A Winter Conditions Update

We had 7 inches of snow on November 12th, but that is a distant memory now. The irrigation system was winterized the week of Thanksgiving and now the ground is frozen.

We are in full swing with our winter watering plan which consists of hand watering from mainline hydrants that are located below the frostline and plenty of tank watering.

This week, tanks are watering fairways providing moisture to the crown of the plant to keep it hydrated. Over the years it has worked really well.

I have had some questions concerning the sand topdressing on fairways with the combination of the dry weather and cart traffic. The sand can be abrasive and shear off some of the leaf blades. However, the sand protects the crown of the plants which is the most important part of the plant that spurs new growth in the spring.

Topdressing helps smooth the playing surface, dilutes thatch build up, fills in divots, improves drainage and assists with winter protection.

If after the New Year dry conditions persist we will look at monitoring cart traffic. In the mean time carts should alter their driving patterns to spread out traffic. The picture below was taken on Monday after a busy weekend of golf.