Winter Course Update

Message from Simon Barker (Assistant Head Groundsman)

The wet weather has arrived, causing us a few challenges. However, we’re managing the course slightly differently this year to minimize disruption and protect the turf.

For the foreseeable future, we won’t be cutting the fairways to avoid excessive mess caused by worm casts. Tees and surrounds are now being cut using a hand mower, while the rough and semi-rough will continue to be maintained with the ride-on mowers if ground conditions allow.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll begin slitting the greens and tees to improve drainage and help the roots breathe. A preventative fungicide will also be applied to reduce the risk of disease, along with a granular fertilizer to strengthen the grass plants during this period.

We’ll also be lowering the height of the rough mower through the winter months. This will make the rough more playable in wet conditions and ensure it remains at a manageable height if the course becomes particularly soft.

New 150- and 100-yard markers have been installed. These will be fitted in plastic collars to make them easier to move for both maintenance and playability purposes.

As winter approaches, and cold, dark mornings close-in, the inevitable threat of frost delays returns to golf courses. This remains one of the most contentious issues for any golf course manager, who is in constant discussions with the greens committee and members to deliver longevity of playing surfaces whilst tackling the unavoidable curveballs that nature throws our way.

Decisions taken in response to these curveballs will always consider commercial factors, but we must be under no illusion about the effect that foot and vehicular traffic has on turf health during periods of frost.

Below is a report that has been posted on the STRI website from Michael Boyes who is a Senior Consultant Agronomist - Sustainability & Environmental Management.

What is frost?

In simple terms, frost is frozen dew in which ice crystals have developed on the outside of the plant. 75-80% of a blade of grass is water, leaving the inside of the plant susceptible to freezing. Turf, which is normally quite resilient to traffic, becomes brittle and vulnerable to damage as the frozen plant cells rupture and are unable to repair themselves. Although the visual signs of damage are often not immediately obvious, they can appear in the following days and take months to repair.

Cold, clear nights result in a loss of surface heat, meaning that the turf can freeze even with an air temperature above zero. This is known as radiation frost and can result in leaves freezing even when the soil doesn’t. This frost will lift relatively quickly.

Why do we need to protect the greens?

While frost can appear on every square foot of the golf course, closely mown areas are the most susceptible to damage. This is because there is less leaf area to resist the impact on the turf on a surface which suffers the most concentrated levels of traffic during routine play. A typical foursome takes 300 steps or more on each green, each of which can cause damage to the plant under frosty conditions and damage to the soil structure as it thaws. Prolonged periods of heavy frost can lead to significant damage if frozen grounds prevent the repositioning of the hole cup, with prolonged intensive play leading to a doughnut of wear around the hole.

Protecting the grass sward from damage is of upmost importance in greens with fine grass species such as Fescue and bentgrasses. These are less tolerant to physical disturbance than others, with the weakening of sward potentially opening up gaps for poorer species to invade such as annual meadow-grass.

Who decides when the course is shut for frost and more importantly re-open for play?

The Greenkeepers are appointed turf experts and have the expertise to fully appreciate the micro-climates which exist across the site. Most importantly, they can apply their expertise to the course and conditions, for instance that the north-facing slopes and low-lying, sheltered and shaded areas will continue to be impacted by frost, long after other areas may have thawed significantly.

How do we reduce the impact of frost?

It is worthwhile considering the development of temporary greens (located sufficiently away from the actual greens) and the possible re-routing of play to avoid those putting surfaces which traditionally remain frozen for the longest. This could permit the re-opening of the course before the frost has dissipated across the site completely.

Temporary greens were a commonly used method of protection in decades past, but warmer winters and an expectation of year-round play has seen reductions in the widespread use of temporary greens. Club committees are under increasing pressure to keep greens open.

It is also important to undertake appropriate thinning and removal of woodland around key playing areas (i.e., greens and tees) to improve the general growing environment with increased light penetration and air circulation. Persistent shade increases the influence of frost by preventing sunlight from melting the ice crystals, which is particularly problematic if affects those holes which are earlier in the round.

Winter greens are now being cut, and we ask that you treat these areas as GUR (Ground Under Repair). Winter tee mats will be placed on the 2nd, 4th, and 7th tees to protect the main teeing areas.

I’d like to thank Wai and Carl for their hard work over the past few weeks. With Jordan and myself busy preparing the racecourse for the upcoming fixtures, their efforts have been invaluable. A special mention to Jordan, who has done a tremendous job on the Grand National fences.

If you have any questions, please contact Nick or myself.

Thanks

Simon

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