Paul Bishop is Estates Manager at the stunning Manor House Golf Club at Castle Combe, close to Bath
Report by Laurence Gale MSc
Bishop’smove... N
estling in 365 acres of stunning Cotswold parkland, bordering the beautiful village of Castle Combe, Manor House Golf Club (part of Exclusive Golf) is an 18-hole, par 72 golf course, one of the most spectacular in the South of England - a fact recently confirmed with the coveted HSBC Gold Star Award.
Originally designed by Peter Alliss and Clive Clark, it is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Mature oak trees, manicured fairways and spectacular par 3s, together with the River Bybrook meandering through the middle, bring both drama and beauty to this course.
The Manor House is tended by Estates Manager, Paul Bishop, who has a dedicated team of nine staff (Deputy, Gian Povey, five other greenkeepers, two gardeners and one full time
mechanic) to look after the golf course, the Manor House grounds and the estate gardens. Paul has been at The Manor House since 1994, having previously worked at Haywards Heath Golf Club, Tunbridge Wells Golf Club, Hever Golf and Country Club and East Sussex National Golf Club during its construction. Having been in greenkeeping since 1980, nearly half his working life has been spent here at this truly stunning course, helping it mature and settle into the landscape. Paul’s qualifications include City and Guilds Phase I - IV in Sportsturf, Enterprise and Business Management, and an Intermediate Diploma in Sportsturf. He has also studied Business Management at Cranfield University. He is currently undertaking his Master Greenkeepers Certificate
Much of the course lies over vast areas of limestone that promotes
(MG) and, as if he doesn’t have enough homework to do, he is also studying for a degree in horticulture so that he can broaden his knowledge of the garden side of life at The Manor House. Starting at 6.00am, the team run
through the tasks for the day. This may include cutting greens (always cut daily), mowing of tees and fairways and checking and raking bunkers as required. The semi-rough is cut as required. Other jobs may include topdressing, aeration, fertilisation and watering. Then, in the Hotel grounds, there is Chef’s Kitchen Garden, the Manor House croquet lawns and the idyllic Italian gardens to tend to. In addition, there are chickens to attend to and the recent addition of beehives to provide their own honey.
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