MARCH
14, 2016
By Adam Moeller,
agronomist, Northeast Region
The early spring weather is being welcomed
by golfers who are taking advantage of the courses that have opened early
throughout the Northeast Region. The early start to the season has allowed many
superintendents to complete post-winter course cleanup ahead of schedule.
However, most facilities are not fully staffed, so getting course conditions to
a level that meets peak-season expectations will be very challenging. The
season is roughly three weeks ahead of schedule and, as a result, many
superintendents are a few weeks away from having their full seasonal staffs.
Remember, bringing staff back earlier than anticipated will have significant
budgetary impacts.
Even with ample staff, opening putting
greens to early spring play is a tough decision. A significant amount of play
on putting greens that are not actively growing, or not growing fast enough to
recover from wear, may lead to thin turf and bumpy surfaces. Do not hesitate to
keep putting greens closed if they are not growing enough to handle traffic.
Several golf course maintenance practices
may need to be examined and adjusted because of the early start to the season. Poa
Annua seed-head suppression
and weed/pest-control programs may need to be initiated earlier than
anticipated if the warm spring weather persists. This may result in a more
applications than originally budgeted.
The early start to the golf season may
stimulate revenue but it is crucial to acknowledge that staffing and/or
potential budget restrictions might limit course conditions at your facility.
Golfers should enjoy the early season but must be patient with course
conditions. Remember, it is only March.