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Revetting a bunker


Royal Dornoch and, being the only links course in our immediate area of Ross-shire, we can be open when many other courses are closed.” When we spoke, Iain had just been to check on his greens. In August they were all over-sown with a bent/fescue mix. “Our greens are push ups, with a combination of mainly bent and poa grass. The aim is to gradually increase the fescue content, maintain the bents, and reduce the poa. This is the first year of introducing fescues for a while and we are getting some good results, we have some nice lines of fescue coming through. However, the test will be if they are still there this time next year!” With major development work on the main course completed, Iain and his team have been concentrating on providing a range of facilities for juniors, of which they are justly proud. “Over the last couple of winters we have built two short par 3 holes for junior coaching, and we have put in artificial matting across the full width of the practice ground. Out on the course, at holes 1-4 and 14-18, we have constructed 9 junior tees. They now have a junior course of their own which is mainly used by beginners


1st green on the Juniors course


before they get their handicaps.”


Being alongside the Dornoch Firth provides the course with some spectacular views, but it does occasionally create a problem or two. “The course drains very well,” said Iain. “Recently, however we had an inch of rainfall in just over 24 hours. The fairway on the first hole is actually below the high tide level. A drain flows into the river, but when the tide is in the river rises and blocks the drain, so the water can’t get away. Once the tide went out, the water disappeared.”


Education and Training


If greenkeeping is Iain’s number one passion, not far behind is his enthusiasm for education and training. He is the Scottish representative on the BIGGA Board and chairs the Education Committee. “Education is crucial to the development of any industry, not just greenkeeping. Learning and improving is the only way to progress our profession. If you stand still you go backwards.”


And Iain is not just content


to spread the gospel; he actually practices what he preaches. In November he attended a presentation evening at Elwood College


where he received the Institute of Learning and Management Level 4 award. Just 8 people received the award, the first ones in Scotland to achieve this. “I try to get all my staff on courses so I thought I better do some myself,” said Iain. “Each year I sit down with each member of staff and we talk about additional training or skills they wish to develop. For example, my former assistant said he felt he needed to know more about irrigation so he was booked on a 2-day workshop at Harrogate. My new deputy does not have his assessor’s award so he will be doing the GTC’s course so that he can become certified and help me with assessments of the trainees in the workplace.” Developing future


greenkeepers is another area that Tain and Iain are committed to. “I produce a training plan every year which is presented to the club committee for approval. The plan then goes to a local enterprise board for funding. The young lads get level 2 training when they start; they work for 6 months then go off to college. We generally keep them for another year and, if there is a vacancy on the team, they will have the


15th green


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