Frost Call.

To a man, all of us down at the maintenance department hate having to make the frost call.  The pressure of getting the golf course open when members and their guests are wanting to play is actually excruciating.  We are mindful of players having schedules to keep, but sometimes mother nature just doesn't cooperate.

Before I started working on golf courses, I had never paid attention to frost.  It never occurred to me frost is more likely to occur when it is clear and there is no wind.  The temperature can be perfect for frost, but if it's overcast and windy, frost either won't occur or it will be light.  The other thing we have to concern ourselves when conditions aren't favorable for frost is ice or frozen turf.  Either situation will not permit us to allow golfers on the course.

The problem with frost on golf courses is the damage that occurs if weight is placed on frosty or frozen turf.  This damage is more prevalent on golf course turf because there isn't a buffer between the blade and the crown (the most crucial part of turfgrass) due to the low mowing heights.  For instance, you could probably walk across your frosty lawn to get your morning paper and not cause any damage because there is 3 to 4 inches of turf between the weight of your foot and the crown.  On a golf green or fairway there isn't enough protection.

The best way to describe what happens when you walk or drive a cart on frost or frozen turf is we are literally breaking the grass when it's frozen.  It is no different than if you dropped a full glass of water on a hard floor.  The glass breaks and all the contents leak out.  In the case of turf we break the cell membranes which causes internal damage to the plant.  This typically results in death and when this occurs in Kansas, the effected area is replaced by poa annua or some other undesirable weed.

Nonetheless, please understand that when maintenance personnel are making a frost call, they are making a very important decision with regard to the health of the golf course.