A Day to Remember
In the mid-80s East Sussex National was known as one of the first high profile golf clubs, which offered superb facilities for those with pockets deep enough to pay the debenture.
More recently East Sussex National, in greenkeeping circles, was associated with Course Manager, Raymond Day, the larger than life BIGGA Board of Management member whose life was cut short by cancer in January 2007.
It is, therefore, fitting that this October East Sussex National should be the venue for the BIGGA National Golf Championship, sponsored by Kubota, giving BIGGA members the opportunity to see at first hand the course which Ray managed for the final four years of his life and which has since been taken on by Ray’s Deputy, and current Course Manager, Scott Litchfield.
It is a truly majestic golfing venue - two courses, the East and West, were designed by Bob Cupp, a former associate of Jack Nicklaus - which will test the finest golfers BIGGA can muster, but also offer ample opportunities for those who succumb to the challenge to relax and enjoy themselves in sumptuous surroundings.
We will make sure the course is prepared to a standard Ray would be proud of, said Scott, as we sat in the foyer of the superb new hotel which opened in 2006 and which is located on the site of the old maintenance facilities.
BIGGA will play on the East, a stadium course, which hosted the European Open in 1993 and ‘94. The West, is regarded as more of a members’ course and is more tree lined.
Scott maintains the two courses in the same manner, treating them very much as 36 holes together rather than two 18s.
“You’ve got to be sensible and utilise the staff as well as you can so it is a lot better to treat it as one big golf course. If a guy goes out cutting the rough he doesn’t just stick to one course he goes around the course using the most economical route.
“We have a lot of competitions and corporate events for which we hand cut. For example we have one of the top amateur events, the Tillman Trophy, and a televised Europro event coming up and we will be hand cutting for them and we will do the same for the BIGGA Championship.”
Scott has recently reintroduced the long fescue rough for which the club was known in its early years and which looked stunning. It had been cut back to help improve the pace of play.
“We decided to surprise the members this year by leaving the rough to grow and we’ve had nothing but compliments. It is not as close to the fairway as before - we have semi rough and the long stuff is sensibly placed but it does add to the golfing experience.”
The team currently comprises of 21, including two gardeners, plus Archie the dog, a team member so well trained he retracts his claws when walking on greens in canine softspikes!
“I have a superb team. Many of them were here when Ray was in charge so they’ve come through a lot, but they are committed and talented and it is the best team I’ve been involved with,” explained Scott, who just happens to be Archie’s owner.
The other major project the team are currently undertaking is the ongoing renovation of the bunkering and there are over 90 on the East and more than 60 on the West.
When the course was built it was constructed to a high spec, part of which was to put a layer of gravel and then a liner between the sand and the base. Over time these have been repaired and patched up and we have taken the decision to remove all the liners and replace all the drainage.
“It is a project we are carrying out in-house, as we do with most projects, But early on we discovered why they had been built that way. As each winter progresses the clay base turns to liquid and mixes with the sand binding with the bottom layer and, in the summer, cracks, bring parts of the base to the surface through raking.
“It doesn’t happen with every bunker on the site, but it means those that are affected will have to be redone every few years, maybe even relined.”
Scott is 35, but he was several years younger just a few months ago. That was before fusarium made a major strike on the course late last year.
We got it in November and December and it spread across the whole site and every green. We knew why we were susceptible as we have a very low Cation Exchange Capacity - the ability to retain nutrients in the soil and keep the plant healthy leading up to winter, but it was tough to get on top of it. I called on all my contacts within the industry including a consultant, all agreeing we had tried everything we could and should when you get fusarium.
The real problem was trying to get the members to appreciate the situation, as some of them misunderstood completely what they thought it was. Members were searching the internet thinking they could come up with magic answers.
Having come through the nightmare and with a plan in place to build up CEC levels Scott can look back and reflect.
“It certainly made me a better Course Manager and it was probably the first time I really understood the pressures that can be experienced and anyone who thinks it is easy, it is not, said Scott, who has since improved communications with the membership to ensure they are kept informed of course matters.”
Scott found his way into greenkeeping via an unusual route.
“I was a trainee manager for Tesco but I was fed up with going to work in the dark, coming home in the dark and not seeing any daylight. So I quit, went to America and skied in Colorado for four months.
“When I came back I didn’t know what I wanted to do so my mother went to the local college and asked what courses were available. There was thatching and greenkeeping and as I didn’t fancy standing off roofs all day I went for greenkeeping.”
Even if it did come from an exasperated mother trying to find some direction for her son she couldn’t have found a better match. Scott took to greenkeeping like a duck to water and never looked back.
The key to his progression came when he worked at Shrivenham Park in Swindon.
“I worked for a great guy called Jason Taylor, who was very focussed and passionate about the industry. He told me that you never get anywhere if you just sit around. You had to move about.”
Scott took Jason at his word and applied for a seasonal job at Loch Lomond, giving up the full time post at Shrivenham.
“I took a real chance by going to Loch Lomond but after a season Ken Seims offered me a full time position.”
Scott stayed for five years gaining invaluable experience preparing a top 50 golf course for regular televised tournaments rising to become a First Assistant before moving to East Sussex National as Head Greenkeeper of the East Course. There is longstanding link between Loch Lomond and East Sussex with Ken Seims and Mike Wattam both having worked at both clubs before Scott made the same switch.
When Mike left Ray Day took over as Course Manager with Scott becoming Assistant Course Manager.
“He was a really tough cookie and the hardest boss I’ve ever had. He was very demanding and expected a lot from his guys, but he really did care for his staff and had them very close to his heart, although he didn’t always show it,” said Scott.
The day Ray told everyone of his cancer was one that Scott will never forget.
He insisted on getting everyone together. He stood there and explained the situation. It was very emotional and I had to finish off the meeting for him. You learn how to look after turf, but not how to do these sorts of things. No-one trains you for it.”
Looking to the future Ray sat down with Scott and explained how to do the paperwork side of the job and spent a lot of time preparing Scott for a future that he might not see.
“He achieved a lot in the four years he was at the club and definitely left an improved golf course for me to take on,” said Scott.
It is fitting, therefore, that the 2008 BIGGA Golf Championship, sponsored by Kubota, is played on Ray’s course and that it will be followed the very next day by the Ray Day Memorial Tournament.
“I want everyone to come here and enjoy themselves,” said Scott.
Everyone who knew Ray will know that is exactly what he would have wanted.
