We have now passed a lovely summer and are in full swing with the busy late summer and very soon September. The weather is with us - and we are holding on to that.
Major maintenance work on the track:
Week 35: Greens are aerated with very small hoes. Expect some work to be done on a few greens, but the quality of play will not be significantly affected.
Week 37 or week 40: Work on fairways. Expect a few closed holes during working hours and abnormal playing conditions. A reduction in green fees will be given this week if work is being done.
We have had a long period where the large tee on the driving range has been more "bearded" than we usually have it. The reason for this is that the mower that looks after it has finally passed away. Since that day, a garden tractor and occasionally our little robot "Crille" have looked after the tee. We have rented an old mower that will look after the tee until the season ends in October, so now we expect to get our good old tee back.
We have just given our putting green at the driving range a major overhaul with aeration, fertilizing, seeding and top dressing. It needed it. It is weaker, has poorer grass and is more prone to disease despite the fact that it is in full sun all day.
We haven't been used to such a trip on the big course for a number of years now. We have healthy and strong greens and these don't require much maintenance work. They are dressed, aerated and reseeded, preserved, but not at all to the same extent as 10 years ago or as the big putting green. As long as the basic conditions are favorable and the greenkeeper takes care of water, fertilizer and cutting heights, you can create such a stable environment that it almost, but only almost, takes care of itself and that is good for the golfer and for the greenkeeper, who can then work somewhere else.
Fairways are an area of work where we are not quite where we want to be yet, although this season has given us fantastic fairways. We are particularly looking to ensure a better playing quality earlier in the season and build a higher resilience to drought and heat stress in the summer. To achieve this, we are top dressing and fertilizing and reseeding with new grass varieties that are better suited to our current climate. Fairways will have one more go this season and that will be either in week 37 or week 40 depending on weather, machinery and crew.
On September 1st, the hunting season begins and the deer (first red deer, sika deer and then fallow deer) are slowly beginning their rut. The red deer have already started to roar. It is a beautiful time with beautiful colors and lots of activity in the forest. We golfers must therefore also get used to the fact that there are more guests in Dyrehaven and therefore more guests who may wander onto the golf course. They are welcome to do so – they actually have the right of way – so it is our responsibility to make room for the guests and give them a good experience on the golf course’s part of the plain. And remember: they do not understand what “FORE” means.
As always:
Take care of your greens. Straighten your teeing ground (there have been many unstraightened ones this year)
Take care of your fairways. Remember your divot bag (always hanging ready in the starter's house)
Take care of your greenkeepers (they are here to make the course delicious just for you)
Best golf greetings
Martin Nilsson, Chief Greenkeeper