Golf
Putting out under heavy skies
training and development programme in place at the time that was second to none. Gleneagles set me up for my career now.” He gives a reverential nod to the three men who he says more than any others, shaped his development - head greenkeepers Joseph Paulin, who now runs an agronomy consultancy, Ross Monahan, and Scott Fennick, the golf course and estates manager. Graham continues his agronomy theme,
countering continuing criticism of the discipline in some quarters. “We can all learn from each other,” he states. “Agronomy is an extremely valuable tool. Some greenkeepers criticise the role of an agronomist partly because, if their club brings one in, it could be because the committee lacks confidence in the man running the course.” That said though, he adds: “I have worked with good and bad ones.” Why does he not consult one himself?
“Because the technical support from my longstanding products supplier is superb,” he replies.
Working closely with the hotel proprietors,
Graham has developed a one, three and five- year plan for Bransford, each one “subject to budgets”, he notes. “You have to explain
“
your business and its benefits to the management, but even then, if the money is not available, they cannot commit funds.” “I’ve worked in hotels for 75% to 85% of
my career and the financial management of them is not as straightforward as it is in private member golf clubs. Hotels adopt a personal style of management - they have personnel stability and treat you as equals.”, “Private members club committees can change every three years and there is usually an age difference. Also, frustrations can arise when management changes occur.” Playing courses regularly himself, Graham
sees both sides of the player/greenkeeper dynamic. In a recent championship held by brewer Greene King, he and his partner came a commendable fourth. However, “the first three won an all-expenses paid golfing trip to Portugal, so I’m a little disappointed to say the least,” he confesses. Worcestershire county captaincy at first and second team levels has proven “far more fulfilling” for him though, he adds. The appliance of soil science looms large
in Graham’s worldview of his profession. “A huge amount of science has entered greenkeeping to help us improve course presentation and conditions,” he says. A
BIGGA member for twenty-seven years, he knows the value of CPD in career development and raising personal knowledge of his profession. “I like to visit BTME every couple of years, not only for the extensive ‘Continue to Learn’ seminar programme, but also because of the value of the event in interacting with professional colleagues.” “Talking over dinner, greenkeepers discuss their own issues and can give you a clue as to how you can solve yours. That’s of inestimable value and I like to combine both. Although, in one sense, clubs are in competition with each other for members, greenkeepers are happy to talk about how their solutions can help others. We all work in different climates and different growing conditions. Mine’s sand, his may be clay. Greenkeeping is a science, but not an exact one.” Part of Graham’s maintenance programme
is a consequence of in-built faults in the course make-up, Graham explains. “The golf boom of the 1980s saw farmers diversifying their land, but construction techniques and procedures were compromised through costs and the pressure to complete. That legacy is unwinding now.” A damning indictment, you
Talking over dinner, greenkeepers discuss their own issues and can give you a clue as to how you can solve yours. That’s of inestimable value and I like to combine both
32 I PC AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 Young trees do not yet pose any problems
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