It’s raining. It’s pouring. It seems like almost every week we’re getting a huge downpour and the greenkeepers are wondering whether they need to put the ‘course closed’ signs out.
But even though the rain eventually stops, the drama for our golf courses does not end there. So how does rain – and particularly heavy rain – affect them? How long can damage last, and is there anything our hardworking club 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.
