course when frost is present is essential for the protection and preservation of
YOUR golf course.
Double cups – A second set of cups will be installed on the greens so that the flagstick can be rotated
between the two hole locations. This helps to spread foot traffic on the dormant turf, thus minimizing
damage. Hole locations through the winter may seem extreme: our strategy is twofold….1) to minimize wear
damage in regular cupping areas, 2) to arrange the winter hole locations in areas where the sun will burn off
the frost more quickly.
Temporary greens – Cups will be placed in strategic areas of the approaches/fairways, and will be used when
the greens are deemed “not conducive” for play. This decision is made on a daily basis and is based on
firmness of the greens, depth of frost layer in the greens, and the weather forecast.
Par 3 tees – These tees will be covered for the winter in effort to help them recover for the upcoming season.
Prior to covering, tees will be mowed one final time, treated for snow mold, all divots filled and seeded, and
topdressed. Artificial mats will be placed in a couple of areas per hole, for use over the winter. The timing on
when to cover and uncover depends largely on temperatures. The covers will remain in place until the early
part of March.
Winter disease control – Greens, tees, and most likely approaches will be treated with a preventive fungicide
application. This application aids in preventing/minimizing snow mold, which would result in blemished turf
that is slow to come out of winter dormancy.
Dormant fertilization – Greens, tees, and fairways will receive on final application shortly after vertical grass
growth has ceased. This allows the plant to take up the nutrients and build carbohydrate reserves over the
winter. These nutrients will be in place for plant use in the early spring when grass growth resumes.
Topdressing – Greens will be topdressed at least one additional time, twice if weather permits. This final
topdressing will provide an “insulating” effect for the turf, as well as promoting surface smoothness. The
second application is desired as a result of the recent Drill and Fill. We are going into winter with a bumpier
surface than normal. The additional sand will help to remedy that.
We are hoping to topdress fairways prior to winter. The key factor here is that the ground must be very firm,
so as to support the weight of the application equipment.
Cart rules – When the ground is frozen and free of frost, cart traffic on the turf is not terribly harmful. On the flip
side, when the ground is not frozen, and there is adequate moisture, conditions are often not suitable for cart
traffic. Even the smallest amount of rain can render the turf unsuitable for cart traffic. This is primarily the
result of low levels of sunlight, shorter days, and little evaporation. The ground just does not firm up quickly in
the off season months. Cart rule decisions are made daily, and are based on observed conditions and the
weather forecast. On behalf of the entire membership, we ask that you observed the posted cart rules.
Please remember that as turf growth slows and eventually stops, it becomes very important to be more
diligent with the care of the course. The recovery of any damage incurred over the winter will lag well behind
normal spring growth/green-up. Less wear and tear over the winter will yield better conditions in the spring.
Ball marks that are repaired properly and divots that are replaced will heal more quickly.
Your care of the course, in combination with our preventive measures, will help to ensure the best possible
conditions as we enter into the 2012 golf season.
On behalf of the Greens Department Staff, I would like to wish you and your families a happy and safe
holiday season.
Every month, Charlie Miller makes a informative letter contribution to the clubs newsletter.
