A pop song by four lads from Liverpool started 'woke up, got out of bed, ran a comb across my head..'
I'm not sure how many of the greenstaff comb there hair but rest assured our day starts nice & early.
This next post will hopefully cast a little light onto the daily routine of the greenstaff at Muswell Hill Golf Club.
During the year our starting time moves depending on when it is possible to get out on the course and begin our tasks. During the summer we start at 6 am, this means everyone is in for 6 and ready to go. The first machine to fire into action is the kettle. I always find an early morning brew is the best way to start the day whilst we sort out the jobs for the day...
The daily cutting regime in the summer can involve as many as 7 guy's out cutting first thing. One of the main reasons for starting early is to allow us to get ahead of anyone playing golf. Although this sounds like common sense, it allows firstly the surfaces to be prepared and presented in their best condition & it enables the greenstaff to complete the morning cutting duties in the shortest time. Giving ourselves a bit of extra time also allows for any unplanned events, machine breakdowns or a change in the weather are the two biggest factors, and gives us time to react and change plans where necessary.
During the main golf playing season the greens are cut a minimum daily, tee's & aprons, greens surrounds & the fairways are cut at least twice a week. On days where all the playing surfaces are cut, by 11am a total of 35 man hours can be spent cutting using anything up to 7 different machines with cutting heights differing from greens up to rough through to our long rough area's.
The machines have different number of blades and unit's, ranging from 15 per unit for the greens mower to produce finer turf quality to the long rough area mower which has five cutting decks with two rotary blades. Quite a difference.
Before each machine goes out onto the course a number of pre start checks are carried out to ensure the machine is safe to use and it's cutting units are cutting correctly. This is important as it ensures the operator's are safe and the machine is running efficiently.
I'm aiming to get all the greenstaff team trained & competent on all the machines we use. This is useful as it enables us to operate more efficiently as a team & allows a variation in job's which we carry out.
There is an immense sense of pride amongst ourselves when we prepare the course and it's all aimed at presenting Muswell Hill in the best possible way.
So when you see the greenstaff out there mowing away please bear in mind it could be the second or third time the lads have been round the course that day.!!!
Keep enjoying the golf.
