The greenkeeper at West Essex Golf Club, Luke O’Keefe, takes us through his average day.

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

We arrive at the club at 5:30am for a 6am start in the summer, and 6:30am for a 7am start in the winter. No matter the season, the first job is always a cuppa and morning briefing to outline the tasks for the day ahead.

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

There are six of us in our team which includes the head greenkeeper and deputy along with a qualified digger driver, mechanic, irrigation technician and apprentice greenkeeper.

How do you motivate your colleagues?

Motivation within our team is always pretty good – we are a close-knit unit and enjoy a lot of laughter throughout our working day. Praising colleagues when they have completed a task is a failsafe way to create an enthusiastic team.

What aspects of your job give you the greatest satisfaction?

This job always throws challenges our way but some of the most satisfying aspects come from solving them. I enjoy construction projects such as re-landscaping areas, building new tees and removing and reconstructing bunkers which can involve the whole team.

And the least satisfaction?

The least satisfying part is the ever-changing weather. The persistent winter rain can really hold up projects and our course can struggle after a lot of rain due to being on delightful Essex clay!

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

I attended a spraying course last year which was useful, especially on our course where we predominantly spray with our Toro 5800 Multi Pro. I came away with some great tips and advice.

What is your favourite season of the year and why?

Spring is my favourite season of the year – our daffodil bulbs pop through and the smell of cut grass really makes us feel like summer is on its way. Spring is also the turning point when we begin to focus on our regular aeration and topdressing programme on the greens and prepare the tees and fairways for the busy, upcoming playing season.

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

The weather is changing but is that because we look at it so closely now and have apps at our disposal to check it hour by hour? That being said, I do think the winters are warmer and we are getting extremely hot spells more regularly in the summer months. When we used to have long spells of frost, it would be common for the cutting equipment not to move for months but now they venture out in the winter… they do sometimes get stuck, which is always a laugh!

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

Our cutting fleet is the most frequently used which is predominantly Baroness. We currently have two LM315 greens mowers, two LM2700 fairways mowers, an LM331 for tees and a GM2810 rotary mower for roughs. The most popular machine, because of how flexible it is, is another Baroness machine – our SP05A Bunker Rake. Not only do we use it to manage our 50-plus bunkers, it is also used for levelling topsoil, brushing pathways, creating a fine tilth on areas we need to seed, pushing up bunker faces after a heavy downpour… the list goes on. This machine saves us so many man hours, I think every golf course should have one!

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

We leave certain areas to grow long through the summer season to create habitat for wildlife, especially insects. In addition, every year we sow up to eight separate areas with bee and butterfly-friendly wildflowers which also helps our on-site beehives to produce wonderful honey.

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

Our main issue at the moment is deer! They have caused over £10,000-worth of damage to our bunkers alone – destroying the revetted faces which can mean a complete rebuild.

We have managed to source some effective solar charged alarms but, being in the heart of Epping Forest, the deer just keep coming! We have been very lucky with disease but that is due to our spray technician’s fantastic knowledge of chemicals and his future planning on what to spray when. Our greens’ health and current brilliance is down to him.

What do you do to support wildlife?

Along with our wildflower areas and long-grassed areas which provide habitat in the summer, we create log piles around the course to give insects and wildlife protection over the winter. We try to ensure what we do on the course is natural and in line with our surroundings in Epping Forest.

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

The most important development is the advancement of modern machinery. This is what enables us to create a great product and provides solutions to make the best use of our man hours on the course.

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

Yes, we do use social media. I believe it is good for the industry as it allows us all to see different ways in which courses are managed and also provides an insight to golfers on what is involved in turf management.

How would you improve the greenkeeping industry?

I think, as a whole, the greenkeeping industry is ever evolving but I believe the introduction of robotic mowers – especially for rough areas – is great.

I don’t see it as replacing our job, it just frees up man hours to spend on other, more technical aspects of course management.

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

I would advise a young greenkeeper to not take golfers’ criticism personally – they will always find something to moan about! Get as many qualifications as you can and enjoy that you’re working in the best office in the world!

How do you spend your leisure time?

I spend my leisure time enjoying the countryside and not thinking about work.

You have to get that work/life balance just right!