This has been a very challenging winter trying to keep the grass alive. The problems began on December 4th when the temperatures started to spiral down until December 7 when we hit 0. These temperatures did not start to warm back up until December 12th this allowed the frost to go deep into the ground. Then on December 13th we got 2 inches of snow which then changed to rain by the 15th. </div>The picture to the right was taken on December 16th. You can see ice on the back of the green where we don't have the black material. We put black sand down on the back of the green and pumped as much of the water off the front as we could. Then on the 20th we got about 2 more inches of snow. The 23rd it all melted again and with the ground frozen the water had no place to go. The picture below it about 100 yards out looking toward 9 green. The water was about a foot deep on the cartpath next to 9 green. 
The upper 9 was still snow covered so we had to take out the sand pro to take the snow off. |
| removing snow off 12 green |
 |
| Slush on top of ice 13 green before removing the slush we had channels shoveled out that looked like rivers running |
Then we got snow again on the 9th and 10th of January and not wanting to buildup any additional ice we plowed the greens again on both of those days. The greens had thick ice we chose to take the large tractor on as the sandpro was unable to push the snow. The ice was thick enough to plow over the mat.
The 13th of January we started applying Black sand in areas we did not have the mat material as you can see the black mat did a nice job of melting much of the ice. By the 17th most of the ice was gone off the greens. .
What a roller coaster ride and I don't think old man winter is done with us yet.
Hey Tim! Ive been wondering why the golf course i live on in Utah removes the snow from the greens just like you stated in your blog. What's the reasoning? Seems to a novice like me that the snow would be a good barrior from the cold, which might keep the ground from freezing. Also, as far as i know when snow melts grass grows back naturally, at least in chicago and utah where i have lived. Am i bat- shit crazy or do u guys plow the greens fof something to do in the winter? :) Always wondered?
ReplyDeleteThe main reason is Anoxia, which is a condition where toxic gases build up under the impervious ice layer and can become toxic for some grases in as lilttle as 45 days...In years with no ice under the snow we dont remove it as it is a great protector. Once snow is removed we apply black sand to melt the ice..one year we even took an aerator on the greens to break up the ice.
ReplyDelete