how to manage golf course during winter

How Can Golf Courses Manage Winter Weather?

• Consider the Entire Course. The most concentrated traffic levels during routine play are the areas that suffer the most.
• Reducing Frost Impact. You may want to consider using any temporary greens areas as means to re-route the play, so...
• Managing Course Closure for Frost. Implement a thorough and clear policy to address each...

Full Answer

What is involved in winter golf course maintenance?

During the golfing season, golf course maintenance is geared entirely to daily play and special events, leaving little time to do more than make only minor course adjustments and improvements. The following list of activities and projects won't encompass all that can be performed during the winter months, nor is it supposed to do so.

How to play golf in the winter?

The ball will not travel as far during the winter, so don’t be afraid to swallow your pride and club up. If you try to hit the same shots you’d hit during the middle of the summer, you’re in for a long day. Winter golf is a different game, and you should treat it as such. 6. Tee it forward Don’t be afraid to move up a tee box (or two).

What are the best winter golf projects for your course?

Remulching landscape and flower beds is another great winter project. Covering Greens: For courses that annually suffer winter damage to their greens, covering them with straw, tarps, or synthetic covers, and heavy sand topdressings, just to name a few, can be essential to avoid turf loss.

How do golf courses get better?

Much like sports, the biggest gains in golf course improvements are achieved in the off-season. Necessary and/or desired course improvements oftentimes demand significant time, labor, and occasionally large equipment, all of which result in varying degrees of course disruption.

How do golf courses survive 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.

How do you keep up with golf in the winter?

10 Ways to Improve your Golf Game this WinterChip and putt at home. ... Hit the gym. ... Take some yoga classes. ... Read golf material. ... Play golf on a simulator. ... Work on your grip wherever possible. ... Practice in the mirror. ... Swing with weighted clubs.More items...

Can you play on golf courses in the winter?

Winter golf is still golf, which means it can be great. It just requires a bit of savvy and some thoughtful preparation. Here are 7 keys to playing through the cold and ice and snow. If you really want to feel the wind-chill factor, hop onto a golf cart and whip around the course.

How do they keep golf courses green in the winter?

An impermeable cover can be used by itself or with an insulating material to provide further protection from cold temperatures. Typically, impermeable covers are draped over putting green edges, or tucked beneath a layer of sod, to prevent water from flowing under the cover and onto the covered surface.

How cold is too cold to golf?

There's almost no lower limit. I'd say about 30 degrees. But that's on a mild day. If there's wind or rain that number creeps higher very fast.

Is it bad to hit golf clubs in the cold?

For starters, your hands will be cold enough without gripping a grip that feels like an ice cube. Leaving clubs in your car can also lead to damage. The grips can get cold and get slick or cracked if the temperatures get too extreme and steel shafts do not react well at all to the cold.

Why is winter golf so hard?

There's no denying that winter golf can be tough. As the temperature dips, some things are inevitable when playing golf: the course becomes damp, you will need to wear umpteen layers of clothing and your hands will feel like ice blocks.

Is it worth playing golf in the winter?

Little do they know, playing golf in winter can be most enjoyable. The clear winter mornings, quieter courses and fabulous deals can make it feel like you've hit the jackpot. What's more, if you want to improve your game, giving up completely during winter is not the way to go about it.

How do people play golf in winter?

To stay warm in winter golf a good idea is to ditch the golf cart and switch to walking the course. You'll stay warmer and looser than freezing in the cart between shots. Plus, most courses are cart path only so walking should save you time instead of driving to your ball. Walking will make it easier to find your ball.

How do golf courses keep weeds out?

Golf courses also adhere to a regular schedule of applying pre-emergent herbicides as well as weed killers and fertilizer. The key behind pre-emergent herbicides is weed prevention. Of course there are no “magic bullets” that keep all weeds out for the entire growing season.

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.

How do golf courses keep grass so short?

To keep the grass so short on greens, special mowers are used. Golf course mowers are reel mowers, not rotary like most lawn mowers used at home. The reel spins and cuts the grass like a tight scissor cut. The cut height is set by adjusting the difference between the front and rear rollers.

When do golf courses reopen?

To maximize the playing season for golfers, courses typically stay open until temperatures get too low or snow covers the greens. They reopen sometime in the spring, when all that snow and ice has melted and the ground has thawed. This requires a number of days with temperatures above freezing, and that can be hard to come by in the Midwest. Because winter weather can be unpredictable, courses must stay closely informed of approaching weather patterns in order to determine when it’s time to close for the season—and when they can safely reopen without risking damage to the grounds.

Why is it important to store golf carts in winter?

Winter weather can badly damage everything from golf carts to pins to maintenance equipment, so it’s essential for courses to store these materials away from the elements. Courses typically also use this time to update or replace older equipment, setting the stage for a better player experience in the springtime.

What to cover greens with in winter?

Courses that are exposed to severe weather each winter typically suffer damage to their greens. Depending on ground exposure, weather patterns, and other course damage, greens may need to be covered with materials like straw, sand, or even tarps to minimize turf loss. They’ll also likely need applications of fungicide to avoid the risk of snow mold diseases.

Can golf courses be in winter?

