Meet the head greenkeeper: Tony Moore

By Alistair February 11, 2023 13:23

From Bungay & Waveney Valley Golf Club, located on the Norfolk / Suffolk border, Tony takes us through his average day.

What time do you arrive at the club?

I arrive at the club at 5.30am.

Can you describe your morning routine?

First job is to unlock and put the kettle on! Then I’ll check the weather forecast and decide what jobs will be done that day. I will than start to get the machinery and so on ready that will be required for those jobs. By then, the other staff have normally arrived so I will explain what we will be doing and allocate tasks for the day ahead.

How many people are there in your team and is it a fair number for your collective workload?

Including myself there are three full-time greenkeepers and one part-time member on the team. We are also lucky to have some members that we can always rely on to help when needed. In an ideal world we could probably do with an extra member of staff, but with the help of our volunteers we are able to keep on top of the tasks most of the time.

Do you share tasks?

Yes, we try to share tasks as much as possible. As we are a small team, it is important that we are all capable of carrying out as many tasks as possible so if someone is off, another member of the team can do what is required. It also makes the job more interesting if you are not doing the same thing day in and day out.

How do you motivate your colleagues?

I try to involve the others as much as possible in decisions and ask their opinions on matters. I also make sure I praise them when I see they have done a good job and pass on any positive comments from members.

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

I would struggle to pick between spring and autumn. It’s nice to see everything growing in the spring and the course coming together ready for another season. Then, come the autumn, the course looks lovely with all the leaves on the trees changing colour and planning what we will be doing over the winter to improve the course.

What aspects / functions of your job gives you the greatest satisfaction?

Seeing the course looking good and playing well, as you know that all of the effort the team has put in has paid off.

And what part of it gives you the least satisfaction?

Clearing up leaves as you do it one day and by the next day they are normally back, meaning you have to do it all over again!

Have you attended any courses recently?

The last course I attended was an irrigation technicians course at the Sports Turf Academy at Leicester City Football Club. It was an excellent course which has helped me with setting up and maintaining the irrigation system at the club.

Do you have a feeding programme for your fairways? How do you ensure your greens have good colour?

The fairways normally get an application of liquid fertiliser from Origin Amenity Solutions in the spring and sometimes a wetting agent if budgets allow.

We are looking to possibly increase the number of applications to help get the fairways though the dry, hot summers we now seem to be getting on a regular basis. As for the greens they get an application of liquid fertiliser and wetting agent every two weeks during the main season to keep them healthy and looking good.

How would you improve the greenkeeping industry?

I would like to see golfers have a better understanding of what is involved in maintaining a golf course. We are not just grass cutters!

Has a golfer ever deliberately directed a ball at you?

No, this has never happened.

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

Our two Kubota tractors are popular and are the enablers for completing a lot of the maintenance tasks around the course. They are especially popular with the team in the winter as they both have cabs!

Have you ever had any mishaps with lakes on the course or had to undertake a rescue of a daft golfer?

No, we do not have any lakes on the course.

What is the most interesting animal you have seen on your course and how do you support wildlife?

We often see a barn owl looking for food which is always nice to see. We also frequently see deer and sometimes oystercatchers. To support wildlife we have a number of owl boxes up around the course and we have large areas that we leave untouched to provide habitat for a range of insects and wildlife.

Are you seeing any evidence of climate change?

Yes, I believe we are. The summers are becoming drier and warmer which means that the irrigation system is being used much more. We also spend a lot more time hand watering to keep the moisture at the correct level and not waste water. On the other hand, the winters are getting wetter and warmer. Due to this we are seeing more disease pressure and wear on the course due to the softer ground conditions.

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

I would say be sure to take advantage of any training that is offered to you. Also make use of social media – you will be surprised how much you can learn and how many people are willing to help when you need it. Other than that, keep your head down and don’t give up. All the hard work will pay off!

How do you spend your leisure time?

I have two young children that keep me busy in my spare time.