With temperatures expected to be, on average, in the mid-teens this week, the superintendents are getting a reprieve in Calgary after all the snow last week.
A lot of private clubs would normally have closed right after the Thanksgiving long weekend and that would have been the superintendents’ time to button down the golf course.
Other courses would normally have said this weekend would be the last of the season and I won’t be surprised if some open this week as long as people understand that while they may get out there, they might have to wait with so much work being down out on the golf course before winter.
The good thing is I think consumers and members are pretty well-educated and understand that things like that need to get done.
A lot of places didn’t really close when the snow hit, just took a wait-and-see attitude, but whether they decide to open could depend on what they’ve got done and what needs to get done. It also depends on the property because overnight lows can be so different depending on your location.
There’s so much that needs to be done in the fall. It’s not just about blowing lines. That’s part of it, but you have to do a lot of clean-up and put applications down. The better the job you do in the fall, typically the better the results the following spring.
The window of opportunity is so short. If there’s frost, you don’t get out there until later in the morning and by five o’clock, it’s getting dark and it’s getting cold.
During the season, most places do a good job in keeping any course work out of golfers’ way, for the most part. It’s out of sight and out of mind, but at this time of year, getting the course put to bed takes priority.
This weather this week is a blessing, but it can happen again. It can be 12 to 15 C this week, but it can turn on a dime with the snow returning next week.
We’re on borrowed time now and we have to take advantage of the time we have to make sure everything gets done before winter sets in for good.
