When will we open?

This is a common question I hear every year from customers and co-workers when the days get longer and the snow starts to melt but even more so this year with the very mild weather we are having.  I can pretend and give a great answer based on science, weather facts etc etc but the truth is I have no idea.  Yep! That's right I really have no idea this far out when we might open.

I assume it will be earlier rather than later because it has been a mild winter with little snow to melt or frost in the ground but weather patterns can change overnight and a cold spell or a heavy snow will change everything. 

I really would need to know the high and low temperatures and amount of sunshine we will have for the next few weeks in order to give any kind of educated guess on when we could open.  Given the weather forecasters have trouble forecasting later today it is unlikely they can forecast the next three weeks.

I will say what is most important to thawing the soil, melting the snow and getting the course firmed up for play is the low temperature and sunshine.  Sure 50 degree afternoons help but if we can go a couple nights without freezing so the thaw extends 24 hours we make greater progress than with warm days and cold nights.

I can say as of today (Feb 21) all it will take is 4 or 5 days of good weather to get ready to go.  But the forecast is not looking like that is going to happen at least in the next ten days.

Due in part to the heavy soils we have and to avoid any potential damage or footprinting on the soft greens we open the course the first possible day after the frost leaves the top foot of soil through most of the golf course.

This is a change from just a few years ago when most courses waited for the ground to firm up, then they would mow greens, tees and fairways one or two times over a three or five day period to encourage growth and some greening of the plants. During that time they would put out all the newly painted benches, tee markers, ball washers and hazard stakes.

Now the first day we can change 9 cups and roll or mow 9 greens without damage we are open for play.  Benches, ballwashers and other features can wait until the paths firm up and we can travel the course without damage.  Those first couple rounds of the year the golfers do not seem to mind the lack of features.

So if you are dreaming of hitting the links in March, pray for sunny days and warm nights and before you know it your dreams will come true!