Simon Olver, course manager at Ganton, on why we are facing a shortage of greenkeepers and what can be done to improve the situation
When I look on social media and talk to other golf course managers across the UK, it’s clear we’re facing a big challenge as the pool of skilled greenkeepers shrinks and the pipeline of new starters and trainees fails to keep pace with the positions available.
This situation has come about because of a number of factors – from the increase in the national living wage squeezing the gap to mid-level wages, to people leaving for better working hours and conditions.
While I could go on about why this has happened, it’s important to look at what can be done to improve this situation, and ultimately move greenkeeping forward.
As is the case in many industries, it’s a good idea to look at what’s happening in the US. There, greenkeeping is a highly skilled profession with many holding degree-level qualifications in mid-level positions, and certainly within management. Pay scales are also very different and while this brings high expectations, it also ensures greenkeepers are both knowledgeable and accountable.
While I don’t expect wages to grow overnight, clubs are already competing for the best staff with money and this will drive up wages across the industry.
We must also go through a cultural change. In the UK, there is a tradition of young golfers falling into greenkeeping. We need to continue finding young people who play golf and want to build a career in this industry – but we must also support their development from day one with high-quality apprenticeship and higher education opportunities, and better working conditions and environments.
The work done by The R&A and BIGGA on this has been good to-date, and I’d like to see these programmes expanded, with more opportunities provided by colleges. Initiatives like The R&A Scholarship are fantastic, but I’d like to see more being done at all levels to raise the next generation up too. Training providers need to be more visible on this and work with schools and major stakeholders as well as clubs to promote the positive aspects and opportunities of the industry.
There will always be hard yards – whether that’s long days on lower wages early on or studying part-time. While that will be too hard for some people to commit to, in this industry it leads to better jobs, better wages, and so many great opportunities to grow and travel to work anywhere in the world.
As well as wider support for individuals and keen people coming into the industry, clubs also have a big role to play to retain good staff. The best working environments attract the best people. While pay is important, so too are progression, development and feeling valued.
Clubs must prioritise their courses, presentation and development over everything else as these are why golfers join and play them. Pressure is already high on teams who are understaffed with fewer skilled people, and clubs are now faced with a difficult question – can they reduce the expectations of members and presentation standards to meet reduced greenstaff hours and skill levels? If the answer is no, they must then prioritise investment to bring in and retain good people, and support their development.
