Hard on the heels of Branston Golf Club’s £100,000 investment in new high performance golf course maintenance machinery comes the recruitment of three young greenkeepers joining Gavin Robson’s talented team of professionals who are set to develop two new short game practice greens and a putting green alongside the attractive wooded entrance to the Club.
Experienced and qualified greenkeepers Shane McKeown from Stapenhill and Tamworth resident Ashley Thompstone are joined by full-time trainee greenkeeper and Burtonian, Billy Howard who is new to the profession but enjoys golf and is keen to develop a career in the industry.
Ashley (23) with a NVQ level 2 qualification in sports turf management joins Branston to further his career after several years at Lichfield Golf Club. “Branston has an enviable reputation as the Midlands’ finest and friendliest club and I’m delighted to be developing my skills under Gavin Robson’s inspirational leadership – despite him being a Leicester supporter,” joked Ashley – a Manchester United F C fan and non-golfer.
Meanwhile Liverpool F C supporter Shane (26) who found his vocation as a greenkeeper having started aged 17 with Gavin at Burton Golf Club, is already enjoying Branston Club’s splendid gym and taking up golf at Branston Academy. Shane commented “Branston’s now famous for the quality of its courses and extensive range of activities making it an enormously successful club that I’m proud to have joined.”
Trainee greenkeeper and good golfer Billy Howard (19) from Burton, previously part-time at Burton GC is now full-time at Branston and currently busy looking after the gardens and parkland setting that makes arrival at Branston such a delightful and impressive experience. ‘I’m amazed at the Club’s friendly and welcoming atmosphere and determined to learn from Gavin and my team mates so that I can try for a professional greenkeeping qualification’ said Billy.
Next month Gavin Robson’s new team members will be starting work with deputy course manager Frank Robson , Paul Hadfield & Richard Harris developing two new short game practice greens complete with bunkers on the area of cleared wild woodland between Branston’s teaching academy and the clubhouse, getting ready for an Autumn launch.
“Most games of golf are won or lost at the chipping and putting stage so we’re investing £10,000 in two brand new short game practice greens, one flat and the other a McKenzie style two tier green, both with bunkers providing Branston members with valuable opportunities to sharpen their games. They’ll be giving our talented team of golf professionals excellent teaching facilities to complement our 20 bay driving range,” said Gavin. “Our existing green near that will become a practice putting green for the public at Branston Academy.”’
“These important developments are further examples of our investment both in people and facilities all designed to make Branston Golf & Country Club one of the Midlands’ finest for golf, health and fitness and hospitality facilities both for our members and the public who flock to functions at our Pavilion,” commented Richard Odell, Branston’s director of golf.
Branston Golf & Country Club www.branstonclub.co.uk