GOLF
4th green
I must have done something right to get offered the job. Then, after that Chris and I worked closely together with a small team of twelve. We like to think we are in the higher bracket of golf courses, some of whom have at least twenty greenkeepers, but we have a good team who work hard and make up for that.”
“Visitors see a new golf course and think it’s finished, but that couldn’t be further from the truth; drainage alone has taken eight years to get right in some areas. Chris left two years ago for another course which is not yet open, and I took over as Head Greenkeeper.”
Since then, the knowledge James gained from helping to build the course has been priceless. “Being part of the project from scratch means I have a much better understanding of the course itself. You know exactly what is underneath the surface; the depth of the rootzones, where the drains are and the irrigation system. The thinking process becomes different, for example, when we’re shaping areas I’m cautious and aware of not making pinch points to force everyone to walk the same way or balls
collecting in the same place on a hole - you have to have movement so balls can shed left and right.”
James also took inspiration and knowledge from greenkeepers he has worked with throughout his career and has a lot of respect for two of his past bosses. “Firstly, Alan Dobie at the Boat - his whole demeanour was so calm and he would never get wound up or get low about things (or at least he didn’t let it show). He taught me that you have a job to do and you will do it to the best of your ability, but don’t drag yourself down if you’re having an awful day; at the end of the day when you’re working with nature, you can’t predict it. Second is Chris Haspell; he is very well-educated man when it comes to sportsturf management and, like Alan, he would always try and explain everything and encourage us to ask questions. The course is made up of pure fescue and his knowledge on this subject is unbelievable. I have certainly gained an understanding from him about how it grows and what is needed to make it work.” “This course is a lot different to the Boat (featured in our October/November issue),
I think networking at shows during the day, and even at night whilst you are at the bar, allows you to gain a lot of knowledge from your fellow greenkeepers around the country and overseas
32
PC December/January 2020
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