Superintendent's Corner
 

"Dear Lincoln City Golfers" by Dale Hardy, City of Lincoln Golf Administrator

As we reflect on this last year and prepare for the next golf season, the largest issue we face is the time it takes to play a round of golf.  One of our goals for this next season is to not raise the price to play golf.  To help achieve this goal, we need to utilize each of the City golf courses by maintaining a better pace of play which will allow more golfers to enjoy a round.

Before we run down a list of suggestions for speeding up play, it's important to note that many of these tips have nothing to do with rushing your play, but rather with simply being ready to play, with using common sense and good etiquette on the course.

-Choose the correct set of tees from which to play.  If you are a high handicap player, please play from the very forward tees.

-Members of a group should not travel as a pack, with all members walking together to the first ball, then the second, and so on.  Each member of the group should walk directly to his own ball.

-When two players are riding in a cart, drive the cart to the first ball and drop off the first player with his choice of clubs.  The second player should proceed in the cart to his ball.  After the first player hits his stroke, he should begin walking toward the cart as the second golfer is playing.

-If you're in carts, try to put players with the same shot tendencies together.  If you frequently play with the same group of people, you know who tends to slice and who tends to hook.  Put the slicers in one cart and the hookers in the other.  Your round will move a lot faster if you're not constantly zig-zagging your way down the fairway.

-If you are unsure whether your ball has come to rest out of bounds, or maybe lost, immediately hit a provisional ball so that you won't have to return to the spot to replay the shot.  If you are playing a recreational match with, shall we say, a "loose interpretation" of the rules, then simply drop a new ball somewhere around the area where your ball was lost and keep playing.

-Begin reading the green and lining up putts as soon as you reach the green.  Don't wait until it's your turn to putt to start the process of reading the green.  Do it as soon as you reach the green so that when it's your turn you can step right up and putt.

-After putting out, don't stand around the green chatting or take any practice strokes.  Leave the green quickly so the group behind can play.  If there is no group hehind, then a few practice putts are fine.

-When leaving the green and returning to your cart, don't stand there fussing with your putter or other clubs.  Get in the cart, drive to the next tee, and then put away your putter.

-Likewise, mark your scorecard after reaching the next tee, not while lingering on or near the just completed green.

-When using a cart, never park the cart in front of the green.  Park it only to the side or behind the green.  And don't mark your scorecard while sitting in the cart next to the green (do it at the next tee).  These practices open up the green for the group behind.

-Don't ask your playing partners to help you search for a lost ball - unless you are absolutely certain there is time for them to do so (i.e., there is no group hehind waiting). If the course is crowded, your partners should continue moving forward, not slow things down further by stopping to help your search.

-On the tee, pay attention to your partners' drives.  If they lose sight of their ball, you can help direct them to it and avoid any searching.

-When waiting on the tee for the group in front to clear the fairway, don't be so strict about order of play.  Let the short hitter - who can't reach the group ahead anyway - go ahead and hit.

-Work on building a concise pre-shot routine.  If your pre-shot routine is a lengthy one, it's probably in your best interests to shorten it anyway.  Limit practice strokes to one or two at the most.

-Don't bother marking lag putts - go ahead and putt out if it's short enough.

-Carry extra tees, ball markers, and an extra ball in your pockets so you never have to return to your bag to find one when needed.

-When chipping around the green, carry both the club you'll be chipping with plus your putter so you don't have to return to the bag.

-Try playing ready golf, where order of play is based on who's ready, not on who's away.

The bottom line is, as soon as it's your turn to play, you should be ready to step right up and make the stroke.  You probably don't like waiting on other groups - don't make other groups wait on you.

More suggestions for speeding the pace of play are available at the Lincoln Parks and Recreation website: www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/parks/golf/index.htm

 

 

 
"Understanding Frost Delays" - Presented by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

As winter starts to give way to spring-like temperatures, the desire to hit the golf course intensifies.  It also signals a change in golf course management activities that can affect one's game and the conditions found on the course.

In many regions of the country, golfers occasionally face frost delays in the spring, thus pushing back starting tee times.  When frost is present golf course superintendents delay play until the frost has melted.  This is done to prevent damage that affects the quality of the playing surface and could potentially be very expensive to repair.

Frost is basically frozen dew that has crystallized on the grass, making it hard and brittle.  A grass blade is actually 90 percent water, therefore it also freezes.  Because of the short mowing height (sometimes as low as 1/8 inch) and fragile nature of the turf, putting greens are most affected by frost.  Walking on frost-covered greens causes the plant to break and cell walls to rupture, thereby losing its ability to function normally.  When the membrane is broken, much like an egg, it cannot be put back together.

Golfers who ignore frost delays will not see immediate damage.  The proof generally comes 48-72 hours later as the plant leaves turn brown and die.  The result is a thinning of the putting surface and a weakening of the plant.  The greens in turn become more susceptible to disease and weeds.  While it may not appear to be much of an issue, if a foursome begins play early on frost covered greens the number of footprints that may occur on any given hole by one person is approximately 60.  Multiply that by 18 holes with an average of 200 rounds per day and the result is 216,000 footprints on greens in a day or 6,480,000 in a month.

As golf enthusiasts superintendents do not like to delay play, but they are more concerned about turf damage and the quality of conditions for the golfer.  Frost also creates a hardship on a golf facility's staff as all course preparations are put to a halt until thawing occurs.  Golf carts can cause considerable damage, therefore personnel cannot maneuver around the course to mow, change cup positions, collect range balls, etc.

One technique employed to reduce possible frost damage is to raise the cutting height of mowers to create a hardier surface.  It may also be possible to reroute play to holes where the frost melts more quickly.  But regardless of these methods, the best medicine is for all to understand the hows and whys of the delay and in turn gain a greater appreciation for the golf course.  It would also be wise to give the course a phone call before heading out to play to see if tee times have been pushed back due to frost.

For more information regarding golf course maintenance and etiquette, contact your local superintendent or the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America at 800-472-7878 or online at www.gcsaa.org

 

 

 

 



Highlands Golf Course

5501 NW 12th Street Lincoln, Nebraska 68521

402-441-6081