EACH issue we catch up with a leading turfgrass professional and ask him or her what’s going on in ...
Lives READERS
Who are you? Gordon Moir, Links Superintendent at St Andrews Links Trust. Responsible for all turf operations of the seven St Andrews Links Golf Courses including the world famous Old Course and the new No.7 course which will be named in January and open for play in spring 2008.
What’s your background? I began my greenkeeping career as an apprentice after leaving school at Fraserburgh Golf Club in the North East of Scotland, attending Elmwood College in Fife on block release. In 1981 I was appointed Head Greenkeeper at Fraserburgh where I stayed until moving to St Andrews Links as Head Greenkeeper of the Eden Course in 1991. In October 2000 I was promoted to my current position. I am a past secretary of the North Section in BIGGA and a past Chairman of BIGGA Scottish Region.
Status? Married to Pauline for over 23 years (she is very understanding) we have 3 children, Andrew 20, Shirras 19 and Bruce 16.
What do you get up to on your days off? I have been known to play golf a lot! Occasionally I may go to watch a football match and even more occasionally try to keep my garden tidy or, in a rash moment, go shopping.
What car do you drive? A Nissan X Trail which is great for my work in getting around the courses. Although I enjoy driving I have never been into cars in a big way, as long as they get me from A to B.
Favourite film? Recently I’ve enjoyed The Departed and Borat which are quite different (Borat was outrageous) Generally I like most action movies and comedies.
Favourite radio programme? Off the Ball on Radio Scotland on a Saturday.
Favourite music? The Stones, Bowie, modern groups Razorlight or the Scissor Sisters. I like most music, especially if it's live.
What do you most enjoy about your job? I used to love the outdoor part, especially in the summer but I spend a lot of my time in an office now. I’ve met so many really nice people in the golf industry and been fortunate to visit some great places which makes everything worthwhile.
Favourite Sport? I enjoy watching most sports but don’t play much now apart from golf.
Favourite TV? Still Game or Chewing the Fat (both on BBC Scotland). Have I Got News For You. Good Police dramas such as Cracker or Prime Suspect. I hate reality shows such as big brother!
Favourite Food? Steak, although I like most things. When I go back to Fraserburgh I always have a haddock supper.
Pet Hate? Golfers not always appreciating the dedication of most greenkeepers. Away from work, it bugs me how the government try to tell us how to run our lives, what to eat etc.
Most memorable experience? The 2005 Open. I was lucky enough to meet Jack Nicklaus on the Friday evening and meet Tiger shortly after the prizegiving. Away from work, Aberdeen winning the European Cup Winners Cup in 1983 in Gothenberg. I should have been there but was getting married a couple of months later and couldn’t afford it!
Greenkeepers and Committees
Ian MacMillan says “The times are a changing”
In forty two years of greenkeeping I have witnessed, and been part of, the member agronomist opinion on what we always do wrong but never do right! This message is then expounded to the first committee member the ‘expert’ bumps into at the bar after a few beers! Allowing himself empowerment with the belief that his knowledge is far greater than the greenkeeper. Here summarily lies the problem. But don’t be surprised to learn that these issues have actually prevailed since the days of Old Tom Morris who was factually under constant pressure from committee at St Andrews Links even then. Right up to the present
day, the relationship between greenkeepers and the structure to which they are answerable have many dubious foundations even though, a few years ago, the R&A itself proposed documentation to improve the management of golf clubs titled ‘The Way Forward’. To cut a long story short, the recommendation was ‘to streamline the running of golf clubs and courses to much more efficient and workable structures, incorporating a system whereby the greenkeeper is only answerable to a (single) manager as opposed to a committee’. Every golf club in the UK
was issued with a copy, and the scope of
recommendations was to suggest that the daily workings of golf clubs should change. For a plethora of reasons this has never really taken off and, although there are many examples of new structure which work effectively and fairly, my own employers included, the vast majority of greenkeepers are still left in what can be the most awkward of working relationships, answering to an ever-changing array of committee members, some of whom are categorically entirely unqualified to manage a golf club bar, let alone discuss the finer details of agronomy. There are few professions
in the civilised working world which allow a format whereby an individual, who has officially studied and qualified, can have their position compromised by someone else who has no real knowledge of the realities of the job. Conversely, and I don’t know about you but, as a greenkeeper, I would feel a measure of reluctance if I had to march (without training) into an aeroplane cockpit and immediately assume control. As things now stand, these complex issues are currently being addressed by Scotland’s central section of BIGGA . Any golf clubs which are treating greenkeepers unfairly, and outside the boundaries of law, are accountable for their actions. Over the years I have
personally witnessed far too many injustices with these exact circumstances so, as regards to my own input to the future, I have graduated from Strathclyde University as a specialist paralegal in employment law, going on to graduate from the association of paralegals in Bristol as a general paralegal in English law. I am currently at the half way stage of a LLB (hon.) from London law school in association with the national society of
paralegals. This will enable me to offer a free service to my fellow greenkeepers on any aspect of employment law and other ADR workplace disputes. We cannot change the past, but we can, and will, make fundamental changes to the future. As Bob Dylan sang, “The times they are a changing”.
through the Independent Greenkeepers Association on 07792543729 or mail me at
Ian@joblaw.co.uk.
I can be contacted
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