Superintendents may hate frost delays more than golfers. With numerous jobs to complete before play hits the course each morning. maintenance crews oftentimes find themselves playing the waiting game, just like golfers. Tasks such as mowing greens, raking bunkers or cutting cups are preferably started hours before the first tee time. Frost, however, can change all of that. For several reasons, such as safety and pace-of-play, it is not ideal to have maintenance crews and golfers on the same hole, and while golfers who have been waiting for long stretches of time at the pro-shop are eager to get on the course, delaying them a few minutes longer while maintenance crews get a head start is a benefit to all of those involved.
Golf course superintendents know the negative repercussions cart and foot traffic has on turfgrass during a frost, but communicating that information to members and golfers can be challenging. Superintendents have had some success posting flyers and bulletins in locker rooms and around the pro-shop about traffic on frosted turf, and in my experience making sure you are available to answer any questions during a frost delay and talking personally to golfers waiting has always gone a long way. I have also always made sure to let the pro-shop staff know a day or two ahead of time when frost delays are expected, this way they can communicate the information to members and customers beforehand. Educating staff is also important. The more crew members know about frost and the potential damage it can cause on turf if driven or walked on, may prevent turf injury from happening in the future. I've also seen many instances where the more crew members know about 'why' superintendents make certain decisions, the more they feel part of the team.
With many northern golf courses experiencing their first frost delays of the year this week, I wanted to share with the Great Lakes region a GCM Magazine article written a handful of years back, but still has valuable information on the subject.
The article, written by Ed Brotak Ph. D., a former atmospheric science professor at the University of North Carolina, Asheville, provides extensive information on why and how frost forms and offers some great talking points when you are discussing frost delays with golfers whose tee times may be affected in the morning.
Golf course superintendents know the negative repercussions cart and foot traffic has on turfgrass during a frost, but communicating that information to members and golfers can be challenging. Superintendents have had some success posting flyers and bulletins in locker rooms and around the pro-shop about traffic on frosted turf, and in my experience making sure you are available to answer any questions during a frost delay and talking personally to golfers waiting has always gone a long way. I have also always made sure to let the pro-shop staff know a day or two ahead of time when frost delays are expected, this way they can communicate the information to members and customers beforehand. Educating staff is also important. The more crew members know about frost and the potential damage it can cause on turf if driven or walked on, may prevent turf injury from happening in the future. I've also seen many instances where the more crew members know about 'why' superintendents make certain decisions, the more they feel part of the team.
With many northern golf courses experiencing their first frost delays of the year this week, I wanted to share with the Great Lakes region a GCM Magazine article written a handful of years back, but still has valuable information on the subject.
The article, written by Ed Brotak Ph. D., a former atmospheric science professor at the University of North Carolina, Asheville, provides extensive information on why and how frost forms and offers some great talking points when you are discussing frost delays with golfers whose tee times may be affected in the morning.
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