After several days of snow cover, the course has turned green again. A natural urge to resume playing golf arises. But the course remains closed. Why is that? It has never been like this. Agreed.
The track will remain closed this weekend despite green turf and temperatures above freezing. The past week has seen more than 35mm of rain followed by snow cover, then thaw and then forecasted day frost on Monday and Tuesday.
The course committee as greenkeepers wants the course to be less worn and battered during the winter. We want a better and more playable course earlier in the season. Last year's long winter season with lots of play on the course during the shutdown has taken its toll on the course. The deer's normal wear and tear is one thing, but after the winter it was clear that the pressure of play has had a negative impact on the quality of the course.
We don't want to end up in the same situation after this winter. That's why we're trying to find a new balance that still ensures that we play golf all year round on our course, but that we don't play on it when the conditions are downright harmful.
The club has therefore introduced a mat requirement as of November 15th, and this helps to a great extent. The club has also introduced that the pitch must be kept closed when the weather conditions are too unfavorable.
Closures are a balancing act and they will be especially incomprehensible when they hit the very day and time you have chosen to play a round of golf. I hope you understand the difficult balancing act and that you acknowledge that we are making an attempt to accommodate the desire for play all year round, but also the desire for a little more of the course to remain when the winter is over.
On Tuesday I will assess the situation and assess whether the course can be reopened on Wednesday. Martin NilssonChief greenkeeper