USGA on Spring Golf and Rules

 Handy Rules Reminders for Spring Course Conditions

MARCH 18, 2024 | LIBERTY CORNER, N.J.By Danny Vohden

Ground under repair? Aeration holes? Temporary greens? Golfers may experience these common Spring course conditions. (USGA)

My ball landed in a patch of dirt where there’s no grass – do I get relief?

Before determining whether free relief is allowed, you must first understand whether the area where your ball came to rest is considered ground under repair. That designation can only be made by the golf course and will typically be clearly marked with paint or stakes. It cannot be determined by a golfer.

It’s a common misconception that areas of bare turf or poor grass growth are automatically ground under repair. Even though course conditions can be particularly challenging in the spring, it’s still up to the golf course to define those areas where free relief is permitted.

What about aeration holes – are they considered ground under repair?

Aeration holes are common in spring but are not considered ground under repair, so free relief is generally not allowed. But relief may be permitted if a Model Local Rule is in effect – check with your golf course before your round to know for sure.

Everyone understands that golfers don’t necessarily want to play on greens and fairways that have just been aerated, but it’s important to keep in mind that the short-term disruption is significantly outweighed by the long-term benefits. For more on that, watch this video from the USGA Green Section.

Can I play using preferred lies if the course is particularly wet and muddy?

While golfers commonly refer to them as winter Rules, the Rules call them preferred lies – and yes, golfers may be permitted to lift, clean and place their ball if the course puts the preferred lies Model Local Rule into effect. This Model Local Rule is only recommended to be used in fairways because of the significant advantage it could provide elsewhere on the golf course.

It’s also up to each golf course to determine the size of the relief area from where a golfer can play their next shot – commonly 6 inches, a scorecard length, or a club-length from the original spot of the ball, no closer to the hole.

My course often sets up temporary greens and tees during spring – how does that impact my round?

The Rules define a putting green as the area specially prepared for putting. So, whether that’s the normal green or a temporary one marked with paint or mow lines in the fairway, the same Rules apply.

The same concept applies to teeing areas – whether found on the normal tee box or in the rough nearby.

How do spring conditions impact posting scores for my Handicap Index®?

The USGA Handicapping Department has you covered there with everything you need to know about Spring Golf and the World Handicap System™. 

USGA: Ups and Downs of Spring Golf

 The Ups and Downs of Spring Course Conditions

Spring is an exciting time for golfers everywhere. Unfortunately, our enthusiasm for playing golf in the spring often outpaces the return of normal course conditions. Spring is a time of transition and there can definitely be some ups and downs when it comes to playability. Here are a few things to expect on the course this spring

The grass has some catching up to do

Grasses on most golf courses have been growing slowly, or not at all, for most of the winter. It will take some time before they really get going in the spring and that will have an impact on playing conditions. Things like density, smoothness and divot recovery all depend on active grass growth, but that can’t start until soil temperatures reach a certain level. Unfortunately, warm weather arrives before the soil temperatures catch up, so golfers may be ready for midseason playing conditions before the grass can deliver.

The course has gone soft

In many areas, golf courses can be a little soggy in the spring. Whether it’s from melting snow or winter rains, the soil is often full of moisture in the spring and it will be slow to dry out until temperatures climb and days get longer – and the first few warm days won’t be enough. Less bounce and roll in the fairways, softer greens and some cart restrictions are all a normal part of spring golf.

Welcome to the jungle

Once the grass really gets growing in spring it can be hard for superintendents to keep up with mowing, especially if they are short on staff. The change from slow to rapid growth can happen seemingly overnight and there is often a period of time when the rough is excessively thick and clippings abound. It may be tough to find and play shots in the rough for a few weeks in the spring, but things will usually settle down after the initial flush of growth.

Expect some disruption

Spring is a popular time for cultural practices like aeration and topdressing as maintenance teams get their courses ready for the busy season ahead. Don’t be surprised if there is some disruption on key playing areas. Recovery time is usually pretty quick, but if cool weather lingers then the impact of these practices may be noticeable for longer than planned. Just know that a little disruption now will translate to better conditions throughout the year.

A golf course is a great place to be in the spring. Flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, the weather is mild – a perfect time to play golf. There will be some bumps in the road when it comes to course conditions, especially early in the season, but that’s no reason not to enjoy every minute of spring golf. Be patient with the course – and your rusty golf swing – both will be in midsummer form before you know it.

New HCC Logo

Our new Highlander man is back on the white shelter at #18 tees!

