Golf
Although being a man down since Chris Jenkins’ passing, Tenby Golf Club’s three remaining, long-serving greenkeepers share fifty years experience between them and know precisely what needs to be done where, when and how around the golf course and on other prestige fine-turf surfaces. These abilities are due in no small measure to the instruction and guidance provided to them by Chris, whose greenkeeping experience extended to more than forty years, all achieved at Tenby.
Although he was appointed head
greenkeeper in 1988, Chris’s association with Tenby Golf Club began initially as a teenager in 1969 when, as a very good low handicap golfer, he worked as assistant club professional for a while, before he developed an interest in the science and practice of golf course maintenance, subsequently joining the club’s greenkeeping staff. Following a short period away from golf in the late 1970s, Chris returned to his former post and spent the next nine years honing his experience and understanding of how to best care for and prepare a traditional links-type course.
The knowledge and skills he
accumulated led to the club offering him the vacant position of head greenkeeper in 1988, a post he held and relished until his untimely death last August. Scott Williams joined Tenby Golf Club straight from school in the summer of 1996, having spent previous school holidays helping out on the course under Chris’s watchful eye. “I recall laying boards prior to re- turfing the surrounds of greens and also being introduced to the fine art of bunker revetting,” recalled Scott. “In my final months at school, I decided that the only place I wanted to work was on a golf course and applied, successfully, for an upcoming vacancy on Tenby’s greenkeeping staff.”
“My very first job on the course was mowing tees and aprons, having received full instructions from Chris who stood close-by watching me at the wheel of the mower. I can honestly say that I have not had one moment of regret over the seventeen years since I chose greenkeeping as my career.” “Tutored in all aspects of turfcare and links course management by Chris, Scott completed a four year greenkeeping
apprenticeship at Tenby, whilst gaining NVQ2 and NVQ3 qualifications in greenkeeping and sports turf management at Northop College, Mold, Flintshire. Practical spraying courses followed, with Scott securing PA1, PA2 and PA6 NPTC Certification of Competence in Safe Use of Pesticides, encompassing ground crop sprayers and hand-held applicators. He is also trained and equipped to carry out Local Environment Risk Assessments for Pesticides (LERAPs). “Although college instruction proved very useful in getting the basics right, I believe that the best way to learn any craft is doing the job at the place where one works,” pointed out Scott. “I had a very good teacher in Chris and retain huge respect for his knowledge, skill and patience which helped me improve both my turf skills and position at the golf club, securing the post of assistant head greenkeeper in 2009.”
Scott commented that he has particular fond memories of working on bunkers alongside Chris, the two men rebuilding, repairing or revetting around sixty sand traps between 2005 and 2012.
Built by Tenby’s greenkeepers when led by the late Chris Jenkins, the ninth tee offers spectacular views over the course and adjacent coastline. The hole is being renamed ‘Jenkins View’
Cutting back rough grass and blackthorn to provide a clearer view of the 14th green
Assistant greenkeeper, Stuart Adams, trims the 11th green ahead of a busy weekend of golf at Tenby Golf Club
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156