Columnist Peter Benton: Morning tee times present dilemmas

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2000 | 9:08 a.m.

eter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

Sure it's somewhat cold these early mornings, but overall we are experiencing some pretty good weather and have no real cause for complaint.

However, there are quite a few golfers around town who are becoming increasingly irritated with postponed starting times at area golf courses because of repeated frost delays.

Yes, it's aggravating to arrive at a course with a confirmed starting time only to be told that it could be another hour and a half before your tee-off time. To add to your frustration, both the putting green and driving range are also closed.

The secret to coping with these delays, whether at a private country club or a public course, is not to become too uptight. Naturally, it's annoying. You're wasting time and you can't wait to get started.

The situation is completely out of your control and getting upset will only frustrate you further. So kick back, grab yourself a coffee and think how fortunate you are that you are at a golf course and not at your place of employment. Or worse, home sick in bed.

So at the risk of sounding repetitive (as I have written similar columns in the past), following are some of the major reasons why golf courses refrain from opening when Jack Frost has made his appearance:

Q: How can there be frost when the local news channel reported this morning that it was 38 degrees?

A: Some clubs are situated in low-lying areas of the city with the consequence being that they are invariably far more affected than layouts at higher elevations.

Q: Is there any reason the irrigation system cannot be turned on to possibly wash off the frost?

A: Normally the ground is colder than the air temperature. By watering the frost it would make the water freeze, thus causing not only further delays, but a huge wet mess when it all finally thawed.

Q: What harm would there be if we walked the course?

A: Some grasses that are permitted to go dormant over the winter months would have no damage done to them at all. However, walking on live frozen grass crushes and bruises it, damaging the grass and causing it to turn black. Continued abuse would cause plant death.

Q: Why can't the driving range and practice greens be used during the frost delay?

A: Those areas are also part of the course and naturally all of the course must be protected from damage during these irksome delays.

Q: Maintenance men are seen on the course, so why can't players tee off?

A: No maintenance can be attended to while the ground and grass is frozen. However, when it thaws, the grounds crew must be ahead of any play to attend to their appointed duties. Normally, they will only have a 15-minute start before play begins.

There it is, gang. It is a nuisance having to wait, I know, but it is necessary. Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of why this is so.