Fall has arrived and so has our new golf car fleet!

These beauties from Club Car arrived last week and are going to make for a smooth ride. Once we get the technology piece installed they will have the latest GPS, Bluetooth speakers, and geofencing to keep golf cars from driving in restricted areas.  Course conditions will be protected and this means a better experience for all players! 

We have a new check-in procedure at the desk to help keep this fleet of golf cars in premium condition for the duration of their 4-year lease.  Come on out and take a test drive! 

Lakes Course Update:

The winter rye overseed project was largely a success.  There were a couple seeded areas (mainly hole #16 and #18) affected by the tornadic storms and torrential rain that dumped 3” on the course that night.  Because of that event, it will take more time to fully open.  We continue to monitor growth and are making decisions about opening for some play in a few weeks (Mid December). 

The Lakes course will be cart path only during the continued grow-in and we will activate ‘cart path only’ on the new golf cars geofencing feature to ensure the course is healthy and in premium condition for the 2020 season.

Temperature for Frost to Form on a Golf Course

By M.L. Rose 

Frost

Frost is a form of ice and can only survive at temperatures of 32 degrees Fahrenheit and below. But that doesn’t mean the measured air temperature must be 32 or below for frost to form on a surface. Green grass, for example, absorbs sunlight and heat during the day, then loses heat when the sun goes down, so the grass’s temperature may be lower than the surrounding air temperature. This temperature differential causes moisture to condense on the grass during the night. If the temperature of the grass then falls below freezing, the moisture may crystallize into frost. This can occur even when the nearby air temperature is in the upper 30s, particularly when the air is calm.

When and Where Frost Occurs 

Frost may occur overnight, but it often forms at sunrise, before the temperature begins to rise. Frost formation on grass is possible in any location in which the blades’ temperature falls to 32 or below, including warm-weather states such as Florida, California and Arizona. For example, overnight frost may form on an Arizona course on days when the high temperature reaches 70.

Damage to Grass

Frost itself doesn’t damage grass in the way that it may damage other growing things, such as citrus fruit. However, golfers walking on frosty turf may harm the grass quite badly. Because the grass on putting greens is cut so low, around 1/8 inch, it is particularly vulnerable to damage when it’s covered by frost. When a golfer walks on frost-covered grass it is more likely than normal to break and suffer ruptured cell walls.

 Delayed Impact

The damage caused by walking on frost-covered grass may take two to three

days to appear. By that time the damaged blades may turn purple or black,

eventually fading to a very light brown. If the plant’s growing point is

undamaged, however, the grass should regenerate. If the growing point is

damaged, the plant may die. Additionally, weaker grass, even if it doesn’t die,

may be more susceptible to disease and weed formation.