Soil Temperatures

 

You can see above that mother nature isn't being very kind to those of us trying to grow Creeping Bentgrass greens this spring. Our soil temperatures still have yet to reach 60*F.  As I mentioned before, 65*F is the ideal temperature for Penn A4 Creeping Bentgrass to resume active growth.  That said, what is growing in Highlands right now, is Poa annua.  Poa annua's soil temperature requirement for growth is much lower than that of creeping bentgrass.  It starts growing when soil temperatures top 50*F.  This is another reason why Poa annua is so difficult to control in Highlands.  It has over a month head start growing compared to it's competitor, Creeping Bentgrass.  While the Bentgrass lays in a dormant state, the Poa is growing and out competing the Bentgrass. 

Tuesday Update

 

Early Tuesday morning, temperatures dipped down to 30*F, creating a beautiful frost across the golf course.  The golf course looks so good right now!  Greens are slow to come around but we are getting there.  They grow denser by the day.  Tomorrow, we will start lowering the height of cut on the putting greens.  We've kept the cut higher lately to prevent picking up sand that was put on the greens following spring aeration.  Now that the greens are almost healed, the grass stabilizes that sand, and it doesn't get pulled to the surface.  Along with the height of cut going down, the frequency of cutting will also increase.  Because the growth has been so minimal, we've only been mowing every other day.  We are about one week from starting our daily mowing schedule.  I can assure you, the golf course is set up for a great year!

7-Day Forecast

 

USGA Green Section Record

 CLICK HERE!

Click above for the latest issue of the USGA Green Section Record

Spring in Full Swing

The golf course gets better each day.  Leaves aren't on the trees yet but redbuds and flowering dogwoods are in full bloom.

Our Bear is Playing Through

 

Thursday morning, our bear didn't approve of the leveling and resodding of the 9th tee box.

7-Day Forecast

 

Looks like temperatures will start dropping again...

Director of Agronomy Retires from ANGC

I was so fortunate to work at Augusta National Golf Club for Brad Owen, then the Golf Course Superintendent  

End of an era: Owen oversees his final Masters

Verne Lundquist, who has sat behind the microphone at Augusta National for 40 years, including the past 25 on the par-3 16th hole, is not the only icon retiring after this year's Masters Tournament. After parts of five decades overseeing conditions at the world's most famous golf course, Brad Owen is calling it quits this year.

Owen (right), who has worked at Augusta National Golf Club for 37 years, including the past 27 as superintendent, is retiring, according to a statement by club chairman Fred Ridley. His retirement will be effective later this year.

His achievements and dedication to Augusta National and the Masters Tournament were acknowledged by Ridley four minutes into a 40-minute pre-tournament news conference on April 10 that also recognized the contributions of Lundquist and former Masters champion Jack Burke.

"As you may have seen the past few days, the Augusta National golf course and grounds are again in exceptional condition. This is a credit to every member of our agronomy and horticulture teams whose passion and dedication are unmatched," Ridley said in the news conference. "It also is a tribute to Brad Owen, our senior director of agronomy who is retiring this fall 37 years after his arrival at Augusta.

"I want to thank him for always finding a way to elevate and enhance the natural beauty of Augusta National."

A 1987 graduate of the Penn State two-year program, Owen earned a bachelor's degree in business from Appalachian State University in 1986 in his native North Carolina. His Augusta career began immediately after he graduated from Penn State, starting as an irrigation tech in 1987. He was named senior assistant superintendent in 1989, a position he held for eight years before being named director of golf course maintenance in 1997. He held that title for 25 years until he was promoted to senior director of agronomy in 2022 when Marsh Benson retired.

There have been two constants at Augusta National throughout its 90-year history — conditions that sometimes have been the bane of other superintendents (what other course has a "syndrome" named after it?) and architectural changes to the golf course that began in earnest immediately after the inaugural Masters Tournament in 1934.

 As you may have seen the past few days, the Augusta National golf course and grounds are again in exceptional condition. This is a credit to every member of our agronomy and horticulture teams whose passion and dedication are unmatched. It also is a tribute to Brad Owen, our senior director of agronomy who is retiring this fall 37 years after his arrival at Augusta. . . . I want to thank him for always finding a way to elevate and enhance the natural beauty of Augusta National.

According to club records, Owen has been the superintendent at Augusta National longer than any of his predecessors. During his tenure, he has seen some of the most dramatic changes in the club's quest to keep pace with stick and ball technology and a generation of long hitters that threaten to render the longest and most difficult courses irrelevant.

