Playing After Severe Storms

A recent article written by Tim Moraghan in Golf Course Industry Magazine(August 2019), discusses the two things superintendents have no control over are the weather and golfers. He wrote a series of “Dear NARP” letters.  NARP stands for “Non-Agronomic Real Person.”  For example, if a storm just went through, even though the sun is now shining, doesn’t mean the course is dry and ready to play.  Here are his thoughts on SEVERE STORMS.

Let’s hope none of us has to endure tornados, hurricanes, hailstorms or other freakish acts of nature. But they occur, and just as you worry about the damage they’ll do to your home, your super has to deal with their effects to the course. Even if it’s nothing serious, cleaning up after any of these events is long, hard, messy work, which doesn’t go any faster because NARPs want to know when they can get back out and play.

Believe it or not, dealing with severe damage to the course is an emotional experience for superintendents and their crews. It’s really tough to see all their hard work washed away or chewed up. Months of planning and effort can be wiped out in minutes. The staff knows you want to play as soon as possible, but a golf course is a living thing that doesn’t heal from major trauma with a snap of the fingers.

No matter what the weather – and for the record, I believe that climate change is real and will continue – please be considerate, understanding and patient as your superintendent and crew do all they can to get the course back into shape.

Tim Moraghan, principal, ASPIRE Golf (tmoraghan@aspire-golf.com). Follow Tim’s blog, Golf Course Confidential at www.aspire-golf.com/buzz.html or on Twitter @TimMoraghan

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