How RePhlex LS Transformed Summer Performance at Haga Golfklubb

Greenkeepers at Norwegian golf courses have to contend with a huge range of climactic conditions. Haga Golfklubb in Oslo is no exception. This 36 hole, 3,600 member golf course has a short 5-month golf season and during the course of a calendar year has to cope with extreme temperature swings from +25°C in summer to -25°C in winter.

Course Manager, James Bentley, oversees the demanding operation, particularly during the months of May, June and July, where 20 hours of daylight provides intense summer stress on the 36 greens throughout the complex. Dry patch had begun to be a persistent issue across a small number of greens on the course.

In Spring 2025, James introduced RePhlex LS into his programme. The results exceeded expectations.

Persistent Dry Patch on USGA Greens

After two seasons at Haga, James became increasingly concerned about the amount of hand watering required on six particularly troublesome greens. These greens were constructed with approximately 40–50cm of USGA specification sand. While structurally sound, they were highly prone to dry patch, particularly once air temperatures exceeded 25°C.

James had previously relied on lime and gypsum to flush accumulated salts from the profile but required a broader solution. RePhlex LS was selected for its ability to flush salts, break down hydrophobic coatings, reset the soil profile ahead of spring applications, and ultimately reduce  the need for hand watering.

The RePhlex LS Programme

Following application guidance from Indigrow’s Technical Manager, the following programme was applied. RePhlex LS was used specifically as a profile flusher to prepare the Creeping Bentgrass greens ahead of the main growing season.

Applications were made in early Spring (March and April), whilst soil temperatures were hovering around 10 to 12 degrees.

The first application of RePhlex LS was made at 40 lt/ha, tank mixed with Magnum Forty-Four OneShot – a penetrant wetting agent.

Two weeks later, the second application of RePhlex LS was made at 20 lt/ha, tank mixed with Magnum 357 Calibre – a triple action wetting agent.

Both application were made with a water rate of 300 lt/ha.

Turf Response & Results

By late May, temperatures had reached 25°C, and although the greens would typically begin to show signs of dry patch at this point, in a big change to previous seasons, no supplementary hand watering was required, and they were coping well with the conditions. The improvement was particularly noticeable on the six problem greens.

How did RePhlex LS transform the greens at Haga Golfklubb?

• No hand watering required throughout the summer
• Only minor irrigation adjustments needed
• Greens maintained tournament condition
• Improved water movement and profile flushing
• Nutrient availability improved

Even during a hot, long summer, performance held up. James told us: “Using RePhlex LS ‘cleans’ your profile, unlocking nutrients that may be bound up and gives you  a blank canvas to start your annual fertiliser programme”. When asked whether he would use RePhlex LS again, James answered: “Yes — it’s now become a vital part of the green’s programme”.

Would you recommend RePhlex LS to other Course Managers?

We asked James for his recommendations for the use of RePhlex LS at other golf courses. He told that he would particularly recommend it to:

• Course managers with newer sand-based greens
• Those experiencing persistent dry patch
• Managers lacking long-term experience with a given profile
• Anyone wanting to reset salt build-up before summer

Tournament-Tested Performance

The ultimate proof of the early-season use of RePhlex LS came during tournament preparation. Haga Golfklubb hosted the Norwegian National Championship during 2025, with the competition taking place in early August during a period of significant heat. The greens held firm under pressure and in perfect condition throughout – without any signs of the historic dry patch issues that had previously demanded constant hand watering.

Supporting Products

Whilst speaking with James, he also highlighted his continued use of Magnum Forty-Four OneShot – a concentrated penetrant wetting agents. James described it as “an economical and effective method to get wetting agent out across all surfaces”.

In Conclusion

For Course Manager, James Bentley, at Haga Golfklubb, RePhlex LS wasn’t simply another product bought purely on the advice of the sales team. The independent research carried out at the University of Lincoln was essential in providing the technical backup helping to ensure known product performance before application.

RePhlex LS delivered for Haga Golfklubb, particularly in the following areas:

• Reduced labour
• Improved moisture management
• A cleaner, more responsive rootzone
• Confidence heading into summer

In extreme climates with short seasons and high expectations, that level of reliability makes a product an invaluable tool in an ideal turf management programme.