Issued By The

UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION GREEN SECTION
P. O. Box 73

Benjamin Fhanklin Station 
Washington, D. C.

DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS: Much of the winter injury to turf is caused, by the fact 
that, because of inadequate drainage, the soil remains wet and soggy after thaw­
ing. Poor drainage also aggravates the heaving due to alternate freezing and 
thawing and such heaving is particularly hard on seedling turf. In late fall and 
winter, therefore, all drainage ditches should be opened if they have become 
choked. The outlets of all tile lines should be inspected and the catch basins 
cleaned to allow for a capacity flow of water next spring.

Areas which are known to remain wet for undue lengths of time in 

the spring might well be provided with tile drains now or during the next few 
months when weather permits. The water-logged condition which may frequently 
exist on such areas is likely to encourage snowmold as well as the summer diseases. 
Also, in water-logged soil, the water replaces the air which is ordinarily present 
between soil particles and is needed by the roots of plants if normal growth is to 
take place. On the golf courses such wet areas interfere seriously with early 
spring playing.

Where seepage from shelves of rock or a hard-pan results in water­

logging large areas on hillsides this condition can usually be rather easily 
remedied by the installation of tile drains on the hillside above the seepage.
On golf courses such seepage may affect an entire fairway. During the months of 
little play the tile drainage system can be installed with a minimum amount of 
inconvenience to the players.

PRUNING TREES: It is well to do all the necessary pruning of trees during the 
winter months. This work can -be done during the spells of good weather and result 
in the minimum of interference with the use of adjacent turfed areas. This is 
particularly true on golf courses where there is little play during winter months. 
In low areas, the removal of tree branches which interfere with adequate circulation 
or air may help to reduce materially the extent and severity of disease attacks 
next summer. Shrubs also may be pruned at this time provided they do not flower 
in the spring. Those which flower in the spring, however, should not be pruned 
until after their next flowering season.

COASTING AND SKIING ON TURFED AREAS: Many golf courses and parks are established 
on rolling or hilly land which is suitable for skiing or tobogganing. Where possi­
ble, these sports should be encouraged because little if any damage is done to turf 
by these sports provided the areas which are used are kept covered with snow. The 
injury which does occur is usually due to someone’s shuffling across a piece of 
exposed turf when the surface soil is thawed.

Many fairways with long hills may be used to advantage for slides. 

Occasionally small areas which have only a thin covering of snow in the morning 
become bare or nearly so during the middle of the day. If a thin layer of snow is 
immediately shoveled over such areas it will protect the turf and greatly improve 
the slide.

For skiing a long hill sloping towards the north or northeast is 

ideal. Skiing usually results in more injury to young trees and shrubbery than to 
the turf on a golf course. Therefore, any low trees and shrubs which are near the 
principal skiing areas and are likely to be largely covered with snow should be 
marked as clearly as possible.

December 1940

1

SKATING RINKS ON TURF: In sections of the country where winters are mild to 
severe it is possible to use turfed areas for winter sports without any ser­
ious injury to the grass, provided proper precautions are taken so far as drain­
age is concerned.

It is frequently believed that a sheet of ice will kill turf and 

that therefore the idea of a skating rink on a turfed area should be tabooed at 
the outset. Actually, grass is seldom injured merely by a cover of ice. The in­
jury that is sometimes observed associated with ice sheets is usually caused by 
standing water rather than by the ice and is particularly likely to occur in low- 
pocketed areas.

The growth of snowmold fungi (see T.T.T., October, 1940) is en­

couraged by water and thrives on heavily fertilized grass that is kept covered 
and wet in the winter. It is therefore important that ample provision is made 
for the draining of flooded areas when thaws take place. During the warmer per­
iods in winter these fungi may develop on the grass under the ice. To prevent 
such disease attacks it is well to avoid the application of fertilizer in late 
summer or fall on areas which are to be flooded. An application of corrosive 
sublimate or calomel at the rate of 3 or 4 ounces to 1,000 square feet would fur­
nish additional insurance against possible injury from snowmold. The fungicide 
may be mixed with sand or screened topdressing and applied uniformly over the 
area just before starting to build up the ice sheet. This latter step is not nec­
essary on well-drained areas or where the turf is composed of disease-resistant 
types of grasses which have not been over-fertilized. Any slight injury to the 
turf can usually be taken care of by spring seedings.

Any reasonably flat area on golf courses, lawns or parks where 

water is readily available may be flooded to make a skating rink. The ground 
should be well frozen before starting to build up the sheet of ice. Not only 
does this protect the grass but it increases the chances of getting good ice 
without the formation of troublesome air pockets or shell ice. If there is snow 
on the ground it should be removed before the area is flooded. Boards 8 to 10 
inches wide make a sufficiently high outer wall to the rink to build the ice 
against, and are easily removed when the ice begins to melt. Packed wet snow 
may also be used as an outer wall against which to build the rink.

