Snow Fall is Hard to Come by This Year

This is an unusual sight, the golf course covered in snow.  I can count on one hand the number of days we have had snow cover on the golf course this year.  Monday was only our second measurable snow fall for the winter, which makes our snow fall total about 10" less than normal.  Believe it or not, the right amounts of snow cover can actually be beneficial to the golf course by protecting the grass from the harsh winter elements, which can lead to "winterkill".  Winterkill can be caused by a combination of factors including crown hydration, desiccation, low temperatures, wind exposure, ice sheets and snow mold. This year the unusual lack of snow cover on the golf course has exposed the grass almost the entire winter causing the grass to turn off color more than normal.  The "off color" appearance is actually the exposed older leaf blades and leaf blade tips, however with a closer look into the canopy lies green crowns and stems.  So far I have not seen any signs or symptoms of winterkill on the golf course, however I will continue to scout greens, tees and fairways on a regular basis.

Green #14 February 14th

Green Department's early morning snow removal 

(#3 bentgrass tee) green stems and crowns