Golf
were all great experiences and you learn so much being involved in these kind of things. Also, meeting so many great people, not just the top players, but people involved in all aspects of the industry. I’ve been lucky to meet so many people who have ended up being great friends and helped me in so many ways.
How has the greenkeeping industry changed during your time?
The professionalism of the people involved in greenkeeping has risen so much; the younger greenkeepers at the top are so much better educated thanks, in no small measure, to BIGGA and people such as Walter Woods, Cecil George, Elliot Small and Jimmy Neilson, to name but a few, who pushed so hard for this back in the 1970s and 80s. That has helped us be much more respected and appreciated by the people who run the golf courses, be it a private members club, resort course or whatever. Course Manager are now more involved in all aspects of the business and their input is valued.
Machinery, as well, has taken such a leap forward, even just in the last ten years, along with other items of technology. Of course, all this, along with a constant diet of golf on TV from fabulous courses around the world, has led to higher expectations from clubs and golfers.
You are keeper of the world’s most iconic golf course; the Home of Golf. What additional pressures are put on your work by being in the media spotlight?
All the team are very much aware that things we do can be picked up on by the media, especially if it’s a “bad news” story, so we try to be very careful in everything we do. With that, we have a social media policy for the staff as many large organisations do. There’s a huge amount of interest from around the world, especially about the Old Course, as could be seen when we announced we were going to make some small alterations for the 2015 Open a couple of years ago.
We have our in-house media relations manager, so we try and enjoy a positive relationship with the media and we also enjoy a close working relationship with local stakeholders, including the R&A, especially when it comes to the Open.
With the Old Course fully booked until November, is there a preferred pecking order for visitors at the other six courses in the portfolio?
With people who come on an advanced reservation booking, or through a tour operator, we have a two course policy where you must play one of our other courses. Most people on these trips would choose the New Course (opened in 1895),
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