Fall Golf

AT THE LAKE

Story by PAUL LEAHY

I

t used to be after Labor Day the Lake slowed down, restaurants closed, and golf courses weren’t busy, but those times are long gone! September and October are some of the nicest times to visit, whether golfing, boating, hiking or just spending time at your Lake house, the fall is the perfect time to visit and enjoy Lake of the Ozarks!

When planning your trip this fall keep in mind some helpful hints to make your time extra special. Even though daylight savings time begins November 6 this year, remember the days get significantly shorter as we move toward November. On Labor Day sunrise is 6:45 a.m. and sunset is 7:34 p.m. Most courses don’t allow play until approximately 30 to 45 minutes after sunrise to allow the maintenance crew to prepare the course for play. By the end of September those times have changed to a sunrise at 7:06 a.m. and sunset at 6:54 p.m., and the days continue to get shorter and shorter each day. Just because it may be 70 to 80 degrees and perfect outside remember to plan accordingly to leave enough time to finish your round. With the shorter days and the courses still being as busy as when there were 14+ hours of daylight in July, be prepared for a fuller course. My suggestion is to plan your tee times early so you get the times you prefer. It may be a little cool first thing in the morning, but playing earlier will keep you away from the most popular times which are between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Just bring a light jacket you can shed and by the time you make the turn you will be in your short sleeves and in front of the crowds.

With fall temperatures comes the possibility of frost. What is frost? It is ice formed when water vapor on a surface is at or below 32 degrees, meanwhile the surrounding air temperature

could be above 32 degrees. Our temperature readings are usually measured from five to 10 feet above the ground since this is the level we live at. What does that mean for the golf course? It means that golfers can’t walk or play on the course until the frost is gone. If players are allowed to walk and play on the course while frost is present, the tops of the grass will die and brown spots will appear. This is detrimental for the greens in particular, so be patient with the course operator as they want to get you on the course as bad as you want to get out there. We are all at the mercy of “Mother Nature” when frost appears.

Green aeration is a maintenance practice that is done in the fall before the temperatures get to cold. This practice is necessary for the health of the turf grass and is something all golf courses must do yearly. Aeration is the process by which holes are put into the greens to allow for air to be able to get into the soil beneath the green. Aeration is needed when the soil beneath the surface of the green becomes compacted. When the soil is compacted, the grass roots struggle to breathe. We know it frustrates players and we do everything possible to not inconvenience you, but weather plays a huge part when this process can be done. Course operators will try and give you an estimated date, but many factors including weather, business demands and equipment availability can cause the

dates to fluctuate. Just be aware that if you plan to play in October at the Lake, some to all of the greens you play on may have been recently aerified.

When planning your fall golf trip to the Lake it’s a good idea to check the college and professional football schedules. I know it sounds crazy but if the University of Missouri or the Kansas City Chiefs have a home game, especially against a quality opponent, the courses will be less busy at game time. There may be a lot of golfers down for the weekend but they will want to be off the course and in front of the TV at kickoff. If you’re not a dye-hard football fan you might be able to score yourself a deal on game day! The overall conditions of the golf courses are typically at their best in September and early October. The turf grass gets a reprieve from the stifling summer heat and the course superintendents can speed the greens up as the worry of heat stress is in the rearview mirror. You can typically find some great fall tournaments to play in such as the Bucket Tournament held at the Oaks at Margaritaville Lake Resort or the Fall Couples Scramble at Lake Valley Country Club. There is nothing better than waking up on a crisp fall morning to hit the links, taking in the beauty of the colors of the trees and finishing the day at sunset with a cocktail at your favorite watering hole overlooking Lake of the Ozarks.

What are you waiting for? Book your tee times today by visiting www.golfingmissouri.com.

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