Lonnie Poole Golf Course

Frost-covered and Frozen Greens Policy

Commitment: The staff at Lonnie Poole Golf Course is committed to providing the best possible playing conditions and an enjoyable golf experience to all patrons.

Closures: To ensure great playing conditions year round, we close our greens when frost is on the surface and/or the soil beneath the greens is frozen or partially frozen.

Decision Maker: The decision to close our greens based on weather conditions is made by the Director of Golf Course Maintenance with the support of the Golf Course Advisory Committee and the NC State Turfgrass Faculty.

Damage (Frost): Traffic on frost-covered greens damages the crowns and leaf blades of the turf plants. The ice crystals puncture the leaf tissue or the stiff/frozen leaf tissue is broken. This damage will appear as brown or off-color areas and will remain for several months.

Damage (Frozen): Traffic and play on greens when the soil is frozen or partially frozen can cause damage to all parts of the turf plants, including the roots. Normal wear from foot or equipment traffic is amplified on frozen greens because the plants are in a dormant state and are not resilient. This amplified wear will result in thin and weak turf leading into the spring.

Traffic on partially frozen greens or greens where the upper soil layers are thawing and the lower soil layers remain frozen can cause even greater damage to turf plants. The damage occurs when traffic causes the turf plants to shift above the lower soil layers that remain frozen. This shifting can shear the roots of the turf plant making it difficult for the plant to take up water and nutrients necessary for survival.

Only Solution is Closure: Allowing traffic and play on frost-covered or frozen greens definitely results in damage to the turf plants. This damage not only affects the plant health, aesthetics and playing conditions in the immediate future, it will result in weaker turf plants in the spring and make it difficult for the plants to survive the summer heat stress.