There are two reasons for covering greens turf during the winter months in the northern climate of the U.S. 1) To protect the turf from cold, dry winter winds. 2) To help prevent the forma on of ice on the greens surface.
Why do golf courses cover the Greens in the winter?
Depending on location and weather, superintendents cover greens during the winter for healthier turf come springtime Greens are considered the heart and soul of a golf course.
What are golf green and turf covers used for?
Cover-Tech golf green covers and turf covers are used throughout the world primarily on golf courses and natural sporting fields. Our golf green and turf covers are designed for winter protection and early greening of grass.
How can I Keep my putting green soft in the winter?
Want to keep your putting green lush and soft during the harsh winter months? Grab a FieldSaver® Golf Green Cover to help maintain your turf against snow, ice, frost or undesired animal activity. With features such as 100% woven polypropylene custom sizing available, CoverSports has the golf green covers you can rely on.
What is a green on a golf course?
Greens are considered the heart and soul of a golf course. While most club members and daily-fee players will overlook a few brown patches on fairways or tee boxes, they won’t turn a blind eye when it comes to the conditions of putting surfaces.
When should I cover my golf greens?
Ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens are typically covered during the winter in the transition zone to prevent injury from low temperature exposure. The current recommendation is to cover ultradwarf bermudagrass greens when the low temperature is forecast to drop to 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why do they cover golf greens?
The green cover adds a layer of protection for the turf and thus decreases damage from the winter elements. It also protects the greens from extreme wind dryness and sun scald. The second benefit is the cover acts like a greenhouse as the temperatures start to warm during the spring and snow begins to melt.
Why do they cover the greens with sand?
Sand helps cushion leaf tips and crowns and reduces algae. Increased Firmness – Turf produces organic matter in the upper rootzone that creates soft, spongy playing conditions. Regular sand topdressing, along with core aeration, improves surface firmness and resiliency.
How do you winterize a golf course?
How to winterize your lawn, according to a golf-course...Grow it. “Think of a bear fattening up for hibernation,” Curtin says. ... Fertilize it. Just because the grass is already storing carbs doesn't mean you shouldn't give it more to eat. ... Hydrate it. ... Aerate it and treat it. ... Rake it. ... Tarp it. ... Don't bury it.
Should I cover my putting green for winter?
Many golf courses that manage annual bluegrass in northern climates use cover systems to avoid extensive and frequent turf losses across putting greens. Similarly, many courses in with bermudagrass greens use covers to insulate the warm-season grass from damaging cold temperatures.
Why do golf courses tarp the greens?
Cover-Tech waterproof turf covers are designed for protecting crown of the grass from ice. These are primarily used on greens that do not allow water to drain off, causing severe ice build up. The cover will act as a barrier separating the damaging ice from the healthy turf grass.
How often should you top dress greens?
For many years the standard practt ce has been to aerate and topdress twice a year, 'although many may aerate six time per year. Light frequent topdressing as a major component of the putting green management program has been practiced . on few courses.
Why do golf courses top dress greens?
Topdressing improves putting greens smoothness, increases firmness and dilutes thatch. Thatch is a layer of dead and living plant material just below the turf surface.
Why do we top dress golf greens?
The purpose of topdressing is to dilute the layer of thatch below the surface of the turf. This improves drainage and increases the quality of the soil, allowing for better grass growth and improved smoothness and trueness of the surface.
What do golf courses do in the winter?
Some courses shift all winter play to temporary greens to protect their putting surfaces, while others use them only when the risk of damage is especially high. Temporary greens may not be popular, but using them can prevent serious issues.
What is green cover?
Green covers are made of a wide range of permeable materials, from geo-textile fabrics to woven and solid polypropylene sheets. Most covers are treated to block ultraviolet light and designed to be rot and mildew resistant. Green covers range in price from several hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars apiece.
Why do superintendents cover greens?
One of the main reasons superintendents in the Midwest cover greens is to prevent wind desiccation, Miner says. “The wind can really howl around here in the winter, and the farther west you go – out to Montana and that area – the drier the air gets. And that, plus the wind, can really cause damage to greens,” he says.
How long can a Poa Annua survive under ice?
Superintendents also have been taught the 60/90-day rule for many years. This rule states that Poa annua can survive under ice cover for as long as 60 days, while bentgrass can survive as long as 90 days.
How many rounds does Grand Bear Golf Club have?
In Saucier, Miss., Grand Bear Golf Club, a Jack Nicklaus-designed course, generates about 25,000 rounds annually. Superintendent Allan Sullivan strives to maintain the tees on a regular schedule, which includes mowing the tees four times a week at 0.45 of an inch and spot fertilizing biweekly.
What is the tee box in golf?
During a round of golf, a player has one spot on a course where he has some control of his next shot – that’s the tee box. Much like a billiard player who has the cue ball in hand, a golfer can decide where he wants to hit the next shot from within the limits of tee markers.
How many acres does a golf course have?
While a golf course might encompass more than 100 hundred acres of land, a superintendent knows every player is going to be playing on tee boxes.
What is the heart of a golf course?
Greens are considered the heart and soul of a golf course. While most club members and daily-fee players will overlook a few brown patches on fairways or tee boxes, they won’t turn a blind eye when it comes to the conditions of putting surfaces.
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.
What temperature should I use for turf?
The common recommendation from USGA and many turf experts is that if night temperatures are expected to be below 25 degrees or lower, turf covers should be deployed. But turf studies show that’s not necessarily the case, says Dr. Mike Richardson, professor in the department of horticulture at the University of Arkansas.
Does turf cover work well in a climatic zone?
If the timing is right, a turf cover can work incredibly well in climatic zones where winter desiccation is a problem, says Dr. Nick Christians, professor in the department of horticulture at Iowa State University.
What is a cover tech golf green?
Cover-Tech breathable golf green and turf covers are made of a UV treated woven polyethylene that is specially engineered for the growth of turf. The unique weave creates a greenhouse effect to warm the soil but allows the grass to breathe and the right amount of water to pass through. With this simple combination you get deeper root development, quicker growth and thicker turf.
What is the most important feature of a golf course?
The most important feature of any golf course is it's greens. You can drive and chip from almost anywhere but without a healthy green you most likely can not finish the game.
What is a cover tech?
Cover-Tech waterproof turf covers are designed for protecting crown of the grass from ice. These are primarily used on greens that do not allow water to drain off, causing severe ice build up. The cover will act as a barrier separating the damaging ice from the healthy turf grass.
Is green fabric good for turf?
Some manufacturers promote that their green colored fabric is best for turf growth. The problem with green colored fabric is that it produces green light under the cover. Studies show that green light can seriously harm plants. Plants grow best under white light which is the light that the sun gives off, when the sun shines on green fabric the light under the cover is green. Please read below for studies of light and plant growth.
Does covering a golf course reduce winter damage?
Studies show that covering a golf green or any turf will reduce winter damage. Damage golf course without turf or golf green cover. Damage golf course without using golf green or turf cover. Without a turf cover vs with a turf cover. Without a golf green cover vs with a golf green cover.
