A day in the life: Gary Turner

By Alistair September 15, 2024 08:17

The head greenkeeper at Wrekin Golf Club in Telford, a course that was established in 1905 and lies within the shadow of The Wrekin hill, Gary Turner, takes us through his average day.

What time do you arrive at the club and what is your morning routine?

We all start work at 7am Monday to Thursday, and then start slightly earlier at 6am on a Friday. I usually set the day’s work the afternoon before, so will brief the team, have a quick look at the weather forecast for the day and then do the course information update.

How many people are there in your team and do you share tasks?

We are a team of four currently, which includes myself! We also have the assistance of my old deputy who splits his time between the golf shop and the golf course. We all share tasks as much as possible so that everyone has the ability to do everything. This is so important for a small team, especially to cover periods of leave / holiday, and means that all of the team can operate any piece of machinery confidently.

How do you motivate your colleagues?

We all get on really well as a team, which is a huge bonus, and means we all drive each other forward. We have also introduced a great appraisal programme which, alongside targets to strive for, gives the team opportunities to develop professionally. We try to ensure everyone goes on at least one training course every year which is great for motivation and progression.

What aspects of your job give you the greatest satisfaction?

Obviously getting compliments on the course, and when I feel the overall presentation is at a high standard. However, the biggest satisfaction for me personally is helping to develop my young team. I have had two apprentices that have passed and completed their level 2 greenkeeping qualification, and I currently have another coming to the end of his level 3. It is very satisfying helping these lads through the early stages of their careers.

And the least satisfaction?

With the weather having been so unpredictable, this year in particular, I have had to make decisions frequently as to whether the course is open or closed for the day. There is only one winner with Mother Nature and it certainly isn’t us…

Have you attended any courses recently, and if so, what did you take away?

Not recently, but we have a few lined up for later in the year and already have BTME 2025 in the calendar, which is always something to look forward to.

What’s your favourite season of the year and why?

Usually its spring, when we’re getting the first cuts done on the course and achieving definition with nice straight stripes everywhere. The weather set this back a bit this year, as we couldn’t get machinery out on the course as early as we usually would.

Are you witnessing evidence of climate change and, if so, how has your job had to adapt to changing weather patterns?

This year we really are seeing a huge change in the weather, a much milder winter with no real snow or frost, and a lot of rain! To combat this, we have pinpointed some of the more problematic areas that will be the focus for drainage works. We are also looking at creating and extending paths to get through to wet areas that we couldn’t reach this year.

Have you had to overcome any course issues with disease and / or pests?

Due to how wet it was we saw more disease this year than in previous years, and simultaneously it was really tough to find dry spray windows to get any fungicides down. We did manage to get control and got ourselves in a good position for strong early season greens once the weather eventually decided to give us a break.

What piece of equipment would you say is the most popular and frequently used by you and your team?

We had a Redexim 1517 Verti-Drain® delivered in March which I am very excited about! This machine has a much quicker operating speed than our previous aerator and is also half a metre wider, which has taken two to three hours off our previous aeration programme. This is a big bonus as it will allow us to get a lot more aeration done this summer, in turn promoting good healthy greens.

With a growing focus on sustainability, do you deploy any sustainable practices in the management of your course?

Last year we implemented areas of native rough which not only helps to promote wildlife but also cut the cost of our fuel bill dramatically for the year. It has also allowed us to spend time doing other jobs and reduced our overall carbon footprint.

What do you do to support wildlife?

Introducing the native rough as mentioned above has given the wildlife a new home. We quickly saw a huge increase in butterfly and dragonfly populations which we haven’t seen for a long time. Having them here all adds to the natural beauty of our golf course.

What are the technological developments that you feel have been the most important in your career to date?

Although it’s not necessarily a new technology, something that was new to our fleet of machinery recently was the Redexim Verti-Quake® 2516 which has genuinely proven to be an absolute Godsend. We used to really struggle with our fairways getting very soft during the winter. Since having the Verti-Quake, and twice passing over the fairways at a depth of six inches, they are now the second driest area on the course behind the greens. Even with all the rain we had this year, they have held up really well.

Do you use social media professionally and what do you think this contributes to the industry?

I don’t use social media for work as much as I should but know that the insights and information that you can get from social media is invaluable. I keep trying to make a point to be more active!

How would you improve the greenkeeping industry?

Looking at the industry as a whole I’d say it is in a good place and heading in the right direction. I think that mental health is a huge factor now, not only within our industry but across the board.

We could therefore maybe benefit from more training courses, to help managers deal with situations within their teams in order to best help their work colleagues and understand how to prevent these situations, as well as importantly giving them the correct support and understanding required.

What advice would you give to a young greenkeeper starting out today?

Get as many qualifications as you possibly can, keep striving and never stop learning. Keep pushing your head greenkeepers and course managers to allow you to go on any training course you can.

It might frustrate them but by showing willing, they will be more inclined to put their time and effort into helping you to progress to where you want to be in return.

How do you spend your leisure time?

I love spending time with my family and socialising with friends. I also still enjoy a game of golf. Golf has been a huge part of my life from the age of 12, and it was when I realised I didn’t have what it takes to play the game for a living that I decided to work on a golf course instead. I’ll also watch any sport going – especially if it is competitive!