Finnish golf course superintendent researches cold-climate turf in world’s northernmost field trial

A golf course superintendent in Siilinjärvi, Finland, is running what is believed to be the world’s northernmost field trial for golf green turf, and the research has already attracted international attention from as far as Canada. The story was reported by Yle.

Pirjo Hotti, course superintendent at Tarinagolf in Siilinjärvi, launched the project after attending a turf management seminar where no one could explain how creeping fescue seed should be cultivated to survive at northern latitudes. A Danish seed manufacturer offered to supply seed for testing, and Hotti agreed to investigate.

What began as a small local initiative has grown considerably. “This was only supposed to be a Siilinjärvi project, but now they are talking about it all the way in Canada,” Hotti said. The trial, which started with two test plots, now includes eleven.

The plots at Tarinagolf test how organic fertilisers and winter fleece covering affect turf quality. Both pure grass varieties and mixed varieties are being evaluated. A European seed manufacturer is already planning to include results in its newsletter, and Hotti sends photo reports weekly. A global fertiliser company also made contact after a representative visited the course, and inquiries have since come from Canada.

Janne Lehto, course development officer at the Finnish Golf Union, underlined the importance of turf quality, noting that grass conditions directly affect ball movement and therefore playing results. He said Finnish golf turf is generally of a good standard and that course management is becoming increasingly professional.

Hotti emphasises that this is a field trial focused on practical usability, not a scientific variety trial. The study runs for three years; the plots were sown one year ago. Overwintering and spring recovery are major challenges across the Nordic countries, and courses in the Savo region of central Finland already have a growing season roughly two months shorter than in southern Finland.

Hotti hopes the findings will benefit many northern golf courses, and is cautious about drawing early conclusions. “You shouldn’t draw any firm conclusions in one year, but the turf doesn’t look bad at all after the first winter,” she said.