Severe winter takes toll on golf courses

Many Southern golfers accustomed to lush greens and fairways are finding that Old Man Winter wreaked havoc with summer play.

Severe winter weather damaged golf courses in areas ranging from Atlanta to Memphis to Birmingham, according to Mississippi State agronomist Mike Goatley. The university's own 18-hole, par 72 championship public course was among them.

"Record cold temperatures in January and a late-season freeze in March produced some severe damage," the associate professor of plant and soil sciences said.

Bermudagrass, the most common grass for Southern courses, is best adapted to growing conditions with daytime temperatures in the 90s and evening temperatures in the 70s. In extremely cold weather, the grass becomes dormant to survive.

Goatley said the winter of 1996 proved too much for normal survival mechanisms-or for protective covers that are placed on greens during severe cold. "Courses normally will lose some grass during even mild winters. That damage, usually measured in square feet, is this year being measured in acres," he said.

Other factors affecting turf include wear and tear from foot traffic and vehicles, winter overseeding, closer cutting heights to yield good playing surfaces, and environmental stresses.

To repair damage, Mississippi State planted a bermudagrass called "MS Express," developed by the university, on the front nine greens. Renovation is planned for the back nine next spring.

Although there is no guarantee against severe-weather damage, Goatley says Southern courses may choose from several options to minimize winterkill potential:

• Choosing the most cold-tolerant turfgrass. Courses with high budgets may choose a grass such as a cold-tolerant species of zoysia. Those with more limited budgets might choose from several varieties of cold-resistant bermudagrass. "These grasses have a slightly lower playing quality but a better chance of surviving cold," Goatley said.
• Raising turfgrass cutting heights in the fall. "Sacrificing some in playing quality of greens, tees and fairways in the fall by mowing at taller heights will probably result in having more living grass to play on in the spring," he noted.
• Paint instead of overseeding. Done properly, winter overseeding yields outstanding cool weather playing conditions, even though researchers and golf superintendents found this spring that overseeding reduced bermudagrass cover. Turf paint can provide winter color for putting greens. Putting quality may not be as good, but bermudagrass will emerge more quickly the following spring without competing cool season turfgrass.
• Use turf covers during extended cold weather and leave them on as long as needed. "Covers don't ensure that bermudagrass will survive, but they improve the chances," Goatley said. Using covers may reduce some playing time but can help prevent later renovating and re-grassing.
• Redistributing or reducing traffic. Frequently moving the pin, tee markers and fairway entry and exit points can minimize soil compaction and physical wear on grasses.
• Considering temporary greens. "If persistent winterkill has become a problem, temporary greens and tees may ensure that the course has grass during summer's prime playing periods," Goatley said.

Some of these strategies may reduce winter playing time and playing quality, Goatley cautions. "But these recommendations can improve the chances that a course will be in its best shape for the following spring and summer, when most golfing rounds take place."