FAIR WATER II (FW II) comprises two work packages (WPs) and is an R&A funded extension of FAIR WATER.
In WP1, methods to enhance fairway drought resistance are compared in large scale demo trials at Hirsala GC (Finland), Romerike GC (Norway), St. Dionys GC (Germany) and Jammerbugt GC (Denmark). The trials are being carried out on fairways that have a history of drying out during the summer. The fairways are split into 3×3 sections with the following treatments in factorial combination:
Factor 1: Mechanical treatments in the fall of 2024 and 2025 to remove thatch and
enhance root development:
• Untreated control
• Scarification (Graden or similar) or coring (Procore) to a 2-3 cm depth1
• Scarification to a 2 cm depth1 + aerification with vertidrain or Vertiquake to a 20 cm depth.
Factor 2: Monthy application of soil surfactants in the summer of 2025 and 2026
1. Unsprayed control
2. Qualibra
3. ProWet Evolve
The most notable result in 2025 was at Hirsala GC, where both surfactants resulted in higher turgrass quality with better color retention during a dry period in the late summer. Mechanical treatments had minor effects, other than an improvement in the following year’s quality at St.Diony’s after scarification with Graden in September. The trials continue in 2026.
In WP2, the same seven golf courses (Emmaboda, Falsterbo, Flommen, Ljunghusen, Loftahammar, Ronneby and Vastervik) that were visited in October 2024, were revisited and new soil and water samples were taken in June and August 2025. The salinity of the water at all golf courses was higher in the summer of 2025 than in October 2024. Four of the seven golf courses had an electrical conductivity of irrigation water (ECw) exceeding the threshold of 0.75 ds m-1 , at which detrimental effects can be expected. One of the golf courses had a ECw value of 5 ds m-1, a level where severe effects of salinity are common. We engaged in a dialogue with the course manager at this course and suggested several strategies for salt mitigation.
As of January 2025, we are in the process of writing up the results for 2025 in an article in the Scandinavian greenkeeper magazines. In addition, we will hold a webinar with all participating golf courses to share our results directly with each course and to assist with any questions they may have about managing cool season turfgrass with saline irrigation water and soils. In summary, for 2024 and 2025 five of the seven courses have been identified as having salinity or sodicity concerns that must be addressed.
