Mölle Golfklubb sits on the peninsula that forms Sweden's westernmost point.
Head Greenkeeper is Fredrick Rosdahl, who joined the club in 2007 and succeeded his father to the top role in 2009. He said, "Having a father working as a greenkeeper, I had a natural interest in the job. I undertook my basic greenkeeping training and was then successful in getting my higher qualifications quite rapidly."
Head Greenkeeper Frederick Rosdahl
Being situated in the middle of a nature reserve gives added pressure to the way the course is managed, which was part of the reasoning behind the purchase of the Jacobsen Eclipse 322 diesel-electric hybrid green mower.
"The Eclipse fits precisely with the environmental profile of the club and the local kommune of Höganäs, of which we are an integral part," Tauben added. "We are extremely mindful of our good fortune to have a golf course in this region. I'm certain that if we wanted to construct a new course here it would not be allowed today. The quality of the course is improving, especially the greens, and that is down to the great job that Frederick is doing with the new fleet of equipment we purchased from Ransomes Jacobsen's local dealer GVM of Malmo during the season."
Molle's new fleet supplied by local dealer GVM of Malmo
Due to the regulations governing the management of the reserve, there are many restrictions on the greenkeeping team and how they maintain the course. In 2017 there will be a total ban on the use of chemicals, so they are currently phasing them out and replacing them with biological fungicides and pesticides. Snow mould damage is also a problem as the course comes out of winter.
"It's a real challenge, but one we relish", said Rosdahl. "The biological treatments haven't been too effective, but I've been applying Zeolite, a volcanic deposit, to help the snow mould issue and that seems to have worked well. I've divided the putting green into four areas and use it to experiment with various treatments and practices. You have to constantly try new things as the regulations change.
"The Eclipse has certainly helped us here; mainly due to its new technology where we change the number of cuts per metre and raise the height of cut, putting less stress on the grass, while maintaining green speed."