Golf
Separated by a drystone wall from cervine Lyme Park (see Pitchcare 77), the golf course at Shrigley Hall Hotel and Spa has a taxing pest problem: its resident deer herd enjoys rolling in sand. Jake Barrow headed to Cheshire’s ‘Golden Triangle’ to meet the new team headed up by Ben Evans
Adrian McCullough (left) with Ben Evans ... and Nick Swift behind the ProCore
B
en Evans, 27, leads the team at Shrigley’s golf course, which is just at the eastern edge of Cheshire’s famous ‘Golden Triangle’. Whilst perhaps most
notable for being home to hyper‐rich footballers and media personalities, the area is also one of Greater Manchester’s most rural zones.
And when rural areas contain wildlife‐ friendly features like those found on a picturesque golf course ‐ wooded areas, ponds, abundant grass and pits of clean sand ‐ golfing pests will flock to them. Jumping that drystone wall daily is a dozens‐strong herd of deer, including an alpha stag. At the higher sections of the course, doe like to roll around in the bunkers and stamp their hooves, whilst the stag sometimes even ruts against the bunkers’ lips, causing superficial damage. One of the staff, assistant greenkeeper Nick Swift, 50, said: “I heard somewhere that they like to ‘wipe’ their hooves and fur against the sand to get rid of ticks.” Ben has been the head greenkeeper at the 18‐hole course (plus their novel little six‐hole par‐3 section) for just eight months. He was joined even later ‐ only a few weeks before being interviewed ‐ by most of the five‐man staff. They appear to be getting on well for a team so newly gathered. The only long‐serving member is 65‐year‐
old assistant greenkeeper Nick Casson. Nick works only during the summers, and is considering making this his final year, in line with the usual retirement age.
The deputy, Adrian McCullough, also 27, is a knowledgeable young greenkeeper like Ben, and Ben feels he is also ready to take up a head greenkeeping position as soon as one arises.
Adrian is originally from Northern Ireland and, after meeting an English woman during his studies in Preston, he moved permanently and married her. His employment history includes the new JCB golf course.
The other members are: apprentice greenkeeper Daniel Barlow, 18; and the dry‐ humoured assistant greenkeeper Nick S., quoted above.
Those deer are accompanied by plenty of badgers, but as the badgers are protected and the deer are more of a crowd‐pleaser than a hindrance, the team generally prefers to leave both alone.
Whilst the locals are wealthy, golf memberships are cheap, and contribute just a small fraction to the coffers at the club. Most of the funds are provided by visitors, and the golf course serves as something of a loss‐leader; a nice addition to the package for those enjoying the hotel and spa. This means the budget is tighter than at most private members’ courses (here, the
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