2026 Adverse Weather Conditions & How This Is Affecting Our Golf Courses

Weather Benefits and Challenges  for Golf Courses

This unusually warm and dry winter has allowed for an uninterrupted golf season — something we know many of you have enjoyed. However, the lack of snowfall does come with challenges when it comes to maintaining healthy playing conditions.

Snow cover typically acts as a protective blanket for dormant turf. Without it, high-traffic areas can become thin, and soil structure can be compromised. Because the turf is not actively growing, it cannot recover from wear in the same way it would during the growing season. To protect the course for spring and in-season play, we’ve had to adjust our maintenance practices to fit this unusual weather pattern.

Canada Geese & Turf Wear

Another impact of open turf throughout the winter has been increased Canada geese activity. With changing migratory patterns, many geese now remain in our area year-round, and golf courses naturally attract them.

While waste management is part of normal operations, this season’s continuous stretch of dry, exposed turf has created an extreme situation. Constant sweeping and blowing to manage debris can further damage already stressed, dormant turf. On some areas of the course, we’ve had to reduce cleanup frequency to prevent additional wear.

We understand that this may affect playability at times. With irrigation systems now activated and the potential for an early spring green-up, we look forward to increasing cleanup efforts as turf conditions allow.

Cart Traffic & Course Protection

Cart traffic is always something we carefully monitor. This year, with no snow cover and steady winter play, the turf has been especially vulnerable. We limited cart use early in the season to prevent irreversible damage.

The recent shift to walking-only play was not a decision taken lightly. It was made to give the course the best opportunity to recover and provide more normal playing conditions by spring. Any carts currently on the course are accommodations for golfers with disabilities.

What We’re Doing to Keep the Course Playable

Our team has been actively managing conditions throughout the winter:

• Haze geese as permitted under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
• Hand-water high-value turf areas such as greens and tees
• Activate irrigation systems in early February to restore moisture to turf and trees
• Reduce traffic from golf carts and maintenance equipment
• Implement practices to encourage earlier turf recovery, including:
  • Black sand applications to increase soil temperatures
  • Turf pigments to reduce UV stress and enhance photosynthetic efficiency
• Maintain a strategic drought response plan
• Use seeding and aeration only when necessary — while effective, these methods require significant labor and water and can take months before areas are fully playable

Protecting the turf we currently have is far more sustainable than rebuilding from seed after preventable damage.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate these unique conditions. Our goal is always to balance playability today with the long-term health of the golf course — ensuring the best possible experience for the entire season ahead.