After a record-breaking hurricane season in 2020 that saw 30 named storms form in the Atlantic, 2021 has continued the onslaught of tropical storms and heavy rainfall throughout the Southeast. This year has already seen 20 named storms, making it the third-most-active year on record. Significant storms including Elsa, Fred and Ida have impacted our communities and golf courses. With the current trend in tropical storm activity, every golf course needs a plan for storm preparedness and recovery.
First and foremost is obviously the safety of golfers and staff. Resources are available through the National Weather Service to prepare, but there are also special considerations for golf courses.
Before the Storm
- Make sure your team and their families are safe and out of harm’s way. Update contact information for all employees and write out a plan for evacuation of the property and return to work.
- Document, photograph and take inventory of buildings, equipment, irrigation components and other assets. Move equipment indoors or to high ground if necessary.
- Shut down the irrigation system and back up irrigation computer information. Remove impediments to golf course drainage and any golf course accessories like rakes and trash cans. Pump down water storage ponds if possible to increase stormwater holding capacity.
- Apply plant growth regulators to all actively growing turfgrass surfaces prior to the storm and make plant protectant applications to putting greens. These applications will be important if you are unable to mow or access the course with equipment for an extended period of time.
- Ready equipment, fuel, fuel storage and contract services for potential damage remediation following the storm – e.g., chainsaws, pumps and generators. Take some wood cutting equipment home to make sure you can create access to the golf course if fallen trees or limbs are an issue.
After the Storm
- Communicate with all staff to ensure their safety and discuss when people can return safely to work.
- Evaluate the golf course for potential damage, flooding and safety concerns as a team. No one should be on the property alone.
- Set priorities, build a recovery plan and ensure there is safe access to the maintenance facility for staff.
- Contact necessary contractors and communicate with other managers across your facility to prioritize needs and optimize the response.
- Take photos of any damage and track labor hours associated with storm cleanup and repair for insurance and future management purposes. Contact the insurance company as soon as possible if any damage has occurred.
- Assess turfgrass needs and potential salt, silt and debris remediation.
- Work your plan and ready the golf course for the return of play. Make sure your management team and staff have ample time off to rest and take care of their family and personal property.
While rainfall is inconsistent across the Southeast, many areas are experiencing one of their top-five years for precipitation. Saturated conditions increase the chance of damage from traffic, which is exacerbated by record numbers of rounds. These USGA resources provide more information on storm preparedness, recovery and drainage improvements:
“Fore The Golfer: What to Expect After the Storm”
“One Year After Hurricane Harvey: Lakeside Country Club”
“Golf Course Recovery From Flooding”
“Solving Golf Course Drainage Problems Starts With A Plan”
Southeast Region Agronomists:
Chris Hartwiger, director, USGA Course Consulting Service – chartwiger@usga.org
Steve Kammerer, Ph.D., senior consulting agronomist – skammerer@usga.org
Jordan Booth, agronomist – jbooth@usga.org