Golf
“
I only wish I realised this when I started out in greenkeeping; it would have made life a lot easier
The Weymouth Golf Club greenkeeping ‘team’ l-r: James Hallett, Ben Tyrell, Mark Venner, Rob Mabb and Rob Bayliss
to my scribbling,” he jokes. “I find that a lot more members have
become aware that we do a lot more than perhaps they previously realised and maybe appreciate more nowadays that the greenstaff are trying to do the best they can.” “The other major communication tool I use is a full report on all work that has been carried out on the course for the week, which is emailed to everyone on the greens committee. They then send this round to everybody on committee to keep everyone in the loop. This too has proven to be a greater success than I thought possible. The Greens Chairman likes it because I am effectively writing his monthly greens report. The committee likes it because they know what is going on and realise that the greenstaff do earn their keep after all. It also appears to have broken down the ‘them and us’ barrier between the staff and committee. I only wish I realised this when I started out in greenkeeping; it would have made life a lot easier.”
“Communicate as much as you can,” states
Rob. “The more that you can teach members about what is going on at ‘their’ club, the more support you will get from the majority to do what you want. Let’s be honest, greenkeepers are often at the receiving end of personality clashes, so the more friends, supporters and respect you have, the harder it is for the devil to do his worst.” “In a nutshell, members love stripes. A
course that looks attractive from the moment a player arrives will help them to enjoy their surroundings and get some measure of enjoyment from their game. A player that has enjoyed the experience of playing a course is more likely to keep coming back for more. It also has a major effect on staff morale to be working in an attractive setting and creates great job satisfaction and pride amongst the team,” Rob concludes. The greenkeeping staff has now grown
from the somewhat inexperienced trio of the seventies, to a highly qualified team of four plus a trainee.
Robert Mabb is Rob’s Deputy Course 34 I PC FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016 The 18th approaching the clubhouse
Manager, who has been with the club for thirty years. “A member of the club, man and boy,” comments Rob. “Then there are two qualified
greenkeepers; James Hallett with eleven years service - he came to us from Weymouth Football Club where he was the groundsman - and Mark Venner (five years) who previously worked at Chippenham, Bath and the Manor House Hotel and Golf Club.” “Ben Tyrrell is our trainee greenkeeper,
who has been here for one year and is studying greenkeeping at Kingston Maurward College in nearby Dorchester. He was already a junior member of the golf club before he started working for me. He asked me about becoming a greenkeeper at Weymouth before leaving school so, not surprisingly, he is very keen to learn and is doing well.” “With the exception of Ben, every member
of staff is qualified to use pesticides and chainsaws as well as their normal greenkeeping qualifications. Ben will be expected to study and pass his spraying tests in the fullness of time so that he can carry out his fair share of the spraying.” Every member of staff is given an annual
appraisal to determine any future training needs that would benefit them and/or the club. “Training and education is the foundation on which any successful enterprise is built,” extols Rob. “Giving people the opportunity for self improvement boosts their confidence and self esteem, and their work rate and commitment to the job will be reflected in that. Greenkeeping is too technical and members’ expectations are too high now to consider just employing labourers and machine operatives. There can be no excuse, in this day and age, not to offer everyone and anyone proper training and education.” Rob continues: “The team work to a four
week rotation of jobs. This ensures that everyone becomes proficient at every job on the course. Therefore, in the event of holidays or sick leave, there is always someone to step in and fill the role. From the greenkeeper’s point of view, the work is always varied from one week to the next.” “I am responsible for first aid,” adds Rob,
“but sympathy is not my strong point, so everyone best avoid having accidents in the first place!”
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