By Chengyan Yue, University of Minnesota

A European study has evaluated the economic impact of winter stresses and estimated an average annual cost of $40,000-45,000 per golf course (Kvalbein et al., 2017). Such analysis is lacking in the U.S. The socio-economics team on the WinterTurf project aims to fill this knowledge gap by increasing the understanding of the economic impact of winter stress damage on turfgrass areas. Many factors could lead to winter injuries including environmental factors such as rate of freezing and extent of snow coverage; grass characteristics such as grass cold hardiness; golf course characteristics such as elevation, drainage, and soil type; or golf course management practices such as mowing frequency and use of fungicides. Identifying the factors that play the most important roles in exacerbating/reducing the economic loss from winter injuries is critical in finding feasible solutions to minimize the negative economic impact from winter injuries. We are now in the process of surveying golf course superintendents to assess the economic consequences caused by winter injury in the northern U.S. and Canada. 

The survey consists of four sections: the golf courses' winter injury experience; the cost of winter injuries; golf course maintenance and winter injury prevention practices; and golf course characteristics.  The following are some example questions:

• Since you have been employed at this course, how many winters have you experienced winter injury? 
• On average, when winter injury occurred, what percentage of grass was lost on Greens, Tees, Fairways, and Roughs? 
• What is the additional cost of inputs to recover from winter injury per year? 
• What is the average annual revenue loss due to delay in opening due to winter injury?

We also ask about detailed maintenance practices specifically to prevent winter injuries. The choices include “do nothing,” “apply plant protectants,” “stop PGRs in September,” “apply wetting agents,” etc.

We distributed the survey at the end of May. So far, we have 70 responses. Our target is to get 100 completed surveys (complete our survey here). 

The data will be analyzed using econometric and statistical models. We will evaluate the economic impact of winter injuries based on the survey data. The economic impact results will help policymakers and golf course managers optimize spending decisions. Other WinterTurf team members, will also conduct an in-depth analysis of the management and maintenance practices data to find an association between winter injury cost and grass type, maintenance practices, geographic location, and weather. Such information can help breeders to breed cultivars that are less susceptible to winter injuries and help golf course managers make informed decisions and thus use suitable grass cultivars and adopt appropriate grass maintenance and management practices to minimize the economic loss from turfgrass winter injury.  

References

Kvalbein, A., W. Waalen, L. Bjornstad, T. Aamlid and T. Espevig. 2017. Winter injuries on golf greens in the Nordic countries: Survey of causes and economic consequences. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal 13(1): 604-609.