Golf
“
Personally, I think all golf clubs should have apprentices as I have found this the best method of recruiting and training staff
Three men went to mow - l-r: Alan Kellett, Connor Hall and Rob Coates
features were constructed. Due to poor weather, the construction moved into a second year and it was finally completed and opened in October 2001.” “The three full-time staff were initially
helped by the addition of two seasonal staff. Membership numbers increased to above 500, so things were quite settled. The contractors were brought back in to do some drainage works and snagging list.” “The club took on a golf professional and
What’s in the shed? John Deere 2500a greens mower John Deere 2500b greens mower
John Deere 2653b tees and surrounds mower John Deere 8700 fairway mower John Deere 8800 rough mower John Deere 4300 tractor Ransomes 160d John Deere Aercore 1500 Imants Shockwave 1500 Imants Shockwave 2000 John Deere Gator John Deere 1145 outfront mower Various pedestrian machines
Machinery is purchased on a five-year rolling plan through local dealer, Balmers GM in Burnley.
Alan comments; “I set a budget for course maintenance to use for the season. But, as we are now a family owned business, I frequently discuss the needs of the course with the owners and club manager.”
“We have a service contract on our fleet of John Deere machines through Balmers, but we carry out general day to day maintenance ourselves.”
“We have used John Deere for nearly twenty years. They are reliable and simple to maintain. I’m sure we buy them now because green is the favourite colour of the owner!”
32 I PC AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014
spent a great deal on the clubhouse. But, gradually, as the noughties moved on, membership began to fall and, to counteract this, fees went up, so more members left! Greenkeeping staff reverted back to the three full-time crew who managed the old nine holes.”
“In 2008, membership was down to less than 200 and, with poor weather causing loss of revenue, the greenkeeping staff were put on a job share, although we still employed a secretary, steward and pro!” comments Alan. “In 2009, the club was sold to a local caravan park owner who started to try and bring the club back to life. Investment - especially in the clubhouse, buggy roads and course alterations - have now begun in earnest.” “I have two members of staff to help me. Rob Coates is my deputy, who has been with me for fourteen years, and an apprentice greenkeeper, nineteen year old Connor Hall,
who has been here for two years and is currently taking NVQ Level 3 at Myerscough College. His work is split between the caravan park and the golf course, but he should, eventually, be placed permanently at the course to work on all greenkeeping aspects. Personally, I think all golf clubs should have apprentices as I have found this the best method of recruiting and training staff.”
“We can also pull in additional staff from
the caravan park, as required,” Alan confirms. With the course now an eighteen hole
facility and new ownership providing additional investment, Alan has a number of projects on the go. “Since the course was extended, we have been renovating all thirty- five bunkers as they were originally very poorly constructed. We dig out the existing bunker, put in a drainage system, gravel raft and a liner. Due to the exposed nature of the site, we have revetted many of the bunkers which helps the maintenance of the sand. This is ongoing. We still have ten to rebuild!” “A number of the tees need their surfaces
relevelling. Some of the recently built tees were badly constructed with very poor surfaces. Hopefully, we can begin a renovation programme on these tees as time allows.” “We’ve also built a new fifteenth hole. The
work began in 2012 and opened this spring. Only the green was built to any specification,
Bunker work is ongoing ...
... with ten still to complete
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