September in Arizona brings cooler mornings, better golf weather…and the annual disappearance of our golf courses.
Yes, overseeding season is just around the corner.
Every fall, courses mow their summer Bermuda grass extremely short and plant cool-season ryegrass over it. Bermuda thrives in our blazing summers but slows down and turns brown when temperatures drop. Ryegrass prefers cooler weather and gives us those beautiful green fairways we enjoy all winter.
Overseeding also:
- Creates a healthier, more consistent playing surface during winter
- Helps the turf withstand heavy play and cart traffic
- Fills in thin areas and crowds out weeds
- Makes the course look great for peak golf season
- Gives us one less excuse for why the ball ended up in someone’s backyard
Unfortunately, creating those winter conditions takes time—and quite a bit of money. Estimates can run several thousand dollars per acre. Once you include seed, fertilizer, water, equipment, labor and lost revenue while the course is closed, overseeding an 18-hole course can easily become a six-figure project.
Around Phoenix and Scottsdale, closures generally begin in mid-September and continue through late October. Most courses close for approximately two to four weeks, with reopening dates ranging from late September into mid-November.
Even after reopening, conditions may be soft, the grass may be shaggy and carts may be restricted to the path while the new ryegrass gets established. That also means a lot more walking—usually beginning immediately after you hit your ball to the opposite side of the fairway from where you parked.
The timing always feels a little cruel. We survive months of golfing in temperatures normally used to cook meat, and just as the mornings become comfortable, the courses shut down.
So, if you love to golf, now is the time to squeeze in a few extra rounds. Otherwise, you may have to wait until November—and by then, the snowbirds will be back, tee sheets will be full and a Saturday morning starting time will require luck, connections and possibly a small bribe.
Of course, suddenly playing several rounds before overseeding can also be tough on the back, shoulders, hips and elbows. If you get carried away trying to fit an entire month of golf into the next two weeks, we’ll be here to help keep your swing moving comfortably.
Have a great afternoon,
Joy, Jen, Kim, Kathy, Coloradas, Maxfield, Dr Shriner and Dr Ring
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