We had the wonderful opportunity to speak to greenkeepers across Germany – people who work day in, day out to ensure that golf courses are in top condition. They are dedicated, passionate and highly knowledgeable! We’re kicking things off with Bastian Knapp from Coesfeld Golf Club. In this video, he talks about his work as head greenkeeper, the unique features of his course and the close collaboration with TURF. We’re proud to be partners and would like to thank Bastian, his team and the management for their kind support on site.  Encounters like these remind us time and again: behind every perfectly maintained green lies passion, expertise and team spirit!

Our second interviewee in the video series ‘Spotlight on Our Customers’ is Thomas Bäder, Head Greenkeeper at Wiesbaden Golf Club.

Thomas Bäder has been Head Greenkeeper at the Wiesbaden Golf Club for 26 years. During this time, he has overcome numerous challenges: from extreme weather conditions to the sustainable maintenance of large playing areas. Together with his well-coordinated team, he ensures every day that the golf course remains in optimum condition.

Modern maintenance concepts, flexible adaptation to weather conditions and sustainable irrigation solutions – such as the club’s storage pond – play a crucial role in this. Ecological measures, such as homemade insect hotels, have also become an integral part of the course.

Thomas Bäder particularly highlights the long-standing collaboration with TURF. Our products form an important part of his nutrient strategy. He is regularly supported in this by Angela Dohmen, whose expertise and practical experience are of great value to the club: she often provides concrete solutions over the phone, and on site she reliably finds the right approach for every challenge.

Bäder emphasises how important soil analyses and a fertiliser plan tailored to these results are for modern, sustainable course maintenance. His recommendation is clear: “I am convinced of the quality of TURF products – and can highly recommend them.”

In the third instalment of our ‘Spotlight on Our Customers’ series, we accompany Head Greenkeeper Sebastian Böhm at the historic Hannover Golf Club and find out how he manages an exceptionally challenging course with reliable expertise and a strong partner.

Our third interview in the ‘Spotlight on Our Customers’ series takes us to the historic Hannover Golf Club – to meet Sebastian Böhm, a landscape architect who has been the course’s Head Greenkeeper since 2016.

The Hannover Golf Club is renowned for its distinctive parkland design. One unique feature that Böhm particularly highlights is a six-lane motorway running right through the grounds. Narrow fairways, dense woodland and pronounced hard rough present him and his team with unique challenges on a daily basis. The large greens and expansive approach areas require a precise and well-structured maintenance programme.

For Böhm, however, the greatest challenges in greenkeeping are the unpredictable factors – particularly extreme weather events. Whether it’s heatwaves, torrential rain or rapid changes in conditions: “In such extreme situations, we are often unable to take proactive action, but can only react and try to stabilise the course again afterwards,” he explains. His motto is therefore: We make the best of it.

The first contact with TURF took place in March 2016 – at a time when the club’s old push-up greens were already 70 years old and were causing increasing problems in the summer. “Suddenly, Benjamin Franke was standing in our yard,” recalls Böhm. From the very beginning, the focus was not on the product, but on the problem. A comprehensive consultation marked the start of a long-term partnership.

Since that first meeting, the club’s entire greens fertilisation programme has been tailored to the TURF product range. From seed and monitoring right through to defence products – the approach has been successful for years. Böhm has a few personal favourites: “I particularly like to use ‘Per 4’ Max in the spring.” Every year, this results in a finely tuned, up-to-date maintenance programme.

For Böhm, professional collaboration is clearly the top priority. Reliability, experience, in-depth knowledge – all of this makes TURF an important partner for him. “Every product is only as good as its advisor,” he emphasises. The continuous development and the quality evident on the course confirm this assessment time and again.

We would like to thank Sebastian Böhm and the team at Hannover Golf Club for the insights into their work and are delighted to be able to showcase this special partnership in our video series.

A passion for the green: Out and about with Tobias Gerwing at the Bonn Bad Godesberg Golf Club. Exclusive insights – authentic and first-hand.

In the fourth instalment of our ‘Spotlight on Our Customers’ series, we join Tobias Gerwing, Head Greenkeeper at the Bonn Bad Godesberg Golf Club, and take a look behind the scenes at his day-to-day work. Tobias has been working in greenkeeping for over 20 years – five of them at the sprawling course in Bad Godesberg. He talks about his job with palpable enthusiasm.

The golf course covers around 72 hectares, 35 of which are pure turf, maintained by Gerwing and his team of six. The remaining area consists mainly of woodland – a natural setting that provides a valuable habitat not only for golfers but also for numerous species of flora and fauna.

