Course Conditions

Course Conditions Update | Spring 2026

Amos Stephens / Superintendent April 27 2026

We have removed the first two layers of winter protection and we have found some grass. We still need to let the greens finish their thaw before we get to playing golf. This past winter brought a mix of conditions, intense windstorms, deep cold, and very little snow cover, which has led to a bit of a split story across the course.

The front 9 greens are in beautiful shape. The back 9, however, is more of a mixed bag and showing the effects of those harsher conditions. The deep freeze and lack of snow required the greens to take a little longer to thaw this year. However, once they thawed, they came out bushy and needed a trim and a roll to iron them out.

This winter, the greens recorded some unbelievable low temperatures. With our investment in monitors to see what is going on under the covers all winter long, we made some pretty amazing observations. We had soil temperatures down to -7.6°F. bentgrass is more than capable of handling those temperatures under the protection of the covers. However, Poa Annua is not capable of that same level of hardiness. We lost a significant amount of Poa on the greens, and if you can believe it, we are actually excited about that, it acts as a natural herbicide for us as we continue striving toward a solid bentgrass stand on the greens.

There is significantly more Poa on the back 9 greens, as they are over 20 years older and were not managed in their early years to keep Poa seed at bay. That has allowed a substantial seed bank to develop and contribute to the Poa challenges we see today. As a result, the back 9 greens are showing more wear from the winter than the front 9.

Fortunately, we have the front 9 to fall back on, which allows us to take advantage of this development. We have always strived to bring the best playing conditions possible in the harsh environment the Mat-Su Valley delivers, with cold winds and warm rains often a part of every winter.

We plan to play on all 18 greens through May 11, at which point we will evaluate and make a decision on how to proceed. If this subject intrigues you, take advantage and come see the story for yourself. Ask for me, I am on the property somewhere, and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

The windstorms left their mark this year as well. We found the golf course littered with trees, limbs, and forest debris. We have most of that cleaned up and we will continue clearing under each drift as the snow melts and exposes more turf.

The fairways and tees are showing signs of life, and we are excited to bring the place full circle from a year ago in the not-too-distant future. Before you know it, the trees will be leafed out, and the tees and fairways will be showing their green hues, matching those protected greens for the 2026 golf season.

Alaska’s Best Putting Greens are on their way.