Golf Course Opening Factors

Weather is the biggest indicator on when it's safe to open the golf course. Changes in soil temperatures and moisture levels are dictated by the weather.  Once the surfaces are clear of frost and snow, the turf can begin to grow out of dormancy.  Turf must be growing in order to allow player traffic, otherwise there is no opportunity for recovery from the normal wear and tear that occurs during normal play. The course needs time to warm up and start growing.

Patience is required this spring more than ever given the extreme conditions of this past winter.  To paraphrase the assessment of Dr. Trey Rogers of the MSU Turf Team, "the turf thinks it's really March 8th".  It is quite telling that the Golf Association of Michigan has declared that the "official" start to the golf season (for handicap posting purposes) has been delayed more than two weeks.