| Measuring Frost |
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Measuring Frost - We monitor frost levels by probing the ground with a thin metal rod. 1 - Completely Frozen - When the frost is the worst, the ground is completely frozen and we cannot push the metal rod into the soil anywhere on the course. 2- Some Soil Penetration Before Hitting Frost in Fairways - The first areas that will become frost free are open areas in full sunlight with regular soil. We probe a number of fairways, looking for the first signs of a thaw. Initially, we can probe into the ground, but run into a solid layer of frozen ground. Generally speaking, the deeper we probe before reaching frozen ground, the closer we are to the course opening. 3 - We Can Probe Through The Frost in Fairways - As the frost melts, we are able to push the probe through the frozen soil in some locations, while other locations remain frozen. 4- There is No Frost in Fairways - We reach a major milestone when we there is no frost in any of the fairways or roughs. The last spots to be free of frost are areas protected by shade. 5- Frost In Greens - The greens stay frozen longer than roughs and fairways, but the progression is similar on the greens as it is for roughs and fairways. We start out monitoring a few key greens. Those in full sun and those tilted slightly to the south are the first to thaw out. Greens that are sheltered from the sun and tilted to the north are the last greens to thaw out. The Impact of Weather - A key factor in thawing the course is the amount of daylight that we receive. So even when we might be experiencing cold temperatures, the shifting seasons provide increasing hours of daylight, that inevitably thaw the ground and allow us to open the course. Another factor is rainfall. Nothing helps thaw the course more than a warm Spring rain. A heavy rain on a 50º day will penetrate to the frost line more effectively than a the dry breeze of a 75º day. A Look Back At Course Opening 2007
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