Winter Update Feb 16

                     Water and ice on 2 green. 

I wish we were having an old fashion northern Michigan winter with plenty of snow cover but that certainly isn’t the case this year.  This current weather condition although mild, is not what we want out on the golf course with the melting then freezing and thawing and the repeating of this process.  The crown of the plant can get damaged during this cycle with exposed turf to the elements and the rapid drop in temperatures.  This happened back in 2003 and 2004.  The pictures above are from today on 2 and 16 green.  We need two more warm days to get this slush melted and off of the greens.  The south part of the course still has snow cover but there is water and ice under the snow.  Research at MSU and around the industry shows that more damage can occur when ice and snow is removed and those hardened off plants are exposed quickly and get damaged vs. a slow natural melt.  We have been here before and are in a holding pattern to let mother nature do what she does.

All winter systems are going with fixing/staining/painting course accessories, groom our cross-country trail when we do have snow. 

 

With the nighttime lows until March 2 being 19-29 degrees our golf opportunities don’t seem very likely to me, it satisfies a few but isn’t a good agronomic decision.   Historically with temporary pin locations on the approaches it’s human nature for players to still hit to the regular green and play from there, I see it every year.  Although some afternoons may seem mild, we really don’t want any traffic out there on the turf in February.  Sunday looks like 48 but then it drops back off again into the 30s.

 

I would consider opening the driving range to walkers that want to get outside and enjoy the 40+ degrees on Sunday.  They can play to any of the target greens and “play some golf” but until we get steady warm nights it’s just too early and the temps really fluctuate and we don’t want damage going into the season just for some February rounds.  Nights are still cold and the turf will freeze.  Cold nights, cloudy mornings with no sun makes the ground remain below freezing in February. 

 

Once it’ safe to play I will open the dry nine.

 

Water and ice on 16 green.