50 degrees, Sorry No Golf Today Wednesday December 21st

Sorry folks, warm up but too much frozen stuff on greens. Will be cleaned off by end of the day today and give you a chance over the next few days to come out.

2 green

6 green

7 green has snow, plus 8 tee and 10 green

9 green

11 green

Don't Get Too Excited With Upcoming Forecast

Not to burst your bubble but I'm flying the trial balloon early. Just a reminder to not get too excited with the upcoming weather forecast. My best guess is we will be in the middle of frozen greens beginning to thaw and will have to remain closed. We will be evaluating the progress daily to keep the pro shop and you informed. The thaw must go deep into the profile to allow the water that will be trapped near the surface area to evacuate. Without this water being able to drain through the profile, the green's surfaces will be like a soaked sponge and will imprint severly. Also, if greens have not thawed deep enough, the probability for roots to be sheared from foot steps becomes quite high. I would think we will be able to get the range tees open the next couple of days.

3 green

3 fairway/approach

6 Tee, not shown 5 green which is covered as well. 

7 green

11 green

Practice green

Course Closing/Opening Decision, Science/Experience Tells Me Next Week

As mentioned in the email blast I sent to all members, I expect the course to remain closed until early next week at the earliest. This is not a set in stone decision. If you are a gambler I'm guessing a 20% chance of opening. I feel the existing freezing weather conditions over the next few days, scientific evidence regarding playing on thawing greens and what I've seen with my six years of experience at Glen Echo leads to this decision. Below is the reasoning that I use in making this most difficult  decision.

At this time, the greens are frozen solid and still have snow/ice on them as do many parts of the course. The snow/ice must melt, the moisture must drain from the surface/thatch and the sand layer must thaw completely before opening this time of year.

When greens begin to thaw, the surface will hold moisture like a sponge.  The thawing must go deep enough into the sand profile allowing the water to evacuate from the thatch/surface area. Walking on soft and water logged surfaces could create severe imprinting of footprints into the surface of the green.  These footprints could lead to bumpy and uneven surface for the first days and or weeks after they occur.

Another issue we face with thawing surfaces and frozen profiles is the potential for root shearing or tearing that can occur. The thawed surface moves under our feet as we walk and the frozen subsurface stays in place. This action can lead to long over wintered roots breaking at or near the surface. Instead of the root beginning its spring growth long and healthy, it must begin anew and use excessive amounts of energy to heal and grow.

A majority of excess energy is stored in the fall to early winter in a grass plant.  This energy is stored in stems and the crown of the plant. A healthy plant uses less energy.  A plant damaged in late winter and or early spring uses more energy than normal and can deplete stored energy. As the heat of summer increases, roots slow and or stop their growth.  A root that is fully mature simply makes for a much better grass plant that can withstand more stress.  A shorter rooted plant is subjected to more water stress, disease incidence and wear and tear issues from the work and play that takes place on its surface..  

Opening greens to early can be deadly for a green consisting of millions of 1/8" tall plants. The plants get walked upon, driven on by equipment, struck with balls from hundred of yards away, mowed, attacked by disease/pests, and pounded by unmerciful heat.

I will check the greens each day over the weekend as they begin to thaw. We still have aeration holes open on the greens that could help us drain more effectively. I appreciate your understanding during this process. Below are a number of holes and greens so you can see where we are so far with our snow/ice cover.  I will provide updated photos on Friday.

10 green

2 green

3 Fwy

3 green

7 green

6 green

9 green

4 green

Can't Play Golf, Enjoy the beauty of a Snow Covered Course

Well, we can't play much golf in this type of weather so I thought I would take a few course shots of the snow covered features.  Airport only recorded 3.3" so as the weather begins to warm, snow should melt in quick order.

A good thing "This Guy" is not a gambler(Course is Open)

Well, its a good thing "This Guy" is not a gambler or an odds maker.  I would lose the farm.   I guess I could be a TV Weather forecaster.

Course is now open for Sunday, January 26th.  Temperatures stayed warmer than expected overnight and a majority of the greens are snow free.  There is still a little on 11 green but everything will stay rock hard frozen while some of the hardy souls come out today to bounce the little white ball around.  A little bit of snow in deeper bunkers and shaded areas but overall place cleared off nicely.  Just watch your step as you are going around today.  Have fun!

