what is the process of getting the golf course back up and running after a major storm

When is the best time to start a golf course Master Plan?

The best time to start a golf course master plan program is about one year prior to the start of construction. That will provide sufficient time to obtain aerial and topographic mapping, gain member input, prepare the plan, receive feedback, make revisions, prepare construction drawings and put the work out to bid.

When is the best time to renovate a private golf course?

Most renovation construction work at private clubs is done in the late summer after the major tournaments have been held. The best time to start a golf course master plan program is about one year prior to the start of construction.

What is the process of building a golf course?

At a private club, it is typically the culmination of a series of exchanges of information between the membership, the governing board, a long-range planning committee or green committee, and the golf course architect. At a public facility, the process is usually less formal and is developed in response to the owner’s goals.

What happens to a golf course without aerification?

Part of making the best of the situation when playing a recently aerified golf course is recognizing that the process is essential to golf course health. And, as the GCSAA put it, without aerification, the putting greens die: "Preventative maintenance is an integral part of successful golf course management.

How do I get back into golf after a break?

Here are a couple of tips for getting back into golf from watching the best players in the world.Understand Pre-Shot Routine. ... Learn to Manage Emotions. ... 1) Perfect Your Grip. ... 2) Practice Addressing the Golf Ball. ... 3) Rehearse Two Important Swing Positions. ... The Basic Chip Shot. ... Stop Fearing the Sand. ... Sand Drill.More items...

What do you do if you are caught in a thunderstorm on a golf course?

If you are caught on the course and there is no shelter near, consider the following tips:Do not stand under tall trees or sit in a golf cart. ... You must get away from your cart and away from your golf clubs quickly.Stay away from water.If you are old-school and have metal spikes on, take them off.More items...•

How is a golf course maintained?

Mowing tees, approaches, and fairways—mowing is the name of the game when it comes to golf course maintenance! Like mowing putting greens, it's equally important that tees, approaches, and fairways are all trimmed regularly to keep your course presentable and well-manicured.

What does 3 horn blasts on a golf course mean?

Play will continue until the air horns are sounded indicating play is suspended: ONE PROLONGED NOTE, for an immediate suspension (imminent danger, such as lightning). THREE CONSECUTIVE NOTES, for a normal suspension (such as for darkness or when the course is unplayable). TWO SHORT NOTES, signal resumption of play.

How many golfers have died from lightning?

He died at the golf course. John Jensenius, a lightning safety specialist at the National Lightning Safety Council, said there have been 12 golf-related lightning fatalities in the U.S. since 2006.

Why do golf courses attract lightning?

And in a typical year, lightning kills more people than tornadoes or hurricanes. A golf course is an especially dangerous place during a thunderstorm because it has isolated, tall trees and wide-open spaces where golfers can be the tallest target.

How many employees does it take to maintain a golf course?

As a result, private facilities employ on average 10 full-time and 12 seasonal maintenance workers, while public courses have an average of six full-time and a dozen seasonal workers.

How do you maintain a fairway?

In general, fairways maintenance entails:Keeping a dense and contiguous cushion of turfgrass at a general height of between 0.38 and 0.5 inches.Mowing multiple times every week.Application of growth regulators to help suppress the growth rate of turfgrass and consequently reduce mowing frequency.

Why do golf courses have water?

No matter where they are located, most golf course designs incorporate water features. When used well, water features influence golf strategy, provide for irrigation reservoirs, drainage containment and flood detention areas, while providing aesthetic value.

What does it mean when a siren goes off on a golf course?

Many golf courses have lightning warning systems consisting of a detector and horns or sirens to warn golfers of approaching lightning. The detector – manufactured by Course Alert, ThorGuard and WxLine – is usually located on the pro shop roof and monitors cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning.

What does a siren mean on a golf course?

Hailstorms, sudden downpours, gales or whirlwinds can also be potentially dangerous. A system of sirens should allow the golf course personnel to warn everyone who is staying anywhere in the area as soon as possible.

Can you play golf in lightning?

Golfers know that the USGA Rules of Golf (Rule 5.7) allow players to discontinue play if they believe there is a danger from lightning. Golf and Frisbee Golf are the only sports with regulations relating to lightning.

Why is golf course soil compacted?

Compacted soil, created from foot traffic, weather and other factors, reduces oxygen levels in the soil and can inhibit water getting to turf roots. All of this compacting and organic matter can also make for a softer golf course because it's unable to drain water and push new turf to the surface.

