Golf
“It was straight in at the deep end as, just ten weeks after my arrival, we were scheduled to host a European PGA Tour Event”
and third year respectively. Once I had finished college, I was taken on full-time and was part of the team involved in a major rebuilding of the sea defences along the course. However, after a year, I felt it was time to move on.” So, in 1992, Stuart joined the
greenkeeping team at Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club in Ross-shire as First Assistant Greenkeeper and was promoted to Course Manager in 1995. “I felt, with this promotion, that I had finally arrived,” says Stuart. “During my time there, I was involved in the building of new maintenance facilities and had full control of the golf course maintenance, along with producing reports for the Greens Committee and keeping the website up-to-date. I was also responsible for carrying out risk assessments, COSHH assessment and all other aspects of Health & Safety.” During my time in Ross-shire, I gained various awards, including Scottish Finalist at the ‘Toro Greenkeeper of the Year’, and the ‘Committed to Green’ award, which is working to a European Standard for Environmental Practices. We were only the sixteenth club in Europe to be awarded this honour.” “Yet, I think my proudest moment was
“St Annes Old links is a large site and covers 108 acres. It’s fairly flat but, being by the sea, has a
typically sandy native soil”
26 PC JUNE/JULY 2013 The St Annes Old Links greenstaff
Part of the 1100 yards of railway track ‘out of bounds’ on the 16th
when I was awarded Master Greenkeeper status, becoming only the thirty-seventh in the world at the time.”
In July 2004, Stuart headed south to
take up his current position. “It was straight in at the deep end,” he confesses, “as, just ten weeks after my arrival, we were scheduled to host a European PGA Tour Event which involved working closely with their agronomists and tour officials.” This event continued for a further
three years and, during this period, Stuart completed his SVQ Level 4 Amenity Sportsturf Management. “We now hold regular major events every year, including the final qualifying for The Open, the British Amateur Championship and, this year, the Girls Home Internationals.”
Stuart is supported by a full-time staff of six. His deputy is Greg Wellings who has been at the club for two years. Senior Greenkeeper Dave Feeney (3 years), Greenkeepers Chris Morris (4), Ryan Ayrton (5), Shane Donald (1) and Head Mechanic Bob Bould (42) complete the team. Two seasonal staff are employed to undertake bunker raking and fairway divoting. “I’m keen that my staff continue their
training and education and, to that end, I always take them to BTME Harrogate Week, as I think it is at the best time in the best location. The seminar programme is always very good and it’s also great to meet up with colleagues and have a chat about our work over a beer.” “I’ve been a regular member of BIGGA’s Open support teams over the years, and also worked at The Walker Cup at Nairn in 1999, but a highlight was working with the Royal Birkdale greenstaff during the 2008 Open when I was given the task of mowing the famous 17th, along with the 16th and 18th greens. I was also part of the greenstaff at Royal Lytham & St Annes for the 2012 Open Championship, again on the greens.”
“St Annes Old links is a large site and covers 108 acres. It’s fairly flat but, being by the sea, has a typically sandy native soil,” explains Stuart. “I measure rainfall, soil temperature and water usage on a monthly basis. We do have fairly extensive irrigation for greens, tees, aprons and some high wear areas and fairways, which allows us to control inputs. It wasn’t used that much last year during the summer deluge we all experienced but, in the first four months
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