From the Dormie Network Superintendent Team

As golf course turf managers, we’re often asked what keeps us busy during the off-season. The short answer is: plenty! Just like the farmer that looks after equipment or does paperwork during the winter, or the office worker that catches up on sidelined projects and plans for the year ahead, Agronomy teams use this time to maintain the tools that maintain the course. Golfers may have the misconception that when play winds down, work on the golf course comes to a stop, but the off-season is arguably our most productive few months.

Improvements that impact playability as little as possible.
During the winter, Agronomy team members prioritize projects that cannot be done in-season without affecting golf course playability, like installing irrigation, adding drainage, removing trees and brush, renovating bunkers, and much more. Though these projects could be completed in-season, they’re often delayed so we can focus on mowing, watering, spraying, and maintaining bunkers to keep the course in great shape for your game. It’s a delicate balance of efficiently completing these large-scale projects that sustain the course for the long term without affecting tee times and causing mid-game disruption, and we do it by scheduling them when there are far fewer players.

Meeting your in-season expectations starts in the off-season.
Healthy turf that’s cut short makes for a great game, and we love a challenge. To make this possible, during the winter we sharpen mower reels and inspect and service each piece of equipment. Winter is also a natural time for equipment upgrades and changeouts; at Victoria National, for example, the team received new utility vehicles, greens rollers, and mowers. To make the most of our investment, an equipment manager ensures the old fleet is cleaned and service to be ready for resale.

It’s not all about the grass, though. Think of the numerous on-course accessories that are part of the game: tee markers, yardage markers, flagsticks, cart signs, benches, water coolers, etc. To ensure each piece looks fresh for the season ahead, we restore them completely by sandblasting, painting, detailing, and polishing. These indoor projects are perfect for the team to work on while it’s raining, snowing, or too cold to be on the course. And while equipment maintenance is very different than irrigation install, off-season ag projects both large and small directly impact your experience when the season starts.