Week of October 30th: A Frosty Week
- Michael Curtin
- Nov 3, 2023
- 3 min read
This week presented a number of obstacles for the Agronomy team here at Ipswich. We started the week with over an inch of rain which resulted in some issues with our planned maintenance of the range field. Mother nature followed this up with nightly temperatures below freezing resulting in the first string of frost delays for the season. These frost delays not only disrupt the golfers, but also the work of the golf course maintenance crew.
Frost:
Anytime golf is delayed for frost the GCM crew is also in turn delayed or unable to complete nearly any course set up tasks. We cannot mow, cut cups, move tee markers, blow off play surfaces, or anything that would require us to be on turf. During frost delays the crew normally is tasked with backpack blowing out of the way areas with limited turf cover or other miscellaneous tasks. Leaf piles are made near cart paths so that the our leaf sucker can reach piles and barely need to leave the pavement. As soon as the frost lifts enough for regular maintenance to begin the crew is reorganized to carry out whatever setup routines we have time to do that day. However, on a normal day the GCM crew begins course prep work an hour and a half or more before the first tee time. After a frost delay we are often starting our work thirty minutes or less before the first group tees off. Generally speaking this is only enough time for tasks like blowing off greens, moving tee markers, and changing cups. Tasks like blowing out and raking bunkers, mowing/rolling greens, mowing tees or fairways become extremely difficult or impossible to complete ahead of play. Some things like mowing tees and fairways we can chip through during the afternoons for a few days such as we started doing this week. Below is an info graphic put out by the USGA explaining some of the problems frost can cause for a golf course.
Range Field Work:
The range field was closed Monday-Wednesday for scheduled maintenance. The entire range field was punched using our tractor mounted aerator equipped with 3/4 inch solid tines. We also took the time to locate and pull up a number of large rocks that were near the surface. Compost was originally planned to be spread over the entire field but the rainfall Monday forced us to change our plans. The compost will now likely be spread over the field sometime later this month after the range has closed for the season.
Other Work Completed:
Tees mowed
Roughly half the fairways were mowed for likely the last time this season
Fairway Drain edging continued
A number of native areas received their end of year maintenance mow
All annual plant material at the clubhouse was pulled out
Clubhouse front entrance and parking lots received a round of leaf cleanup
Compost dump pushed back to make room for more leaves
8th Fairway Gas Leak:
Unfortunately a crew member left the gas cap of his cart off while towing around one of our turbine blowers. This resulted in a number of damaged splotches along the 8th fairway that members might have noticed over the last few days. A few other fairways were also affected but not to the same extent as the 8th hole. These spots will disappear in the spring once the new growing season begins. Forgetting gas caps is an unfortunate mistake that happens at least once a year it seems. The crew is normally diligent about double checking their equipment but it only takes a moment of distraction for the below to happen.
Wildlife:
Matt's picture of a Barred Owl he saw this week:
