Winter damage is the foremost reason for dead grass, reducing the aesthetic and functional value of turf. UN-IPCC climate scenarios predict that due to high precipitation and unstable temperature, ice and water damage will become the most important cause of winter damage in the future. This is a complex but high priority area for STERF, as it has been estimated that about 70% of Nordic golf courses suffer from winter damage each year, and that the associated average annual costs per golf course are €35 000-40 000. STERF will take responsibility for developing strategic expertise and new knowledge to avoid and manage such damage.
STERF is a research foundation that supports existing and future R&D efforts and delivers ‘ready-to-use research results’ that benefit the Nordic golf sector. STERF was set up in 2006 by the golf federations in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Nordic Greenkeepers’ Associations.