Golf
They fail to note that they do not have to take account of two hundred people per day walking over their lawn, taking the odd swipe with a sharp implement as they pass
enough sand in those bunkers and they are inconsistent”. The real problem is normally down to an average golfer laying open the blade of a lob or sand wedge when playing a bunker shot, thereby resulting in the blade bouncing off the sand into the middle of the golf ball which then proceeds at speed either into the face of the bunker or the heavy rough forty yards over the green! If this is compared to a swimmer belly-flopping into a swimming pool with a resounding and painful smack, as he staggers from the pool stunned, he rarely says “there is no water in that swimming pool”; he will actually blame himself for his misfortune! With regard to consistency of sand in a
bunker, many factors influence this, such as the aspect of the bunker; is it facing the sun or not? Does the irrigation system cover the bunker (we all know that wet sand is more firm than dry sand)? And, finally, what is the proximity of the sand surface to the water table? The keen observer will note that
professionals will vigorously wriggle their feet into the sand prior to playing a bunker shot. This is not to just to build a stance, but is also testing both the firmness and depth of the sand and this influences how he plays the bunker shot. One of my favourites is where a golfer
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knifes an approach to the green. It travels at a height of approximately six feet in the air and at such speed that it would evade air traffic control, and when it fails to stop he exclaims; “is the irrigation system broken or are you just too lazy to put it on?” My response would normally be that a concrete wall would not stop that shot. Finally, probably the most popular criticism is “those greens are inconsistent”. Of course they are. Given that the slope on every green is different and that slope influences speed, how can they be consistent with regard to speed. Given that greens with a southerly aspect will grow stronger than those with a northerly aspect, consistency during periods of growth is well nigh impossible. They fail to understand that taking
account of such details ranks equal in importance to correctly reading the line of a putt, and the onus is on them to do so. The strange thing is that top class amateurs and professionals rarely complain to the same extent. However, the greenkeeper must have sufficient sangfroid to take such remarks on the chin and advise that he will deal with the problem the very next day. To conclude, being a greenkeeper can be
very rewarding in terms of job satisfaction, but it is a job with very specific demands
”
that are rarely recognised in full by the sport it serves. The superintendent and his staff must possess both knowledge and skills that are neither advertised to nor acknowledged by the golfing public. He must be aware of the politics of the committee system and react accordingly, and he must have the patience of a saint when dealing with complaints. A willingness to work flexible hours and in inclement weather conditions are part and parcel of the job. If the role was properly appreciated by those it serves, then the superintendent and his staff would be better paid, both in terms of financial reward and respect. Most would hold the opinion that the latter was the most important.
Declan Branigan has been a practising agronomist for forty years and has held the position both of Captain and Greens Convenor at his home club. As an acting superintendent, he has had to report to Greens Committees for the past 25 years. On the golfing front he has represented Leinster from 1972 to 1990 and Ireland from 1975 to 1986.
This article first appeared in Greenside, the official publication of the GCSAI.
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