As turfcare grows more complex, greenkeepers and managers must rely for success not only on their own expertise but also on that of specialist service suppliers, particularly when the eyes of the world are about to focus on you.
A partnership of W
hen you are a five-star international resort with three golf courses, and about to host
to the world’s most prestigious golf tournament, reliability is a given from service providers. Building strong, enduring
relationships with suppliers to ensure delivery of a consistently high standard of service is no easy matter, but Jim McKenzie, Director of Golf Courses and Estate Management at The Celtic Manor Resort, certainly seems to have the knack.
In his sixteen years in charge of the undulating 1,400-acre site which embraces the River Usk, Jim has witnessed seismic shifts in both turfcare and in golf. During that time, many aspects of his job have changed or evolved, yet Jim has made sure some elements remain constant, namely the standard of his work and the quality and sustainability of the relationships that he has developed with his suppliers. “It’s vital for me to work not only with specialist contractors but also with ones we know we can trust,” he says. “For Celtic Manor Resort, that means using
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local labour, something we pride ourselves on.”
As hosts of the 2010 Ryder Cup, this is a critical period in Jim’s career because he knows that the eyes of the world will fall on Celtic Manor from 1st to 3rd October and he must lay trust in his contractors and suppliers to deliver to exacting standards - no small task as the tournament is the third most watched sporting event after the Super Bowl and the football World Cup. It was back in 2001 that the Resort landed the plumb role of hosting the tournament so, in a sense, Jim has been building to this pinnacle for virtually a decade. “The nature of my job means that any contracted work usually has to be fitted around the golf, which requires a certain flexibility you only really get with companies you have a history of and ones that are local to you,” he continues. “If we need an emergency job doing we know the contractors we use will be willing to help out at the last minute.” Stretching back over the years, Jim has become close with some key suppliers serving the turfcare sector. Arguably, one
of his most productive though has been with the contractor that tackles one of the industry’s persistently perennial bugbears - weeds.
It’s fifteen years since Jim first began working with Complete Weed Control (CWC) and, it’s fair to say, the relationship has flourished. The company, which runs a 50-strong UK franchisee network, has worked continuously at Celtic Manor since 1994. “I first met Jim on the second hole of
the Wentwood Hills course,” explains the company’s technical director Alan Abel. “he told me he wanted some rough spraying, so I did it there and then. I think he appreciated the fast response.” Since then, the contractor has
progressed from treating a few hectares of rough to undertaking the majority of the Resort’s spraying needs. Sourcing a sound contractor who you can build a rapport with can mean shedding the sometimes convoluted process of going out to tender. This is certainly Jim’s sentiment. ‘Stick with who you know’ are his watchwords.
Celtic Manor’s weed control requirements are all-year-round and
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