I'm a golf green, not a sponge! Course will remain closed.

The warm weather of the last two days has eliminated most of the snow cover on the golf course.  We still have a few  greens that are covered and the overall conditions are too wet for play. Below are a few pictures I took this afternoon that illustrates the problems  we are still facing on the course.  Greens 5 and also had minor accumulations of snow still on the greens. The rough and fairways areas are completely saturated from moisture and are dangerous for foot traffic as well.

Walking on cart paths without clubs will be the only activity that will be allowed on the course at this time. We are sorry for any inconvenience this creates for you.

I am a golf green but more like a sponge at this time.  Practice green and water coming up from my step.

3 green covered in snow and water.

4 tee sloppy from snow and water.

11 green snow covered.

Course update

We still have snow covering many areas of the golf course.  Some greens are beginning to clear but most have snow on them and are completely saturated.  The practice green still has a little snow on it but is still saturated with moisture.  The driving ranges are clearing but the hitting stations still have snow on them as well as the walks ups leading to the area.

We will probably have good melting over the next day or two but I do not know if it will be enough to get the facility open by Saturday.  Sorry for the inconvenience this is creating for you.

The view back through #5 tee, #7 into #10.

The view across #10, 16, 15 and beyond.

When will we play golf?

Don't know that answer for sure at this time.  I'm hoping we can get some golf in this weekend but don't know if the snow will be all gone by then and if the water will have drained from the greens enough to allow play.   We will do everything we can to get you out here.  By the way, have you signed up your children or your grand kids for Breakfast with the Bunny on Saturday and still some spots left for Easter Brunch on Sunday.

The view of #3 today.  We are starting to get some of the features exposed .  

What lies beneath

Tried to drive out yesterday to take a few snow shots but could not see cart paths very well so drove back in.  Walked to a few spots today and took some snow shots with the nice form of our new bunkers.  Needed this snow cover in January, it can go away any time now.  Much to do!

Friday view of #3

Enough already!

It appears we are heading for a top ten all time snowfall total for the winter of 2010-11.  31.8" so far this year with I assume another 1" or more to report from today.  Weekend does not look good for golfling conditions as well.  I know its going to turn around soon!

SNOWIEST YEAR TOTAL

1912 63.3
1977 49.2

1978 49.0

1890 43.5

1906 42.0

1960 40.6

1980 34.4

1914 34.1

1975 34.0

1899 33.9

1993 32.3

1973 31.9

2010 31.8 and rising





Course conditions update

Snow left the course yesterday with the warm weather.  Still allowing greens to thaw for another day or two.  Will hopefully open Saturday but still evaluating each day.  Hopefully this is the last time we have to go through this situation.    

Coure Condition Update

The course remains closed due to snow, ice and various stages of greens that are thawing.  I do not have an exact day that we will open but will be monitoring conditions every day.  The long range mats will be open for those members who want to get some swings in during this nice weather.

We have some greens thawing quicker than others but have at least 6-7 that have various forms of ice, snow and water on them today.  The thaw is beginning to move through the profile.  It needs to be at least 3-4 inches into the profile to allow the moisture trapped on the surface or just below the surface to move through before we will be able to open.  I am also concerned about root shearing which was discussed in the 'Keeper of the Greens' email blast sent out earlier. 

We appreciate your consideration during the thawing process.

Additional posts regarding frozen greens from December and January.

http://geccgcm.blogspot.com/2010/12/current-course-conditionscourse-still.html

http://geccgcm.blogspot.com/2011/01/another-message-on-winter-greens-play.html

#1 green saturated due to frozen subsurface

Probe used on the back of #1 green which only went into the surface about an inch.

#2 green covered with melting snow and ice laying on the surface.

#3 fairway

#11 green completely covered.

#5 green covered

#10 approach

#9 green 1/2 covered

#7 green

Snow and ice

4 inches of snow again Saturday made for a beautiful picture or two I thought I would share for our snowbirds and our winter weather lovers.  This was on top of the 4-5" of snow pellets from earlier in the week from the storm of the century!  Well, its only been 11 years into this century.  I guess if you were in the middle of the state it was the storm of all winter storms. 

From the tee on #3



Down the hill from the tee on #13



This is from the 10" snowfall from January.  The tables and chairs were set on the patio with the light and fluffy snow that fell.  Measuring snowfall was easy on this day.