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GOLF Team talk


DEAN WARD - ASSISTANT GREENKEEPER


How did you first make the decision to start a career in the sports turf industry? My father was a groundsman for our local council and, after a summer of lending a hand, I decided this was the career for me.


What are the biggest challenges you face? Golfers expectations of year-round golf.


Are you currently working towards a qualification or taking out any extra training? Since the appointment of the new head greenkeeper, education has being a priority and I have just obtained my Level 3 in Sports Turf.


What do you enjoy most about the job? The variety of day to day tasks.


What do you find the most difficult part of the job? Adapting to the modern presentation of today’s ever-changing courses.


How could the industry as a whole help support and help further your career? More readily available training and support. Training isn’t a priority at some golf clubs.


Do you attend industry shows or educational days? I attend BTME annually. I find this is a great way to keep up with the ever-evolving machinery of the modern golf course.


Are you a member of any industry bodies? Yes BIGGA.


Do you read Pitchcare magazine or visit our website? Yes, I read online articles.


Where do you see yourself in the future? I’m currently happy in my position.


Is there anyone person in the industry who has inspired you so far? Again, I will say my father who encouraged me to get into greenkeeping. Other people l look up to would be Stuart Marston, whom I worked with for twenty years, and our current Head Greenkeeper Matt Booth - who has provided me with lots of training and an outlook into modern greenkeeping.


some of the tees. This is an issue when undertaking various maintenance tasks, which is a bit frustrating, especially when you go to other tees and they have put them on the edge. We have already done the 18th tee and hope to move more to the edge as we move forward, but the issue is when the club spent big money on the system, they are reluctant to re-invest. There will come a time when they have to look at upgrading or replacing the system, but it did cope well in the summer of 2018.”


Matt talks me through cutting heights, maintaining speeds and aeration on the greens. “We cut every day using the Toro Greenmaster 3250 D’s at a height of 3.5mm, which gives us the scope to go a little lower if we want to. We have been down to 3mm, but we have found that we can maintain the speeds at 3.5mm when combined with using the vibrating rollers. The speeds the club are looking at on the stimpmeter are nine and a half to ten according to the course policy document. We are regularly ten


to ten and a half. Sometimes we must rein them in a bit because of the shape of the greens. We will cut as and when required in the winter months at 5mm, and occasionally put the vibrating rollers over if we have done any slitting or ProCoring. Through the summer, we will use 8mm micro-tines at a depth of four inches with two-inch centres using the Toro ProCore 648. To get around the course and minimise disruption, I have a good set of lads that will come in at 2.00am in the morning to get them done. Chappelow’s come in every March and September to undertake a deep verti-drain, achieving depths of twelve inches using half-inch tines. With all the maintenance practices combined, we have managed to reduce the organic matter massively since I have been here.”


The club has always bought their machinery outright, either new, second-hand or on hire purchase as required. They are currently looking at a replacement deal. “With the amount


Assistant Dean Ward 26 PC December/January 2020


Summer 2018 drought


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