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Eric Strulowitz

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How will Southern Courses Survive this winter?
« on: December 28, 2010, 06:37:23 AM »
Last year, my club (Atlanta area) lost its greens. We had to replace all 18.  Despite protective measures, the cold weather took its toll.   Plus, plenty of winter kill in the fairways.  It was not until August, that we had a decent course again.  Many courses had a similar scenario.  These bermuda fairways and bermuda/champion bermuda greens, can they survive another cold winter, especially one that has begun so early?  How can clubs already in a financial bind continue to go through this cycle seemingly winter after winter now.   Really wonder about all this, seems that cold winters are now the norm here in the south, remember the days when we played all winter, with few interruptions, now winter play the last few years has been at a premium.

Anthony_Nysse

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: How will Southern Courses Survive this winter?
« Reply #1 on: December 28, 2010, 07:53:01 AM »
Eric,
  Time will tell on this. I know that a lot of Superintendents are much more cautious this season after the nightmare of last winter. There are a lot more tarps being used, the height of cut is higher, the use of black sand or milorganite to keep the surface warmer. The problem of winter kill on bermudagrass occurs when there are extended time periods where the temperature is below 25, and it’s gets very scary when they are consistently below 20.
  We are all watching weather reports like some people watch their stocks, even down here.
Anthony J. Nysse
Director of Golf Courses & Grounds
Apogee Club
Hobe Sound, FL

JC Jones

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: How will Southern Courses Survive this winter?
« Reply #2 on: December 28, 2010, 08:01:00 AM »
The good news is that 1) snow is an insulator so it helps to keep the ground warm and 2) it is supposed to be in the mid-60s here in Charlotte this weekend (so I assume it will be warmer further south) so we haven't had the consistent temps below 25.
I get it, you are mad at the world because you are an adult caddie and few people take you seriously.

Excellent spellers usually lack any vision or common sense.

I know plenty of courses that are in the red, and they are killing it.

BCrosby

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: How will Southern Courses Survive this winter?
« Reply #3 on: December 28, 2010, 09:20:21 AM »
We put tarps on our ultra dwarf greens on nights when it gets below about 28 degrees. So far, they are doing fine. East Lake and Atlanta AC are doing likewise. I've not heard of any problems there either.

Winter kill is a different issue. It is not about cold per se. It requires a confluence of factors, as I understand it from our super. It occurs most often when you have warm spells (the Bermuda starts to stir back to life) followed by a hard freeze. It is usually found in areas that don't get enough sun. For those reasons, we have taken out a large number of trees that were causing the shading problems. We need to take out a lot more. (I am open to volunteeers who want to make my presentatin to our membership. ;))

Bob 

Tiger_Bernhardt

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: How will Southern Courses Survive this winter?
« Reply #4 on: December 28, 2010, 11:34:02 AM »
Let us all hope last year is not the new normal. We in Louisiana (Oakbourne) have always covered greens when the temp is going below freezing.

Dan Herrmann

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: How will Southern Courses Survive this winter?
« Reply #5 on: December 28, 2010, 01:40:35 PM »
Do you guys have issues with wintertime desiccation?

BCrosby

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: How will Southern Courses Survive this winter?
« Reply #6 on: December 28, 2010, 01:57:56 PM »
Dan - Not in the SE where winter is usually our wettest season.  Unless I'm missing your point.

Bob

Brian Marion

Re: How will Southern Courses Survive this winter?
« Reply #7 on: December 28, 2010, 04:40:52 PM »
So far, this winter has been more moderate than 2009 in the upper regions of SC. At this same time last year, our course had been open just a handful of days. We are expecting good weather for a least a few days after this latest storm. So rounds are way up over the same period a year ago.

All courses here that have bermuda greens are tarping them, something many neglected last year. This should help the winter kill experienced.

Mike_Young

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: How will Southern Courses Survive this winter?
« Reply #8 on: December 28, 2010, 06:09:01 PM »
Do you guys have issues with wintertime desiccation?

with sand greens and wind it can become a problem....
"just standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona"

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