The above pictures represent some of the practices we employ on the golf course to keep the grass alive through the winter. Ice on greens for an extended period of time will cause certain death in the areas where the ice sits. Often times in these locations, the sub-layer of soil is frozen, which doesn't allow the water to percolate through the soil in the winter. What we end up with is the water pooling in the low areas on the greens and then freezing, essentially over time, cutting of the oxygen to the grass plants. The pictures above of the 6th green, show us actually aerating the ice to loosen it up so we can then shovel the ice off the greens. The area of the green where the ice was removed, was actually already starting to turn a little black, which is a sign of a lack of oxygen. The greens are monitored closely through the winter months and what causes the ice formation is the fluctuating temps. When we get any thaw, we are out there on the course proactively removing any ice that may form on the greens. Here is an article on ice damage that is very informative...http://www.golfklubben.no/arkiv/2013/11/1384183240/winterkill.pdf
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