Golf “ “ 52 I PC JUNE/JULY 2017


I was a professional musical theatre performer for thirteen years prior to greenkeeping, but had played golf on and off during that time, and had worked in the West End for five years


Staff briefing


Pitchcare: How did you get into the industry and where did you work prior to your current position?


Craig Cameron: I got into the industry as a volunteer at my local club in Bremen, Germany eighteen years ago. I was a professional musical theatre performer for thirteen years prior to greenkeeping, but had played golf on and off during that time, and had worked in the West End for five years. Before this job, I was a greenkeeper instructor at Elmwood College and deputy course manager at Aldeburgh Golf Club, a UK top 100 club.


What training and education did you undertake?


I have my NC in greenkeeping (I was Barenbrug Student Greenkeeper of the Year in 2003), my HNC in Golf Course Management and I’m currently studying my HND in Golf Course Management. I’ve


attended countless seminars through BIGGA and work.


Was there one person who inspired you?


Klaus Schmitt, the agronomist at Bremen, set me on the right path in my career and Mark Broughton MG was an excellent mentor for me at Aldeburgh.


Are you responsible for budgets or do you report to someone else?


I am responsible for my department’s budget and report only to my general manager.


What additional staff do you have?


Two full time mechanics, Stefen and Volker; three full time gardeners, Karsten, Dustin and Murat; two head greenkeepers, Jörg and Daniel and their respective teams at St. leon and Rot, which includes twenty-one greens staff and two apprentices. A number of them have been here since the course opened in 1997.


What additional help do you get (part time, consultants, agronomists, contractors etc.)?


We are supported by the European Tour and, at my request, the STRI. Various contracts are brought in for forestry work and some specialist construction, such as bridges, roads, etc.


How would you describe the soil profile generally?


The Rot course is heavy ex-agricultural sandy loam and St. Leon is sand based, mostly by sand capping. All the greens and tees were constructed to USGA specification.


Do they require any special maintenance?


Nothing special, I just give the turf what it needs to be healthy. Fertiliser targets are around 80Kg N/Ha, a weekly light topdressing, monthly aeration, including Air2G2, Sisis multislit and microtining, hand mowing at least twice per week and rolling at least once per week on the greens’ rest


Currently, the irrigation system is Toro Site-Pro (over 4,000 heads), but our new practice site has Toro Lynx and we are looking to extend this to the whole course this year


3rd green on the Rot course


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156