GOLF
Cutting units today are precision pieces of equipment requiring specific training in how best to set them up on a daily basis, as well as look after ongoing maintenance
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The greenkeeping facility was the first significant aspect of the project to be finished and was a landmark for those who began the long journey years ago
” 24 PC June/July 2019
club’s with skilled greenkeepers looking after machinery, there’s no substitute for having someone who is a specialist technician. By being a specialist you have time to work on all of the intricacies and, having operated a workshop at The London Club with two full-time staff on a 36-hole fleet of machinery, those guys were flat out the whole time to keep the fleet in top condition and follow the manufacturers recommended maintenance.” “When we planned it here, I recognised that we are only an hour and a quarter from Bernhard’s production facility in Suffolk and it made obvious synergy, having worked with them in the past, to work together to make a great sharpening room. It wasn’t only good for us but good for them to be able to bring other people from the industry to look at how to optimise this type of equipment. The fact we were building one from scratch meant we could get the design right. I sat down with Steve Nixon from Bernhards at the USGA San Diego show and sketched the layout for the sharpening room to make sure there was sufficient space. There was a lot of thought and discussions that went into it, and it should stand us in good stead long-term.” The greenkeeping facility was the first significant aspect of the project to be finished and was a landmark for those who began the long journey years ago. Peter’s involvement started in 2016, and he explains how the fresh approach to the project was enough to take him from his previous role as Estates Manager at The London Club. “I was doing one or two days a month consultancy work for Royal Norwich in 2016 and, at that point, they hadn’t signed the deal with the housing developer to buy the old golf course and, to be honest, at that stage I hadn't envisaged working with them beyond being a consultant. There was no reason to leave The London Club because, having spent years fine-tuning it, hosting televised tournaments and getting the
operation how you want it to be, it was running extremely smoothly, with a fantastic team and boss.”
“During the development’s planning stages, it became apparent to the club that they needed expertise within the team to run a project like this, essentially, grow in and establishment skills. I was asked if I’d be interested in being involved on a full-time basis.”
“What came over to me was the enormous potential of the project. Firstly, the team involved on the Royal Norwich side. You had people who were giving up all of their own time simply because of their passion to see Royal Norwich survive and prosper well into the future. The existing club probably wouldn’t have done so as the old Royal Norwich, like a lot of members clubs, needed reinvestment and they didn’t really have the cash. So, you had this stalwart group of members who were steering the development project with a passion and I was greatly encouraged to see that happening.”
“There are very few sites where you get the opportunity to put a golf course on such a fabulous piece of ground. To have 400- year-old oak trees and mature Scots pine on what is a relatively sandy loam soil; it doesn’t get much better than that. The enthusiasm from the members of the team that I'd met and the fact Ross McMurray from European Golf Design (EGD) was going to be the architect all helped to convince me of the merits of the joining the team. Ross had done an excellent job at Woburn on the Marquess course, and I was used to working with EGD after working with Gary Johnson prior to one of the tournaments at The London Club doing some minor amendments. I was enthused by all the different aspects, and the fact they were going to construct it to a high standard was the other key selling factor to me. My driver is doing it once and doing it properly.” “It was a big decision, but I’m not daunted
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