Between course maintenance, teamwork and nature

The working day begins with basic maintenance tasks: mowing, preparing tees, tending the bunkers and cleaning the course. This is followed by additional tasks such as repairs, overseeding or checking the irrigation systems – particularly important during the summer months. In winter, the focus shifts to maintenance, workshop tasks and preparations to get the course ready for the coming season.

As well as his role as Head Greenkeeper, he is a passionate amateur beekeeper. The beehives are situated amidst the course’s natural areas. For him, the close connection between nature and course maintenance is a central part of his profession.

Soil analyses as the key to improvement

When Tobias started working at the Bonn Bad Godesberg Golf Club, the greens were weakened and growing unevenly. Initial soil samples quickly revealed the cause: the calcium-magnesium ratio was severely out of balance. Working with TURF, this was corrected – with visible success. “You could see straight away from the greens that this had given them a real boost,” he reports.

Responding to extremes – and being prepared

One of the biggest challenges for him is the increasing frequency of extreme weather events: heatwaves, sudden heavy downpours or changing conditions. When hot days are forecast, Tobias applies special products that protect the turf from stress. During heavy rainfall, he relies on treatments that improve water infiltration to keep the greens playable.

A partnership on equal terms

He describes his first contact with TURF with a smile: “All of a sudden, Mr Weber just turned up on my doorstep and wanted to explain something to me. At first I thought, ‘Here comes the next snobbish sales rep.’” But he soon realised that it wasn’t about making a sale, but about genuine expert advice. Since then, he has been working closely with TURF – from soil samples and fertiliser plans right through to short-term solutions to problems. He particularly values the open communication.
 

Acknowledgements and outlook

We would like to extend our warmest thanks to Tobias and the management of Bonn Bad Godesberg Golf Club for the fascinating insights and their open cooperation.
The interview impressively demonstrates just how much passion, responsibility and technical expertise go into greenkeeping – and the vital role that strong partnerships play in this.

We look forward to many more profiles in our ‘Spotlight on Our Customers’ series.

A course steeped in history and diversity. For over 30 years, Gerd Rothfuchs – Golf Business Director, Managing Director and Manager of the Rheine-Mesum Golf Club – has played a key role in the development of the course. Together with Dr Thomas Schettler, who has been President of the Golf Club for the past three years, and Jan Dirk Ewertz, Head Greenkeeper since the very beginning, they highlighted the course’s unique features.

From the very beginning, the Rheine Golf Course has pursued a clear aim: to make golf accessible to as many people as possible. This concept is reflected in its unique layout – a modern 9-hole course for everyone combined with a challenging 18-hole championship-level course. With a total of 27 holes, the course is one of the largest in the Münsterland region.

The membership structure also underlines this philosophy: from a four-year-old junior golfer to a 92-year-old player, every age group is represented. Another key priority is year-round playability on summer greens.

Maintenance with responsibility and precision

Maintaining a 27-hole course with 30 greens presents a particular challenge – especially as this task is managed by just two staff members. For Head Greenkeeper Ewertz, who was involved in the construction of the course, no two days are the same. The weather, the season and the level of use on the course require maintenance measures to be adapted on a daily basis.

The focus is always on the greens, followed by the tees and fairways. Mowing, rolling and other maintenance steps are flexibly adapted to periods of rain, heat or dry spells – always with the aim of providing optimal conditions for all types of players.

Climate change as a key challenge

The effects of climate change are also clearly felt at the Rheine-Mesum golf course. Extreme dry spells alternate with prolonged wet periods, placing ever-increasing demands on maintenance, machinery and products.

Several years ago, therefore, a conscious decision was made to use water-saving, hardy grasses. The aim is to achieve stable, healthy plant growth that is less susceptible to disease and conserves resources in the long term. High-quality maintenance products play a crucial role in this, helping to strengthen the plants and promote soil life.

Successful collaboration with TURF

Last year marked a turning point when a massive outbreak of dollar spot began to significantly affect the greens from July onwards. The quality no longer met the club’s own standards. In this situation, Thorsten Hartmann from TURF visited the course and presented concrete solutions.

Together, it was decided to implement the recommended measures for maintenance and fertilisation – with impressive results: the quality of the greens improved significantly within a year and a half.

What is particularly valued at TURF is not only the product quality but also the holistic philosophy: plants and soil are strengthened in equal measure. The personalised advice, regular on-site visits and Thorsten Hartmann’s practical experience foster trust and a partnership based on mutual respect.

Conclusion

Success is not based on a single product, but on the interplay of analysis, advice and tailor-made solutions. It is precisely this holistic approach that underpins the close collaboration with TURF – from soil analysis right through to specific product recommendations.

These insights impressively demonstrate how important experience, trust and sustainable thinking are in modern greenkeeping – and how this results in measurable quality on the course.

