Course Management Tips for Autumn Golf in Colorado

Autumn golf in Colorado

The golf season is coming to a close, cool air has started to settle in, and the crisp clear mornings are a delight, as we have had a hot summer here in Colorado Springs. In Colorado, the fall is one of the best times to play golf with the season’s changing trees, cooler temperatures and great course conditions that cannot be beat anywhere. You have had all summer to refine your game to play the best golf of the season in the fall.  I have a few tips to help you play your best and a few things to keep in mind during the upcoming season.

With the fall season comes aerification, which is the process of helping with the compaction of the greens, fairways, tees, and the rough. This process is a necessary evil that needs to take place in order for the course to be ready for the following season. When you are playing on a recently aerified golf course, it is acceptable to move your ball out of a hole that your ball may be sitting in. This will help with the initial roll right away.

As always, remember to fix your ball marks and fill your divots, as this helps the maintenance staff keep the course in the best condition possible. When you are preparing to play or at the course for practice sessions, try to keep the range in the best shape possible. When you are hitting, try to keep all of your divots close to one another. This will help the golf staff when setting up the range each morning; they may have a tough time finding good turf because the distance between the divots covers a large area.

Cooler temperatures at night may cause frost to be present on the golf course in the morning.  When players arrive at the course for an early morning tee time, please make sure to check with the golf course staff to ensure that there is no frost on the practice areas or the course. If there is frost and a player walks on the putting green or driving range tee, it can cause major damage and take weeks to repair. We all know that this can be frustrating that you are delayed; just keep in mind the staff is trying to prevent damage to golf course, and be respectful of those decisions.

Harder ground conditions during the cooler months will cause the ball to roll more, which you will need to factor in with your tee shot and your approach. Sometimes taking out the 3 wood or a long iron will put you in a better position off the tee. Your approach shot will also need to hit short of where you would normally hit to compensate for the harder conditions. Once you find the distance to the pin, think of the distance you would like your shot to land, and hit that club instead of hitting the shot the exact distance.

My hope is that you have gained a few tips for fall golf and that you will keep these tips in mind when you play. Good luck out there, and keep it in the fairway.

Ben