Frost covers as customer service

frost winter Japan Korea
Micah Woods
2022-10-07 2 min read

I used to think of frost covers as a way to protect the grass. After I worked as a golf course superintendent in Japan, I learned that frost covers can also be used as a customer service.

It is common to see golfers playing on frosted turf in Japan. This green gets morning sun; a frost cover was not used on this green on this morning.
It is common to see golfers playing on frosted turf in Japan. This green gets morning sun; a frost cover was not used on this green on this morning.

James Huntoon and I discussed frost delays on the ATC Doublecut.

I mentioned that I may do a blog post with some photos showing how frost covers are used as a customer service, rather than as a way to protect the grass. Here it is, a bit of a photo essay.

A frost cover on the practice putting green allows golfers to warm-up on a portion of the green that doesn't have frost.
A frost cover on the practice putting green allows golfers to warm-up on a portion of the green that doesn’t have frost.
The third green remains shaded through much of the morning so a frost cover was used on this green.
The third green remains shaded through much of the morning so a frost cover was used on this green.

Foot traffic on the frosted portions of the creeping bentgrass greens did not produce visible damage to the putting surfaces.
Foot traffic on the frosted portions of the creeping bentgrass greens did not produce visible damage to the putting surfaces.

This green remains frosted until midday so a frost cover is placed over the area where the day's hole location will be.
This green remains frosted until midday so a frost cover is placed over the area where the day’s hole location will be.

I’ve also seen these tools placed at every tee. The tools are provided as a service to the golfers also, with the assumption that there will be play when the ground is frozen.

This tool for getting tees into frozen ground is provided as a convenience on a golf course tee in Korea.
This tool for getting tees into frozen ground is provided as a convenience on a golf course tee in Korea.
The weighted and spiked tool makes a space in frozen soil into which a tee can be placed.
The weighted and spiked tool makes a space in frozen soil into which a tee can be placed.

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