Earning his Spurs - Pitchcare

Mother Nature throws all
kinds of problems at
Martyn Savident, Course
Manager at La Grande
Mare Golf Club, in
Guernsey.
Undaunted by big waves,
the constant threat of
extensive flooding at
high tide and more water
pumps than the City of
Manchester Fire Brigade,
he and his team still
manage to produce a
playing surface worthy of
a Hawtree design.
Laurence Gale MSc met
up with him on his recent
visit to the island
70
“We have been known
to row a boat across six
fairways without
touching dry land”
Making
Martyn Savident is Course
Manager at La Grande Mare
Hotel Golf and Country Club
in Vazon Bay, Guernsey. He began his
greenkeeping career in 1980 at the St
Pierre Park Hotel, a 9 hole, par 3
course designed by Tony Jacklin. By
1987 he had become head
greenkeeper.
Three years later Martyn was offered
the position of head greenkeeper at
the yet to be constructed course at
Vazon Bay. Designed by Hawtree Golf,
originally as a 9-hole, the plan soon
changed to become a full 18 holes.
Martyn was able to oversee the
construction of all the push up greens,
four of which are double greens (18
holes on 14 greens), excavations of the
lake and tee constructions. The course
was officially opened in March 1994.
The course is situated on the west
coast of Guernsey and actually sits
below the high water mark by about 15
feet. The name, translated from
French, means The Great Marsh or
The Big Water, depending on dialect.
Understandably, drainage is never far
from their minds!
The complex is the largest privately
owned piece of land on the island and
now covers 120 acres.
Even with nearly thirty years of
experience Martyn says he is still
learning. “There is always something
new to get my head round - chemicals,
soil amendments, machinery
improvements or new thoughts on turf
management techniques. Networking
has always been an important part of
the job. But, living on an island with
only a few other lads to call on, it’s not
easy. So, I have found the message
boards and forums on the Pitchcare
and BIGGA websites very useful.”
Martyn always works to a plan,
whether it is trying to increase the
finer grasses - bents and fescues - or
improving the presentation of the
course. “All plans must end up at the
same point,” he says, “Improving the
experience of the golfing customer.
That is what I see as our main purpose
in the job.”
“Alan Fox is my assistant, he has
been with me for seven years. I’ve got
two other full time greenkeepers,
Justin Dowington and Paul McGahy,