Behind scenes, these golf workers are busy making sure SC courses are ready for spring
The recent weather across the Palmetto State emphasizes that even the most fervent golfer must take time off from his favorite pursuit.
But there’s little rest for those who tend to the courses — the maintenance staff — which is why Chuck Green recently said, “I’m wearing a heater vest and I’m still freezing right now.”
Indeed, he is a member of golf’s least appreciated cadre, superintendents and their maintenance staffs.
Temperatures that dive to freezing and below create testing environments for those who work outdoors. But Green, the director of operations at the Quixote Club in Sumter and someone who ranks among the foremost golf course superintendents around, knows that winter-time work pays dividends over the long haul.
Off-season challenges range from refurbishing equipment to routine maintenance dealing with tree trimming, upgrading irrigation, clearing drainage and clearing debris. If the timing is right, there’s a bit of mowing. The freeze-thaw cycle demands attention, and there are schedules for aeration and fertilization to plan around the club’s on-course activities.
There’s always something, which Green pointed out this way: “I’m dealing with a frozen nozzle this morning,” he said.
Weeds are probably not a point of emphasis for most people in thinking about their lawns this time of year, but they have the attention of Chad Berry, superintendent at Lexington’s Golden Hills Golf and Country Club.
“We’re fighting those pesky winter weeds that pop up, and we’re preparing to apply our pre-emergence chemicals now for the spring (weeds),” he said.
Timing is everything with the battle with weeds. Waiting for the first hint of spring to put down the pre-emergence fertilizers is too late.
Maybe the biggest challenge that superintendents face during the ever-changing winter weather involves the greens and how to protect them from the cold.
“It’s a tough call, a crapshoot whether to cover the greens,” Green said. “And if they’re covered, how long do they stay covered? Do you cover them in the evening and uncover in the morning? Some courses cover them for eight to 10 days. No matter how you protect the greens, it’s very labor-intensive.”
Green has tarps to cover Quixote’s greens if necessary. Some courses truck in bales of pine straw and put out thick layers to protect the putting surfaces. Berry strives to make sure Golden Hills’ greens have enough moisture to avoid winter kill.
“We don’t have enough tarps to cover them all,” he said, “but what we’ve done has performed pretty well.”
Big swings in temperature create the guessing game.
“Extreme changes are a problem for the greens, like with any crop,” Berry said. “If it’s cold and then warmer for a few days, the grasses get fooled. Then it gets cold again, and that’s not good.”
Sooner or later, weather like last weekend’s cold and storms and this weekend’s predicted cold and snow will give way to warmer temperatures, and golfers will be out in full force. Before teeing off, give a tip of the cap to the behind-the-scenes guys, the superintendents and their staffs, who toil through winter to make sure courses are prepared.
Chip shots. Registration for the 2026-27 Drive, Chip and Putt program has opened at drivechipandputt.com, officials at the USGA, Masters Tournament and PGA of America announced. Youngsters 7-15 are eligible for the age-group competition. Local qualifying sites in South Carolina include Par Tee Golf Center, West Columbia (May 30), Old Barnwell, Aiken (June 15), Willow Creek GC, Greer (June 24), Legends Resort, Myrtle Beach (July 7) and Westcott Plantation, Summerville (July 9). The top three in each age group advance to the sub-regional at Fort Jackson GC (Aug. 22). ... The Tiger Golf Gathering, an outing/auction to support the Clemson golf programs and junior golf, raised a record $290,000. That’s $240,000 for the Tigers’ men’s and women’s programs and $50,000 for the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation. ... USC’s women open their spring season Sunday (Feb. 1) in the Therese Hession Regional Challenge in California, and the Gamecocks’ men start in the Puerto Rico Classic on Feb. 9. Clemson’s women play in the Paradise Invitational in Florida, beginning Monday (Feb. 2) and the Tigers’ men start Feb. 16 in the Prestige in California.
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This story was originally published January 29, 2026 at 9:58 AM with the headline "Behind scenes, these golf workers are busy making sure SC courses are ready for spring."