Brief warm spells have golfers eager to tee it up for their first round of the 2023 season. A desire to get out and enjoy unseasonably warm temperatures is understandable, but it’s also important for golfers to have realistic expectations when playing winter golf.
Let’s get the most important talking point out of the way first. The putting green conditions in late winter will not match those experienced in the summer. The greens will be more receptive, bumpy, and speeds will be on the slower side. Given that the turf is still dormant, aggressive maintenance practices cannot be performed without the risk of damage. A balance must be struck between trying to smooth the putting green surfaces for offseason play and the risk of causing turf injury in the process.
When temperatures are dropping below freezing at night and get warm during the day, the challenge of determining which practices can be performed on the putting greens is compounded by the risk of root shear. If the top inch or so of the putting green profile thaws while the ground below stays frozen, the surface can act like a throw rug on a hardwood floor if pressure is applied by footsteps or machinery. If the surface slides while the frozen soil below stays firm, there could be root damage that has a negative impact on turf health for months to come.
Expect that the condition of other playing surfaces on the course also won’t match the conditions you experienced during your last round in the fall. Maintenance teams are not fully staffed yet and it takes time to work through the priority list of tasks that must be completed to get the course ready each spring. Bunkers may not be raked and debris that was dislodged over the winter will likely be scattered throughout the course. There may even be winter projects like drainage and tree removal still taking place.
If you are fortunate enough to get a tee time when favorable temperatures are in the forecast, enjoy the time outside but also manage your expectations. If putting greens are in play, be sure to walk carefully and keep foot traffic to a minimum to reduce the stress placed on the turf. Additionally, choosing to walk rather than using a cart will reduce wear and tear on the still-dormant turf.
Central Region Agronomists:
Zach Nicoludis, senior consulting agronomist – znicoludis@usga.org
Paul Jacobs, agronomist – pjacobs@usga.org