representing us and being complacent in their so called superior positions. I hope, through this article, to offer a little support to the majority of good greenkeepers who do a great job with limited resources. Change is great in any situation, but it’s got to achieve the long term objective.


What is sustainable golf? I


have read many articles, and have followed the sustainable golf theory with great interest. But, not necessarily, implementing this theory to our own maintenance practices. I have also recently followed the Greg Evans scenario closely and definitely won’t be implementing any of his theory. I have heard many comments around the south west counties from greenkeepers that are intrigued by his bold statements. They are all interested in the Greg Evans School of Greenkeeping. He has definitely stimulated discussion, and I commend him for this.


In addition, I would never be one for stopping anyone knocking leading bodies and organisations. They need it sometime, a bit like the government who think they are doing you a favour by


The first area that any golf club should approach via ‘sustainability’ is their financial status. UK golf has always been sustainable, and always will be in the commercial world. This is mainly down to the minimal resources and management carried out on them. An average 18 hole course in this country will be staffed with four to six greenkeepers, with an operating budget of between £120k to £150k, including wages, if they are lucky. I operate a 27 hole golf resort, The Dartmouth Golf and Country Club, where our customers expectations are very high. After all, they have just forked out £70 to £80 for a one night golf break to include B&B, evening meal and two rounds of golf. Not bad value, is it!


The course remains open all year


round with main greens and tees playable throughout the year, perhaps with the exception of the odd day during the winter when it rains continuously. With over 42,000 rounds on the main championship course and 18,000 on the 9 hole course, our greenkeeping operating costs, including wages, currently stands at £197k. This provides a fairly sustainable golf course and business, although share holders do


want to see more profit, as in any business.


A private members club or a commercial business may well have different agendas, but both will want perfect playing conditions. There are not many golf courses being run with an open cheque book and a fulfilled greenkeeping wish list. Although we are experiencing a downturn in golf, both in this country and around the world, it will be the majority of golf courses in the UK that will come out on top, because we have always utilised our minimal resources and labour available. So our product will not diminish too badly, even with reduced budgets.


Sustainable practices are a normal day to day operation on most courses run by professional and experienced course managers. Improved management skills and individual development has seen the monitoring of these practices being recognised and improved.


The course managers and head


greenkeepers that I associate myself with do not mow their greens at 2mm, and they would really struggle to justify 200 tonnes of topdressing a year within their budgets, for the sake of it. And, then there’s the massive inconvenience to play trying to get it down during the growing season. Is that when you should apply dressing, when the grass is growing? We all question ourselves, on occasions, about whether we are doing the right thing, but these are the pressures of the job. Greg mentioned that mowing was the


Terry Farkin, Course Manager at Dartmouth Golf and Country Club, and golf course maintenance advisor, wants to see a more commonsense approach to greenkeeping and suggests that giving in to the golfers with big egos is not the way to go


COMMONSENSE GREENKEEPING Not so common?


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