Columnist Peter Benton: Don’t get hot over frost delays

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2001 | 11:15 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

There have been more late openings than on-time openings at area golf courses recently because of frost delays. That is what we expect at this time of year.

However, there are golfers around town who are becoming irritated with postponed starting times 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 or so before you can tee off. To add to your frustration, 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 layout, is not to become too uptight.

The situation is out of your control. So, kick back, grab yourself a coffee or a hot chocolate and think how fortunate you are to be at a golf complex and not hard at work. Or worse, home sick in bed.

So at the risk of sounding repetitive, following are some of the familiar questions and the answers 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. Plus the ground temperature can be up to six degrees colder than the air temperature.

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

A: As previously stated, the ground is invariably colder than the air temperature. Watering the frost 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 complex 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 are frozen. However, when it thaws, the grounds crew must be ahead of any play to attend to their appointed duties.

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