— Brad Panovich (@wxbrad) February 5, 2019In fact, the first 10 days of February was the driest stretch we have experienced in Charlotte since mid-July of last year. How wet are things now you ask. The golf course has received 1.72 inches rainfall this month, but all in the past seven days. And there is more in the immediate forecast as there is at least a 50% chance or greater each of the next six days!
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| Brad Panovich |
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| Feb 17, 2019 |
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| Feb 17, 2019 |
If you thought you were imagining things, you're not, the turf is slowly waking up. Albeit earlier than I would prefer as long-range extended forecasts are pointing to 2019 as similar to 1959. What happened then you ask. It seems a ridge over the southeastern U.S. dominated in February despite all indications a colder pattern should have taken place, but the cold finally arrived in March of that year. Let's hope that doesn't happen.
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| Feb 1959 |
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| Mar 1959 |
With all this talk about wet conditions and grass greening up too early I thought I would share with you something I experienced during my round of golf on The Old Course at St. Andrews exactly one month ago today. Did you know St. Andrews and many other links courses in the U.K. require players to use a small mat (piece of artificial turf) during the winter months. Why would they do this you ask. To preserve and protect the golf course as the turf is not growing and unable to recover from divots.
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| Alec in blue, Gordon in red |
Our fairway turf goes dormant every winter and doesn't recover from divots too. But what really got me thinking was how wet our golf course was, especially in late December just before I traveled across. We had 8 inches rainfall the month of December and the course was soaked. It was hard to walk, let alone play a well struck shot. Perhaps a mat would allow one to hit the ball cleanly during saturated conditions and avoid the subsequent face full of mud so prevalent during the winter dormant season. It seems to me that is the biggest thing I witness during the winter months, players exhibiting frustration with trying to play full shots or pitch shots from near the green off the dormant canopy, especially when the ground is soft.
Anyway, it's just a thought. I know it seems odd coming from a traditionalist like me but if you're only interested in getting some fresh air and having a little fun, then maybe there's some merit to it. After all, if it's good enough for the Home of Golf who are we to disagree. Besides, before I departed the U.K. to return home Gordon surprised me with my very own mat to commemorate my experience, and I have it and the ball I used proudly on display at home with my collection. :)
See you on the course,
Matthew Wharton, CGCS, MG
