It’s raining. It’s pouring. It seems like almost every week we’re getting a huge downpour and we’re seeing the ‘course closed’ signs out too much for your liking.
We don’t need an Ark. The rain will eventually stop, even if it doesn’t seem likely anytime soon looking at the upcoming forecasts.
But even when it finally starts to dry up, the drama for your golf courses is not over. No, not by a long chalk.
So how does rain – and particularly heavy rain – affect them? How long can damage last, and is there anything our hardworking greenkeeping teams can do to mitigate it?
Let’s take a look…
How does rain affect golf?
Walking on wet grass really damages it
You think grass grows in soil. But you would be wrong. The roots actually grow in air spaces between soil particles. Think of the soil as like a sponge.
There are some pockets where you want air and some where you want water. It’s almost like a honeycomb. That structure is crucial because it means water can drain freely through the soil profile.
But if you start walking on it, particularly when the grass is saturated, then the pockets can close up. Water doesn’t move through as easily and it it takes longer to dry out.
There’s another problem with roots that haven’t got access to air. After a period, they weaken and begin to die off. If you’ve ever noticed waterlogged grass turning brown, you have seen that in action.
Walking on grass when it’s like this – whether water is flooded on the surface – compacts and pushes the grass into the soil – crushing the area where the roots are.
How does rain affect golf courses: The damage may last for months
The rain stops. But even though the surface might start drying out, it’s sometimes what you can’t see that makes the real difference. A couple of inches down into the soil and it might still be soaking wet. It’s then simply topping up the next time precipitation arrives.
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Deterioration in the playing surface may require remedial action and additional works to put right.
If this happens during the winter, when the turf is months away from being able to benefit from warm growing weather again, there is no chance for any sustained recovery to take place. That won’t arrive until well into the Spring.
It’s a vicious circle – but you can help
Rain following rain, especially if it’s during the later months, is a greenkeeper’s worst nightmare. With wet, warmer, winters leading to increased disease activity, clubs will need to get used to greater deterioration of surfaces as it continues, more cost to try and put it right, and the fear that they’ll be playing catch up well into the following season.
Of course, no one can stop the weather. No one can stop it raining. But there are things clubs can do to try and mitigate the effects of rain and winter weather when we can get out on the course. They need your buy in to get it done.
Restricting the use of buggies and trolleys, using winter wheels, roping off areas, using mats to protect fairways and tees – these are measures that aren’t always popular with golfers but can have a big impact.
Now have your say
How does rain affect golf at your course? Does your club already do some of the measures suggested here? Let us know how it’s handled by getting in touch on X.