How many times do golf courses aerate?

Many golf courses will aerate two or three times in a given year.

Why do you curse yourself for a golf course?

You curse to yourself because you know the golf course has aerated. However, golf course aeration is a good thing, and it helps to keep our golf courses in great shape, even when the weather turns against golf course superintendents. Aeration is designed to basically let golf course grass breath and stretch out a little bit.

What is a golf course aeration?

Aeration is designed to basically let golf course grass breath and stretch out a little bit. It's designed to control what's known as "organic matter," dying grass and grass parts, while loosening compacted soil and allowing water to flow better underground.

What does it mean when you show up to a golf course?

Showing up to a golf course only to discover that it has recently underdone an aerification process can be a jolt to the system. You were hoping the golf course, and especially its greens, would be in great shape. Instead you find it full of little holes or covered in sand or other topdressing. It's frustrating.

Why is a golf course aerated?

Aerification (also known as aeration) achieves three important objectives, the GCSAA explains: it provides a method to improve the soil mixture around the highest part of a green's roots; and it reduces or prevents the accumulation of excess thatch.

How to prevent thatch buildup?

Topdressing with sand can prevent thatch buildup, and aerification is one of the best ways to reduce an existing layer and prevent an excess of thatch from becoming established. "Other aerification techniques use machines with "tines"; or knives that simply poke holes through the soil profile.

Why fill aerification holes with sand?

Filling aerification holes with sand improves drainage and resists compaction. The periodic introduction of sand to a green's top layer can, over time, avoid or postpone expensive rebuilding or renovation of greens. "Finally, growing of turf adds to a layer of organic matter on the surface.

What is the process of aeration?

From the GCSAA's explanation of the aerification process (all excerpts appear here courtesy of the GCSAA): "Aerification is a mechanical process that creates more air space in the soil and promotes deeper rooting, thus helping the grass plants stay healthy.

When is aerification best done?

To add insult to injury, aerification is best done in many part of the country during mid-summer, at the height of the playing season and when most greens are in prime condition. But a golfer needs to understand how important aerification is to producing healthy turf.".

Do putting greens need roots?

When thinking about the quality of putting greens, you have to go below the surface, too. Deep, healthy roots are a necessity for healthy grass , something that is even more important when the grass is cut as low as it is on golf greens. The GCSAA explains: "Good roots demand oxygen.

How to play golf with a hip replacement?

On the backswing, lift the front heel off the ground and , on the downswing, lift the back heel off the ground. The key to a safe golf game: use bigger hip turns. The last thing you want is to put stress on the hip after a total hip replacement procedure.

How to swing a golf club from side to side?

Take it easy: Try a couple of swings on the practice green before driving for the pin. See how it feels and get used to the motion.

How to get back balance after hip replacement?

Studies show that doing 10-30 minutes a day of low impact exercise like walking will help strengthen the muscles around the replacement. This will help your balance, flexibility and mobility. Make sure you get an OK from your surgeon before golfing after a hip replacement. Get ready: Hold a golf club in both hands with the club extended straight in ...

Why is it important to swing your trunk?

As hip movements are triggered by the lower back, it is important to turn your trunk more to avoid stretching your hip muscles too much. Again, swinging “on the toes” will prove helpful—otherwise the stress of the trunk rotation will be transmitted to the hip.

Can you golf in winter with hip replacement?

If you are one of those golfers, The Kennedy Center in Oshkosh has some tips, so you can golf comfortably and feel confident that you won’t injure your new hip replacement.

Golf course overseeding: What you need to know

The maintenance staff sprays out chemicals to slow the growth of the Bermuda grass during the fall overseeding at Wigwam. Courtesy photo

Should golf courses overseed their turf?

The overseeding process has become somewhat controversial over the past decade or so.

The future of overseeding

Apart from tee boxes, the Grande Dunes Members Club in Myrtle Beach, S.C., opts not to overseed in the winter, instead opting to apply a grass-friendly paint to fairways and greens in order to provide visual definition. Tim Gavrich/GolfPass

How long does Kistler keep golfers off the fairways?

He doesn’t have to inconvenience golfers by keeping them off the fairways for seven to 10 days, like when the ryegrass was germinating, or when he watered the cool-season grass during the day.

Do golf clubs oversee their courses?

To provide colorful aesthetics, some clubs choose to overseed their courses. However, for some superintendents that annual chore is becoming smaller in scope, if not vanishing altogether.