GOLF


I think it was just a case of making my own mark on the


course and trying to turn it back to be a little bit more of a links course than what it was. Having worked here for those years, you notice things going differently and it didn't sit right


”


Felixtowe Ferry ’s Course Manager Glenn Rayfield is on something of a mission to return the only links layout in Suffolk to its traditional values with the aid of his committed team. As Blair Ferguson discovers, there’s a lot going on at this 130 year old course, not least a passing interest in Love Island, apparently!


F


or the last decade, Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club’s Course Manager, Glenn Rayfield, has been slowly implementing his vision for the courses. For fifteen


years, he worked his way up through the ranks at the club and, during that time, made plans for what he would do if it was ever under his stewardship. Since 2009, he has worked, along with his staff, to bring some tradition back to Suffolk's only links course. The club sits on the edge of the North Sea and, on this particular day in June, the rain has given way to the sun and provided us with still conditions for the morning. Before we head out onto the course, there's a chance to meet the greenkeeping team - deputy Andy Barker, first assistant Jonathan Smart, mechanic Malcolm Baxter,


greenkeepers Zoe Chisenhall, Matt Simpson and John Major and apprentice Harry Stambridge.


During the half an hour in the break room, conversation goes from pleasantries, to work and finally to Love Island - a subject we all seem reasonably tuned in to despite only watching it because our significant others have it on in the background. Then it's back to work. Some work that needs to be done is brought to Glenn's attention and a plan is made before we head out onto the 18-hole Martello course, named after the striking Martello Tower that sits alongside the 17th green.


This course, along with the 9-hole Kingsfleet, has been undergoing a series of positive changes during Glenn's time in charge. In 2018, Felixstowe Ferry was


PC August/September 2019


37


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