Golf Course Update
As Superintendents in this region, we all wish for snow cover during the winter months. It provides a layer of insulation for the turf and helps protect it. However, March 15-April 15 is a crucial period of time to be monitoring snow conditions on the golf course. When temperatures start to rise and the snow begins to melt, the quicker the better. This will lead to the drying of the turf and less opportunity for freeze thaw cycles that could potentially weaken the turf.
Current conditions at Priddis Greens see areas of exposed turf on south facing slopes to 18 inches of snow cover in low lying, shaded areas. The Turf Care team will be watching the forecast in the coming weeks very closely as temperatures will dictate when we decide to start snow removal on the course. There is a fine balance needed as to the timing of removal. Ideal snow removal timing will begin as the long term forecast shows day and night time temperatures not dropping very far below zero. If we remove the snow to soon, the turf can be exposed to low temperatures and cause possible injury. If the snow is not removed, this can lead to the formation of ice and possible disease pressure.
When the Turf Care Sr. Management team deems the long range forecast favorable, snow removal will be our first priority. The sequence of snow removal will begin with areas that have little sunlight exposure and poor surface drainage because we want to prevent standing water and dry those areas out. Secondly, Turf Care staff will blow paths to all on course catch basins to encourage runoff to travel to these locations. Again, the goal is to prevent standing water and dry the turf out. Lastly, manual snow removal with shovels will begin on delicate areas of the golf course.
As Superintendents in this region, we all wish for snow cover during the winter months. It provides a layer of insulation for the turf and helps protect it. However, March 15-April 15 is a crucial period of time to be monitoring snow conditions on the golf course. When temperatures start to rise and the snow begins to melt, the quicker the better. This will lead to the drying of the turf and less opportunity for freeze thaw cycles that could potentially weaken the turf.
Current conditions at Priddis Greens see areas of exposed turf on south facing slopes to 18 inches of snow cover in low lying, shaded areas. The Turf Care team will be watching the forecast in the coming weeks very closely as temperatures will dictate when we decide to start snow removal on the course. There is a fine balance needed as to the timing of removal. Ideal snow removal timing will begin as the long term forecast shows day and night time temperatures not dropping very far below zero. If we remove the snow to soon, the turf can be exposed to low temperatures and cause possible injury. If the snow is not removed, this can lead to the formation of ice and possible disease pressure.
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| Section of 17 Raven Black/Silver Tee, March 13, 2013 |
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| 4 Raven Left Rough, March 12, 2013 |
When the Turf Care Sr. Management team deems the long range forecast favorable, snow removal will be our first priority. The sequence of snow removal will begin with areas that have little sunlight exposure and poor surface drainage because we want to prevent standing water and dry those areas out. Secondly, Turf Care staff will blow paths to all on course catch basins to encourage runoff to travel to these locations. Again, the goal is to prevent standing water and dry the turf out. Lastly, manual snow removal with shovels will begin on delicate areas of the golf course.
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