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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.

Everything in life needs oxygen, and your pond or lake is no different. Low dissolved oxygen levels can lead to poor water quality and harm aquatic life. They can also be a risk to public health and safety. Signs of Low Oxygen Levels ·        Excess algae growth ·        Foul smelling water ·        Lots of surface insects ·        Dead or dying fish Why Oxygen Levels Fall Most oxygen in the water bodies exists in the top layer. During warm weather this surface layer heats up, reducing its ability to hold dissolved oxygen. As temperatures rise, oxygen levels fall, which is when problems start to show. Ways to Add Oxygen to a Pond or Lake 1. Surface Aeration (fountains) Floating fountains pull water from the pond surface and broadcast it into the air. As the droplets fall, they mix with oxygen before re-entering the water more oxygenated. 2. Diffused (Fine or Coarse Bubble) Aeration Air is pumped from a land-based compressor through hoses to diffusers located at the pond bottom. Rising bubbles create upward water circulation, breaking thermal stratification and stimulating beneficial aerobic bacteria that break down organic waste at the bottom of the pond or lake. Water circulation also helps reduce fecal coliform levels, improving both environmental and public health and safety. Aeration is generally beneficial year round to prevent problems from forming in warmer weather conditions. Understanding Eutrophication Eutrophication is the excessive enrichment of a water body with nutrients—primarily nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients often enter ponds and lakes through agriculture runoff, fertiliser runoff and leaching, septic systems, or organic waste. Excessive leaf debris entering areas of standing water during the Autumn fall creates a significant risk to water quality. When nutrient levels rise, algae and aquatic plants grow rapidly. This sudden increase, known as an algal bloom, blocks sunlight and disrupts the natural balance within the pond or lake. As algae die and decompose, bacteria consume large amounts of dissolved oxygen. This process can lead to hypoxia (low oxygen levels) or even anoxia (no oxygen), resulting in fish dying and the collapse of aquatic ecosystems. This detrimental process is known as eutrophication. Aeration helps combat eutrophication by improving water circulation, increasing dissolved oxygen levels, and supporting aerobic bacteria that break down excess nutrients more efficiently. Where Aeration Is Beneficial Aeration is beneficial in improving the aesthetics and ecosystem of any pond or lake. Within the sports turf scenario, aeration of reservoirs is a necessity to sustain and enhance water quality, and is part of a larger process to ensure the water is suitable and safe for irrigation purposes. H2OPlants are specialists in providing and installing custom aeration systems to ponds and lakes to maintain healthy and stable water quality. We also hire equipment so customers can see just how effective aeration systems can be. Billy is contactable at www.h2oplants.co.uk  or through www.gcmsltd.com Here are some before and after photos.

I always say to our apprentices, ‘never forget the basics, grass needs, food, water, air and light’. This article will deal with the food element, what to feed, when to feed and how to feed. My best advice would always be start with soil analysis, what is present, what you need and what is lacking. Every winter we take samples of our rootzones for analysis and the results of this will dictate the make up of our fertiliser programme. I grew up in a military family and there’s a saying in the military that says, even the best plan doesn’t survive first contact with the enemy. Therefore always adjust as needed it’s not written in stone, it will change with the weather, dealing with mother nature is never an exact science, don’t try and fight her, you will lose! As a base we tend to aim for a granular every 6-8 weeks, we have a Poa / Bent sward on USGA rootzones, obviously different rootzones will need different levels of input  due to leaching and cation exchange capacity. In between the granular applications, we make fortnightly top ups of liquid (sprayed) applications in the growing season and monthly during the cooler winter months as it is very rarely these days that growth shuts down completely. The end result should be a nutrient programme with an approximate ratio 3:1:2 of NPK (Nitrogen/Phosphorus/Potassium). Higher K spring and summer, increased P late spring and N to keep rate with growth. The timings are obviously subject to change depending on the weather but also mainly on clip rate and leaf colour which we constantly monitor. If for example the greens mowers are taking off plenty of grass and a granular is due then there may be no harm in delaying an application. When considering the liquids, I like to be able to adjust them as and when needed. When mixing a spray I tend to think in terms of base, trace, biology and colour. Applications may also take into consideration competitions and achieving a desired green speed. Base. NPK what do I want and at what levels? Depending on the time of year and weather conditions. I like to be able to add each element separately so I can vary the amounts. For this I look at different sources of nutrients, Ammonium and Urea for example.   Trace. What trace elements do I want to apply and in what quantities? These will be highlighted in the soil analysis. Keeping them topped up will help greatly with disease resistance.    Biology. Biology makes rootzones (soils) work. Soil biology makes nutrients more available and keeps pathogens at bay or at least in balance. These sources come from humic and fulvic acids, and seaweed. I love seaweed! I think it’s impossible to apply too much seaweed. I also like applying sugars, in the form of molasses. Everyday we go out and cut off part of the grass leaf, which is the equivalent of smashing some solar panels on a house dependent on solar power. So, I like restoring supplemental sugars and molasses, it’s very cheap. Sugar also feeds the microorganisms that make the whole turf ecosystem work. Colour. Finally colour. I ask myself, how are my greens looking? Will the spray give the desired green up, or do we need a chlorophyll boost. If so, we would be looking primarily at applying more iron. This would be chelated during the growing season. I save the sulphate for the winter to toughen up the plants cell wall. Fertiliser programmes take time to get right and are constantly evolving. They are not an exact science, but are based on the exact science of lab produced soil analysis. After a while at a venue, you get to know the sward and you really do get a feel for what is needed and when. Just like you know by looking at somebody you know well, whether or not they are feeling OK. Grass swards are the same. They talk to you and you learn to listen to them. The whole process is a balance of feel, knowledge and science. Two of those you can read about and learnt, the other only comes with time, experience and an element of trial and error. Understanding fertiliser requirements can be a challenge to start with. The more adaptable and flexible you and your programmes are, and the more you understand the importance of different sources of nutrition, the easier it becomes to achieve the desired results.