Better skating ice is made by frequent light sprayings than by 

heavy flooding. Each successive layer of water should be sufficiently thin to 
freeze rapidly and not run off the area, since it is this latter process which 
causes "shell ice". Every effort should be made to keep the ice free from leaves, 
cigarette butts, sticks or other dark objects since they absorb light and heat from 
the sun and may "burn" holes through the ice.

When such skating rinks are established in public areas such as 

golf courses and parks it is well, when possible, to have separate rinks for hockey 
and general skating. Where those who are using the rinks are sufficiently interest­
ed in figure skating to justify special consideration, special hours may be re­
served for figure skaters or one section of the rink may be set aside for their use.
The establishment of skating rinks on golf courses and parks will 
do much to stimulate off-season interest in the clubs and parks. In order to con­
tinue to attract the skaters, however, the ice must be kept in good condition. 
Imperfections in the ice due to cracks, "warts", "blisters", etc., should be reme­
died by filling, planing, spraying or any other satisfactory methods.

OHIO SHORT COURSE: Dr. Monteith and John Bengston have been invited to represent 
the Green Section on the program of the Ohio short course for greenkeepers which 
is to be held December 10 to 12 in Columbus. It is to be sponsored by the College 
of Agriculture of Ohio State University and details concerning the course may be 
obtained from George M. McClure, Assistant Professor of Agronomy in the College of 
Agriculture at Columbus. He has informed us that a registration fee of $5.00 will 
be charged to help defray the expenses incurred in giving the course.

December 1940 

T.T.T. 2

WINTER SPORTS ON GOLF COURSES: Accommodations for winter sports can be provided 
readily on golf courses by the greenkeeper and his helpers. These sports will 
encourage the members and their entire families to use the club facilities the 
year around. Where the winters are only moderately severe, skating rinks, slides, 
and ski-jumps cannot be maintained continuously. However, club members can be 
notified easily whenever conditions are favorable for winter sports.

In addition to increasing the interest in the club, the providing 
of facilities for winter sports will furnish winter employment for at least some 
of the greenkeeping force. In this way the most desirable workmen can be retained 
throughout the season. When the greenkeeper can thus hold his best workmen year 
after year, better and more efficient turf maintenance may be expected.

CARE OF EQUIPMENT: During the months when machinery and tools are not in con­
stant use, they should be overhauled and gotten ready for next year. During this 
time they may well be cleaned and painted, all movable parts oiled or greased , 
and all worn or broken parts replaced. Such treatment of any or all of the equip­
ment will insure its longer life and more efficient service next spring and summer 
when the pressure of turf maintenance jobs does not leave time for such care of 
the equipment. Pieces of equipment which cannot thus be repaired should be re­
placed before spring.

The overhauling of equipment in use on golf courses or parks in­

WORKSHOPS: 
volves the necessity of a workshop in which to do this work and materials and 
tools with which to work. This is the time of year to take stock of what buildings 
are available on the grounds for this sort of work as well as for the shelter and 
protection of machinery, tools, and materials which are used during the growing 
season. If new construction or repair work is necessary in order to furnish such 
facilities, now would be the time to do it, in order to have the buildings to use 
during the remainder of the winter.

CLEARING UP OVERGROWN AREAS: Undesirable undergrowth and objectionable thickets 
can be cleared out whenever the weather permits either in late fall or during the 
winter. Where soil erosion is not to be feared, there is no need for postponing 
the job of burning over the rough until spring when there will be so many jobs 
waiting to be done. Doing such clean-up jobs during the winter will contribute 
to more efficient maintenance programs next spring.

MAKING WAY FOR THE MOWER: Expenses of mower repairs next spring and summer will 
be materially reduced if areas which are to be kept cut are cleared of all rock 
outcroppings, stumps, and the like. The players, too, will appreciate their re­
moval from fairways and rough and from recreation areas in the parks. In many 
cases, the quickest and most successful removal of these obstructions may involve 
the necessity of using dynamite. On parks and golf courses such a blasting pro­
gram cannot be carried out during these seasons in which the grounds are being 
used by players. Moreover, there is little time for such work during that part 
of the year when turf maintenance problems must occupy practically all of the 
time and attention of the greenkeeper and his workmen. The off-season months 
are therefore the time in which this work can best be done.

WINTER HELP ON GOLF COURSES: If turf is to be maintained efficiently and satis­
factorily on golf courses during the season of play, some help certainly should 
be maintained throughout the off-season. Often, serious interruptions and in­
conveniences can be avoided during the golf season by the judicious use of labor 
during the off-season. Many jobs could be done during the winter months, which 
when put off until spring, result in confusion during the rush season.

On most courses it should be possible to keep some of the green­

keeping force well-occupied through the winter months on jobs which will result 
in more efficient maintenance of turf during the following season of play and 
fewer complaints from the players.

December 1940 

T.T.T. 3