Miles Bennett
Summer is prime golf season, with long days and warm temperatures providing plenty of opportunities to get out on the course. However, golfing in the summer comes with its own set of challenges and rules. From adjusting to extreme weather conditions to avoiding common rule breaches, golfers need to be prepared for a different set of circumstances when playing in the summer months. So, what exactly are the summer rules in golf, and how can you make sure you're following them correctly?
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Bunker washouts
To prevent and manage bunker washouts, regular inspections and assessments are crucial. Early detection of washouts allows for timely intervention and prevents the issue from escalating. Daily raking and edging are essential to maintaining bunkers, as they ensure an even playing surface, remove footprints, and minimize compaction. Proper drainage is also critical, and bunker drainage systems should be regularly inspected and cleaned to remove any debris or blockages.
In the event of a washout, prompt repair is necessary to restore the bunker's original design and preserve its intended challenges and aesthetics. This involves regrading and redistributing the sand, ensuring it is compacted to prevent contamination with soil, which can impact drainage.
While minor washouts may only require minimal staff time and resources for repair, major washouts can be costly and time-consuming. To reduce the occurrence of washouts, renovations addressing drainage and design issues may be necessary. This can include grading the topography to divert water around bunkers and installing bunker liners and internal drainage systems to manage water flow and reduce sand contamination.
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Grass maintenance
Maintaining the grass on a golf course is a full-time job. It requires a lot of equipment and attention to detail. The local climate and the grass type are two of the biggest factors that golf course superintendents consider when maintaining the turf.
In temperate climates, turf maintenance is relatively straightforward. Most golf courses in these climates use cool-season grasses like bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and ryegrass. These grasses require regular fertilization, aeration, and irrigation. During the colder months, superintendents mow the greens shorter to keep pests away and promote growth in the spring. In the summer, they allow the grass to grow longer for better heat tolerance.
In subtropical regions, warm-season grasses like Bermuda grass, Zoysia grass, couch grass, and Kikuyu grass are more suitable. These grasses can withstand heat and moisture better and are drought-resistant. They can survive without irrigation in hot, humid climates, but they require more frequent watering in cooler temperatures.
Regardless of the climate, it's important to fertilize, aerate, and water the grass properly. Chemical fertilizers, herbicides, growth regulators, and plant stimulants are necessary for the health of the golf course, but they must be used and stored safely to avoid accidental exposure.
Mowing is also an essential part of golf course maintenance. Different parts of the course will need to be mowed in different ways and at different heights. The tee boxes and greens should be mowed with a hand mower to cut the turf very low and precisely. Fairways can be mowed with a rotary mower to reduce costs. The best time to mow is right after heavy rain when the course is closed, as it is time-consuming. During the spring and fall, grass should be mowed to about 0.140 inches, while in the summer, it can be lowered to 0.100 inches.
In addition to grass maintenance, golf course superintendents must also consider other projects, such as maintaining equipment, irrigation systems, and golf carts.
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Golf attire
For tops, a collared shirt is standard. This can be a polo shirt or a button-down shirt with a collar, with long or short sleeves. In hot weather, short sleeves are preferable, and the shirt should be made of a lightweight, breathable fabric. Polo shirts are a popular choice as they are both stylish and functional, and they come in a variety of styles and colours.
For bottoms, tailored trousers or shorts are typical. Shorts should have belt loops and a belt, and be functional and comfortable. In hot weather, shorts are a good option to stay cool, but trousers can also work if you opt for a lightweight fabric.
Golf shoes are also an important part of the outfit. There are three main types: steel spikes, soft spikes, and spikeless. Steel spikes are used by professionals but are banned on most amateur courses. Soft spikes have plastic and rubber spikes, while spikeless shoes have small rubber studs on the sole.
It is also important to accessorise wisely. Hats are essential to protect your scalp and face from the sun, and sunglasses with UV protection can safeguard your eyes. It is also important to apply sunscreen to any exposed skin.
Lastly, it is worth noting that golf courses may have their own unique dress codes, so it is always a good idea to check before you go.
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Course availability
Summer is prime golf season, with long days and warm temperatures providing plenty of opportunities to get out on the course. However, the availability of golf courses during the summer months can be affected by a few factors.
Firstly, extreme weather conditions such as strong storms, lightning, and high heat or humidity can impact course availability. While golf course staff will take measures to mitigate the effects of harsh weather, such as using sprinklers and fans to cool and hydrate the grass, there may be times when play is interrupted or delayed due to safety concerns or maintenance issues. In the event of severe weather, players are usually advised to vacate the course and will only be allowed back on once the all-clear is given by management.
Another factor affecting course availability is maintenance practices. During the summer, golf course superintendents may need to adjust their maintenance routines to protect the grass. This could include raising the height of the cut on putting greens or mowing them less frequently, which may temporarily slow down play but is necessary to prevent long-term damage.
Golf course policies can also impact availability. Some courses may have rules regarding the age of players, with restrictions on youth under a certain age, and requirements for adult supervision for younger players. Additionally, there may be regulations on golf cart usage, including age restrictions and distance requirements from greens and tees.
It's important to note that each golf course may have its own specific rules and policies, and these can vary depending on location and management. Players should familiarize themselves with the policies of the course they plan to visit to ensure they comply with any course availability requirements.
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Rules breaches
While the term "summer rules" in golf was not found, here is some information on rules breaches in golf that you may find useful.
Golfers must not improve or allow to be improved:
- The position or lie of their ball
- The area of their intended stance or swing
- Their line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the hole
- The area in which they are to drop or place a ball
This includes actions such as pressing a club on the ground, moving or bending anything growing or fixed, creating or eliminating irregularities of surface, and removing or pressing down on sand, loose soil, replaced divots, or other cut turf placed in position. For example, a golfer may be penalised for improving their line of play by pressing their club to the ground.
Another example of a rules breach is moving stakes that mark Out of Bounds. While a player may move hazard stakes and other movable obstructions, anything that marks Out of Bounds cannot be moved.
Additionally, golfers should be careful when playing in bunkers. Dropping a club in a bunker is not considered "grounding the club", which is defined as touching the ground with a club to test the conditions within a hazard. However, this can still cost a golfer two strokes, as it is a breach of Rule 14-3.
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Frequently asked questions
Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and consider wearing moisture-wicking clothing, such as metal vent tech t-shirts. You can also try using cool towels that can be wrapped around your neck.
Superintendents may raise the height of the cut on putting greens or mow them less frequently to help prevent damage. Golfers may also encounter maintenance staff using sprinklers or hoses to water key areas of the course, as well as fans running near some putting greens.
Yes, one common practice is venting aeration, which involves creating small holes or slices in the putting surface to encourage air and water movement. This helps promote healthy roots and can dry out wet putting greens.
