Greenkeeper Ron Butler has turned a job centre visit when he was 16 years old into a lifelong career, and quite possibly a record as he moves into his 59th year at Wilton Golf Club.
Having been sent to Wilton as a 16-year-old fresh out of school, Ron has never looked back. Starting under greenkeeper/professional Hugh Laurie on 10 shillings per week, he served his apprenticeship at the Teesside club and became head greenkeeper in 1973.
Having started his greenkeeping career in 1965 – just 13 years after the golf club was founded in 1952 – Ron has seen a great deal of change in the way greenkeepers work, and out on the golf course.
“When I started, there were two bunkers and 12 or 13 trees. Now we have 39 bunkers and 3-400 trees – but otherwise it’s very similar to the way it was back then,” he said. “When I first started everything was done by hand – tining, mowing, watering… the biggest change has been going from manual to mechanical machinery. It’s an easier job now, but I still get the same satisfaction from it as I always have.”
Now 74, Ron has no plans to retire, “I don’t know what I would do,” he added. “I think I could be one of those who would be dead within six months if I’m doing nothing!”
After so many years in the role, many may be wondering what keeps Ron going and why he continues to work so hard as he heads towards six decades of tending the golf course.
“You get to be outdoors in the fresh air and you spend your time in a nice environment rather than cooped up in an office,” he said. “After all these years, I still look forward to coming to work in the morning.
“The best feeling is leaving work on a Friday, driving away from the course and seeing the result of all the hard work ready for the weekend’s golf.”
Wilton greens chairman John Buxton added: “Ron is at work every morning several hours before his start time and often has already inspected the course by 6.30am, cut five greens and put the kettle on for the rest of the team. He’s hard working, conscientious, courteous, and a joy to be around. I’ve learned so much from Ron, but what I’ve learned most is why my father and his friends always paused their round of golf to talk to the man on the tractor – because he is genuinely a nice man. I hope he’s not thinking about retirement any time soon!”
