these Open Championship Clubs choose to relief grind - Pitchcare

Golf
L-r: Joe Daws, Sam Mullinder and Dan Groome
These two pigs were rescued from the adjoining
main road, and brought onto the course for
their safety. Dan has no idea where they came
from, but a good home was found for them.
Who are you? Dan Groome, Head
Greenkeeper/Mechanic at Aqualate Golf
Club.
Family status? Married with two children.
Who’s your hero and why? Radio One’s
Chris Moyles, because he helps me get up
and motivated every working day.
What is your dream holiday? The
Bahamas.
What annoys you the most? People who
think they are above their station.
What would you change about yourself?
I would have changed that I was a smoker -
I have been smoke free for twelve weeks,
and counting!
Who would you like to be? Jeremy
Clarkson, he just has the best job in the
world.
Favourite record, and why? The Manic
Street Preachers’ Motorcycle Emptiness, but
credit must also be given to Green Day’s
Basketcase.
Who would you choose to spend a
cutting unit away in January with two or
three months life on the bottom blade.”
“I regrind the cutting units on the tees,
greens and fairway mowers two or three
times a year to ensure a consistent high
quality of cut all year round, and carry
out weekly backlapping to increase the
life of the bottom blades.”
“This winter, we have undertaken some
bunker reconstruction work, some
clearing of ditches and crown lifting some
tree plantations. With only a team of
three we are always kept busy. There’s
always something that requires our
attention, or something I want to do to
improve the course.”
Dan considers presentation to be of
paramount importance. “I want people to
really enjoy playing golf at Aqualate.
TWENTYQuestions
Dan Groome - if you can read this, our special ink is not
working ... and, if you’re his wife, don’t read on!
romantic evening with? The wife, unless
you’ve got secret ink that only greenkeepers
would see - then it would be Kate Hudson!
If you won the lottery, what is the first
thing you would do? Head straight for the
Aston Martin dealership.
If you were to describe yourself as a
musical instrument, what would you be
and why? Probably a drum kit - make a lot
of noise - some good, some not so!
What’s the best advice you have ever
been given? Don’t eat yellow snow - from
my dad.
What’s your favourite smell? Petrol.
What do you do in your spare time?
Gardening, listening to music and spending
time with the family.
What’s the daftest work related question
you have ever been asked? I once got
asked if the sprinkler heads were, in fact, big
nuts to hold the greens down. Jesus wept!
What’s your favourite piece of kit? The
John Deere 2500e greens mower.
Because we don’t have the mature trees,
water hazards and mega bunkers that
other courses have, what we do have, I
always want presented to the best of our
ability.”
With a healthy membership, and a
committed head greenkeeper, Aqualate
Golf Club appears to be in a healthy
position. “I’m aware that we will never be
much of a rival for the larger courses in
the county, but we do, however, offer
local people the opportunity to try their
hand at golf via the pay and play route.”
Dan seems very content with his role
and enjoys being left alone to get on with
the job in hand. He is to be commended
for his dedication to the club.
What three words would you use to
describe yourself? Handy, knowledgeable
and workaholic.
What talent would you like to have? Any
musical ability.
What makes you angry? People being
late.
What law/legislation would you like to
see introduced? A fixed minimum wage
system for greenkeepers and a fairer
taxation system.