Frost Update

Thought it would be a good idea to revisit a post about frost from early October. There have been numerous heavy frosts this fall along with some damage from people walking on frozen turf. When out for your morning walks please stay on the cart paths and sidewalks. This also applies to your pets, as dogs can damage frozen turf the same way humans do.

The picture below of Orchard 1 was recently taken one afternoon after a heavy frost. You can clearly see the black footprints in the rough and fairway which indicate dying turf.

Frost is common this time of year and can even occur when the air temperature is above freezing.  Frost will usually be evident at sunrise, as the air at ground level is warmed it becomes lighter and rises.  Colder, denser air will take the place of the warm air and can be 5-10 degrees cooler, thus creating frozen turf.  Frost usually "burns off" quickly in direct sunlight, but certain areas of the course are heavily shaded and take longer to thaw.  The maintenance staff monitors specific areas throughout the course on cool mornings to determine whether frost is present, and the decision to allow play is based on when those areas will be frost-free.  An easy way to tell if frost is present is by running your hand across the grass.  If the dew wipes away it's safe to walk on the turf.


Click here to watch a short video about frost from the USGA.