Pantheon of finest GKs
There are Halls of Fame for the great and good golfers and personalities of the game. BIGGA has awarded four Lifetime achievements that include Sir Michael Bonallack; their Scottish section give away Walter Woods shields. Should there not be a Pantheon of the Finest Greenkeepers, who arguably have been more important than any other profession in the creation of our golfing enjoyment?
Why is there not? Perhaps because it has been made such a controversial list to create. The radical difference between ‘chemical’ managing for weed grasses and ‘conservation’ managing for fine grasses defines the dichotomy on the continuum between the two types of greenkeeping. Few in the golf industry would wish to be seen making choices when some ‘vested interests’ prefer to ignore the dichotomy and just call it ‘grass’.Nevertheless, as a help in raising further the respect for greenkeepers in golfer’s minds, in FineGolf’s view it is well worthwhile promoting such a Pantheon if this list is based on those greenkeepers who have
“successfully managed fine grasses over a decent period of time and who have had the courage to create an environment for running-golf “.
The list, presently of 39, we feel should at least include:
Frank Arnold (Rye)
Barnie Barnard (Deal, Le Touquet, Littlestone)
Mike Evans (Royal North Devon)
Marcus Geddes (Royal Porthcawl)
Craig Gilholm (Muirfield/Royal Liverpool)
Garth Grand (Rye)
Martin Gunn (Temple)
Alf Hindley (North Hants)
Chris Haspell (Denmark/Castle Stuart/Coul Links)
Colin Irvine (Muirfield)
James King (Luffness New)
Paul Larsen (Royal St George’s)
Billy Mitchell (Perranporth)
Old Tom Morris (Prestwick/St Andrews)
Sandy Reid (Carnoustie, St Andrews)
Paul Seago (Brancaster/Gullane/Renaissance)
Frank Smith (Cruden Bay)
George Thompson (Goswick)
Chris Whittle (St Annes Old Links/Muirfield/Royal Birkdale)
Jonathan Wood (Enville, Aberdovey, Penn)
Some have had big budgets, some small, and they all should be recognised for their professionalism in creating an environment for our enjoyment of the fine grassed running game.
It is a major research project to develop this list of prospective candidates/members and there are some very fine younger greenkeepers who are successfully managing fine grasses and the running-game across the GB&I.
FineGolf in time will assemble the list and welcomes, further suggestions and additions to the Pantheon of the Finest Greenkeepers.
Leave a Reply