Winter golf in the Balmer See golfpark

From 16.11.2020 winter golf game conditions

Even in winter it is important for all golfers to stay fit and in shape. In addition to a healthy and vitamin-rich diet, this also means staying in shape for the next season. For this purpose, it is advisable to complete a regular round of winter golf training on the golf course.

In contrast to the summer golf season, winter golf is not primarily about the number of strokes required and the handicap. In the winter months it is more about exercise in the fresh air and pure enjoyment of golf.

Many golf courses in Germany close their sports facilities in winter. But the Balmer See Hotel enables its guests to pursue their passion for golf all year round. As an incentive to pack the golf bag even in the cold season, we offer our hotel guests free green fees to play on the winter greens of the open golf courses from 16.11.2020 until the end of the frost period (March / April). You can get up-to-date information on the course conditions from our golf reception - 038379 / 28-199.

The consistent implementation of winter games in recent years is bearing its well-deserved fruits. Our Greenkeeping team appreciates the numerous positive comments on the guest questionnaires and the online portals of our golfing guests as appreciation of your work.

In order not to endanger the improvements in the soil quality and the health of our grasses on the greens, fairways and tees, even in the cold months, we will allow our guests to play golf also in this winter.

The 18 golf courses of the yellow course as well as the 9-hole short course remain open for you, taking into account winter tees and winter greens. Furthermore, from this date there will be an absolute ban on the use of e-carts on the entire golf course. Trolleys can still be used as long as the floor is completely frost-free. The possibility of using the trolley is determined by the greenkeeping on a daily basis. In this respect, a light carry bag should be taken into account when planning your trip.

Since the daytime temperatures and weather conditions do not stick to a fixed calendar day, we recommend that you inform yourself about the current course conditions at our golf reception before arrival. 

Nor can we set the end of the winter games in a calendar. Experience has shown that we can resume winter games on Usedom from the end of March and look forward to a wonderful 2021 golf season. We will inform you promptly in our newsletters.

In the following, our Greenkeeping team has put together some interesting background information on this topic.

We hope for your understanding and support so that you can enjoy your round of golf on a well-tended course with us at Balmer See even in the summer months.

So that your winter golf round is also a pleasure, we have put together some recommendations for you on what you should take with you for winter golf:

• Warm and wind-protecting clothing, including headgear with protection for the ears (people lose 55% of their body heat through their heads).
• A carry bag with a minimal number of clubs; then carrying is also easier.
• Winter tees or a small mat if necessary. This brings more fun and protects the golf course in winter.
• Colored golf balls make it easier to find the balls.
• 2 gloves (game gloves for the game and winter gloves).
• 2 towels (one for your rackets, the other for your hands).
• A hot drink to warm you up.
• An extra pair of socks.
• An umbrella that can also help against the cold wind.
• Sunscreen and sunglasses, because when there is snow, the sunlight is reflected twice as much.
• The right attitude: Look forward to a nice training session and the peaceful magic of winter in nature. In winter golf, it is not the number of strokes that counts, but the enjoyment of the game.
• Reward yourself after your winter golf round and visit our Panorama Restaurant for a hot drink and a sweet snack before you go to the cozy sauna to regenerate.

Your team from the Balmer See Hotel · Golf · Spa

Informations about winter golf:

At temperatures below 4C °, the grass plant stops growing completely and goes into a resting phase. But even before hibernation, the plant begins its preparations for the cold season by storing carbohydrates as energy reserves in its cellular sap (so-called build-up of winter hardiness). If the plant's structure is damaged by excessive pressure during this time, it is no longer protected against ground frost and is destroyed right down to the roots.

But not only the low temperatures are a heavy burden on the plant. The increased amounts of precipitation in the autumn and winter months lead to increasing soil moisture on the golf course. During these times, strong pressure loads lead to increased compaction of the soil, which leads to waterlogging in the hollows due to uneven ground and deep furrows. These traces destroy the plant tissue so badly that the likelihood of weeds or fungicidal diseases occurring is very likely.

In contrast to a player carrying a golf bag, the pressure of a trolley on the fairway is 10 times higher, and that of an e-cart is 50 times higher.

The damage caused by this persists into the summer months and can only be removed through extensive maintenance measures and the use of fungicides. As a natural golf course, we try to keep the use of chemical agents on our courses as low as possible.