For over 30 years, David Orme has been drawing on his wealth of experience to ensure the course remains in top condition. Early in the morning, using state-of-the-art technology and supported by a dedicated team, the greens are maintained and the course is constantly being improved.

At Golfpark Steinhuder Meer, golf course maintenance has stood for quality, consistency and genuine dedication for many years. The man responsible for this is David Orme, aged 46, who has been working in greenkeeping at the Golfpark for over 30 years. He completed his training at a college in England. Today, he brings his extensive experience to bear every day in the maintenance and further development of the course.

A family business with a long tradition

The Golfpark is run as a true family business: David’s father originally designed the course as an architect and continues to actively support the business even in retirement. His brother, Stuart Orme, is in charge of management, whilst his mother and sister-in-law are responsible for the accounts. The plan is for the next generation to become part of the business in the future.

Efficient workflows

The working day begins early: as early as 4.00 am, David Orme and his mechanic are the first on the course. Whilst the machinery is being prepared, Orme plans the upcoming maintenance tasks. From 5.00 am, the rest of the team arrives; a brief briefing follows, before all staff begin course maintenance by 5.30 am at the latest. The aim is to disrupt play as little as possible and to offer golfers the best possible conditions.

As a rule, the course is fully mown by around 11.00 am. This is followed by repairs, hedge trimming, machinery maintenance or specialised maintenance tasks, which are deliberately scheduled for the evening or night-time hours.

Soil challenges and modern solutions

The Golfpark’s very sandy soil presents a particular challenge. Whilst waterlogging is hardly an issue, drought stress – particularly during extreme summers – is the main concern. In recent years, therefore, significant investment has been made in new irrigation systems, pumps and modern technology to make the water supply more efficient and sustainable.

Collaboration with TURF and a well-thought-out maintenance concept

David Orme has been working closely with TURF for over ten years. From the very beginning, he was particularly impressed by the soil analyses and the holistic maintenance concepts. Following an initial trial phase, the complete maintenance programme was implemented. Today, he uses almost the entire product range. For him, all the measures fit together like pieces of a jigsaw to form a well-thought-out maintenance concept. The result is more efficient workflows, a noticeable improvement in quality and consistent, resilient greens.

Alongside daily maintenance, there is a particular focus on the continuous development of the course. New bunkers, tees and design features are regularly added. A defining feature of the Steinhuder Meer Golf Park is its striking white sand areas, made possible by the natural subsoil and lending the course its distinctive character.

Passion, experience and team spirit

Steinhuder Meer Golf Park stands for high sporting standards, a family-friendly atmosphere and continuous development – underpinned by passion, experience and a strong greenkeeping team.

Early in the morning, long before the first tee shot is taken, a well-coordinated team ensures the highest standards of quality, maintenance and playing conditions.

Daniel Mayer has been working at the Schloss Pichlarn Golf & Country Club since 1998 and has been Head Greenkeeper for the past two years. His working day begins at 6 am with a team meeting in the workshop to discuss the day’s schedule. He then takes a walk around the course to get an overview of its current condition.

A key focus is on inspecting the greens, looking out for diseases such as snow mould and assessing the general condition of the surfaces. Overall, Mayer is satisfied with the quality of the greens. This year, they have also been fortunate with the temperatures, as there has been no major flood damage – unlike what has occurred at other golf courses.

Maintenance work varies significantly depending on the location of the holes. The higher-lying areas of the golf course, including holes 10, 11 and 12, have different elevation and maintenance requirements to the lower-lying parts of the course.

In the spring, the 5th hole was redesigned. This involved creating a new tee, a new fairway and a new green. In addition, the existing retention pond was enlarged.

The Schloss Pichlarn Golf Club has been working with the company TURF for many years. Previous head greenkeepers also maintained this partnership, which has continued to develop over the years. Currently, the course uses, amongst other things, a TURF green mower (LM 315), a fairway mower and a semi-rough mower. Furthermore, products such as Floratine liquid fertiliser, Andersons granulated fertiliser and GroPower are predominantly used.

The partnership is based on many years of experience and personalised support. Particular emphasis is placed on the service, which provides rapid support with spare parts or technical queries. A bespoke fertilisation plan is used for greens and tees, based on regular soil samples. This enables the specific needs of the soil to be addressed effectively.

For Daniel Mayer, personal on-site advice is a key factor. Direct communication not only facilitates the management of the course but also organisational processes such as ordering spare parts, which is handled reliably.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Daniel Mayer, his team and the management of the Golf & Country Club Schloss Pichlarn for the insight into their day-to-day work and for their long-standing collaboration.