Early season questions and answers about the green

With some fine weather early in the season members ask “The green looks marvellous why can’t we start the season earlier?
Below is a summary of why and some of the greenkeeping considerations in getting the best from the green.
As we move into spring, the green begins to show colour and signs of life — but below the surface, conditions are often still too cold and sometimes too dry for strong recovery. This means the turf can look ready before it has the strength to cope with either heavy maintenance or early season wear.

What’s Happening Beneath the Surface
 Soil temperatures stay low long after the weather feels milder.
 March–April often brings cold conditions with the sunshine and, in recent years, surprisingly low rainfall.
 Roots and soil biology are only partly active.
 The plant may not yet have enough nitrogen to support new growth.
 Leatherjackets can weaken the turf at exactly the wrong time.
All of this reduces the green’s recuperative potential — its ability to bounce back from stress.

What This Means for Early Season Play
To protect the green for the whole season, we may need to:
 Delay aggressive work like scarifying or lowering the height of cut
 Manage moisture and green irrigation carefully to mitigate early dry patch. (Hydrophobic soil)
 Limit early season damage to green (Use of rollers, moving rinks for even wear etc.)
 Overseed where necessary
 Support the turf with, regular nutrition
 Address any leatherjacket activity promptly

Why This Matters
If we push the green too early, we risk setting it back for months. By working with the turf’s natural recovery cycle now, we ensure:
 A smoother, truer surface later in the season
 Better resilience during dry spells
 Stronger overall performance for members

Thank You for Your Support

These early season decisions help protect the green for everyone. We appreciate members’ patience while we give the turf the conditions it needs to recover properly.