Blowing Snow

For the past few winters you have been hearing from the Grounds Staff on how dry our winters have been and the strain it puts on the grass. Then we finally get a month of snow cover and we are busy clearing greens. Why?

I have had a few members tell me that they have seen other nearby clubs doing the same. What's the deal?

We have had a few welcoming storms followed by a few days of warm weather. When the top layer of snow melts, the water settles down to the turf surface. This water quickly becomes ice. Grass does not survive under prolonged periods of ice. The ice suffocates the plant and can be lethal. Some reports are anywhere from 30-60 days of ice coverage.

We saw a few golf courses in the mountains experience turf loss last winter from such low snow and it turned to ice through the winter.

We have been checking greens periodically over the last couple of weeks and now it is time to clear the greens.

Before this last storm we were able to get around to most greens and get them clear. This week we were able to get to the remaining greens. The weather on Wednesday and Thursday are favorable for snow & ice melt before another round of snow heads to the Front Range.

We also have to be careful of collar dams. These dams around greens prevent greens from draining and can be a source for ice build up in the winter.