The superintendent can apply a small amount of water to help remove the frost if the air temperature is not too cold. Running fans to blow air over the greens (the same fans used in the summer) will help to reduce frost problems if the temperature is only a few degrees below freezing.
Full Answer
Should you hand water your golf course greens?
Hand watering places water only where needed, helping conserve water resources. Water management is a major focus at golf courses, especially on putting greens. Turf naturally uses more water during summer due to long days and high temperatures, leading some to believe that applying extra water to greens is the best way to keep them alive.
How do you freeze fresh greens?
Blend your greens with a little water or oil to make a smooth paste. You can then pour this into a muffin tray (for larger cubes), or an ice cube tray for smaller ones. Pop these in the freezer for a couple of hours to freeze solid.
How do you fix a wet lawn in the winter?
Less dramatic measures include cutting cup cutter-sized holes in poorly draining areas and filling the cores with gravel or sand to try and move the water away from the surface. Another more common tactic is to cut sod strips from greens to facilitate water movement off the greens once snowmelt begins.
How often should I water my putting greens?
Similarly, putting greens also need to stay hydrated. Typically, putting greens are irrigated at night or early in the morning. However, during periods of hot weather or low humidity, turf may need additional water throughout the day because soils can quickly dry out.
Is it OK to play golf on frozen greens?
The reason the club should not allow play on greens that are covered with frost is that the turf will be damaged from walking on the frost. The ice crystals in the frost can puncture the leaves from foot pressure.
How do you water a golf green?
1:022:32Fore The Golfer: Watering For Healthy Turf - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhen the maintenance worker is pointing the holes directly downward onto the green. He or she isMoreWhen the maintenance worker is pointing the holes directly downward onto the green. He or she is adding water to the soil to supplement the overhead irrigation. System.
How much water does it take to keep a golf course green?
In California, an average 18-hole golf course sprawls over 110 to 115 acres and conservatively uses almost 90 million gallons of water per year, enough to fill 136 Olympic-size swimming pools, said Mike Huck, a water management consultant who works with golf courses statewide.
How does frost affect golf greens?
Golf course turf is normally resilient to traffic, but when ice crystals form inside the plants, they become brittle and vulnerable to damage. Walking or driving over frost-covered grass may rupture plant cells, leading to dead turf. Or the plants may be weakened without immediately showing the effects.
How much water do you put in a putting green?
If a golf course has 3.2 acres of putting greens, it would require 208,530 gallons to flush all putting green root zones. In other words, 2.4 inches of water would be needed across the putting surfaces to reach saturation.
What is the best time to water the greens on a golf course?
in the morningThe best time to water is early in the morning. This allows water to enter the soil when it is less susceptible to evaporation while minimizing leaf wetness that can cause disease. Turfgrass plants can use the moisture reservoir in the soil to remain cool throughout the day.
Do golf courses use GREY water?
In fact, an increasing number of courses are using effluent water – often referred to as “gray water.” Government regulations and water availability have led to the increased use of gray water at golf facilities, says Brian Vinchesi, design engineer at Irrigation Consulting Inc., Pepperell, Mass.
Do golf courses waste a lot of water?
(Inside Science) -- In California's current historic drought, there's one particularly easy target when it comes to pointing fingers: green golf courses. Courses around the U.S. suck up around approximately 2.08 billion gallons of water per day for irrigation.
Where does Palm Springs get water for golf courses?
The Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD), which serves 105 of the golf courses, draws from the California Water Project, the Colorado River and the aquifer.
How cold does it need to be for a frost delay?
Frost is a form of ice and can only survive at temperatures of 32 degrees Fahrenheit and below. But that doesn't mean the measured air temperature must be 32 or below for frost to form on a surface.
How cold does it have to be for frost to form on grass?
32 degreesFrost can form on grass when the air temperature is above 32 degrees (the freezing point). It happens frequently in the spring and fall, for two reasons. Air temperatures are measured at a height about four feet above the ground.
