Craig Hall, The Business Times

There’s an adage in golf known as “the rub of the green,” which refers to “an accidental or unpredictable influence on the course or position of the ball.” And while most golfers experience this phenomenon at some point in nearly every round they play, the City of Grand Junction was faced with literal “rub of the green” on not just one of its greens, but rather three of them.

As stated by course management with some humor in its May 26 newsletter to golfers on its email list, “Thanks in large part to Mother Nature’s long, dry humor over the winter, along with an early Spring split personality, Tiara Rado Golf Course will be temporarily closing the greens on Holes #10, #11 and #13 for revegetation and maintenance beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, May 27.”

While the effects of weather on putting surfaces can be predicted, the weather in western Colorado is as unpredictable an event as almost anything that can occur from players on its golf courses. Yet, with the course busier than ever, along with already beginning the seasons of its golf leagues, this was no easy decision to make.

“The real problem was the ground temperature wasn’t high enough for the seed to germinate on the greens. That’s another way the weather wasn’t cooperating,” said Tim Tafoya, head professional at Tiara Rado. “So, we had to make the decision to give those three greens some time to let the seeding take hold.”

Once made, Tiara Rado staff aerated, overseeded, fertilized and top-dressed the closed greens, while watering them every few hours to enhance germination of the bent grass seeding, which is also more drought resistant. The staff also mowed “temporary greens” for play in front of the roped off greens undergoing the reseeding.

“I’m pleasantly surprised at how well the reseeding is coming along, especially with the recent rain, which helps a lot. We do think we’ll have the complexes open for Father’s Day weekend,” Tafoya said.

It now appears there’s a greener golf season for players at Tiara Rado, and thanks to its staff, that’s no rub-of-the-green accident.