Understanding Frost

Not to my surprise, the "hot" topic around the Club lately has been frost delays.  As I suit up in my bulletproof vest and riot gear to deal with upset golfers on frosty mornings, I often wonder how some can be so ignorant to the facts that we continue to present them with.  Plain and simple: TRAFFIC ON FROSTY TURF KILLS.  This is not debatable; it's fact!

turf killed from traffic under frosty conditions

I am well aware that golfers here used to be permitted to play to temporary greens under frosty conditions, but this is no longer the case.  When I arrived here over 3 years ago, I was given a mandate by the Golf Committee as per the Board of Directors to do whatever necessary to raise the standards of the Club to the level expected for a private Club.  Simply playing to temporary greens doesn't mean damage to the turf is being avoided.  I tend to think of it as turning a blind eye to vandalizing your own golf course.  Frost does not discriminate against what turf it develops on nor does the ensuing damage from traffic on it.  Traffic on frosty turf will result in death whether it's a green, tee, fairway or rough.  Implementing a Frost Delay Policy to protect the entire course, not just the greens, was an integral component of ensuring that our everyday turf conditions meet the high expectations of our members and guests.  Here is an illustration that may help you understand the potential for damage from a single foursome of golfers:

footprints on a green from one foursome

First and foremost, I knew my biggest challenge here was going to be to change the "culture" of the club.  By that, I mean educating our members and staff as to what the consequences are of continuing to do things for the sake of "this is how we've always done it".  Many that know me know that hearing that sad excuse to accept mediocrity is one of my biggest pet peeves!  Just because "this is how we've always done it", doesn't make it right!  Now, I'm not saying that the way I do things is the only way, but I base my turf maintenance practices on what I know is best for our current turf conditions and I adjust accordingly when I see room for improvement or if we are not seeing the anticipated results.  Being in this industry for almost 20 years now has also afforded me the opportunity to develop a broad spectrum of resources from which I can draw from for advice when I run into a situation that I have yet to face.  Talking to other industry professionals to hear how they deal with certain situations often results in ideas that may help us improve upon what we are working towards accomplishing.  As I said earlier, I'm all ears when it comes to tweaking our ideas and methods.

With regards to frost, there is something very important that I don't think many golfers understand.  When we arrive at the course in the morning, it very well may be frost-free.  Quite often frost develops as the sun begins to rise and can continue to develop into a heavier frost even after sunrise as the temperature tends to drop a bit.  We do our best to update you with current course conditions as early and often as we can, but don't be surprised if the frost develops on the course while you are already on your way for your morning tee time.

Here are 3 general rules of thumb when it comes to predicting whether or not we will have frosty conditions:

• Frost typically occurs at temperatures of 4C or lower; it does not have to reach 0C as many believe.
• Clear skies increase the potential for frost; cloudy skies tend to "insulate" better, resulting in warmer air and surface temperatures.
• Wind also influences frost development.  Windy conditions can prevent cold air from settling in, again resulting in warmer air and surface temperatures.  That being said, if the wind temperature is below zero, it can be quite damaging to the turf.

There are other factors that determine whether or not frost will develop, but these 3 are the most accurate when it comes to predicting it.

I could go on and on explaining the damage caused from traffic on frosty turf, but I'll once again leave that to the USGA Green Section Record via this video:

As the video clip states, enjoy some breakfast and an extra cup of coffee knowing that you are doing what's best for YOUR golf course and YOUR investment!

P.S. - We are not alone when it comes to lower mainland golf courses with Frost Delay Policies so no, frost delays ARE NOT "Eastern Technology"!