August 4, 2011
The summer months are crucial to the golf industry, especially for courses further north where the sport can only be played for five months of the year due to weather. While warm weather may encourage more golfers to play, excessive heat waves can have the opposite effect, significantly affecting the clubs' bottom lines. Fortunately, savvy superintendents can put measures in place that will help mitigate the effects of hot weather, both for the course itself and players.
One of the major ways hot weather affects clubs is by deteriorating the conditions of the course itself. Heat causes grass to brown and become more difficult to play on, hampering the player experience. The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America suggests reducing green speeds by raising grass cutting heights, mowing less frequently, hand watering more often and managing cart traffic. By doing this, clubs can effectively preserve the condition of course grounds.
"The simple fact is the cool-season turfgrasses such as bentgrass, fescue, bluegrass, annual bluegrass and others are stressed with sustained high temperatures and humidity. Golf courses in many parts of the country experience this every year, however what made the situation so dire last year and now have been the high levels of extended heat and humidity, and the sizeable part of the country affected," GCSAA president Bob Randquist explained.
Randquist was also quick to note there's a difference between heat stress and drought stress. Whereas proper watering will effectively combat drought stress, heat stress requires a different approach - simply improving irrigation to heat-stressed turf won't alleviate the situation. Superintendents need to actively monitor their own courses to best mitigate any environmental hazards.
Club houses also need to ensure they're providing players with ways to stay hydrated. For example, an organization could sell bottles of water in the pro shop, set up water stations across the course and have beverage selections available at the club house restaurant for afterwards.
Superintendents need to ensure they have an ample supply of water and other beverages, as players will be more likely to purchase these products during heat waves. A procurement solution will help clubs meet the demands of their player base.