The cooler weather this week confirms we are off to a slow start this year. Looking back at weather data for April 5th over the last five years, we can determine the plants are about 14 days behind schedule. Turf managers can use growing degree days to help determine the plant's activity. Growing degree days or GDD are a way to measure heat accumulation in a given year.
What are Growing Degree Days?
The sum of the number of degrees by which each day's average temperature exceeds a base temperature (32°).
How are GDD calculated?
GDD = [(maximum temperature + minimum temperature) / 2] - 32
For example on April 4th, the high of 46° and the low of 34° resulted in a GDD accumulation of 8.
Currently, we have accumulated 96 GDD this year. Comparing the GDD on this date over the last five years, we are averaging 200 GDD behind schedule. This translates to the plants being about 14 days behind schedule of where they have been over the last five years on this date.
The golf course will open to walkers as soon as the frost is out of the ground and conditions are reasonably firm. This is certainly hard to predict, but it looks like we are most likely about 10-14 days away from playing. Thanks for your patience, we will get you out as soon as possible.
What are Growing Degree Days?
The sum of the number of degrees by which each day's average temperature exceeds a base temperature (32°).
How are GDD calculated?
GDD = [(maximum temperature + minimum temperature) / 2] - 32
For example on April 4th, the high of 46° and the low of 34° resulted in a GDD accumulation of 8.
GDD = [(46+34)/2] - 32 = 8
Currently, we have accumulated 96 GDD this year. Comparing the GDD on this date over the last five years, we are averaging 200 GDD behind schedule. This translates to the plants being about 14 days behind schedule of where they have been over the last five years on this date.
The golf course will open to walkers as soon as the frost is out of the ground and conditions are reasonably firm. This is certainly hard to predict, but it looks like we are most likely about 10-14 days away from playing. Thanks for your patience, we will get you out as soon as possible.
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| #3 tee this morning with a dusting of snow |