Golf


What’s in the shed? Kubota L4200 tractor John Deere Gator, Ransomes gang mowers Toro 3200 greens mower Toro 3250 greens mower Kubota G1600 rotary mower Dennis pedestrian mower 25 litre pedestrian sprayer


“We normally purchase machinery outright, either new or second-hand. Since I started working here, we have only purchased two machines; a Toro 3250 from David Raitt our local Toro dealer, which has helped to bring on the putting surfaces; and one from Nick Orcherton, our local Kubota dealer.


All servicing is currently outsourced.


I like to buy from the reps that are prepared to travel around the more remote clubs and speak to me in person.


As for my wish list, the top three would be a fairway mower, Tru Turf Greens Iron and a Toro ProCore.”


“ 34 I PC APRIL/MAY 2017


He studied greenkeeping at Elmwood College, followed by an apprenticeship at Brora Golf Club on Sutherland’s east coast, under the watchful eye of Head Greenkeeper James MacBeath. During his three years at Brora, he completed his National Certificate in Greenkeeping. Alistair confesses that he does rely on advice from James “very often”. Durness is a traditional links course crafted out of the natural landscape. Construction, including tees, was undertaken by local volunteers, with the exception of the greens which were outsourced. It is a 9-hole course, but each hole has two


distinctly different tees, making the front and back nine feel completely unique. This layout provides a par 70 course of 5,555 yards in length ... and some of the most stunning views in all of golfdom. “The soil profile is generally sandy,”


explains Alistair, “which helps with drainage, but there are a few isolated places throughout the course that don’t drain well during the wet winter months.” “The site is very exposed. We get very


little frost and snow up here, but a lot of high winds. These are my biggest issue; keeping bunker sand in place, especially. The best way I find for this is not to rake them when the wind gets up. The one advantage is


that there are definitely no issues with shade and air flow!” The golf course is also a Site of Special


Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). This provides Alistair with a lot of additional work. “I am responsible for cutting thistles, nettles, bracken and burdock, as well as controlling sand erosion and any other issues that could damage the area,” he explains. “The club works very closely with Scottish


Natural Heritage to ensure we maintain and, where possible, enhance the nature conservation interest of the land.” Sheep are deemed an important part of


keeping the balance of the grassland. “Mind you, there’s not many animals we don’t get on the course, but the biggest problem is the sheep, which are put out on the course between October and May. I use electric fences to protect the greens.” “Maintenance regimes are very dependent on the weather up here. I cut the greens at 6mm in the winter and 5mm in the summer. They are usually aerated in November and March and verticut once in early summer. Weed control is a big issue for me as, with the course being part of an SSSI, spraying of chemicals is restricted to greens and tees only.”


High winds are my biggest issue; keeping bunker sand in place, especially. The best way I find for this is not to rake them when the wind gets up


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