Wait a Minute!

     If you have spent any amount of time outside during the "winter" months thus far, you have probably noticed that the temperatures have been abnormally warm.  This is great news.  Sort of.  One problem with the warmer temperatures is that the bermuda grass on the golf courses is being tricked into thinking that it is time for spring green up.  Well, the time to break dormancy hasn't come just yet.  Below is a picture that was taken in the dormant rough beside of a tee on # 2 at the Founders Club.

      As you can see here, there is a lot of green grass showing in the dormant rough.  When bermuda grass greens up prematurely, there can be a negative implications on the turf when it tries to break dormancy in the spring.  When there is an early green up, the grass plants use stored carbohydrates as energy to grow.  Therefore, when it is the appropriate time for growth in the spring, the plants have used up most of their energy for the early green up.  

     

Winter Adjustments

    During the winter months, the golf maintenance crew will begin to move holes with less frequency.  When the weather becomes colder, the cool season turf will slow its growth.  On the courses that have warm season greens, the cold weather will induce dormancy.  Due to the slower growth rate and dormancy the plugs that are moved on the greens will have a hard time healing. 
    Also, with the cooler temps, green speeds will increase.  During the colder months, we will closely monitor the Strackaline pin locations to make sure that pins are placed in accessible locations.  As always, we are continually making an effort to better your courses at St. James Plantation.