Golf
Royal Birkdale is regular host to The Open. It will host the Senior Open this year
day. I still have to be out there leading and making sure each job is done well, and that the team doing it are confident in what they are doing. There is a lot to oversee.”
Gordon Brammah, Course Manager, Hallamshire Golf Club
“Communication at Hallamshire is so much better now and plays a part in keeping everyone informed. I write a Greens Report every month - always have - only now we put it online so that all the members have access to it. Before it went online, very few people bothered to look at it. Now, everyone can and it makes the members feel more involved. I think it also makes them appreciate the job the greenkeeping team does and value their skills and the contribution they make to the success of the club.” “Oddly, this year has been one of most successful in terms of income and feedback, despite greens fees increasing by around 40%. Maybe this is because the club has become more aware of marketing and our potential. We’ve developed our website and improved our communication. We have a policy for the environment, planting new heather and improving natural features, which is popular with members.”
“We’ve had our Bernhard grinders since 2006 and we use them more regularly now. Over the years, we have learned what works for us and we’re pretty quick at turning them round. They are very user friendly. If you grind regularly, you are fine-tuning all the time so, of course, it gives us the opportunity to look over the mowers and replace bearings and rollers etc. at the same time.”
“Before we had our own grinders we
probably sharpened mid and end of season, and that was it. Then we had that dreadful job of backlapping. That was my least favourite job. Now, of course, it depends on the season. We topdress regularly, so sometimes we grind every couple of weeks and this might go to once a month.”
Both Chris and Gordon have adapted to the changes over a relatively short time. The demands of the job and the expectations of the members make it impossible to do otherwise but, through change, the golf courses have become slicker, the greens healthier and far more consistent, and the job has become more inclusive and professional.
“Members are used to playing throughout the year, whenever they want, whatever the weather - and they expect the courses to play well and we, as a profession, have to adapt and learn so that we can keep pace with the demand”
Gordon Brammah, Hallamshire Golf Club 40 PC JUNE/JULY 2013
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