Reason for the Frost Delay

Its pretty apparent spring is here and this years golf season is going to get off to an early start. Early spring weather brings with it dramatic temperature fluctuations and night time temperatures will most likely remain low through the near future. Morning frost delays are a given this time year and it is not uncommon for "frost season" to linger into May. I get the impression that not alot is understood about frost and its effect on turf so I hope the information below sheds some light on the subject.

Turfgrass relies on it’s elasticity to withstand the wear and tear of mechanical stress, i.e., golfer traffic. When the leaf blade is frozen, the turfgrass becomes rigid and its ability to withstand mechanical stress is dramatically compromised. Freezing temperatures can lead to ice crystals forming within the intercellular spaces of the leaf blade. Intercellular spaces are the spaces that exist between the plants cells.

When mechanical pressure is placed upon the leaf blade, the sharp edges of these crystals pierce the plants cell walls resulting in cell colapse and turf damage. Imagine what happens when you peirce a water ballon with a needle and that is, essentially, what happens when ice crytals protrude the a cell wall. Once the plant loses the rigidity provided by the cells turgor pressure the plant will colapse. This is the primary reason we delay play on the golf course until we are frost free.

It is important to note that temperatures do not have to reach 32°F to experience frost. Also, keep in mind the golf course has a number of different micro-climates, the warmest of which is the one surrounding the clubhouse. It is quite common to be frost-free on the range and #1 Gray Hawk yet have frost on the holes in our low lying creek lines. For example there is a pretty consistnet 5-7 degree temperature difference bewteen the teebox and the green on #1 of Black Bird.

Here are a couple examples of frost damage:

Cart damage on frosty turf

Damage from foot traffic on frosty turf

No one likes frost delays. It puts pressure on the pro shop staff, prevents the grounds crew from prepping the course, and it throws off the golfer’s schedule. Unfortunately, it is a reality so please be patient and understand it is out of our control. We will have you on the course as soon as Mother Nature allows.

We appreciate your patience.