The Northeast has been bombarded with severe weather lately. Many areas received snow and other parts of the region endured soaking rains and flooding while damaging winds affected most courses regardless of the type of precipitation. Current golf course conditions vary from soft surfaces with restricted play to damaged and closed.
Unfortunately, the forecast shows the potential for more debilitating weather, so be diligent in communicating to golfers during these challenging circumstances. Like any winter, rounds are lower and the turf isn’t growing so many facilities have reduced staff. With less staff, the arduous tasks of cleaning up an entire golf course, repairing bunker washouts, removing damaged trees and limbs, and many other post-storm duties will require days or even weeks to complete. Accessing a saturated golf course with heavy equipment may not be feasible for at least a few days after a big storm and areas with lingering wetness will require most cleanup to be done by hand. Utilizing boards or mats to protect the ground is a good way to get heavier equipment safely around the golf course to expedite cleanup.
Flooding can leave a silt, sand or debris layer atop the turf. This should be addressed sooner rather than later. A silt layer can seal off the profile and impede water infiltration, leading to long-term problems. Thickly covered areas that require front-end loaders, box blades and other equipment to clean may have to wait for the ground to become firmer to avoid causing even more damage. Irrigation systems are winterized, so using portable water tanks to wash lighter silt layers away is another proven tactic. After the surfaces are firm enough, brushes and metal drag mats can be used to further break up accumulated material to make surfaces playable again. If a silt layer is observed in the soil profile, plan for extra cultivation to break it up.
Additionally, test infrastructure components now to minimize surprises when spring arrives. Continue checking irrigation controllers and pump stations for damage after winter storms, as well as drainage systems for adequate operation. If any in-progress projects were compromised by storm damage, it may be prudent to evaluate the situation and, if necessary, start over on the project to ensure long-term success. If you’ve been affected by recent storms, please reach out to your regional USGA agronomist to assist in recovery and help make the best decisions for the golf course.
Northeast Region Agronomists:
Darin Bevard, senior director, Championship Agronomy – dbevard@usga.org
Elliott L. Dowling, regional director, East Region – edowling@usga.org
Brian Gietka, agronomist – bgietka@usga.org