Golf course maintenance in Alaska is not much different than anywhere else in the world. The golf courses in this part of the world struggle with the same types of challenges faced by their lower latitude peers. Much like golf courses in the lower 48, temperature extremes, disease pressure, wildlife concerns and labor challenges are all issues superintendents must face in “America’s Last Frontier.”
During recent course visits to Alaska, I asked superintendents what they thought was unique about caring for golf courses in this wild country. Every one of them said, “Long days in the summer.”
At 60 degrees north latitude, between late May and mid-July, it never gets dark. While cabin-fever-crazed golfers love this, it poses some unique challenges to the hearty souls caring for these golf courses. A superintendent in Fairbanks shared a story about a group of golfers that played golf for 36 hours straight…because they could. So, the question is, when do you mow, irrigate, work on projects, sleep?
Every course is unique in how they handle these questions but having time to work on projects and finding time for sleep are two things that are in short supply during a typical summer golf maintenance season in Alaska. Mowing, however, can happen at any time of day. Sunlight is abundant during the summer season, so turf growth is prolific. Typically, mowing before play means the maintenance staff is starting around 4 am each day. Mowing again in the afternoon could occur, but this is rare because courses are usually packed, and the maintenance staff has already worked 8 hours before 1 pm. Irrigating, if the course is lucky enough to have an irrigation system, forces superintendents to be creative to avoid watering late night golfers.
Like most golf courses in the country, finding quality labor remains one of the top obstacles to overcome every year. With a golf maintenance season sprint from mid-May thru the end of September, attracting motivated and skilled workers for such a short period of time each year is an ongoing concern.
One thing that became clear to me was that in spite of these hurdles, the men and women caring for golf courses in Alaska are there because they love it. Watching moose, bears and lynx roam their courses and the incredible natural beauty of the mountains and rivers are two of many reasons for their steadfastness. Kudos to these hard-working superintendents and staff for carrying the golf maintenance torch in the northern reaches of our country.
Golf over 60 is unique, wild and worth making a trip to our 49th state.
West Region Agronomists:
Brian Whitlark, agronomist – bwhitlark@usga.org
Cory Isom, agronomist – cisom@usga.org
Information on the USGA’s Course Consulting Service