That doesn’t mean that groundskeepers will be out in the middle of a snowstorm, but the winter is long here in the Midwest, and the right conditions and an empty course can allow plenty of time to tackle projects or source new materials.

1. Take Care Of Your Turf

Turfgrass management is one of the most important focus areas for any golf course superintendent. Without well-maintained turf you really don’t have much to offer members. Can you remember a winter that didn’t negatively impact your turfgrass management? We didn’t think so.

2. Store Your Equipment Properly

Next on our list of winter golf course management tips is to store equipment properly. Your golf carts, clubs, and turf management equipment can’t survive unprotected throughout the winter. It’s a good idea to invest some economical winter protection for equipment. This includes greenhouses and other structures.

3. Organize Your Winter Projects

There’s no down time in golf, not even in the winter! After golf course management takes care of the greens and equipment, it’s time to take on winter projects. The best golf courses are constantly maintaining their grounds to ensure members have the best experience when they get back on the green.

1. Layer up

Don’t wear a bulky coat out to the course. Instead, insulate your body heat with a series of layers. A vest is one of my favorite layering pieces as it keeps my body warm without restricting my swing. Hoodies are perfect for this, too.

2. Hoof it

I walk about 90 percent of the time I play, but in the winter it’s critical. Walking is an easy way to keep you warm between shots, plus you get your steps in for the day.

3. Warm your hands

Feel is a crucial part of golf, and it all starts in your hands, so you’ve got to keep them warm in the winter. Pack a pair of mittens to wear between shots or slip some hand warmers in your pockets. Whatever your preference, just remember to keep the blood flowing through your extremities.

4. Pack a hat

Make sure to keep your head warm, too. Throw a knit cap in your bag and pull it out when the weather gets really bad. It’s about function over fashion during the winter.

5. Club up

The ball will not travel as far during the winter, so don’t be afraid to swallow your pride and club up. If you try to hit the same shots you’d hit during the middle of the summer, you’re in for a long day. Winter golf is a different game, and you should treat it as such.

6. Tee it forward

Don’t be afraid to move up a tee box (or two). Playing the same tee box that you would during the summer is only going to make things more difficult. If you want to make birdies during the winter, you’re going to need to play a shorter course.

7. Mix it up

Winter golf is a great opportunity to hone your shotmaking ability. The conditions will be tough, so your stock driving-range shots aren’t likely to be effective. Get creative with your shots as you battle the elements. Come spring, your game will be much more well-rounded.

What to do when it rains on golf?

Get yourself a good pair of wet weather and winter playing gloves. Keeping your hands dry and warm are crucial to enjoying your golf through the weekend. A wet weather glove is a must-buy and will help you keep things under control when it rains.

What to do if you don't have a waterproof golf bag?

A waterproof golf bag is simply a must-have item to keep all your belongings and clubs dry for the inevitable rain you’ll be playing in.

How many yards does a golf ball carry?

The rule of thumb is that for every ten degrees by which the temperature drops, a golf ball will carry two yards shorter. Clearly then, there’s a premium for keeping your golf balls as toasty as possible. One of the easiest ways of doing this is to keep it in your pocket from green to tee and whilst it has been marked.

What to wear when it's not raining?

When it’s not raining you don’t always want to be wearing your waterproof trousers and a pair of long johns will really help your legs stay warm as the chilly winds get up. 9. Keep your hands warm. When your hands are too cold, you lose feeling in them and golf becomes almost impossible.

What does a snood do in winter?

When those winter winds come in, a snood will keep your neck warm and will stop the cold air going down to your body. They’re also great for pulling over your face when the winds really get up.

What happens when your hands are too cold?

When your hands are too cold, you lose feeling in them and golf becomes almost impossible. Buy a pair of winter mitts and drop a couple of hand warmers in them to keep your hands toasty.

Do golf courses play longer in winter?

With cold air, frost-covered golf balls and wet ground, golf courses start to play a lot longer once the winter kicks in. Par 4s that in summer needed only a fair drive and a flicked wedge now have you pulling out a 3-wood for your second shot and coming up short.

Set Reasonable Expectations

Golfers want to see their scores steadily improve throughout their whole lives without any interruption. While that may be possible for people who live in warm weather year-round, it’s not the case for many others. The harsh winds, wet greens, and transformed terrain you see during the winter months will take a toll on your golf game.

Be Prepared

Perhaps the most important rule for what golfers should do during the winter is to make sure you enter the golf course with a bag full of cold-weather essentials. You don’t want to end up caught in the rain without an umbrella or other gear. If it starts getting windy, you’ll want more than a polo to keep you warm.

Use a Yellow Ball

Though professional golfers sometimes turn their noses up at yellow golf balls, they actually work just as well as regular ones. Compared to white balls, they’re easier to spot flying through an overcast sky. Additionally, they’re easier to find in a dewy rough. As a result, they help you play golf in the winter.

Practice Inside

At a certain point, when the ground becomes frozen with ice, it’s just not feasible to play a round of golf outside. But there are indoor alternatives. Golf simulators are great tools for discovering ways to improve your golf swing. There are also tons of golf devices to help you practice your putting.