First Day of Spring Greens Conditions

Happy First Day of Spring

It sure doesn't quite feel like spring yet, but hopefully it will soon. There is still some snow cover and a good amount of frost in the ground on the course. Locate your good luck charm, whatever it may be. I'm knocking on wood. So far, the course survived the winter as expected. 

The playing surfaces are all in typical condition for coming out of winter. The turf is still dormant and looks exactly as it should. There is still the possibility of crown hydration (refer to our March 3rd blog post for more info).  Hang in there, warm weather is coming. 

We look forward to a great season celebrating our 50th anniversary.

9 tee covered in snow and very frozen ground.

9 green free of snow, frost and winter damage.

Greens Update

Not Quite Out of the Woods Yet

The Maintenance Team has been sampling various greens since late December in order to monitor their conditions. Lincoln White, our equipment mechanic, fabricated a tool we use to extract soil and turf from the green. After the sample is removed from the green, it is brought into the Maintenance Facility to warm-up and break dormancy. This process is how we will know what the turf's health will be come spring. Thankfully, all the samples that we have taken this winter have done well.

Turf samples collected from various
greens are marked and monitored.

We are not quite out of the woods yet. Crown hydration is still a concern to turf surfaces. Weather conditions dictate whether crown hydration occurs. In order for it to happen, temperatures warm for a few days and snow and ice start to melt. The plant breaks dormancy and starts to take in water. The major concern at this point becomes the nighttime lows or the "flash freeze". When this happens, the cells of the plant tissue rupture, causing the plant to die. To counter this issue, the Team remains very cognizant of the weather forecast and will adjust practices accordingly.

For more information about winter injury, view this site from the MSU Turf Team.http://www.turf.msu.edu/winterkill-of-turfgrass

The weather forecast for next week looks promising. We will continue to monitor turf conditions and make adjustments accordingly. Remember, only 15 days until spring!