What is the answer to frosty greens?

[Cernunnos]

I've heard about some courses having greens heated from underneath. If there are a lot of members then any additional cost will be minimised.

Though to be honest unless the course is a well draining one or coastal track I'd say staying away till february is probably the best thing most of us can do.

I've played in fronst & or snow before & I'm really in two minds about the whole thing. Playing on frozen greens is not smart or cleaver. If you have to play in frozen conditions, add two shots unless within tap in distance (then add one) the pick up walk to next tee point, or winter tee.

As for snow & this is why I'm really in two minds. The irony is that snow actually is quite a good insulator & can actually prevent the ground getting frozen if it isn't already. Nothing stopping the ground staff pushing the snow off the designated putting surface if the ambiant temp it above freezing & then perhaps some sort of cushoned matting might be a good idea & could actually be left on so players can see where their ball has landed & then pick up & move on.

So then in February & March when the weather starts to improve we can all be playing on decent greens again instead of pock marked ones.

Obviously when the temperature is below a certain level grass doesnt try to grow so matts wouldn't at that point be a problem, but as soon as the soil tempis above this critical level matts would actually start to hurt greens & would cease to be a good idea.

Hence why underground heating on some courses is used.

 

[Cernunnos]

get a CV workout,

I really must do a new Curriculum Vitae

 

[DCB]

The frost when it does come cann also help by eradicating spores from various fungi which are dormant during the colder months. We need cold weather and frost now an d again to help us out.

Simple answer is that when the "young golers" have been playing a few more years they will realise that winter is a time to take a chance when it is there, but not to get too down when its not too good. Wait till late March when the season starts again, thats when the real golf gets going on many an inland track. Links are different due to their location, but on the odd occassion they are frosted or snowed over, they too need their rest.

Ever wondered why Kingsbarns and Loch Lomond close down for the winter ?

 

[Macster]

Frosty greens........dont play.....simple as.

Nice winter day, ......course playable.....play.

:-/

 

[madandra]

I would ban GORE TEX clothing and footwear and base layer clothing too. Making waterproof gear illegal would keep most guys and gals off the course. This would mean going back to the old days when you had to wear 3 jumpers and a fleece jacket to venture out in cold weather and in doing so meant you couldnt swing a club due to the extra bulk.


So ban new technology in clothing and watch them flee from the greens in their droves.

 

[viscount17]

back in the day, if you didn't like someone you slighted his castle. if you really didn't like him, and weren't planning to stay, you also salted his land. salt and grass (other than that by the coast) don't get on.

April to October is too short a season for me' and being a working stiff, running off to the warmer climes isn't an option. (which also answers ' what do cricketers do in their off season'; footballers play golf)

change the putting surface - use the desert option of playing on 'browns'?

 

[Cernunnos]

Around here courses are playeble from normally second week february till well into November & occasionally December.

See no point waiting till April when some of this countries best weather can actually be in March. I knew one year when the warmest weather all year was in Mid February & I was lucky enough to be on holiday in Staithes Yorkshire. I was walking around in shorts & my walking boots for a fourtnight.

That said I've also known it snow for my Birthday in May.

 

[EchtLoon]

Too many people playing in winter will just ruin courses for the correct golf season - April to October.
Can people not find something else to do in the winter?
Hacking divots off fairways in winter when the grass isn't growing and making indentations with balls and feet and trolley wheels on frosty courses is all wrong.

Instead of wasting your time playing on frozen courses where you can't move properly for layers and cold you could just do some gym work or hit the range if you're that desperate to hit balls. Better still get out and walk up some hills with the dog, get a CV workout, spend some time with the family even?

I reckon a wee layoff in the winter will do the body good, get rid of any niggles and leave you enthused for the new season.

Covering greens is not the answer, the mat will stick in frosty weather and pull up the grass when you try to remove it.

Undersoil heating is what you need but what golf clubs are going to do that just to satisfy a few hardy souls who don't realise golf is really a spring/summer/autumn sport in the UK.


Ramble finished!

Absolutely spot on.

Reminds me of apost relaly on a poker forum, one guy asking what advice we could give for playing in single figure temperatures (he is in America).

Weird I thought, until he clarified he meant Fahrenhiet! Just stupidity imo.

 

[Parmo]

Fair weather golfers

 

[DCB]

Parmo, once you've been playing for 30 years or more, you'll look at conditions before venturing out.

We all say "Not me " when we're new to the game and dead keen, but time will tell.

