GOLF
get an assessment of what we have and what we can do. There is a chance the greens will be in great shape, but there is also a chance that a lot of turf will be damaged. We are planning for any contingency, from sod replacement to overseeding to covering the greens with tarps to promote warmth and quicker healing. My hope is that, for once, we get lucky and all environmental conditions have transpired to have the greens be excellent. Again, just me trying to be optimistic.
Vole Damage
The only issue is that repairing the damage will keep us from doing some needed things on the golf course (when we can finally get on the courses). Because of the extended snow cover and depth, another issue we will face once the snow clears is a turf disease called Snow Mold. In the fall, we treated turf with a fungicide to combat the effects of Snow Mold, but the products have a limited timeframe for viability, and we have exceeded the efficacy of the product. So, snow mold is growing under the snow cover and will continue to do so until the snow is gone. This disease is usually not catastrophic, so I think we will be able to repair the damage in short order. However, there is a chance that some greens will be affected, and greens damage typically takes longer to recover than say, tees or fairways. Another issue we are starting to see is Vole damage. Voles are small field mice that eat turf while scurrying around under snow cover. Usually there are enough predators to keep the voles in check, but with the deep snow, the Coyotes and Hawks and Great Blue Herons cannot get to the voles to have a meal. Again, more of a nuisance than anything. We will repair the damage with mulch and seed, but it may be some time before the damage is completely healed. The biggest issue that is concerning us is the amount of snow and potentially ice on the greens. Ice can have a devastating effect on Poa Annua, which is the type of turf comprising approximately 50% of our greens surface. The greens were protected in fall with a chemical product to combat Snow Mold, but ice is a different story. We have tried to blow the snow off the greens, but with the depth of snow and the consistency of the snow, blowing the snow off is very difficult. We are still trying, but with poor to moderate success at this point. Unfortunately, we won’t know the condition of the greens until the snow is gone and we can
The amount of snow still on the ground here is absolutely amazing. I know everyone will start getting excited to come up and play golf as the temperatures warm up, but we are a long way from seeing green grass, let alone being able to play golf. We may not be able to begin working on the courses until the first week in April, which
Cart Path #4 Canyon
would be three weeks past our average for getting out and starting the pre-season golf course preparations. Please understand that we are dealing with a once in thirty-year winter and we have been unable to access the courses, let alone assess any turf conditions on the golf holes. We are stuck in the twilight zone of trying to push forward as quickly as possible, but also knowing that we have to show some patience because there really is no way to rush things right now. Thanks for your patience with my long winded description of what is going on here at Forest Highlands, and thanks for your patience and understanding while we get the courses ready for the golf season.
Bill Abbey Director of Agronomy & Grounds babbey@fhgc.com
VOICE IN THE PINES | APRIL 2023 17
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