It is often observed by the industry that some people think Golf Course Management is easy. Some people are simply happy to be on the golf course and enjoy their game, while others, unfortunately, prefer to be more critical and focus on perceived flaws in their golfing experience. Expectations regarding course quality have been steadily rising for years. Technological advances over previous decades and steady investment in all aspects of course maintenance created a greenkeeping ‘golden age’, particularly regarding insecticide and fungicide availability and use. There needs to be more in the press regarding the direct impact of pesticide restrictions on playing surfaces, manifested by uncontrollable worm casting, mud and crow pecking disturbance, in the rightful effort to protect water sources from chemical contamination. Disease management is becoming harder and scarred surfaces may become more common, it looks increasingly likely that there will be a complete fungicide ban at some stage. While some may think the products will still be available from alternative sources, this view is environmentally irresponsible and the directors of any organisation found infringing regulations are ultimately accountable by law. Machinery technology continues to advance at a phenomenal pace with GPS location, robotic control and AI, fully autonomous mowers and sprayers are no longer dreams of the future. Unlike the physical restrictions in chemical use, the limitation we will see in this aspect is affordability. Golf clubs need to review spending and optimise income now as much as they ever have. Everything is costing more and every aspect of a golf club's costs are worth reviewing, like it or not. The climate is changing! There is plenty of data to prove this (Mark Hunt 😊). Those who have worked outside have been feeling it for many seasons and as the winters become milder and wetter more golfers are feeling it too. I used to listen to the golfing generation of the 50s-60s that golf was not really a winter sport in that era. However, milder weather and better winter clothing has increased the enthusiasm for winter golf. Grass in the UK will not yet grow with vigor through the winter (new cultivars are coming) and the incredible amount of rainfall combined with reduced turf resistance is increasing the frustration of course closures and restrictions, particularly on poor draining clay-based courses. More drainage is often required at a considerable cost. As courses become wetter in the winter, we also face water use restrictions in the summer with the increased risk that water companies will stop water use on any area that is not essential for life. Water harvesting and storage is a hot topic and ensuring irrigation systems use water efficiently is as important as ever. Irritech Limited is a leading consultancy that supports clubs regarding future sustainable water use and irrigation technology. Being passionate about greenkeeping myself, loving it since my first day working on a golf course in 1993, it seems incredible that we find ourselves struggling as an industry to entice the next generation of greenkeepers into the industry. The reasons for this are subject matter for another article, maybe some are covered here? however, the implications are real for Course Managers who are finding it very difficult to recruit enough high-quality, dedicated and passionate staff. Some would agree that golf course management is becoming increasingly complex with a range of options, pressures and constraints many of which are beyond control. Modern life where everything is more accessible (amazon will offer pretty much any item you desire with next-day delivery) is a possible cause for the shift in mentality with some golfers demanding the highest quality product at all times. When dealing with the living nature of turf, patience, care and a nurturing understanding is often required. Golf Course Management Services was established 3 years ago and draws on decades of course management experience with the mantra “Empowering Golf Course Managers” supporting, brainstorming, reviewing, and easing workloads and some of the pressures on Course Managers. We are here to help, support and enhance golf courses. Contact for details #golf #greenkeeping #golfcoursemanagement #gcmsltd #empoweringgolfcoursemanager www.gcmsltd.com

Working with Course Managers and greenkeepers on planning, budgeting, scheduling projects and proving additional skilled manpower. We have enhanced course developments, construction, drainage projects, tees levelling, provide interim management between Course Managers, agronomy and spending reviews and assisted with training and Health & Safety. We provide professional, experienced and friendly support for any aspect of golf course maintenance and management at a price any club can afford. We really add value. How can we assist you? Contact James@gcmsltd.com for details or visit www.gcmsltd.com

We own a Redexim 1500 Laser Grading unit, ideal for levelling sports surfaces, not limited to golf tees. We can grade any area that needs to be flat including: Cricket Squares, Tennis Courts, Bowling greens and bigger areas such as football pitches and outfields. We produce accurate costings, schedules, bill of materials and work to produce the quality of surface your clients come to expect. Including a full Trimble guidance system we can install gradients with 100% accuracy. The picture above is our team working at Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club.