Just this year, the back tee on No. 2 was moved back another 10 yards, stretching the par 5 to 585 yards. In 2023, the par-5 13th hole was lengthened by 35 yards, and a handful of holes were renovated the year before.

"As we state every year, we're bound to a tradition of constant improvement," Ridley said in the news conference. "We maintain Mr. (Clifford) Roberts' philosophy that nothing stands still. We have committed to always move forward and we always will strive to do it in a manner that serves the competitors in the Masters, our patrons, consumers of our content, and the game of golf as a whole."

Yearly changes to the course have been almost a regular occurrence as the club strives to remain challenging for today's players while retaining some of the intent put into the ground by Alister MacKenzie and Bobby Jones as well as the philosophy of Roberts, who, along with Jones, founded the club. Today, the course stretches to 7,545 yards, making it the third-longest course on this year's PGA Tour schedule behind the South Course at Torrey Pines (7,765 yards) and the Plantation Course at Kapalua (7,596).

"As has been reported, last summer, the fifth tee was moved back and shifted away from the fourth green. In doing so, the fairway landing area was regraded and the bunkers were repositioned," Ridley said in the news conference. "While this hole now measures 40 yards longer, we believe this change maintains the original design philosophy of Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie, and not only continues our commitment to keep the course in step with the changing state of the game, but we believe it will have a positive impact on pace of play."

A multi-year nominee for the TurfNet Superintendent of the Year award, Owen was named Superintendent of the Year by the Georgia GCSA in 2020.

Tuesday

Unfortunately, our bear returned to the Club and wasted little time picking up where he left off. This hole was dug on the 10th green in the early hours of the morning. I’ve been conversing with a person from the State Wildlife on possible solutions. 

Below is a photo that tells a story!  You can see my soil thermometer in the practice green, and it reads 55*F.  The Creeping Bentgrass resumes active growth once the soil temperature reads 65*F.  With these warmer days, it won't be much longer until we hit the 65*F mark.  

The Week Ahead...

What a crazy opening weekend that involved a few inches of rain, plenty of wind and even a snow shower!  In the end, we lost 4 trees that required us to stop what we were doing to clean up.  This week, we'll be getting caught up on the mowing, which we fell behind on thanks to the storms last week.  I'm proud of this team for getting the golf course in good enough shape to even allow golfers on the course Friday.  Most importantly this week, we'll be spreading fertilizer wall to wall across the golf course.  This will really green the turf up and get things going.  Up until now, no fertilizer has been added to the golf course.  It is still very early and the cold weather isn't over yet.  This fertilizer contains the crabgrass pre-emergent chemical, Dimension as well.  The great news is, the forecast looks wonderful with warm days and nights!  Until these soil temperatures warm up, our bentgrass/Poa annua greens aren't going to grow much.  Monday afternoon, we are going to mow the greens for only the 2nd time this year.  There is a slight chance our H2B visa workers will arrive late this week.  However, the following week is more likely.  Once they get here, we'll really be able to get back on a mowing schedule and finish spreading pine straw and mulch.  In the meantime, if you have any questions about the golf course and where we currently stand, I'd be happy to talk to you! 

Greens Update

You can see above that greens have a little way to go to heal from the DryJect aeration that was done last November (two directions), and the 3/8" hollow tines that we used several weeks ago.  The spring temperatures have not be conducive to growth.  Mowing in the Spring can be difficult because we don't want to pick up the sand that we paid money, to put down.  The sand also ruins reel mowers by dulling the cutting reel and bed knife.  This is why the greens are "hairy" right now.  I want the grass to grow through the sand, stabilizing it and creating a firm surface for the upcoming season.  During the season, we mow greens at a height of 0.115" to 0.125".  On Monday, we'll be mowing them at a height of cut of 0.170".  This higher height of cut clips the grass blades but doesn't pick up as much sand.  In the next two weeks, provided daily temperatures warm, you'll notice the aerification holes will grow closed and the greens become denser.  At that time, we'll gradually lower the height of cut until we get down to our desired speed.  Patience this time of the year pays off during the summer season.

Storm Damage

It's not only opening day but we're also dealing with a major rain event that gave us over 3" of rain yesterday and 50 mph winds last night.  There are a lot of limbs that fell as well as part of the wall in front of the Club.  It's been difficult gaining any traction this spring between the weather and the amount of work we still have left to have the golf course where we want it.