GOLF


Leek Golf Club is one of the oldest in the country and, along with twenty-seven others, is a member of the 1892 Club - an organisation that allows members from each club to play at each other’s course. Nicknamed the Queen of the Moors the course was once covered with heather, but thirty-fi ve years ago, the club planted many trees transforming it into a parkland course. Lee Williams met with the club’s Head Greenkeeper Daniel Scanlon who has had a big impact since joining the club nine months ago


D


espite starting a new job in the midst of a global pandemic and dealing with atrocious weather this winter, Daniel has made the most of his short time at


the club. “It’s been a weird year, but I have enjoyed it so far. None of us have really been furloughed through it all; we just had six weeks on reduced hours through January and February, which wasn’t too bad because of snow and cold weather. We have still managed to get plenty of work done though with the help of the Greens Chairman, Club Pro and the members.” “In the last few months, we have undertaken a lot of tree work which included chopping a number of them down and clearing areas, to improve airfl ow and to help the prominent trees thrive. We have even managed to reinstate and open up an old medal tee on one of the par threes, which members didn’t like using because the trees were encroaching the view of the green. Also, on the back of the seventeenth tee, we have a dry-stone wall in desperate need of repair and members are doing a great job of the reconstruction. I feel we have been as productive as we could be and used our time wisely whilst the members have not been around.” Next to where I parked was a large bank that leads down to the eighth green, which I could see had recently been cleared. I was shocked when Daniel said that a member in his seventies had tackled the entire area single-handedly. “The area was vastly


overgrown, and it took a lot of time to clear. Our members have been a great help and I appreciate the support I have had from them and the club offi cials to date. It took a big push to get everything tidied up and ready for the reopening at the end of March, but we were more than ready to welcome members back.”


Whist at school, Daniel carried out his two weeks work experience at The Tytherington Club in Macclesfi eld alongside the greens staff . Working in an offi ce did not appeal, and he preferred to pursue a career working outside, so greenkeeping was a perfect


As you can imagine, trying to cut fairways when it is wet, just means you end up with an inch of mud


on your rollers and you constantly have to get off the machine to clean them off, which is a pain


PC April/May 2021 31


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