GOLF Team talk
CHRIS NICHOLLS - ASSISTANT GREENKEEPER
Chris Nicholls, Assistant Greenkeeper. Started with the club as an apprentice and has become a key member of the team in a short space of time which is down to his attitude to learn and work. He has also taken the responsibility of looking after his own section on the golf course amazingly. He has just started his NVQ level three only seven months after finishing his Level two.
How did you first make the decision to start a career in the sports turf industry? Looking back to sixth form education I never fancied going to university from the start. I’ve always been interested in horticulture and gardening, so when I saw an advert for an apprentice Greenkeeper at Saddleworth Golf Course, it looked a great opportunity. University is fantastic for some people, but I really wanted to get on the employment ladder and start a career. I’m glad I made that decision.
What are the biggest challenges you face? During the first year as being a greenkeeper, it was quite tough for me. I didn’t drive so had to cycle in. The summer days seemed long and arduous, and I felt the biggest challenge was keeping positive when a lot of the time I was working by myself. Now, my mind has been changed, and I think it’s a fantastic career and job opportunity where I can develop and broaden my horizons. I have even been volunteering as a groundsman at Oldham Athletic A.F.C, which has taught me other lessons about turfcare. Overall, I have found that when challenges have been overcome, there are fantastic opportunities that can be found.
Are you currently working towards a qualification or taking out any extra training? I am currently working towards my Level 3 NVQ qualification with Oldham College. The golf club has always supported me with training and education, and I thank them for that. I have also just completed my PA1/PA6 spraying courses and look forward to doing a chainsaw course in the near future.
What do you enjoy most about the job? There is an immense sense of pride and also a responsibility that I take and feel for the job. There is nothing better than looking back on a completed task however big or small that is. Cutting greens by hand for the first time or the football pitch and then looking back and thinking, wow, I did that.
What do you find the most difficult part of the job? The most challenging thing I find about the job is dealing with what the weather and resulting
22 PC February/March 2020
ground conditions throw at us. We can have four different seasons in a day, and that can put a strain on getting the job done to the correct standards in a decent time frame.
How could the industry as a whole help support and help further your career? I already believe that the greenkeeping industry helps support its members more than many other jobs, in my opinion. If there were one thing, however, it would be more opportunities to go and work at the big golf courses or sporting venues. To work at St Andrews or The Etihad stadium and just get a taste of the very top of the industry would be incredible.
Do you attend industry shows or educational days? BTME in Harrogate is always great to attend for education, new releases, and networking with old and new friends.
Are you a member of any industry bodies? Member of BIGGA.
Do you read Pitchcare magazine or visit our website? Yes, I often read the magazine and look online to see what’s new and pick up tips and advice.
Where do you see yourself in the future? Hopefully at the very top of the ladder. I would not pigeon hole myself to just golf course either as a venture into cricket or football stadium work would also interest me in the future.
Is there anyone person in the industry who has inspired you so far? Dave, the Head Greenkeeper at Saddleworth because he is continually trying to push his career and the golf course forward. Whether it is education or trialling differing methods and networking, which I think a Head Greenkeeper should be doing. Also, Paul Flynn the Head groundsman at Oldham Athletic as he has worked and done great things with the pitch on such a small budget and manpower. In my opinion, he is creating one of the best pitches in league 2.
winter, we hand mow using the Baroness LM56GC at a cutting height of 6mm. Combined with plenty of aeration - either by slitting or with the Redexim Verti-Drain 7316 using 19mm tines down to 12 inches. The Vert-Drain was the first machine I bought. It’s been fantastic and vital piece of kit.” “In summer, we cut everyday with the John Deere 2500E Hybrid greens mowers at a height of 3.5mm. I tend to keep this height all the way through summer, I don’t like setting up differently for a big competition. I believe golfers should get the same standards on a Monday as they do at the weekend. Every two weeks we will open up the surface with sorrel rollers which we have on an old greens mower. Then we will try and apply around two tonnes of Chelford 28 sand which works well with our sandy loam. Once a month, we will verti-drain with varying sizes of tines at different depths, so we don’t create a pan.”
“I have been overseeding with bents over the last few years to try and create a better sward as the greens are predominantly Poa dominated - around seventy percent. I have tried various seed mixes so far, but I find
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