Short version: a good frost delay policy says why you delay (frozen grass is damaged by feet and carts), who decides (the superintendent), what happens to tee times (pushed back in order), and where golfers get the current start time. Fill in the brackets and publish it on your website, your booking confirmation and your phone message.
The policy, section by section
Each section is short on purpose: golfers read it on a phone in a parking lot. Copy the ones you need and replace anything in [brackets] with your course's practice.
Why we delay
Walking or driving on frozen grass crushes the frozen blades, and the damage shows up days later as brown footprints and tire tracks on greens and tees. A frost delay protects the course you came to play.
Who decides
The superintendent decides when play can start, based on conditions on the course, not the air temperature at the clubhouse. The pro shop can't make exceptions.
When it starts and ends
A delay can be announced before the first tee time. Play starts once the frost has melted on the greens and tees in play, usually after the sun has been on them for a while. We'll post an expected start time and update it if it changes.
What happens to tee times
Tee times are pushed back in order by the length of the delay. [Or: the first groups are started from the front and back nines to catch up.] If your new time doesn't work, call the pro shop and we'll find another time or cancel with no charge.
Carts and practice
Carts stay off the course until the delay lifts. The putting green and range [are / are not] open during the delay.
How we tell you
The phone message, the website and [social / text alerts] are updated as soon as the delay is called and again when it lifts. Calling the pro shop always gets the current start time.
Refunds and rain checks
A frost delay alone doesn't cancel a round. If frost closes the course for the day, prepaid rounds are [refunded / credited].
The morning of a frost delay: a checklist
- Superintendent calls the delay and gives the shop an expected start time, even a rough one.
- Update the phone first. Most golfers call before they drive. The phone message should lead with "we're on a frost delay" and the expected start time.
- Update the website and booking page, then any text or social alerts you use.
- Re-sequence the tee sheet so every group knows its new time before it arrives.
- Update again when the delay lifts, or if the expected time slips. A stale message is worse than none.
Where the phone fits
On a frost morning the pro shop phone rings with the same question over and over while staff are re-sequencing the tee sheet. Use a phone message you can change in seconds (see our frost delay script).
With Tee Line you set "frost delay until 9:30" in the dashboard once. Every caller who asks hears it, and it resets at midnight, so tomorrow never starts with yesterday's delay.
Frequently asked questions
Why do golf courses have frost delays?
Frozen grass blades break when they're walked on or driven over. The damage appears days later as brown footprints and tire tracks, especially on greens. Delaying play until the frost melts protects the playing surfaces.
How long does a frost delay usually last?
It depends on temperature, sun and shade. Play usually starts once the frost has melted on the greens and tees in play. Courses post an expected start time and update it as conditions change.
What happens to my tee time during a frost delay?
At most courses, tee times are pushed back in order by the length of the delay. If the new time doesn't work, call the pro shop to move or cancel it.
Can I get a refund because of a frost delay?
A delay alone usually doesn't cancel a round. If frost closes the course for the day, most courses refund or credit prepaid rounds. Check your course's published policy.