GOLF Getting Personal
Mark Crossley - a classic daftest question and he doesn’t like snakes
Who are you? Mark Crossley - Course Manager at Prestbury Golf Club - age 39. Born and raised in Burnley, 9 GCSEs at Gawthorpe High School, 3 A Levels at St Theordores R.C Sixth Form, HND Turf Science and Golf Course Management at Myerscough College.
Family status. Long-term girlfriend Lindsay, and Bailey the Golden Retriever.
Who’s your hero and why? Stevie Gerrard as captain.
What’s been the highlight of your greenkeeping career so far? Achieving my goals by the age of thirty-five. Now they’ve been reassessed and we go again. I’m proud of the increase in standards at the course, culminating in Top 100 status. I have five lads, who have previously worked with me, who are now Course Managers/ Head Greenkeepers which is rewarding for me.
If your younger self saw you now, what would he think? I think he would be quite proud of me, especially from a career perspective.
Which famous people wind you up? The Beckhams.
What job would you love, other than your own? A professional footballer or a fighter pilot.
What was the most
embarrassing moment in your life? Too many to state.
Which three people, living or dead, would you invite to a dinner party? Jesus, Alexander the Great and Marilyn Monroe (for the glamour).
What is your favourite film? Gladiator.
What scares you? Snakes.
What’s your favourite smell? Freshly cut grass, although it’s terrible for my hayfever.
What is your favourite sport? Football.
What would your autobiography be called… and who would play you in the film? I did it my way - Jason Statham.
What would you cast into Room 101? Poverty.
Which historical time and place would you most like to visit? Ancient Rome.
Do you have a lifetime ambition? To be happy and healthy.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given? You’ve had enough to drink, although I never listen.
Which three albums would you take to a desert island? Be Here Now, Oasis. 1, The Beatles and Thriller, Michael Jackson.
What’s the daftest work-related question you have ever been asked? Where’s the left-handed screwdriver?
What’s your favourite piece of kit? Toro Flex 21.
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Grumpy, tired and hungry.
What is the single most useful thing you could tell a 16-year-old groundsperson/ greenkeeper? Listen.
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? I would like to see a Government supported wage scale. I feel this would better support the younger element and potentially make the industry more attractive to school/college leavers.
46 PC June/July 2020
maintenance of the greens. “We will hand cut five or six days a week, with Toro Flex 21 mowers at a height of 3.5-5mm throughout the year. If we are lacking a bit of speed, or we are prepping for a competition, we will take them down as low as we need to. We are looking for an average of ten on the stimpmeter.
“We don’t do a lot of scarifying, as a lot of what we are trying to do is encourage the bent grasses. We will try not to do anything too intrusive, we might tickle the surface with the verti- cut units as and when two to three times a year to try and stand up any lateral
growth and potentially any seed heads. Something we are learning is to try not to put the Poa under too much stress when it is seeding because that exaggerates the problem. On the Toro Flex 21s we have brushes so the greens are getting brushed everyday which reduces the need to scarify and verti-cut often. The organic matter we have in the top 20-25mm is lower than three percent, and we are pleased with that. It’s all about keeping the plant ticking over at sensible heights of cut to allow us to provide the speed and quality we require.”
I asked Mark if he believes
The club recently invested in a Bernhard Grinder
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