Golf What’s in the Shed?
Though not wedded to any brand, Colin favours John Deere machinery, buying new and used through local distributor, Norwich-based Ben Burgess. “They are happy to supply replacement parts as needed, rather than us taking on five- year packages,” Colin notes, “as the deals they give us are so good and the kit lasts well anyway.”
John Deere greens mowers x 3
John Deere 2653 ride-on triple mower ride-on to stripe around fairways John Deere fairways mower with cab
John Deere Roberine 500 cylinder mower for tackling tees
John Deere rough-cut mowers with outfront rotary decks x 2 John Deere tractors x 3
Lloyd Paladin pedestrian greens mowers x 2 Toro 648 pedestrian aerator
John Deere 950 rotary ride-on cutter and collector - “handy for picking up leaves fallen near the greens. Our older mowers work on the aprons”
John Deere Gators 4x4 - 2 x diesel, 2 x petrol
Team 400l sprayer used for the fairways Tractor-mounted slitter Power brushes and rollers Redexim Verti-Drain Sisis Aer-Aid aerator Toro ProCore aerator. Strimmers x 4 Flymos x 4.
“The Pro Pass rotary disc topdresser is a major boost, as is the greens roller we acquired recently to smooth surfaces and raise green speed.
We hire kit when the need arises - the 360-degree small excavator, brought in to dig trenches, for example - but the augur was purchased.
We use it quite often and buying it made sense. I don’t hire that much now because we have a good spread of equipment. On a site as labour intensive as ours, we rely on equipment that can blitz the course quickly.
The team dread the onset of autumn as millions of leaves prepare to descend on the course - but we are well armed with the tools to tackle the ‘storm’. Our Wessex leaf sweeper and tractor- mounted Tornado blower together keep the course playable at this time of year. A lot of man hours are spent blowing and collecting leaves - we are out there three or four times a day with our four backpack blowers.
The stump grinder and chainsaws are also essential kit when you manage such a huge hectarage of woodland.”
46 I PC JUNE/JULY 2017
apprentice, in November 2015, and has recently gained his NVQ Level 3. Colin has taken on another apprentice,
Danny Gallagher, 18, who is finishing his NVQ Level 2 and trained up on most of the machines. “I work closely with the College of East
Anglia,” says Colin, “and have taken four or five apprentices from them. The system works really well, far better than block release I find.”
Keep the customer satisfied
Many a greenkeeper has a moan about members. Some curse under their breath when ‘do-gooders’ pass comment about the course condition, others turn a threat into an opportunity to inform and educate. This is Colin’s stance and that’s hardly surprising given his lifelong commitment to learning. Communication with members is key to
keeping relations sweet with those whose membership fees keep the club in business, he believes. “I’ve tried various ways to keep members
abreast of our work,” he says, “from monthly reports pinned on the clubhouse noticeboard, presentations to as many as 100 members and even conducted walks across the course.” “I have an open door policy and invite members to come and talk to me about greenkeeping and tell me if they think we are doing something wrong.” Isn’t that inviting the kind of criticism that gives greenkeepers the shivers? “If they tell me something is rubbish, I’ll tell them how we are trying to improve things,” he responds. His quarterly management board report and a monthly brief report on course conditions and maintenance all help the communication flow, as does his club diary, particularly during maintenance week in August. “The idea is to give the committee and members as much information as we can to keep them in the loop.” “But the disdain can be deafening if they
fail to hear the word,” he adds. “The loudest moans come when they turn up and do not
know that maintenance is underway.” Colin knows “presentation is everything”
and traffic management is a major factor in that philosophy. “White lines, markers and ropes around the greens channel golfers along stretches away from heavily used areas, before the team move everything once more to even the wear and tear. “I’d estimate that 60-70% of players stay ‘within bounds’,” he says, “leaving more room for improvement.” “Presentation is massively important to
golfers and I love making everything look just right, but we have to be careful to balance appearance with what’s right for the course to avoid long-term damage. Any greenkeeping team will work round what you have to do to get the course as presentable as possible, even if that means working on Sunday evenings.” Fast response is critical too, especially if
play itself is in jeopardy. “When we hosted the English Boys County Finals in 2015, it was panic stations when rain hammered down on the last day. We were all out there with squeegees and, after just an hour, play resumed, thanks partly to better drainage and prompt action.”
Green policies
Ecology and the environment figure strongly in the management programme, Colin stresses. “Clubs have a responsibility to look after flora and fauna, and we do everything we can to run self-sufficiently,” Colin explains. “Our environmental policy covers the
ground to the tree tops. We’ve called in the Forestry Commission for advice on treating the disease affecting our ancient oaks and sweet chestnuts. Thankfully, the silver birch and Scots pine are healthy.” Mallard ducks mass the seepage ponds,
woodcocks nest on site (well out of play), muntjac deer thrive (mesh keeps them from chewing where it’s not wanted) and hares cavort about the course, whilst the few rabbits tend to stay out of trouble. Pest controls are in place however. “Chafer
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