Fort Hays golf course closing Dec. 1 to protect greens
By KALEY CONNER
The Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course will close for winter Dec. 1 to help protect the facility's recovering greens. The course is scheduled to reopen March 15.
The city has been making efforts to improve the course's back nine holes, which closed about two months ago due to grass deterioration.
"Our reasoning for shutting this down is we don't want to have the same thing happen to the front that happened to the back," said City Parks Director Jeff Boyle. "Nine holes get played all winter long, and that causes additional damage."
The course's pro shop also might close after the Christmas shopping season and possibly reopen in February, Boyle said. The course typically is open year-round, but golf is only allowed when the temperature is 40 degrees or higher.
Besides overuse, it was discovered the turf's root zone had a high pH level, which prevented the course's bentgrass from germinating.
City staff has been treating the greens with additional nutrients and aerating the damaged areas. These efforts have been effective, with the pH level dropping from a nine to a seven. The back nine holes are improving, with most areas "well above 90 percent" recovered, Boyle said.
Annual membership packages begin March 1 and last until the end of February. Members usually expect winter use to be minimal, Boyle said.
Membership numbers increased overall this year, and use has remained steady -- though players are limited to two rounds on the front nine, said Pro Shop Manager Rich Guffey.
While some customers are OK with the closure, others aren't so happy about it, Guffey said, noting the amount of annual winter use fluctuates with the weather.
"A golf course is kind of like farming; it's all weather-related a little bit," he said. "You've got to just take it as it comes and hope you do the right thing."
The greens also will be covered for the winter, an added precaution to protect the new growth. The covers will help keep wind off the grass and boost the greens' temperature, but will allow moisture to soak through, Boyle said.
"We're trying to give them that extra little oomph to get them going for the spring season," he said.