Temporary Greens - thing of the past?

[ManinBlack]

I haven't been to the club this week but walked the dogs beside the course this morning, quite early. There was a fairly heavy frost but, in spite of this, the temporary greens weren't on, in fact I haven't seen them on this winter yet. I'm wondering if this is an experiment and will enquire when I go up on Friday. I vaguely recall a club doing away with temporary greens one winter a few years ago and I'm sure they concluded that it did the greens no harm at all. I'd like to think so because we all detest playing on temporary greens. Being a very dry course we attract lots of visitors in the winter and I'm sure the lack of temporary greens will pull more much needed green fees in. Does anyone have any information on this subject?

 

[Region3]

We don't use temporary greens and I think our greens are good all year round.

I have no evidence whether or not it does any harm, but we've had the STRI visit over the last couple of years and if they'd recommended it I'd have thought we'd have followed their advice.

 

[CMAC]

I haven't been to the club this week but walked the dogs beside the course this morning, quite early. There was a fairly heavy frost but, in spite of this, the temporary greens weren't on, in fact I haven't seen them on this winter yet. I'm wondering if this is an experiment and will enquire when I go up on Friday. I vaguely recall a club doing away with temporary greens one winter a few years ago and I'm sure they concluded that it did the greens no harm at all. I'd like to think so because we all detest playing on temporary greens. Being a very dry course we attract lots of visitors in the winter and I'm sure the lack of temporary greens will pull more much needed green fees in. Does anyone have any information on this subject?

my last club has 3 championship courses, never ever used temp greens and have beautiful carpets each season. The caveat being the course is closed if frost as thats the weather that can do long term green damage.

 

[ManinBlack]

my last club has 3 championship courses, never ever used temp greens and have beautiful carpets each season. The caveat being the course is closed if frost as thats the weather that can do long term green damage.

But does it? Where's the evidence?

 

[ManinBlack]

Just found this

http://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk/showthread.php?34782-So-does-frost-damage-greens

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I played two weeks ago and all 18 greens were temporary and pretty awful. I was worried this was going to be for the rest of winter but was relieved to be told afterwards that it was only due to frost. We have a couple of softer greens, trees around prevent the sun getting on them, and they go temporary all winter to protect them. That is fair enough. The others are only temporary when the frost is out. If there is a reason that seems fair enough.

 

[Rooter]

My club uses temp green when there is a heavy frost. I have no problem with it at all, as come March/April, the greens will be fantastic and are regarded as the best in our area. (apart from one, which they rebuilt a few years back using a new technique and it failed miserably and is awful!)

 

[bluewolf]

One of the reasons I left my last club was due to their insistence on going to temp greens as soon as winter hit. It didn't even have to be frosty!! I would probably have stayed if they were on full greens all year.. Will keep an eye on this and see how it develops.. :thup:

 

[louise_a]

We have temps if there is a frost or greens are very wet.

 

[Green Bay Hacker]

Played at a course a couple of weeks ago, where one of our group is just about to join, and before the round the captain had said that they never have temporary greens. There was a heavy frost the night before and the front 9 is pretty sheltered so the low sun did not get chance to warm the greens up. Four of the greens were frozen solid but there were still no temps so it looks as though their green keeper does not have a problem with it.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

No temps at Blackmoor and always in great nick during the summer

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We have temps in frosty conditions (I tend not to bother) and they do seem to be putting them on more regularly. Not convinced it's always necessary but the greenkeeper is more qualified than I am and so long as they putt well come the season then I'll bow to his judgement

 

[richart]

No temps at Blackmoor and always in great nick during the summer

We used to up until last winter. Slightest frost and we were on temps. Seems to now be a change in thinking, and the greens have been just as good in the spring and through the summer. Does make winter golf more pleasurable.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

No temps at Blackmoor and always in great nick during the summer

How do you know? You've only been there 5 minutes :ears:

 

[dotty001]

Temp greens are terrible target golf should be introduced in winter

 

[Evesdad]

We don't use the temp greens anymore, open throughout and in frost. Think it's been three years now. They were the best ever this year.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

We have 4 or 5 greens that have yet to be re-laid to the USGA standard with a sand base, and as such these get very wet and soft during spells of wet weather. These will be the first ones to go to temps. The other 13 or 14 holes go to temps during very frosty weather.

It hasn't been too bad this year, our 17th is the only one that's been on a winter green with any regularity.

 

[woody69]

I'm don't understand why playing on a green that is frozen is likely to cause damage to the green.

 

[Rooter]

I'm don't understand why playing on a green that is frozen is likely to cause damage to the green.

In my head, its not where its frozen, its when it is thawing you would see the most damage. As most people have said and seen, playing in frost you get icy build up in soft spikes, these breaking the thawing green "ice" i would see as why temps are used?... That is all speculative theory from someone that cant even keep his postage stamp lawn looking half decent!

 

[hors limite]

It was announced that to protect the greens during the rest of the winter that the holes would be cut at the front of the greens to reduce traffic - no problem. On five holes the numpties had cut the holes 2 feet from the front edge on a slope so that it's just like blooming crazy golf. First hole - on the green in two then SIX puts. The slope was so steep that the ball ran back off the green and another four or five feet onto the fairway - give me strength.