Autumn
Closure
Preparing for winter — crucial for next spring. A proper shut-down saves a lot of work in May. The goal is a level, well-compacted court that can breathe and tolerate frost without major damage.
- Increase focus on closing holes and circular dragging
- Fill all visible depressions and worn areas with 0–2 mm / 0–3 mm as needed
- Keep watering going as long as it is dry — a dry autumn gives more dust and material movement
- Final levelling: Drag thoroughly, fill remaining holes, spread any last surface material
- Final roll: Light, even compaction over the whole court to lock in the geometry
- Check and adjust crossfall one last time — water must run toward the sides
- Remove loose debris: Leaves, branches and organic material (especially at the edges)
- Document court condition with photos before winter — valuable reference for spring
- Arrange a short work party in October for the final roll and clean-up — make it social!
- Next spring is much easier if autumn is finished neatly and evenly
- Use full winter covers as standard — they trap moisture and can cause ice and mould
- Walk on the court when there is frost / frozen ground — it damages the structure
- Leave organic material on the court over winter
- Let the court breathe naturally — Norwegian climate is best handled without full covers
- Check drainage a couple of times during winter during thaws
- Remove large piles of snow/ice if they accumulate in one spot
- All holes and depressions filled and compacted
- Final rolling completed evenly over the entire court
- Crossfall checked and adjusted if necessary
- All organic material — leaves, branches — removed
- Court edges and drainage points cleaned
- Photos taken for spring documentation
- Lines, net and posts checked / adjusted / repaired or stored
Consider allocating a small budget for an autumn work party with pizza and coffee. Good atmosphere + shared effort = better results and a stronger club culture.
A social closing event also helps create ownership among members — people who helped close the court take more care of it when they open it in spring.
The time invested in autumn closure directly reduces the structural work needed in spring. A well-closed court typically needs only surface material in spring — not structural repairs.
Phase 2 spring work (structural levelling) can often be skipped entirely if autumn closure was done properly.
Spring Start
From frozen ground to playable court — week-by-week guide covering structural repairs, clay application and line installation.
Summer Maintenance
Daily dragging, weekly rolling, monthly checks — the routines that keep the court excellent from May to September.
Full Manual
Materials, geometry, delivery, green growth and bulk purchasing — everything in one place.