Letter of the Month
I was pleased to read the article by Elliott Heath relating to greenkeepers’ well-being. I’ve been playing golf for 70 years, including a stint being chairman of the greens, and I believe that at many clubs greens staff are undervalued and underpaid. Members are quick to criticise if the course is not in pristine condition, conveniently ignoring that it is mainly the result of adverse conditions and certainly not because the greens staff are idle and don’t care – they are not and they do!
Ninety-nine per cent of all greens staff that I have met are proud of their work and keen on their job. They endure all weathers, early starts, long hours, low pay and regretfully some Dickensian staff facilities. Clubs must devote more budget to the welfare of the greens staff and less to five-star clubhouses.
Finally, before criticising greens staff, golfers should consider whether they replace divots and repair their pitch-marks!