 

[Dodger]

Dunno DCB 20 years and if anything I'm playing more each year! Maybe that has something to do with shopping or job round the house being the alternative if she had anything to do with it!

 

[Herbie]

I have heard many ideas over the years for looking after courses and greens and some of the simple ones never seem to get the slightest interest.

Caring for fairways for example. A simple idea I heard years ago has never caught on in my view. Green keepers mow a strip in the light rough all the way down the fairway, after you take your shot you pick your ball and drop on this strip. What could be simpler for looking after fairways, this could be used in local comps too during winter.

Looking after greens is a more difficult prospect and I believe clubs should spend more time creating winter greens than some do so that people can get reasonable golf and the main greens can be left alone to recover.

Weather is natural and should be accepted, I see solid greens as a challenge to enjoy not to bemoan, in the same way some clubs have small greens on clay surface making them very difficult to hold the ball, its all a challenge.

 

[Parmo]

I know what you mean though, I know loads who spend the Saturdays and sometimes Sundays in the 19th in cold weather rather than venture out, I myself have had a "quick" 9 holes and found myself in the bar with a pint and brandy which usually ends with a banging head the following day.

 

[Parmo]

Caring for fairways for example. A simple idea I heard years ago has never caught on in my view. Green keepers mow a strip in the light rough all the way down the fairway, after you take your shot you pick your ball and drop on this strip. What could be simpler for looking after fairways, this could be used in local comps too during winter.

It could be called the Brazil?? lol

No honestly though mats are the only way to protect fairways in soggy weather, not that I have used them and the idea of having a soggy peice of astro turf in my bag is not appealling, but what else is there except the Brazil?

 

[andiritchie]

We sometimes pick up off the fairway and drop in the first cut,not ideal when you leave yourdelf a good angle in then have too move.

As for winter greens we have permenent winters roped off so if it aint frosty its a half decent surface.

Only other option would be artifical greens but that would cost about 50 grand

 

[theeaglehunter]

I'm thinking along the same lines andi. 18 of these (with one hole obviously and a bit smaller) that can be rolled out each winter to be sat in a place that is normally rough (as the grass underneath will die so you don't want one over laying a green or fairway) would be good as they react almost like the real thing. All you do then is come spring remove them and reopen the real greens and mark the area where they have sat as G.U.R which although ugly at first should be fixable back to rough standard fairly quickly. the only problem would be storing this style of 'temporary green' during the summer, you would need a rather large shed! It is still better than playing normal temps or ruining proper greens though. This would please both the fair weather 'don't destroy our course' golfers and the 'we hate playing on temps' brigade. And also those in the middle- like me!

http://www.direct-golf.co.uk/golf_access...ng_greens/p7732

Underground heating is a good idea but I think during the winter it is best to give the proper greens a well earned rest, so their use should be very limited. Putting covers over them is possibly a good idea (something like they use now to cover cricket squares during rain stops) so that the grass is not ruined when they are taken back u but again this will see continuous use on greens that probably won't cope.

 

[greensman]

Hello all

Let me start by thanking those who have given me such a laugh on this cold frosty night.

I am starting to believe you have gone mad.

Under ground heating… the cost of insulation would be massive, the running cost even more, I am talking millions!!! For what? A few frosty days, when let face it the NORMAL golfers among us would rather be indoors. Tony N can you remember the last time the river Dee froze, last week was the first time in decades.

Covers… how do covers stop the freezing process? And what happens during the day and its still -5.

Salt… yes it kills grass outright & yes even links courses.

Artificial greens… why not get rid of all the greens all together and just play Astroturf, I am being sarcastic of course.

What’s the answer to frosty greens… IMO stay indoors, or take a pencil bag and a few clubs enjoy the walk and don’t take the golf too seriously.


Enjoy 2009 and happy golfing

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have to say we are forgetting this is actually the coldest winter since about 1993 so we have had it pretty good in terms of being able to play in the winter for a while now. Put it down to one of those things like the flooded summer several years ago and keep positive as summer time begins on March 29th. Not long to wait now

 

[greensman]

I don’t want to be bearer of bad news… but the ground is about thaw, the thawing process is more damaging to your greens than the frost. So you may see your courses being more protected, even closed over the next few days. As Homer said ‘it’s the coldest winter for many years’

 

[OldWindy]

What’s the answer to frosty greens… IMO stay indoors, or take a pencil bag and a few clubs enjoy the walk and don’t take the golf too seriously.

Seconded.