Having recently moved from Homosassa, Florida to Pinehurst, North Carolina, I am struggling to acclimate to our rather chilly, early morning winter conditions. What makes matters worse, my employer (Pinehurst Country Club) commences outdoor activities at 6:00 am. Early morning temperatures during the winter months typically hover in the low thirties, climbing to the mid-high fifties by mid-afternoon. Over the past week and a half, we have experienced near record temperatures in the low double-digits.
Sustained cold weather conditions (temperatures dropping below 25F with high temperatures remaining below 32F) along with drying winds can cause significant damage to our Ultra-Dwarf Bermuda grass putting greens. When extreme winter weather teeters in the previously referenced ranges, superintendents weigh the risks of remaining open versus the safety of closing operations and preserving the courses’ most valuable asset.
Recently, a decision was made to close nine of the ten Pinehurst Country Club courses for six straight days as the Golf Course Maintenance crews deployed large, breathable, massive brown tarps, across all putting surfaces. The greenhouse effect created by the tarps allows the grass to breath and retain a certain amount of heat and moisture, even on cold days.
Having worked on golf courses for the past six years, I am occasionally tasked with undesirable assignments such as picking up sticks/pine cones, filling/leveling divots on the driving range and raking greenside/fairway bunkers (see MBGA). Each of these activities pale in comparison to participating in a “Tarp Party”, where a team of eight-ten employees drag, unfold, unfurl, orient and secure massive brown tarps; covering every inch of our Ultra-Dwarf Bermuda grass putting surfaces.
So, why the distain for a “Tarp Party”?
- In recent years, I have found that I enjoy the solitude of my own company; working independently, perched on top of a mower or tractor.
- I have little time and/or patience for a few of my less than energetic and overly chatty brethren.
- As a septuagenarian, when working in a team environment, I have become somewhat intolerant of being told what to do and/or when to do it. This perhaps isn’t a recent revelation!
- Aerobically, if you give it your all, deploying/removing tarps is a handful!
The following article was published on February 6, 2025, in Pinehurst County Club’s “Member Minute”, titled, “The Mammoth Task of Tarping the Greens”.
“Few of us enjoy when winter temps drop severely here in the Sandhills, but members of PCC’s Golf Course Maintenance crews must really dread it. Except for #9 (which has Bentgrass greens) PCC’s greens are planted with Ultra-Dwarf Bermuda grass, and that particular grass type does not like cold and dry conditions. If not protected properly, the greens are susceptible to winter damage which could affect their condition for months to come.
A couple of weeks ago when temps fell into the teens and highs lingered near freezing, courses were closed and greens needed to be tarped. Stopping to do the math, you realize the enormity of this task. Courses #1-#8 and #10 plus the Cradle totals 171 greens, and then you add in all the practice greens as well as Thistle Dhu!
Each of the tarps are manufactured to the size of the individual greens. An average tarp size is approximately 80’ by 120’ or 9,600 square feet. Multiply 9,600 square feet times 180 greens, gives you about 1.75 million square feet of tarp! And that doesn’t account for the Thistle Dhu tarps which cover approximately 75,000 square feet. Altogether, the tarps cover over 1.8 million square feet or more than 40 acres. A bit beyond one’s imagination!
The tarps are stored in a rented warehouse space on Highway 5 and are removed from storage in December so they will be ready when needed. Through the winter, each tarp is positioned adjacent to the green for which it is designed. Then, when the weather dictates, a small army is called upon to deploy the tarps across the Pinehurst Country Club properties. The most recent covering event took about 100 people and almost 900 labor hours to install and remove the tarps! It was an all-hands-on-deck effort, utilizing the Golf Course Maintenance teams from across all ten courses.
Here’s hoping for nothing but warm weather for the rest of the winter, but it is nice to know we have the people and materials we need to keep our greens in great condition, even if Mother Nature sends us her worst.”
Note: The cost of turf covers ranges between $1,200- to $2,600- for each cover, depending on size. Tarps typically need to be replaced every six to seven years. Add an additional 10-15% to the cost of the turf covers for stakes, sandbags and supplies.
180 greens x $2,200- = $396,000- plus Thistle Dhu (equivalent of eight greens) totals an estimated $413,600-.
The “Tarp Party” is not for the faint of heart!
Thank you for following Bad Golf Guy! The back nine can only get better!
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