Highlands Country Club Agronomy

Pouring It On

November 20, 2020

Addison Barden, agronomist, Southeast Region

As my colleague Dr. Steve Kammerer and I have written several times this year, turf thinning due to increased rounds and single-rider carts has been a major challenge at golf courses this year. In a certain respect, this is a good problem to have since it shows that golfers have been active during a tough year for the service industry. However, we are just beginning the busy winter golf season in warmer areas of the Southeast and reports of traffic-related turf decline are coming in by the dozens.

The wet weather in many areas of the Southeast is making a bad problem even worse. Cart and foot traffic are much more damaging on turf when soils are saturated. Even in areas where soils may drain well, turf decline can rapidly occur during extended periods of wet weather and saturated conditions simply due to insufficient oxygen supply to the roots. In more severe cases, saturated soils that do not drain well can become rutted and compacted.

As Dr. Kammerer noted in the recent USGA article “More Rounds, More Carts, More Damage”, the best way to reduce traffic stress on turf is to reduce the number of carts on the course by incentivizing golfers to walk and remain on the cart path. Additionally, cart directional signs and ropes and stakes should be used to direct golfers to the driest and best routes when they do exit and enter the path. Golfers need to follow cart use instructions to avoid damaging the course. They can also help by driving with extra caution this season. For example, an easy way to avoid damaging the course is to drive down the center of the cart path along turns. This helps you avoid cutting the corners, which can wear down turf and create deep ruts in saturated areas.

Often overlooked by golfers during periods of wet weather is the impact that prolonged cloud cover has on turfgrass. Bermudagrass requires considerable sunlight to remain healthy but prolonged cloudy weather slows energy production through photosynthesis to a crawl. The lack of energy production exacerbates the challenges created by record golf rounds and cart traffic during the winter when daylengths are at their shortest.

Some areas have already received more than 150% of their normal rainfall amount this year. The three-month climate forecast shows a return to normal precipitation levels, so let’s hope this turns out to be true. 

For more information on cart-related issues, check out these USGA education materials: “Get Proactive on Single Rider Carts”, “Making Lemonade out of Lemons”, and “Golf Cart Tips to Help You Drive Like a Pro”.