James Camfield - Managing Director of GCMS www.gcmsltd.com Golf Course Management Services offers an interim management support role. If your greenkeeping team is going through transition, we offer the support required to get your golf course through a tricky period. Bringing fresh ideas and tactical decision making we can make the change smooth and enjoyable. We can also enrich your team. Situations can arise where a Course Manager resigns from a club and is contracted to work three months notice. #Golf Course #Management Services provides a very cost effective solution of interim management whereby the Course Manager may be released early to start their new role. We have a highly experienced team who provide management and #greenkeeping cover in that period enabling the golf club to take their time in recruiting the right person to fill the full time role, without feeling rushed. We can also assist in the recruitment process. We know that every situation is different and are here to assist and support. Get in touch to discuss your needs.

Culture - "the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of people in an organisation." Strategy- "a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim." There are many variances involved in running a successful business, golf clubs are no different: Having happy customers that return time after time Providing a high quality product Having exceptional staff who go above and beyond their basic remit Working with budgets Supply and demand - pricing point Traditionally golf clubs were non-profit organisations and their sole purpose was to provide people with a designated are to play golf. A mown area of suitable quality turf for a golf ball to be hit, generally found and for closer mown areas that allowed the ball to roll relatively smoothly. The strategy then was to work within the limits and budgets implemented on them. The culture would have been one of a fairly relaxed behaviour and everything was fine so long as the grass was cut. Expectations on the course would have been relatively low. What has changed over the years: Increased running cost Improved technology Restrictions in chemical usage on the course Diversification into other aspects such as dining experience More spare time when not working More options of what to do in spare time Higher expectations of the product Greater drive to be a successful business - make more money Golf club strategies have undoubtedly changed over the years and this change seems to be driven from the top of the organisation wanting or needing to change out of drive and desire to be better, provide more and have a successful business. Strategy can change very quickly, overnight at the whim of a few and maybe as relatively simple writing a paragraph to describe the 'new strategy'. Culture however is more ingrained from years of ' this is how we are, this is what we do' as the saying goes "Culture eats strategy for breakfast". So how do you change the culture? Have a lead from the front management structure Promote excellent communication managing expectations Pay staff more, bribe them to behave in the way you want them to (dangle a big carrot) Implement a stricter way of doing business (Have a big whip) Ultimately culture will come from the top, with a balance of leading in a way not to leave everyone else behind, and will take the staff forward in a way that they will carry the business forward in a far more dynamic way than a strategy alone can. Building: Atmosphere and behaviour in the workplace Punctuality and timekeeping Encouraging staff not to clock watch at the end of the day Willingness to share knowledge and skills Eagerness for training education and CPD Work/life balance Ultimately how do you encourage people to give their all, work hard and drive a business forward? The balance of culture and strategy will flow throughout the organisation and will be a key selling point when looking to recruit staff, the people who will become part of the culture. The first impressions are key and will resonate through the job advert giving future a staff a feel for what they are getting in to. No more so than when describing the package. People care and need to know about: Hours of work How much they are going to be paid Any bonuses and gratuities Use of the golf course Access to membership organisations That uniform will be provided What prior training is expected and what training will be provided What experience the new employee will gain through planned project work Certain statements can also stand out: "Free parking" is this a perk of the job or should it be expected working for a golf club with large car parks? Is the advert created using a template, do other jobs state that "free parking is not provided? "Due to the expected high level of applicants, only those successful for interview will be contacted." Presumptuous that there are going to get lots of applicants and although you are taking your time to apply our culture will not allow us the time to send a courtesy email which takes less than a minute using cut and paste. Ultimately the best organisations to work for have dedicated staff at all levels, with drive and ambition individually and as a team. Performance is monitored and reviewed to enable staff to fit in with the culture and strategy of the organisation which in turn drives success! Achieving the right culture is key to achieving the goals of the strategy.

Having set out in January 2021 (in a covid lockdown) I could not have imagined working with the number of golf courses and numerous greenkeepers in such a relatively short amount of time. From drainage projects, to fine tuning irrigation, assisting with golf course development to H&S audits policy implementation and mentoring greenkeepers at all levels. The key assets offered are consistent, knowledgeable and reliable friendly service and ultimately when required the ability to jump in and do some high quality greenkeeping. With many thanks to all those we are working with. Fully Insured with PI cover. Reach out for more details. www.gcmsltd.com #golf #greenkeeping #golfcoursemanagement #golfgreenkeepinghealthandsafety #golfapprenticeships #golfandsustainability

Fantastic work @tbgc1897 by the @theydonboisgreenkeepers. Wetting agent and feed applied early in the week followed by 25mm of rain and some intensive @thetorocompany 1000 handmowing. #happydays #playwell #golf #greenkeeping #gcmsltd

Pre-start meeting with @euroturfgrass and @gcmsltd working together again ☺️. Overseeing the design specification and installation process of a new high specification football pitch in Somerset. With @idverdeuk #football #pitchconstruction #ripta #agronomy