Checking quality of cut
Early start! ATEAMWORK
s the saying goes, it’s the early bird that catches the worm. Never a truer word spoken! Work began in earnest at
Peter briefs the team
4.30am on Tuesday with greenkeepers preparing the course for the first of the official practice rounds, tee off being 7.30am. Therefore, it was imperative that all the work was completed before the golfers appeared. Keeping an eye on the condition of the
greens was a high priority, with them being monitored at all hours of the day. It was important to ensure there was consistency throughout especially with respect to speed; the PGA Tour’s brief being to produce a course that was challenging but fair. The Heritage has an open, hilltop position and is often subjected to gusting winds that, during sunny periods, can quickly dry out the course.
Stimping and mowing
Evapotranspiration rates can be quite high so Andy Pearson, the club’s irrigation technician, along with Peter and Glenn, kept a watchful eye on the weather situation and condition of the playing surfaces, instigating hand watering when required. Between 10-15 soil core samples were
Painting a hole
taken to ascertain the moisture content of the greens and surrounds so that an effective watering regime could be carried out as required. All greens were stimp-metered every morning by Glenn averaging between 10.5-11 feet. Key staff members were issued with hand held radios facilitating contact at all times. Peter and Glenn were always communicating with the European Tour and relayed any relevant information to the crew. Some matters which arose during the competition and needed addressing to meet specific Tour requirements were bunker raking, watering, the cutting of greens and their speeds. Each day’s work was split into two shifts -
before and after play. Staff arriving for the 4.30am start would work straight through until every job was completed, finishing around 10.00am. All machinery would then be washed down, checked over, set up and refuelled ready for the night shift. A hearty English breakfast would then be served to boost energy levels. The crew was then divided into two teams to work a split shift between 11.00am and 4.30pm covering any issues during play. Many greenkeepers not on the first shift were able to get their heads down for a well earned rest.
Soil core sample
The tournament spanned six days. An official practice day on Tuesday, early practice and Pro Am on Wednesday, and
Thursday to Sunday for the tournament proper.
A typical day for the staff and volunteers would be:
• 4.30 am start. Peter and Glenn brief the team.
• Two staff change and paint holes
• Seven staff double cut greens and practice greens at 3.3mm (12-6 and 9-3 directions)
• Two staff hand water and switch greens
• Four staff cut fairways at 11mm (8-2 directions)
• Two staff cut championship tees at a height of 9mm (10-4 direction)
• Three staff cut approaches at 9mm (8-2 direction)
• Seventeen staff rough rake all bunkers
•
5pm-9.30.pm (after play). Peter and Glenn debrief staff and allocate evening work rotas
• Staff single cut greens 3.3mm and tees 9mm
• Turf iron greens
• Repair divots on tees, fairways and practice areas
• Water greens, fairways and approaches
The volunteers had come from all over the UK. For some it was their very first tournament experience. For others, like Neil Smith, Chris Bromley and Will Bowden they had plenty of tour knowledge with several tournaments under their belt. Will Bowden had previously worked at The London Golf Club and had just returned from working in New Zealand to take up a teaching post at Cannington College.
The other volunteers were: Rob Thomas - Southerndown GC Ben Goodyear - Arlesford GC David Rustell - Arlesford GC Neil Smith - The Belfry Chris Bromley - The Belfry Daniel Pelling - Tandridge GC Stuart Horwood - The Grove George Jones - Pike Hills GC Nick Nottingham - Luffenham Heath GC Christopher Goodall - Elsham GC Danny Floyd - Tandridge GC Rob Bond - West Herts GC Alex Symes - Devon/Student Laurence Gale -
Pitchcare.com
A bit kna .... tired!
Fairway divoting
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