Golf
“I’ve been lucky enough to have the support of the R&A
myself through the end of my second year and all of my third year without their help”
Conor Hennessy
whether it is in greenkeeping or not. The reason I say this is because Stuart is just a twenty-two year old fella with an FdSc and a BSc (Hons) degree already under his belt! There aren’t too many greenkeepers who can say that - I’ve just managed it and I’m old enough to be his dad!
During the many hours I spent
researching my own thesis at Myerscough College, Stuart would help me out with washing and weighing my project’s roots and shoots and, for this, I am eternally grateful, because Myerscough laboratories can be a lonely and spooky place on a Friday evening! Many thanks for the company Stuart! Stuart wrote his own dissertation on the physical and chemical properties of sands within USGA guidelines. He assessed the difference between a number of sands that fell within the USGA spec. He concluded that, although they all fell within standard physical properties of the spec, they were proven to be different by statistical analysis, thus showing the importance of careful sand selection! This research will come in handy as Stuart is much travelled. When I mention “much travelled”, I mean Stuart has worked both in Europe and the States. His time in the States saw him working at East Lake, Atlanta, where the final Fedex competition of the year is held. Prior to that, he worked in Portugal for a Nick Faldo designed course. Stuart has also worked in Scotland at both the gWest Golf Resort and Castle Stuart - see what I mean about much travelled? I asked Stuart if he could give me a few 40 PC OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013
scholarship scheme. I don’t think I would have been able to support
Conor Hennessy - thought he’d give greenkeeping a try!
words on the R&A scholarship and here’s his reply: “I have found the scholarship to be highly beneficial in both financial and social aspects, which has allowed me to progress within the industry, and meet some great people whom I shall stay in contact with.” Need I say anymore? As if being talented and ambitious
wasn’t enough, Stuart also has a keen eye for a photo! He managed to get one of his snaps of Castle Stuart into BIGGA’s photo competition, which was selected to be June’s picture.
Big things await this fella, of that I’m sure! Conor Hennessy
Okay, where do I start with this chap? Here goes ... Conor has had a real short greenkeeping career to date; three years to be precise. Prior to greenkeeping, he worked part time as a debt collector for an Irish bank which ran concurrently to his time studying engineering. Conor graduated with an engineering
degree in 2009, but felt that there was little or no work in that particular sector so, being ambitious and forward thinking, he started to look elsewhere. His searching did not take too long as a good friend of his, and former R&A scholar, Simon Connaughton, who is currently golf course manager at Golf Course Belgrade, Serbia, suggested he give greenkeeping a try. He liked the idea of working outdoors and, in his own words, “what guy didn’t want the chance to ride a tractor when they were a little kid?” So, he decided to jump straight into it with the National Certificate in Greenkeeping at Elmwood.
Conor mentions that, after starting the National Certificate and spending a season working in his native Ireland, greenkeeping was what he wanted to do. He knew, however, that he needed further experience in the industry, so he then went on to study the Higher National Certificate in Golf Course Management, then followed that up with Higher National Diploma, again in Golf Course Management. Now, although I haven’t studied either of those courses myself, I have heard from very reliable sources that they are quite difficult to complete; not only did Conor complete them with great grades, he won the Elmwood Campus award for Best Golf Course Management Student, 2013, so fantastic work Conor! I guess 2013 is his year because he was selected, on behalf of the R&A, to represent the scholars at the Open Championship at Muirfield. His task was to work for two weeks prior to the Open where I am positive he gained valuable insight into golf course presentation to the highest possible standard. During his time at Elmwood, he also had the chance to work at Kingsbarns for the week of the Dunhill Links Championship, in both 2011 and 2012, and says that he “hopes to get a chance to get back again this year”. Is that a hint Conor? With regards to work experience, Conor has worked at the Glen of Downs Golf Club, County Wicklow, under the tutelage of James Fisher where he indicates that he “learned lots”. During his HNC year, he was posted off to the Royal Malta Golf Club, just outside the
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