What is a frosty in golf?
When frost is present golf course superintendents delay play until the frost has melted. This is done to prevent damage that affects the quality of the playing surface and could potentially be very expensive to repair. Frost is basically frozen dew that has crystallized on the grass, making it hard and brittle.
How do you maintain golf greens?
Regardless of other practices, proper mowing, is required for good putting greens. Proper mowing includes daily mowing, daily changing of mowing patterns, mowing at the correct height, precise adjustment of mowers, daily cleaning and sharpening of mowers, training of mower operators and visual inspection of results.
How often do you water Bermuda greens?
When Bermuda grass is green and actively growing in spring, summer, and fall, it should be watered twice per week. Each time you water, the soil should be moistened to a depth of 4–6 inches (10–15 cm). This can typically be accomplished in 30–60 minutes of watering with a sprinkler system.
How often do golf courses mow the greens?
On average, greens are mowed at least five days per week, and in most cases six or seven days per week. Courses that choose to mow five or six days per week will take advantage of a closed Monday or Tuesday to skip mowing and focus more on agronomic programs like topdressing or aeration.
How much water does a golf course use a day?
Audubon International estimates that the average American course uses 312,000 gallons per day. In a place like Palm Springs, where 57 golf courses challenge the desert, each course eats up a million gallons a day.
Maintaining the Golf Course Turf During Cold Weather
Florida winters are not always sunny and warm contrary to popular belief. Here at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club we encounter temperatures that can reach well below freezing on occasion during the winter months. During these weather events we implement certain techniques on the golf course to help the turf avoid damage.
Written By Jack Creveling, Golf Course Superintendent, Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club
Florida winters are not always sunny and warm contrary to popular belief. Here at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club we encounter temperatures that can reach well below freezing on occasion during the winter months. During these weather events we implement certain techniques on the golf course to help the turf avoid damage.
Why is sound aeration important?
A sound aeration programme will help minimise ill effects on drainage and the sward. In addition, hole changes should be frequent to avoid regular concentration of foot traffic to the same spot, use being made of the outer regions of the greens as far as possible, although keeping towards the front in very wet spells.
What happens to the soil around a round pin?
Wet conditions. In persistently wet conditions, the soil around the pin is likely to become severely compacted. Fine particles of silt and clay can migrate to the surface, resulting in soil-stained patches round pin positions and other well trafficked routes.
Can you play on overly wet greens in the winter?
Allowing play on overly wet or frozen greens early in the winter sets a dangerous precedent and should be avoided. Every effort should be made to keep green closure to an absolute minimum. Do not automatically close all 18 greens if the first few inspected are unfit.
Is winter golf competitive?
Winter golf is normally less competitive and if the little inconvenience caused by playing to temporary greens of a satisfactory standard is accepted, when necessary, then the putting surfaces of the main greens are better preserved for when they are required and expected to be at their best.
Can you see brown foot marks after a thaw?
When frozen, plant tissues are easily bruised by players’ feet. Following a thaw, it is often possible to see brown footmarks for several weeks , particularly around hole sites. The greater the weight of play in hard frost, obviously the greater becomes the extent of this damage.
Who should be the primary arbiter of closing the main greens?
There must be a clear pecking order of responsibility for closing the main greens. The Course Manager should be the primary arbiter, making a sensible series of inspections through the day. Other club officials should not be allowed to change the decision. The decision-making process should be clear and consistent.
How to freeze greens in a muffin?
Blend your greens with a little water or oil to make a smooth paste. You can then pour this into a muffin tray (for larger cubes), or an ice cube tray for smaller ones. Pop these in the freezer for a couple of hours to freeze solid. Once this is done, remove the muffin or ice cube tray from the freezer.
Why blanch greens?
The blanching process halts the enzyme action which causes the greens to spoil. It also means that the flavor, color, and texture of the greens are preserved better. Greens, particularly leafy greens, have a high concentration of oxalic acid when raw.
