Before implementing professional turf management, you need to know what it actually is. Further, deciding whether winters are appropriate conditions to play golf, this article combines professional turfgrass management with cold conditions.
Why professional turfgrass management?
Professional turfgrass management is ideal for a golf course community just because it helps to keep the greens usable for 12 months. The community has expanded and most golf players are now demanding the game to be carried out all along the year. For the golf courses to meet the demands, they need to equally match the facilities for the winter season to maximize the quality of golf. The means which need to be molded are drainage, soil, the elevation of green according to the prevailing weather conditions.
A change was needed in the turf equipment for the adverse conditions. The winter season poses great challenges for golf course managers. Let’s dive into what it has on offer and how the golf course can be preserved.
The effect of winter and corresponding steps
Damp conditions
The first challenge is when the soil around the pin becomes compact. The fine particles of soil create the uppermost layer which results in soil-stained patches. The end result is weakening of the turfgrass. The first motive is to dry the turfgrass to minimize the wet weather conditions. An effective aeration system can minimize the adverse effects of wet conditions. The position of the holes must also be changed in order to avoid the concentration of foot traffic around the same point.
Challenges posed by freezing conditions
Freezing conditions pose various challenges to the greens as plants do not grow as well when exposed to these conditions. They easily get bruised by feet walking on them because those tissues do not recover as easily in chilly circumstances. So, the places more concentrated can easily get damaged due to severe frost. These regions remain vitiated for a while until the climate changes.
Another long term effect on the frozen region includes softening of the top layer while the subsequent lower part remaining frozen. Again, the damage is done due to the feet walking on a concentrated area. And the damage doesn’t recover until the season of competitions comes. The primary remedy is to keep changing the areas which are more concentrated.
Temporary greens will help
Even the most adequate greens can show its cards when a lot of water and frost come their way. The drainage system might suffer a breakdown and surface water retention will degrade after some slaps of rain. Temporary greens are the first answer to your issue. These temporary layers help you protect the main surface of the grass.
You might not have to close your golf course facility if you plan well in advance and implement temporary greens. Use quality Toro golf course equipment to mow the original grass to a reasonable size. These temporary greens can help when you want to carry out some major programs other than golf. Protect your greens as much as possible so that it can recover any damage as fast as possible.
Deciding the feasibility of play of main greens
The golf course manager must evaluate the climate prevailing and forecasted before holding any play on the turf. There must be a procedure to close the greens for play and allowing it again. The process should be crystal clear to the faculty managing the covers.
It can be dangerous to allow any golf to be played on overly wet or frozen conditions as the damage might not be recovered very easily. On the other hand, the golf course owner does every step to minimize the period of closure of the facility. There is a thin line between allowing golf and not doing so which requires some prior knowledge from the side of the golf course maintenance faculty.