The ups, downs and ups of a passionate greenkeeper - By Brian Hill

My Background…

I’ve been a greenkeeper for over 36 years now, man and boy as they say. I started as an apprentice at Cawdor Golf Club, at 16 years of age on the YTS scheme, on a mere £29.50 for a 40-hour week.

Having never played on a golf course, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the big draw for me was being outdoors. At first it was all a bit alien. I was never an acade

mic person at school, but when I started my apprenticeship, I completed three years of day-release college. This made me apprehensive at the start. After starting college, though, I loved learning so many different things - from plant ID to machine maintenance, soil science to managing finances. Years later I also did another level at college, which led to me being put forward for the BIGGA Student of the Year regional award.

Some tough times…

I’ve seen the highs and the lows of greenkeeping. From starting as an apprentice to working my way up to the position of Head Greenkeeper. Don’t get me wrong, but over the last few years, it took its toll on me mentally and physically. Between the stress of being short-staffed, drought conditions, finances becoming tighter, and also juggling a hectic family life, for a while it broke me. Unfortunately, I had to admit defeat. I went from grafting 14 hours a day – to being unable to function and not leaving the house. Reality kicked and I realised I had to change how I managed life around me. That made me more determined than ever to get back on track, set boundaries, and listen to advice - but ultimately, to talk through problems before they became too big.

Moving on to the present…

Now I’m back where I LOVE GREENKEEPING!! There’s not another job like it on the planet. Where you can see wildlife at work on a daily basis. There are never two days the same. Working in different weather, you are at the hands of Mother Nature. I can’t imagine another job where you learn so much diversity, from turf management to machine maintenance, from using pedestrian machines to tractors to triple mowers.

Greenkeeping becomes a passion…

Greenkeeping is a passion where you see the fruits of your labour. It’s like it’s a part of you – ‘the turf becomes your baby’ as I say. You plant it, you feed it, you water it, you like to see it grow, but you very much want to protect it too. It’s ours. I honestly can’t imagine doing any other job.

I would encourage anyone to try greenkeeping - young or old, age has no relevance; you get out of greenkeeping what you put into it. And, greenkeeping can take you all over the world if you work at it.