How to store kale in the refrigerator?
If you have space in your refrigerator you can store hardier greens, such as kale and collard greens, in a glass of water. Place them upright with the stems in the water. This is a similar principle to storing flowers in a vase of water and will help to keep the greens fresher for longer.
How much volume does a muffin tray have?
A standard ice cube tray creates cubes that are 2 tablespoons in volume, and a standard muffin tray creates blacks around ½ cup in volume.
How long to freeze greens in a baking sheet?
Try to keep them in a singular, flat layer. Place this baking sheet in the freezer and leave for 2 - 3 hours to freeze solid. Once this time has elapsed, remove the baking sheet from the freezer.
How to thaw frozen greens?
The night before you wish to use them, remove them from the freezer and place them in the refrigerator overnight to thaw gently. You could also leave them on the countertop if you wish to thaw them more quickly.
How to strip leaf off of kale?
This method works best on collard greens, kale, Swiss chard, and rainbow chard. Hold the base of the stem in one hand and wrap the fingers of your other hand around the circumference. Slide your hand up the stem, from the thickest area to the thinnest. This will strip the leaf off the stem very efficiently.
What is casual water on the greens?
What is casual water? It’s any temporary accumulation of water on the course not in a water hazard, such as puddles (from those April showers) on the surface.
Where to move the ball when it's on the green?
If your ball is on the green and casual water is in the line of your putt, move the ball to an area of the green where the water no longer obstructs your putting line.
Can you brush away the dew in golf?
For you early morning golfers, keep in mind that you cannot brush away the dew or the frost. If you do…..it’s a two stoke penalty. Enjoy the onset of the warmer weather and resist the urge to “brush away” the water and dew! or to “mop up” any of those puddles!
How to get rid of frost on greens?
The superintendent can apply a small amount of water to help remove the frost if the air temperature is not too cold. Running fans to blow air over the greens (the same fans used in the summer) will help to reduce frost problems if the temperature is only a few degrees below freezing. Greens with shade in the morning have lower soil temperatures ...
Why is golf delayed in the winter?
Play is often delayed on courses during the winter due to frost on golf greens. The reason the club should not allow play on greens that are covered with frost is that the turf will be damaged from walking on the frost. The ice crystals in the frost can puncture the leaves from foot pressure.
What happens when you walk on a thawed turf?
The thawed layer will be saturated with water and becomes spongy. Walking on turf with this condition will cause foot printing and can cause the surface of the green to become uneven. Severe turf damage can result from shearing off the roots as the turf moves above the frozen layer.
Do all greens thaw at the same time?
Golfers are eager to return to the course on the nice days following long periods of cold weather. All greens usually do not thaw at the same time. Shaded greens are the last to thaw and more damage often occurs on these greens because it is difficult to keep golfers off the course any longer.
Can you play on thawing greens in cold weather?
It is difficult to explain to golfers that they should not play on greens that are thawing during a warm and sunny day following very cold weather.
Shade
Winterkill preys on weak turf. In many instances, winterkill patterns mirror shade patterns on greens. Turfgrass growing in the shade is simply not as healthy as turfgrass growing in full sunlight. To compound the problem, trying to reestablish damaged greens in the shade results in longer recovery time than greens recovering in full sunlight.
Covers
Covers can be used for winter protection and reestablishment. Photo by Kevin Frank, MSU
Snow mold and covers
It is important to remember that greens covers act similar to snow cover when it comes to snow mold activity. The covers provide the same environmental conditions for the development of snow mold as the snow does.
Surface drainage
Help the melt by stripping sod to hasten surface drainage. Photo by Adam Garr
Cultural practices – let it grow!
Fall is prime time for cultural practices to improve turfgrass health. In addition to core aeration and fall fertilization, consideration should be given to raise mowing heights as fall progresses.
