With winter weather reaching many parts of the British Isles this week, I thought I would write about the effects of frost and snow on natural turf facilities, particularly on golf courses. 

Many golf courses allow play on their greens during frosty conditions. Ideally no club should, but there clearly are some who unfortunately do. There can be multiple reasons for this including player pressure; no closed course policy; no temporary greens; a lack of understanding of what harm can occur to the turf from frost damage; or revenue needs.

Many club members expect to be able to play the greens all year round. Once they have booked a game, they expect to play whatever the weather. Many courses do not implement a closed course policy, or maybe just need to keep the course open for financial reasons.

Natural turf is especially prone to damage when it is frozen or when the ground is thawing. Normal practice is for a course to remain closed until the ground has completely thawed, which often occurs by mid-morning.

Frost damage on golf greens is a common concern, especially in the colder months, because frost can harm the grass, and playing on frosty greens can exacerbate this damage. Here’s a look at how frost impacts golf greens and what can be done to minimise damage:

Understanding frost damage

Frost forms when temperatures dip below freezing, causing moisture in and on grass blades to freeze.

Grass leaf blades are made up of water-filled cells. When frost forms, these cells can freeze and become brittle. Walking or playing on frozen grass compresses and ruptures these cells, which can lead to permanent damage.

Damaged grass cells can disrupt chlorophyll production, leading to brown patches. Since the grass is already growing slowly in cooler weather, any damage can take much longer to heal.

Visible signs of frost damage

Areas that receive a lot of foot traffic while frosty may turn brown or yellow as the grass begins to die off.

Repeated frost damage can kill grass in high-traffic areas, leading to bare or patchy spots on greens, which take time to reseed and recover.

Impact on playability

Damaged greens become uneven, impacting ball roll and overall playability. For golfers, this means slower, bumpier greens that are harder to predict and play smoothly on.

Preventive measures and best practices

The most common practice is to delay tee times until the frost melts, allowing the grass to thaw and regain flexibility.

Some golf courses provide temporary winter greens that are essentially a mowed-out area of the approach to accommodate a putting surface when frost and snow is affecting the real greens. 

Some courses use lightweight turf covers on greens to prevent frost formation, but this can be labour-intensive and may not be feasible for all facilities. During frost, avoid heavy maintenance tasks like mowing or rolling on greens, as these can increase the chances of turf injury.

Informing golfers about frost damage helps build understanding and patience during frost delays. Some courses post signs or use social media to explain why play is postponed on frosty mornings.

Recovery techniques for damaged greens

Light aeration and overseeding can help rejuvenate damaged areas, improving air and water flow in the soil and promoting new growth.

Lightly applying sand and a controlled-release fertiliser can stimulate grass recovery without over-stressing it.

Course managers can assess frost-prone areas and adjust play or maintenance schedules accordingly to limit damage.

Preventing frost damage on golf greens requires proactive management and patience from golfers, but these strategies help maintain healthy, playable greens throughout the colder seasons.

Snow can have both positive and negative effects on golf courses, particularly on greens, tees, and fairways. Snow cover can insulate turf from extreme winter temperatures, but under certain conditions, it can also contribute to various types of damage that require management and repair come spring.

Here’s an overview of snow damage on golf courses and ways to mitigate it:

Types of snow damage

Snow mold disease is one of the common types of damage caused by extended snow cover. There are two types of snow mold fungi that affect turfgrass:
Gray Snow Mold (Typhula spp.) requires prolonged snow cover and affects both bentgrass and Poa annua, particularly in greens and fairways.

Pink Snow Mold (Microdochium nivale): Can develop with or without snow cover if conditions are cool and moist.

In cases where snow compacts into ice or when rain followed by freezing temperatures forms ice layers, the turf beneath can suffer.

Ice can block oxygen flow to the grass, especially affecting sensitive turf types like Poa annua, leading to death of the plant.

When temperatures fluctuate, grass can absorb moisture, which then freezes, causing cell damage within the plant. This is most common in late winter when brief thaws are followed by re-freezing.

Heavy snow accumulation can compact under its own weight, causing pressure damage to grass blades and leading to soil compaction if it melts and refreezes multiple times.

Advantages of snow cover

Snow acts as a natural insulator, buffering turf from extreme temperature drops and cold winds that could otherwise cause desiccation (drying out) of exposed grass.

As snow melts in spring, it provides slow-release moisture that can help turf recover from winter dormancy.

A consistent snow layer helps shield turf from temperature fluctuations that can cause freeze-thaw damage.

Preventive measures against snow damage

Applying preventative fungicides in late autumn fall can help protect against snow mold. Fungicides specifically for gray and pink snow mold are commonly applied to greens, fairways, and other high-traffic areas.

Good drainage helps prevent standing water that could freeze, and managing snow piles around greens and fairways minimises risk of ice build-up. Some courses even remove snow intentionally in early spring to promote faster thawing and drying of turf.

Protective covers are sometimes used on greens to insulate turf from both snow and ice damage. These covers reduce snow mold risk and prevent compaction from heavy snow.

Managing and repairing snow damage in spring

In cases of snow mold or ice damage, aeration and overseeding can help re-establish turf in affected areas. This approach improves soil aeration and promotes recovery by allowing new grass to grow.

Light applications of sand topdressing and balanced fertilisers encourage regrowth in damaged areas.

After thawing, light rolling helps level any frost heaving that may have occurred during winter and improves surface smoothness on greens.

For areas with active snow mold patches, a fungicide treatment may be necessary in early spring to prevent further spread as temperatures rise.
Informing golfers about the risks associated with snow damage, delayed spring opening, or turf recovery strategies helps build understanding and patience.

Regular monitoring of turf conditions throughout winter and early spring helps course managers / greenkeepers make timely decisions, like whether to remove snow from greens or apply additional treatments for snow mold.

Snow damage management on golf courses involves a combination of preventive care and active intervention. With proper preparation, monitoring, and repair practices, course managers can help golf courses emerge from winter in good shape, ready for the golf season ahead.