GOLF


greens in tip top shape is Head Greenkeeper Mark Middleton who has worked at the club for the past twenty years. Mark’s entry into the industry came after he noticed a job advertised in the local media for someone to help out on the golf course and he decided to go for it. He said: “I saw an ad in the local job


market and thought it would be a good industry to get into. Now, some twenty years later, I’m still here.” “I’ve undertaken a lot of training to keep me abreast of all the skills and regulations required for the job, including the NVQ Level 2 Amenity Horticulture which incorporated sportsturf maintenance. Also the ANCH Level 3 in sportsturf management and the


PA1, PA2 and PA6 sprayer courses. I’ve also attended many other training courses, such as chainsaw use and machinery maintenance.” It’s quite a small team that looks after the greens and Mark reports to others who control the purse strings. “I report to the greens convenor who in turn reports to the greens council,” said Mark. “We only have two full time staff working at the club, myself and Peter Thompson who has fourteen years of service in the industry.” “We carry out most of the machinery maintenance work ourselves, but anything too major is outsourced and that includes any grinding work required.” “We also have a part time worker who is


currently undertaking his NVQ Level 2, whilst a few of the club members help out when they can, as required,” he added. Describing the soil profile at the club, Mark said the ground has about eight inches of loam and then heavy clay beyond that. “The greens are constructed on a stone carpet with drainage running six feet apart, mostly comprising 70/30 sand soil mixture, and are predominantly fescue although we have been introducing some bent varieties and, of course, some annual meadow grass. Some of the tees we have constructed ourselves on a stone carpet and drained where necessary.”


Due to its location at the bottom of a steep hill, the course is prone to some


PC February/March 2021 43


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