Weather Update

The Frost is Delayed

Is it November? You wouldn't think so with the warm days we've had.  It's looking like winter is coming late this year. I hope everyone is taking advantage of this beautiful weather and enjoying the golf course.  With temperatures in the 80's, who wouldn't want to golf this time of year?  We've had a few cold days, and it feels like spring again, but the night temperatures are starting to fall. The Weather Channel is calling for low temperatures in the 30's by this weekend, and you know what that means. The frost is on it's way.

We've had a few cold nights and a touch of frost the past few weeks, but nothing heavy.  You will notice the warm season bermudagrass is starting to off color and shut down for the winter.  The cool season grasses have slowed down a bit, but tend to hold color later into the winter than warm season grasses. The plant is starting to shut down for the winter, and is storing nutrients in the root system for next spring.  The grass is susceptable to damage this time of year, mainly from the frost.  It's not the frost that hurts the plant, but golf cart and human traffic, driving or walking on the grass, which causes the damage.

Frost delays, why are they necessary? Frost poses the most serious threat to turf health and appearance during winter months. Unfortunately, there is really only one way to avoid frost damage, and that is to avoid all traffic from golfers to golf carts to maintenance equipment until the frost has melted. When weight is applied to frosted turf in the form of foot and vehicular traffic, damage will result.  This is because frost transforms turf from a soft, springy surface to a fragile, brittle surface that cracks when pressure is applied causing the cells of the plant to rupture.  Traffic on frosty turf results in damage that appears 2-3 days later.  Turf is slow to recover, leaving unsightly brown areas for weeks or even months.

We ask for your continued support and patience during frost delays because it is only for the protection of the golf course.  We may ask that you keep your golf cart on the cart paths until you reach a particular hole or time. We've begun 9:00 AM weekend shotguns to avoid delays.  The frost is mostly melted by that time and safe for golfers to play.  We do have the occasional day where the frost hangs on until 9:30 - 10:00 and may have to delay your start, but know we always try to get the golfers out as quickly as possible.

Here are a few examples of frost damage I pulled off the web.  This is not our golf course.

Frost Damage

Frost Damage

Frozen Footprints