From Schloss Roxburghe in Scotland, Thomas Bell takes us through his average day.

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

I arrive at the club between 05:30 and 06:30 depending on the time of year. As deputy, I tend to start 30 minutes before the rest of the team to check the forecast for the day, check the tee sheet to see what golf we have, then plan the jobs for the team accordingly and send out a daily golf operations report.

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

We currently have a full-time team of 12 including myself. During the summer we add to the team with four or five seasonals. We try to get everyone trained on all jobs where possible for job rotation and diversity within the team.

How do you motivate your colleagues?

I like to think I motivate my colleagues by leading by example. I have a strong work ethic and a can-do attitude towards my work, but also like having fun and a laugh along the way which helps to keep productivity and morale high. I also try my hardest to encourage my colleagues to take pride in their work to deliver high standards across the course.

What aspects of your job give you the greatest satisfaction?

We have received a lot of praise and good reviews about the golf course through this winter which is very satisfying – knowing we can present the course to a high standard through the more challenging months. Also, early morning sunrises and being outdoors all day everyday never gets old!

And the least satisfaction?

Frost delays and machinery breakdowns.

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

I attended ‘Mistakes Manager Make’ at Harrogate back in January and I think one of the most important things I took away, especially as I step more into the management side of the job, is the importance of delegating tasks within the team to free up more of my own time. This would then allow me to continue working with staff on training and development.

What is your favourite season of the year and why?

In all honesty I enjoy all of the seasons for different reasons. Watching everything come alive in spring time, seeing the course presented at its best through the summer months, carrying out renovation work in the autumn, then getting stuck into some project work and chainsaw work through the winter.

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

Absolutely. We are regularly seeing temperatures of up to 12 degrees well into December now, meaning cutting grass is almost a year-round job. Also winters with more rain and wind rather than frosts and snow pose a challenge in still presenting the course to a high standard in unfavourable conditions. In March this year, by contrast, I was having to hand water turf as temperatures got up to 17 degrees and we have had very little rain… you almost wouldn’t believe it for Scotland!

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

Thankfully we have been relatively free from disease this past year. We do have a lot of moles on the golf course and wider estate so one of the greenkeepers and one of the gardeners are having a friendly competition to see who can catch the most amount of moles from their area of work!

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

Undoubtedly, the investment in GPS technology for our John Deere Pro Gators, paired with the HD200 sprayer and GKB SP100 topdresser. This has significantly enhanced operational precision, accuracy and efficiency in spraying and top-dressing. The addition of the GKB SPM300 top-dresser has also been popular within the team, making tasks such as topping up bunkers sand levels significantly less labour intensive, as well as enabling us to be more efficient when transporting large quantities of sand around the course.

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

The addition of GPS for spraying operations has certainly helped with sustainability. Before we were spraying roughly 13 hectares when spraying fairways, whereas now we are only spraying 11 hectares, allowing us to reduce in both chemical waste and over application. We continually use a Pogo moisture meter through the summer months to ensure efficient irrigation and minimise water waste. We are also currently beginning the process of becoming GEO certified.

What do you do to support wildlife?

We have many bird, owl and bat boxes around the golf course and estates, and when clearing storm damage in woodland areas we leave some wood behind and stack it up to create bug hotels.

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

As mentioned, I would have to say my introduction into GPS on machinery.

I think this will be something that will really become way more advanced, in turn making jobs a lot more efficient and enhancing precision in greenkeeping in the years to come. Also, the use of ChatGPT / artificial intelligence can be a very valuable tool in creating documents and communication involved in golf course management. If you don’t know, get to know!

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

Not really professionally, but I do post photos of the golf course and work being carried out by the team on my personal Instagram to promote the course and showcase the work that goes into it.

How would you improve the greenkeeping industry?

An increased appreciation for greenkeepers through educating golfers on what goes into maintaining top-quality courses would certainly be good. There’s a lot more to it than cutting grass, it’s a highly skilled profession requiring expertise in many areas. I feel this should be recognised more.

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

Work hard, ask lots of questions and take any opportunities that come your way. It’s also a fantastic career to travel the world so get out there, get the experience and mostly importantly have fun along the way!

How do you spend your leisure time?

I like to keep busy, walking, paddle boarding, playing golf, watching darts and enjoying the occasional glass of red wine.