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Managing Frost Delays | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | JANUARY 2024 | 23 I hope everyone had a great Holiday Season and were able to spend quality time with family and friends. I can't believe it's already January 2024! As we are now in the middle of the winter season, the chilly overnight and morning temperatures will tend to bring frost. When that happens the Golf Shop will implement a "frost delay" and push back tee times until the ground has warmed up enough to melt the frost. What is frost? Frost is frozen dew that crystallizes on the grass, making it hard and brittle. Blades of grass consist of 90 percent water, which is why it freezes so easily. If someone walks or drives on the frozen grass this will cause the plant to break and the grass cell walls to rupture thereby hindering the grass to grow normally as well as making it susceptible to disease and weeds. You may think that it needs to be freezing to create frost; however, this is not the case. Frost begins to form at 40°F or lower and may occur overnight, but it often occurs at sunrise before the temperature begins to rise. Grass absorbs the sunlight and heat during the day and then loses the heat when the sun goes down. The results of this could cause the temperature of the ground and grass to be cooler than the air temperature. If the sky is clear there is a greater chance for frost. When there is cloud cover this tends to keep the air and ground warmer, almost acting as a blanket. Did you know that the average foursome will take approximately 300 steps on each putting green? And with the effects of walking on the grass not being seen immediately the golfer may not understand the importance of a frost delay. On average the effects of frost damage are not seen until 48 to 72 hours after the damage has occurred, causing the grass to turn brown and die. No signs of frost on the first tee? That doesn't mean you will get the "all clear" sign. A little frost can cause big delays. If frost remains in the areas that are unavoidable early in the round, the course must remain closed. It is also important to remember that once the frost is totally clear, the maintenance staff will need time to catch up on preparing the course before play can begin. The Golf Staff will inform you if there is a frost delay by posting it on the website under the daily course info tab as well as the daily course info phone line by 7 am each morning. Please use the streets and paths on your way to the Golf Shops and do not drive on the grass until the frost delay has been lifted. With your help, we can keep the course conditions looking great at Sun Lakes Country Club. Good Golfing! ~ Brian Garlington, PGA, Director of Golf

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