Golf
The 7th - nothing prepares you for view off the tee, with views across the Atlantic to the isle of Barra
“
David Withers enthusiasm for this project cannot be underestimated. The equipment we received from
Ransomes Jacobsen has enabled us to keep the course maintained
throughout the year
Jacobsen became involved in the project. Then Managing Director, David Withers, now President of Jacobsen, is a golf enthusiast and, through his industry contacts, became aware of the Askernish story. Realising they would need mowing equipment, he contacted the club and offered to support them with a donation of equipment. And so it was that the first delivery of equipment was shipped from the local ferry port to the club; although not new, it had been refurbished at the company’s Ipswich manufacturing plant and was gratefully received by head greenkeeper Allan MacDonald.
The small fleet of Jacobsen equipment
consisted of a Greens King IV triplex greens mower, an AR250 contour rotary mower, a Fairway 250 and a Cushman Turf Truckster; enough equipment to maintain the course in its ‘natural’ state. Allan MacDonald has been the full time
head greenkeeper since 2006, although he has over twenty years association with the club. Through research into his family history, he is a descendant of Flora MacDonald, the Jacobean heroine who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape after the Scots’ defeat at the Battle of Culloden. The owner of a general store on the island
until 2004, he gained a limited knowledge of greenkeeping through his volunteer work, which also included spells as secretary and captain. To further his education, he undertook web-based courses on the Elmwood College turf management programme, attaining Level 2, and recently completed the HNC module in Golf Course Management. He is assisted by Nollie Mackinnon from May to October, when the cattle and sheep are prohibited from the machair and the course enters high season. In glorious weather, Allan was the host for
The 16th - nothing out of character 16 I PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2015
my course tour and it was fascinating to see how the course had been restored. The first
six holes form a loop which includes two par 5s and provide a gentle start with undulating greens and reasonable changes in elevation. But nothing prepares you for the sight when you reach the 7th tee, where you are greeted by the Atlantic Ocean with views of Barra and some of the most stunning dune systems in golf.
Walking the course it is difficult to see if, by some chance, the combined efforts of Irvine, Ebert, Haspall and, latterly, Malcolm Peake, have placed a green or tee in a location out of character with Old Tom’s original layout. No one will ever know but, as you walk each hole, if they have been unfaithful, it has only enhanced the golfing experience. A typical example is the short par 4, 8th
hole. For big hitters it is comfortably reached in one, but is guarded by fearsome drop offs to the right of the hole and back of the green, so you need to be extremely brave to try for an eagle or birdie. We arrive back at the clubhouse and sit
down to some welcome refreshments prepared by the clubhouse manager, Mary Flora MacDonald, who just happens to be Allan’s wife! Her homemade cakes and biscuits are superb and the clubhouse has a really homely feel; there’s even a small Pro Shop to the side, also managed by Mary Flora. Over tea and cake, I have the chance to
interview Allan and get more background. He obviously loves his job and is hugely appreciative about the support he has received from many sources. “We are extremely grateful to Malcolm
Peake, who introduced David Withers to us in 2007; David’s enthusiasm for this project cannot be underestimated,” he said. “The equipment we received from Ransomes Jacobsen has enabled us to keep the course maintained throughout the year. We have over 200 acres of grass and it takes one and
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