Another message on winter greens play

Received our monthly update from the USGA Green Section and Bud White who is the director for the Mid-Continent region  focusing on winter play and greens.  Once snow cover has been removed from the course and the greens subsurface remains frozen, the course will be opened but once the thawing process begins, the course will be closed until the thaw has moved down at least a couple of inches into the profile to prevent root shearing and severe foot imprinting.  Our January thaw is probably right around the corner and conditions will be monitored to reduce this potential damage.  The average temperature for December was 3.6 degrees below normal.  January is trending at least a couple of degrees below normal.  

Winter - A Holiday For Greens?By Bud White, director, Mid-Continent Region



January 13, 2011
The lower area of the Mid-Continent Region is in the coldest part of winter, and we are experiencing temperatures that call for attention. Superintendents must make sure that their bermudagrass greens are well hydrated during freeze/thaw cycles, especially under windy conditions that can quickly lead to desiccation. This is true for all dormant bermudagrass areas on the golf course – especially tees and mounds.


As a rule of thumb, most superintendents cover their greens when temperatures are going to be about 28°F or lower overnight, especially if it is windy or if the following day and night are colder-than-normal. If the following day is going to be warm, say, above 50°, many superintendents do not even cover the greens at 28-29° or above.


With bentgrass greens, playing on frosted, frozen, or partially-thawed greens is the biggest dilemma, and often the most heated argument! Golfers understand frost delays, but many believe that playing on frozen greens does no damage. To a large extent, this is simply not true unless the frost line is three to four inches deep and play is extremely light.


Greens thawed in the upper ¼” to ½” are subject to the greatest degree of damage because, under traffic, the roots are sheared off at the frost line. Partially-thawed conditions usually occur when the weather is nice, and winter golfers are less tolerant of restrictions.


Golfers, be assured that winter damage can occur on greens, and you must adhere to the advice of the golf course superintendent on these decisions for both the short- and long-term health of the greens.