Course conditions depend so much on the weather. When it rains for days on end, the course will play soft. When it hasn’t rained, generally the course dries down and firms up. But sometimes, golfers wonder why a course plays softer than expected when it hasn’t rained for days or weeks. It’s a reasonable question, and the answers can be complicated.

One explanation is that more irrigation must be applied to maintain grass health when it hasn’t been raining much. This is especially true for cool-season grasses like bentgrass, Poa annua and Kentucky bluegrass because they cannot tolerate a hot and dry stretch of weather as well as warm-season grasses like bermudagrass. Heavy irrigation cycles may be necessary overnight, followed by additional watering during the day, which will create a softer playing surface. Intensive watering is temporary during a drought, but it can definitely make fairways and greens more receptive.

Fairways in particular can be wetter than expected if a course has an older, inefficient irrigation system. Overwatering some spots to make sure water gets where it is needed is often an unfortunate reality with older systems that have coverage issues or limited sprinkler control. Low-lying areas or pockets in fairways also collect water when the irrigation system is being used regularly. Unfortunately, a golf ball is more likely to settle in a low spot than stay on a dry mound, which adds to the perception that fairways are playing softer than they should be.

Another reason is excessive organic matter – commonly known as “thatch” – sitting right below the playing surface. Thatch is a squishy layer of living and dead plant material, and even if the soil is dry from a lack of rain, excessive thatch will cause fairways and greens to play softer. This is especially true if heavy amounts of irrigation are being applied because thatch holds water like a sponge. That makes it hard for the superintendent to get water down to the roots and keeps the surface playing wetter and softer.

So, what can be done if a course seems to play soft no matter what the weather has been like? In some cases, irrigation upgrades or a new system may be needed to apply water more evenly. A course may also want to look into converting key playing areas to grasses that require less water and are more heat and drought tolerant. That can lead to firmer conditions during dry weather because less water needs to be applied. Traffic tolerance is also important because grasses that are less traffic tolerant will show signs of stress and injury first, causing superintendents to apply water to maintain health.

Improving tough growing environments can also help superintendents maintain consistently firmer conditions. Excessive shade, lack of air movement and tree root competition can negatively impact turf health. The tolerance for dry weather on already unhealthy grass is low. Superintendents may need to apply more water in these areas to compensate for a poor growing environment. Tree pruning or removal to increase sunlight and air movement will improve grass health and density, and help areas that collect water to dry out faster. If thatch is an issue, focusing on practices like aeration and topdressing will help water move through the soil and create firmer playing surfaces.

It is certainly reasonable to expect your golf course to play firm in dry weather. Dry turf always plays firmer and faster than wet turf. But it’s important to recognize that some grasses need more water than others, some irrigation systems are better than others, and some maintenance teams have more time and money to invest in the practices that promote firm conditions. So, the next time you are wondering why a course is not rock hard after several weeks of dry weather, check with the superintendent to learn more about the complex factors that are likely involved.