GOLF Getting Personal
Sam Bethell - he’s leaving on a jet plane!
Who are you? Sam Bethell, Course Manager at Chipstead Golf Club.
Family status? Married to Jenny for 9 years, two daughters aged 5 and 8.
Who’s your hero and why? My dad. He was the best man at my wedding. My dad did everything he could to provide for my family (along with my mum). Lost his job in the print when I was a teenager, so he went back to using his building skills and took me with him. Had me mixing cement, hod carrying and building fences when I was twelve. Showed me how to graft and why. He’s what you would expect of a man from Lambeth Walk, South East London; common as muck, strong as an ox, always dapper and Millwall.
What would you change about yourself? Less dramatic, need to chill out a bit more.
What’s your guilty pleasure? Christmas music and films, all year, not just because it’s December.
What’s been the highlight of your career so far? Completing my FdSc Sportsturf in May. Left school with one GCSE, hated school, but knew I could do something like that if I was interested in the subject.
What are your pet peeves? Noisy eaters. Chewing with your mouth open, smacking your lips or talking with your mouth full. All of that makes my head explode.
Also, bad manners. Costs nothing to say please and thank you, hold a door open or give up your seat. Seeing less and less in the way of good manners.
If you could go anywhere right now, where would it be? Antigua, went there for my honeymoon. Stunning place. Company was half decent too.
What’s the best part of your job? Working with my team and seeing them improve as greenkeepers. It’s great when they learn a new skill or gain some knowledge. When they come to you with ideas from what they’ve learned it makes you feel good.
… and the worst? Shed days. Bad enough that they’re normally due to awful weather, but being stuck in a shed sweeping dust or tidying benches is my idea of hell.
Do you have a lifetime ambition? Not really. Mainly just want to be around long enough to see my girls grow up.
Which three albums would you take to a desert island? Arctic Monkeys - Whatever people say, that’s what I’m not. Nirvana - Nevermind. Gorgon City - Sirens.
Who would you choose to spend a romantic evening with? Other than my wife? Kelly Brook.
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Pay the mortgage off.
28 PC December/January 2019
When the inevitable happens though, we’ll
”
have to replace him with a Level 2 at least, as a I can’t afford to lose that skills base
What would you consign to Room 101 and why? Nickelodeon. My daughters watch programmes on there that make me want to scoop my eyes out.
Remain or Brexit? Brexit.
Which three people, living or dead, would you invite to a dinner party? Mike Tyson, Dave Grohl and Gazza.
If you could be anyone for a day, who would it be and why? My youngest daughter, then I could get some insight as to what the hell is going through her head at times. She’s crazy, pretty sure she’s feral too.
Do you have any bad habits? I blow my nose in the shower and I know it’s like an ocean liner has sounded its horn. Could wake the dead.
... or any good ones? I make the wife coffee when I get up for work. Keeps her sweet.
Do you go to bed worrying about the next day's workload? No, never. If I’m concerned, I make a list so it’s planned out.
What are you reading at the moment - hard copy or online? ‘Because my dad does’ - online. About following in your dad’s footsteps as a Millwall supporter.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given? Don’t give them everything straightaway, leave them wanting more so it gives you something to keep working to.
What’s your favourite smell? Jet fuel, love that smell at the airport.
What do you do in your spare time? Football, I go to watch Millwall with my daughters.
What’s the daftest work related question you have ever been asked? Am I on a prison release programme? Was asked by a lady member at The Richmond GC when she saw my tattoos.
What’s your favourite piece of kit? Verti- drain, I do like punching holes in things.
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Honest, reliable and big.
What talent would you like to have? Play an instrument; guitar or drums would be good.
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? Tougher sentencing on knife crime, minimum custodial sentence of at least five years. Even if just caught carrying.
hearing that sickening crunch.” Woodland between the course and the railway line is home to roe deer, which stray on to the course, and to red kites, now proliferating in the south. A large family of “talkative” tawny owls are resident too. “Foxes can cause an issue,” Sam says, “but
the Resist repellent we knapsack spray deters them from soiling the bunkers.” The team are active in other areas of wildlife management, setting up hedgehog homes, whilst also working with Reigate Beekeepers Association, who tend four beehives.
Encouraging favourable environments for moths and butterflies is also a priority, Sam adds. “Ragwort thrives in the long rough - a natural haven for the cinnabar moth caterpillar with its striking black and deep orange markings. Meadow flowers are abundant, particularly species like the common spotted orchid.”
Building the team
The five-man, multi-skilled greens team presents firm prospects for further building up the standard of course presentation, Sam maintains. “This is a young team and it’s important everyone fits into that structure and culture. I believe we can look forward to exciting and productive times at Chipstead.” Deputy course manager Jack Percival, 24, joined a year ago after a spell as head greenkeeper at Aquarius Golf Club, following Purley Downs and Addington Palace before that.
“He’s keen and ambitious,” notes Sam, “a fast learner and popular with members and the clubhouse.” With his Level 2, spray and chainsaw certificates, Jack starts his Level 3 this January.” “As a trained machine greenkeeper, Jack’s a big benefit, doing servicing and grinding in house. He is great at diagnosing faults, buys the parts and ensures machine downtime is low.”
Arriving from university four years ago as a winter temporary after graduating in ecological science, greenkeeper Simon Torkington, 26, is now a permanent fixture - sort of.
“He is still undecided as to whether he wants a career in greenkeeping, which is frustrating as he is good and reliable,” Sam
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 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164
