Winter Play, Why Aren't You Open?

After the horrible fall weather pattern we have enjoyed a stretch of sunny and mild days with temperatures 40 to 45 degrees here in mid December. We would have enjoyed this sun in September and October.

We did receive a few phone calls from golfers asking if we were open to play, and although we would like to be, we were not this time. I also have a couple comments from members who said they would be happy to play here rather than take their money to Camelot if we could be open. Nobody complained but they did ask why we were not open.

We appreciate that and I will admit Camelot does a good job being open in the winter and I play there in the spring and rarely see any effect of winter play or cart traffic. I am glad those that want to to play in the winter have a regular place to go.

So why isn't Rolling Meadows open when Camelot is? The courses are only 12 miles apart as the crow flies, the weather should be pretty much the same... My response is varied depending on the situation and the weather we have had but the answer normally it is:

• Our property tilts South to North limiting the melting effect of the sun this time of year when the sun is low to begin with. For instance most lawns in Fond du Lac had no snow this past week. The clubhouse lawn had no snow the past week. However on the course travel from hole 2 to 3 was solid snow or worse ice. Same thing from 6 to 7, 7 to 8, 10 to 11, 12 to 13 etc. Until Thursdays rain, all these areas were near impassible with a cart, much less walking with plastic spikes. 15 green is our biggest challenge due to the woods to the south. The course can have 2 inches of snow and 15 green will drift in with 6" of snow. 

  

  15 green in spring of 2016. The rest of the course was dry and playable,
  but this snow persisted for days. Every year is different. 

• Agronomists and Turf Scientists have shown that in the winter the greens, tees and fairways are most vulnerable to traffic when the ground is froze, but the top 1/4 to 1/2 inch is thawed which is what happens on a 45 degree sunny day. A twisting foot can easily tear the gushy grass plant  away from the root system, leaving a plant that will die the first dry day of spring. Unfortunately the best days for winter play, are the best days for this condition. 
• Our property has clay soils that have limited drainage when they are not frozen, much less when there is frost in the ground. We are often left with puddles or ice rinks that are slow to melt. When the frost is coming out of the top 6" of ground our gravel paths turn to mush and are difficult to drive or walk on without sinking 3 inches. 
• We do not have staff on in the winter doing other things, at the ready to check in golfers on that first 35 degree sunny day. To bring in staff costs money, to turn on the heat and lights cost money. We don't mind investing the time and money when we are going to see regular play but winter play is fickle and hard to forecast. 

We have opened in the winter in the past, and will again in the future but it will require some warmer weather to thaw the top few inches of the soil for us to do so. Area players are lucky we have a property nearby that is able to be open through most of the winter. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and maybe we will be open in January this year... every year is different.