The current cold spell has made the course unplayable. With a combination of frost, ice and snow cover on the playing surfaces the potential for damage to the course is not worth the risk of opening for play. While a couple of greens and tees look ok on the surface the root zone is still frozen.

 

Just as soils freeze from the top down, so too do they thaw from the top down. As the snow and ice melts, the frozen soil beneath prevents the water from percolating into the ground, resulting in a mushy layer over a frozen layer.

 

When the greens are free of ice throughout their root zone, we will be able to open the course for play.

 

 

 

At times like this, any traffic, including feet, can cause rutting and root shearing. This USGA article and diagram help explain the situation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I understand that closing the course is not convenient, but the playing surfaces need to be protected to be able to be presented to high standards during the golfing season.
Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please contact me.

 

Regards
Jason Podris
Course Manager