From Bonnyton Golf Club in Glasgow, Stuart MacDonald takes us through his average day.

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

I arrive at 6.15am and the first job is to arrange the work for the day ahead with assistance of my deputy, taking into account any changes in the weather which may have changed any previous plans we made.

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

Currently we have a team of seven full time staff and we do share tasks as much as possible.

How do you motivate your colleagues?

I try to ensure we retain a work / life balance where and when possible and show trust in each individuals ability to reach the desired outcome.

What aspects of your job give you the greatest satisfaction?

Solving any mid to long term issues we’ve identified such as drainage and bunker improvements and so on.

And the least satisfaction?

Changing scheduled works to accommodate unexpected changes in the weather.

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

No outside courses unfortunately, but I do regularly keep in touch with local suppliers in person and fellow course managers through online chats / messages to keep up to speed with what’s happening in the industry.

What is your favourite season of the year and why?

My favourite season is probably winter – where the course is quieter and our window of opportunity for delivering course improvements is greater.

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

For me, changes in the weather are cyclical rather than climate change. That being said, the unpredictable weather patterns do mean we have to constantly adapt what we do and when. I think when dealing with such varied weather, the key lies in patience and not becoming frustrated.

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

Our main pests recently have been rabbit and deer. Outside the obvious remedy, we actively try to discourage them using noise and smell solutions.

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

The most enjoyable is probably our greens cutting equipment. We recently purchased three electric INFINICUT FL22 mowers which, with outstanding cut quality and a lack of noise and vibration, are a very enjoyable unit to operate. One thing the team particularly like on these mowers is the ‘tilt and turn’ feature which automatically detects and lowers the reel speed when the mower is lifted at the end of the line. Little things like this just make the job that much more straight forward.

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

We’ve done quite a lot in this area. Our irrigation is supplied from a natural water source (pond) and we recycle our grass clippings and cores around the garden and lawned areas. We also have solar panels on the clubhouse roof and use a biomass boiler for heating sheds, recycling ash where possible. In addition, we currently have two large ‘woodland creation’ areas under development.

What do you do to support wildlife?

We have three ponds on the course which provide habitat for fish and insects, along with the arrival of Canadian geese and ducks in the spring. There are numerous bat boxes dotted around the course and we have erected many ‘bug hotels’ on perimeter areas and tree lines.

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

The improvement in machinery over the last 30 years has been the biggest development in my opinion, enhancing efficiency, productivity and quality of results.

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

We update the daily course status and inform members of any works or planned maintenance via X every morning.

Communicating our plans and explaining the reasons for carrying out these tasks to members has been hugely beneficial for both parties. I also find social media group chats with fellow local greenkeepers are very informative and helpful.

How would you improve the greenkeeping industry?

I think the more communication there is between greens staff and members / committees the better! I would say education of golfers and even general public through good communication is vital.

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

Turn up on time, work hard and always ask questions. Also don’t be afraid to share new and different ideas.

How do you spend your leisure time?

Nothing too exciting! I spend a fair bit of time running or cycling which I find helps me to unwind.