Golf courses race to keep up with warm temperatures

 

It might have been a little windy Wednesday to work on your golf game, but the warm weather across Michiana has many players itching to hit the greens.

It also has staff at Elcona Country Club in Elkhart County getting to work sooner than ever before.

On Tuesday, Course Superintendent Ryan Cummings sprayed a product that limits how much the grass can grow on the green. He explained this application makes the ball roll more smoothly and leads to happy golfers. Typically, the first application occurs in late March or early April, but our near record warm winter changed the game.

“It definitely expedited the process for a little bit. This is the first year I can recall getting a sprayer out and ready, let alone thinking about opening a golf course in February for sure," Cummings said.

But what does that mean for golfers? An early application could mean an early opening at Elcona.

“It definitely accelerates our process for opening up the club for a given year. And it prolongs the season makes the members happy for sure get out a little earlier, Cummings said.

The average an opening date for golfing at Elcona Country Club is March 17. With a little luck, and continued warm weather, the course will be open well before that target, and possibly even a few weeks ahead of schedule.