Golf Course Maintenance Winter Work Plans

First, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your support and positivity throughout the year. Seeing your satisfaction and excitement drives us.

A common question that golf course superintendents hear from golfers is: “what do you guys do in the winter?” Sometimes I think they presume that there really isn’t much for a golf course grounds crew to do during the cold, snowy months of the New England winter.  The reality is actually quite the contrary.  The winter is an extremely important time to prepare for the following season. There are two phases to our winters on the course. Indoor work and on course work.

Typical inside winter tasks include sharpening and repairing all cutting units and doing preventative maintenance on all equipment. We clean, repair, and paint all course supplies. Organizing everything, taking inventory and planning for the spring is heavily important as well.

The bulk of the winter work for a course maintenance crew takes place out on the golf course.  Yes, we spend a lot of our winter work time outside. Golf is played on manicured turf; turf that is living, growing, and part of a larger eco system which includes trees and brush; trees and brush that are also living and growing. These trees and brush result in ongoing negative impacts on our precious greens, tees, and fairways… the turf grass.  Specifically, tree growth creates shade encroachment which reduces adequate sunlight reaching the turf. The roots suck up important nutrients the soil beneath the turf needs. The growth of low-level brush reduces air flow which causes moisture buildup in turf areas, resulting in increased risk of disease.  To sustain the healthy turf grass that golfers desire requires trees be cut and brush removed.  Winter is the best time to get this done.

The winter months are also the time in which operating budgets are developed, and supply purchases scheduled. Winter is also a time to catch up on the latest trends in turf grass management to ensure we are constantly learning and adapting. Our crew attends the annual New England Turf Conference and equipment show in Providence, Rhode Island

There you have it.  A golf course grounds crew, even here in New England, has plenty of work to stay busy throughout the months of the winter season.

I look forward to another great season and am extremely excited to continue to make improvements on this course. I couldn’t be more proud and happy to work for you all.


Thank you!

Zack Lamkin
Golf Course Superintendent