Best Course of Action : Allow play and focus on the preventative measures described above . On creeping bentgrass putting greens , begin to limit play as average temperatures decrease in the fall .
SCENARIO 2 : PLAY ON FROSTED GREENS The Problem : Frost-covered turf on putting greens is susceptible to immediate damage from traffic . Ice crystals on and inside the plant can puncture cell walls and cell organs . When foot traffic occurs on heavily frosted turfgrass surfaces , entire plants can be killed , leaving foot-shaped patches of dead turf .
Risk Assessment : Damage to the turf will occur immediately , and the symptoms of the damage become obvious as the turf grows . Healing may not occur until the next growing season begins .
Preventative Measures : In most climatic zones , frost is a common occurrence . The best preventative measure to minimize frost delays is to reduce morning shade on greens . Sometimes a light syringe cycle is used to dissipate the frost . However , careful judgment must be used , or the irrigation water can freeze , further extending the frost delay and potentially making the greens and surrounds wetter than desired .
Best Course of Action : The time-honored tradition of not playing on frosted greens is recommended and has produced good results over time . In the big picture , the disruption to golf is small , yet it prevents injury to the turf . The advent of various social media outlets has improved the speed at which golfers can be informed about frost delays . Rapid and clear communication should reduce the inconvenience and make frost delays less frustrating .
SCENARIO 3 : PLAY ON FROZEN GREENS The Problem : Temperatures remain below freezing for several days , and one or more putting greens remain frozen all day . Under these conditions , even cool-season grasses will not be growing and their ability to recover from traffic through growth is lost . There is a concern that foot traffic on frozen greens will cause more rapid wear injury under these conditions .
Risk Assessment : Any damage that occurs from playing on frozen greens will be cumulative .
Preventative Measures : There are no practical measures to prevent the soil from freezing or minimize damage caused by golfer traffic .
Best Course of Action : There are likely to be few , if any , golfers who want to play on a frozen golf course . Frozen golf greens do not hold most approach shots . The best course of action is to close the golf course and wait for conditions to improve .
SCENARIO 4 : PLAY ON THAWING GREENS The Problem : It is common that for two to four weeks during spring the weather at many northern golf courses will generate increased play while the putting greens are thawing . However , while the top layer of thawing putting greens becomes soft and wet , the soil below remains frozen . Foot traffic under thawing conditions can cause root shearing at the interface between the thawed and frozen soil , causing damage to the root system . Additionally , minor-to-severe foot rutting can occur , causing short-term and possibly long-term surface-smoothness issues .
Risk Assessment : The chance for immediate turf injury is high under this scenario . Playing on thawing greens will damage the root system . The resulting damage will be expressed as the turf begins to grow in the spring . On creeping bentgrass putting greens , this type of damage can open the door for Poa annua invasion .
Preventative Measures : In parts of the country where the ground freezes for weeks or months , there is no practical measure that can be done to prevent putting greens from freezing . Appropriate core-aeration and topdressing programs are recommended to help dilute organic matter and keep the top few inches of putting green soil dry . On northern courses , temporary measures do not apply to prevent this scenario from occurring .
Best Course of Action : The best course of action at resort and daily-fee courses is to determine the cost of covering and uncovering the greens versus the revenue that will be gained . If there is not sufficient revenue to offset the cost , do not remove the covers . At private clubs , a fairly specific policy on when to uncover the greens and who is responsible for making the decision should be included in the club ’ s maintenance guidelines .
If anyone has any questions or comments , please feel free to reach out directly to me at : jvalentino @ lexingtongolfandcountryclub . com
Best Wishes ,
Jake Valentino
Superintendent
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