Golf GETTINGPersonal...
Ant Foulds - wants to settle down in Victoria - you’d best read on!
Who am you? Ant Foulds, Course Manager at the Manor Golf Club (Kingstone).
Family status? Married to Charlotte.
Who is your hero and why? Too many to list but, in the golf world, Bobby Jones, for everything he achieved whilst remaining an amateur. And Seve; apart from his uncompromising nature on the course, he also had an amazing aura off it. I was lucky enough to be based in Southern Spain in the 80s and played a lot of golf on the Costa Del Sol before the ‘boom’. I came across most of the European tour players at that time as they all played down there in winter. Seve had the most amazing knack of convincing anyone he spoke to that they were the best golfer on the planet. A great guy.
What would you change about yourself? Apart from my golf swing, nothing really. I used to be a bit arrogant, but now I’m absolutely perfect!
What is your guilty pleasure? Me and the missus like a bit of fine dining.
What do you drop everything for? The family.
What has been the highlight of your career so far? Turning the 9 hole course that we started with into what is now quite a decent 18 hole track.
Glass half full or half empty? Half full, unless it’s wine, then it is usually empty!
Climate change, fact or fiction? I believe the climate is changing in the same way that I believe the climate has been changing since the earth was formed.
What is your favourite season? I love spring; getting all the mowers back out on the course and readying the mechanic for all the breakdowns that follow.
What are your pet peeves? Lateness. Comes from my fourteen years in the Royal Navy where lateness was not tolerated at all. Also, ‘thin and crispy pizza’ where the base is neither thin nor crispy.
If you could go anywhere right now, where would it be? Victoria on Vancouver Island in Canada. Everything a quaint English village should be with English style pubs and a village green where they play cricket - coupled with some of the best seafood on the planet and two great golf courses.
What is the best part of your job? Working every day with my son.
... and the worst? Dealing with the back-chat I get from my know-it-all son.
Do you have any ambitions? In work, to host a pro tournament - never going to happen but it’s nice to have a goal. In life, to retire to Victoria on Vancouver Island (my wife is Canadian).
Who wouldn't you like to be? Anyone one who works in an office 9 to 5. Sorry to those who do, but I’ve never had a 9 to 5 job since I started work at fifteen.
Favourite record and why? Love my music, so I’ve got loads of favourites, but if I had to name one it would be Love will tear us apart by Joy Division. I saw them live at Bowden Vale youth club in Altrincham in 1979.
28 I PC AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014
Damage caused by the 2012 flood
Who would you spend a romantic evening with? My wife, of course.
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Obviously, with a big enough win, I would change the whole bunkering system on the course. Then pay the mortgage of all my family and close friends. Is that poor priorities?
If you were to describe yourself as a musical instrument, what would you be? Bagpipes. Played well, they sound okay. Played badly, they make your ears bleed.
What is the best advice you have ever been given? In greenkeeping. Never be frightened to ask anyone for advice. There are people out there who are great at what they do and genuinely like to help.
What’s your favourite smell? That lovely fruity aroma just as the first glass of red of the evening is nearing the lips.
What do you do in your spare time? I try and spend all my spare time with my wife, whether we are on a night out or just sat at home watching TV.
What is the daftest work question you have ever been asked? A conversation with a member that went like this:
Member; “Why are you always working on the course on a Thursday when I play?”
Me; “Do you play any other day of the week?”
Member; “No, I only play Thursday's and I’d like you to mow on a different day please.”
Me; “Have you ever considered that we mow every single day of the week, but you only see Thursday’s work?”
Member: “Oooh, I hadn’t thought of that!”
What is your favourite piece of kit? My TMSystem roller units that fit on the Toro 3050 with the topdress brushes on.
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Too easy going.
What talent would you like to have? I would love to be able to tell different wines apart. My limit stops at the colour.
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? I would like a law that states that as soon as you enter the clubhouse you are to refrain from complaining about anything golf course related. Oh yeah, and something needs to be done to stop slow play.
without any disruption to play.” “I like to pencil tine the greens twice during the growing season and the whole course is verti-drained twice a year - usually October and March,” continues Ant. “This practice is entirely governed by the weather. As previously stated, we are on clay here, so the timing of the verti-draining is vital. Too dry and the tines will not go in to the required depth. Too wet and the fracturing doesn’t occur.” “Eight of the greens are still to get proper
irrigation so, in dry periods, you’ll often find me out ‘very early’ to hand water them.” “I don't use temporary greens here,”
confirms Ant, “but have had to build one to allow for the construction of one of the new USGA greens on the 15th. This project should begin around October/November; I can't start my construction until the temp is playable.” “My feeding programme is usually based on the soil sample results every other March. This is undertaken by Tony Cheese who I’ve been dealing with for about fifteen years.”
“We cut the fairways twice a week. I like
to cut when they are dry - even though my Toro 6700 is fitted with roller brushes - and we aim to cut Monday or Tuesday and then Thursday or Friday. However, during the last few wet springs and summers, we were mowing the fairways three times a week. Cutting height is maintained at 16mm throughout the year.” “I try and cut all the semi-rough at least once a week,” explains Ant. “We do have faster growing areas that need doing twice during spring but, overall, in summer, once is adequate. Rough is cut at 45mm.” “We have the River Blythe running
through the middle of the front nine and round the border of the back nine. It’s a nice feature and brings its own set of wildlife, something we are keen to encourage here. The river valley also means the course usually has a good breeze blowing, which provides an additional challenge for the golfers.”
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