“To become a good course manager it helps to play golf to a reasonable standard”
Bill Payne, Course Manager, Goodwood
Bill Payne
flora and fauna of the courses, so much so that, eleven years ago, he compiled an inventory of all the species he could find on the sites. “We have a splendid range of orchids, both the bee and fly varieties thrive here,” he reveals. “I am very keen to keep up to date with all the wildlife we have and to ensure it is looked after and managed appropriately.” At a time when golfers are taking far
more interest in environmental management at golf clubs, his sentiments are those of someone aware of the wider issues of attracting members. Managing such a large hectarage is one thing, but maintaining it to meet the higher standards that today’s golfers demand, and to do justice to the Goodwood superbrand, is no mean feat and must prove a source of unending pressure. Bill looks every bit the man capable of shouldering that responsibility as he talks assuredly about tending some of golf ’s most glorious holes. “A great part of our success is down to the quality of our fifteen-strong greenkeeping team,” he states categorically. “It is, without a doubt, the most important aspect of greenkeeping here at Goodwood. We make sure we all
look after each other, if we see something we think needs doing we make sure we keep each other in the loop. There’s no substitute for good team work and understanding how each of us works.” But, to become a good course manager, it helps to play golf to “a reasonable standard”, Bill believes, “but, what is more essential, is for greenkeeping teams to visit courses up and down the country, as well as abroad, to see how they do things and to see how we can improve what we do here still further.”
The hospitality of machinery suppliers can help that cause too, he continues. “A recent trip to the US on behalf of John Deere was fantastic for me. We played at a number of courses of varying standards, including some top-notch venues. This was an invaluable experience for me.” For Bill, the learning curve never ends, it seems, to his credit. The Downs course could well hold championship golf in future, he believes, given the standard of the course and the setting and standing of the elegant Kennels clubhouse - built in 1787 for the hounds belonging to the third Duke of Richmond, designed by the architect James Wyatt and described as the finest
example of Sussex flintwork in the country.
In such an idyllic, not to say distracting setting, Bill remains firmly focused on doing his job: “Maybe we could host a championship, our facilities and the standard of course would certainly accommodate it, but it’s not something for the near future.” Talk turns briefly to the Park sister course: “We have been working hard and invested a load of time rejuvenating it over the last few years. It had been left to go to seed while out of our control, but has improved greatly since then, but still needs a couple of years to reach its full potential. “We still have a few concerns with the
greens and still need to address some topdressing issues, but progress has been very good.” Returning to maintenance on the Downs course, Bill says: “We topdress monthly and hollow tine twice a year to a 4inch depth with 15mm tines using both Toro and John Deere machines. “Overseeding is done twice a year with a fescue bent mix. I don’t like to speed up greens too much so I usually keep the stimp number to between eight and ten. I could get it as high as twelve or fifteen
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