If you have a question regarding the golf course, chances are you aren't the first to ask it! Below is a compilation of the most common questions we are asked.

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Q: How often are greens mowed and at what height?

A: While inclement weather can impact mowing schedules, typically greens will be mowed every day. Heights of cut are determined based on several factors including, but not limited to, weather conditions, turf stress, time of year, and green speed expectations.

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Q: Why do ball marks take so long to heal in the winter?

A: A few things contribute to slow recovery of ball marks in the winter. Covered in the Course Care section is the importance of fixing your ball mark. An unrepaired ball mark takes much longer to heal than one that is. Because the amount of play increases in the winter, so do the amount of ball marks. In addition, low temperatures and short days slow down the growth of the plant. Consequently, the time one may take to heal in the winter is much greater than the same mark in the summer.

 

Q: Why do we irrigate the bunkers?

A: Because there are no right angles on a golf course it is impossible for a bunker to get zero over-spray. In order to irrigate green surrounds and bunker faces, the bunker itself will also receive water. Over time, bunkers become more susceptible to being wet. As the sand ages, it breaks down, which doesn’t allow the bunker to drain as it once did. Therefore, replacing bunker sand every 5 years +/- is highly recommended.  

 

Q: My smartphone says its 40 degrees, why do we have frost?

A: First I would like to say, we, as agronomists, do not control the weather, nor do we have close relationships with the weatherman. We are given the same weather information as you are, yet through experience, we can often make relatively accurate frost predictions. Although our smart phones provide us with a lot of valuable weather information, we cannot solely rely on the information it offers us when making the decision on frost. The only way to confirm or deny to presence of frost is by physical examination. While the ambient temperature at the clubhouse may be 40 degrees, the temperature on the golf course will be much less. Like the concrete jungle effect, the further away from buildings, the cooler it gets. In addition, heat rises, which forces cool air down. Therefore, while the thermostat reading at the clubhouse may say 40 degrees, if you took a reading inches above the grass on the course the temperature will be dramatically lower.

 

Q: There is a rattlesnake on the 7th tee box, can someone from your staff come get it?

A: While I, Maddie, have undying fascination and love for snakes, we as a department are not trained in venomous reptile intervention. In addition, I hate to break it to you, but for every rattlesnake you see, there are dozens more you cannot. Simply removing one rattlesnake from the tee box, doesn't remove the threat of snakes on the property. Rattlesnakes, living in the lower half of the food chain, are quite vulnerable out in the open. So, when you see them out in a fairway, they rarely will stay for long. If the removal of a rattlesnake is necessary, the fire department will be happy to come out and relocate him for you.