Winter's End?

 A few of you have started to inquire on the start of the 2016 golf season at Elcona, and while it is still hard to predict an exact date, it is right around the corner.  But what signs do we look for in deciding whether to open or not?  

7 fairway.  Open sun leads to no frost.

6 fairway, a more shaded area.  Frost still present!

The main sign I look at is the amount of frost in the ground. Year to year, the level of frost in the ground varies, as you would expect.  The last two winters had a very deep layer with the extreme cold we dealt with.  This year, while much milder, we still had many areas of ground freeze, especially shaded areas.

The pictures to the left show the variability in frost layer as I walked the course last weekend.  The fairway on hole #7 is exposed to sun most of the day.  My soil probe went all the way to the ground, a good sign that any surface water left on the turf will drain down due to the lack of frozen ground.

The left side of 6 fairway is one area I keep good eye on in early spring due to its higher amount of shade.  The probe one went down a couple of inches, indicating frozen ground below. There was a fair amount of water in the surface, because until that frozen ground thaws completely, the water from melted snow and ice is trapped near the surface. In this situation, any traffic, whether foot or wheeled, will cause a rut.

Excess machine and foot traffic on frozen ground can also lead to root shearing on turf plants, which leads to poor turf quality and a longer window for the turf to green up. The soils also need to completely dry and firm up.  Wet soils lead to damage from machine traffic and compaction.  Playing surfaces also need a period of time to allow proper drainage so we can begin to work them into the firm surfaces you are accustomed to.

Spring is near, and with that golf is near too.  We will keep you abreast on the latest course conditions, and open as soon as the conditions allow.  If you have any questions, please email me at ryan@elconacc.com.  Have a great week!

Ryan

The season is in sight.....

Turf sighting on 7 green!

With the bright sunshine and warmer temperatures we have experienced in the last week, the beginning sights of turf and the rapid melting of snow has brought the beginning to the golf season much closer.  Over the last few days, much of the snow cover has shrunk in depth.  Many of you ask each year when the golf course will be available for play, and I thought I would discuss the two main variables that go into answering that question.

 

1. The ground must be completely thawed out.  This is for two reasons.  One, there is no path for melting snow to drain down if the ground is frozen.  The water either stands on the surface (or percolates down really slow) or runs off of slopes to any low area.  Two, excess machine and foot traffic on frozen ground can lead to root shearing on turf plants, which leads to poor turf quality and a longer window for the turf to green up. 
2. The soils are mostly to completely dry and firmed up.  This is self explanatory.  Wet soils lead to damage from machine traffic and compaction.  Playing surfaces also need a period of time to allow proper drainage so we can begin to work them into the firm surfaces you are accustomed to. 

16 day forecast as of 3/11/15

With the above forecast (as of 3/11/15), the entire snow pack should be gone by the middle of next week.  The frost layer is not as deep as last year (9-18", compared to 36" last year), which is good!  The typical roller coaster forecasts we are accustomed to in Michiana will give ample opportunity for the soil to open up and defrost, but there will also be days where progress will be slower. 

It seems like the opening will be similar to last year, but as all of you are aware, that can change quickly!  I will give ample updates via this blog.  Rest assured the season is very close! 

Ryan

Winter Update and Course Opening

It's getting closer, but the snowfall this week is making it difficult to know when winter will end.  To date, we have had a very successful winter. Our normal tree removal has been completed, stumps have been ground and cleaned up, and all of our equipment has been serviced in anticipation of the coming season.

Tree removal between #9 green and #10 tee

Stump grinding on #15

The golf course remains healthy with the exception of a few small areas of disease on a couple of tees that are historically problematic.  The picture below was taken on #5 Blue tee and shows some active pink snow mold. The fact that we do have some minor disease is not a surprise given the several freeze/thaw cycles we have seen this year. it is not a cause for concern at this point, but we will pay close attention to it once the snow melts.

Active snow mold on #5 Blue tee

One project that was completed late last fall was the renovation of the Blue and Black tees on #7.  Because of the proximity of these two tees and the excessive wear and tear that the Blue tee receives, we joined the two tees together to generate additional tee space. This will hopefully lead to better turf quality and a better looking tee.  I am thrilled with the outcome and hope that you will be as well. 

New and improved Blue/Black tee on #7

Regarding the opening of the golf course for the year, it will not open until the frost layer is permanently out of the ground.  The current depth of the frost layer is only about 4-6".  The reason we wait to open the course is because damage could occur from excessive foot and cart traffic that would prolong the recovery of the turf in the spring from the harsh winter months.  Picture a container with a water-soaked sponge in it that completely fills the container.  If you press your fingers into the sponge, there is no place for the water to go except to the surface where you are pressing your finger.  In this analogy, the sponge is the water soaked soil, the container is the frost layer that prevents water from draining and your finger is a golf cart or excessive foot traffic.  Hopefully this gives you an idea of the displacement that can sheer fragile roots, unsightly rutting and poor surface conditions.  This is a common practice that has been employed by the club and my department for a number of years. 

Just because the course remains closed, you can still utilize the club.  Beginning March 7th, the club re-opens for activity on Thrurdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the month of March so come out and enjoy a great meal, hike/ski the trails or get some practice at the indoor hitting area.  Have a great remainder of the winter and stay tuned. Those of you that have subscribed to the blog by entering your email address at the top of the page on the right side will be the first to find out when the course will re-open.  See you soon!