How greenkeeping opened up a world of opportunity for Gemma

Located in the heart of the New Forest National Park in Hampshire, Brokenhurst Manor is a  real gem of a golf course. Set within a mix of ancient woodland and grassland, the club was formed in 1915 when Harry Colt was invited to design a course that would encompass the land’s natural features. 

Responsibility for maintaining this unique course is Doug Spencer, ably assisted by Deputy Head Greenkeeper Gemma Light and six other greens staff members. On a wet morning, I met with Doug and Gemma to gain an insight into the work the team has completed over recent years.

Introduction 

There are an increasing number of women employed on UK golf courses, some of whom have course responsibility, and this is a trend that will hopefully continue. I was aware that this was Gemma’s second stint at Brokenhurst and was intrigued to learn more about her background, career and thoughts for the future.

Gemma said: “Being local to the New Forest, I’ve always had a love of the outdoors. My father, who was a club member, encouraged me to play golf from the age of 10 and it wasn’t long before I was hooked and became a junior member. I regularly helped my Nan look after her large garden, so by the time I left school I had gained an understanding of plants and was used to carrying out whatever work was required. “Upon leaving school when 17, I gained employment on a local caravan park, which included a nine-hole course. Here I learned grass cutting and other tasks involved with maintaining a fairly basic golf course, so I guess the seeds were sown, so to speak.”

Two years later, in 2000, Gemma had the opportunity to work at Brokenhurst as an apprentice greenkeeper under the tutelage of Course Manager Ed Macabe. Within two years  she had gained her NVQ level 2 in Sports Turf Management at Sparsholt College. Having completed her apprenticeship, she continued as an assistant and by 2005 was conversant with most tasks and use of equipment. “However, once married family came along and since it was nigh impossible to find childcare at 5am, my time at Brokenhurst came to an end, at least for several years,” said Gemma.

Return journey

Gemma continued: “My three children kept me on my toes but I also had a strong desire to return to work, although greenkeeping was not a realistic option at the time. I started my own garden maintenance business in 2007, taking small steps at first when I could; gradually increasing my workload once all were at school.” 

Although combining motherhood and employment worked well, Gemma’s long-term objective was a return to greenkeeping. “Strange as it may seem, each time I drove past the 8th hole on the course, which you can see from the road, the desire to return grew ever stronger,” she said. “That opportunity arose in 2016 when I contacted Doug, who at that time was deputy head greenkeeper and had been at Brokenhurst since 2002. I was fortunate that a vacancy existed and since I had five years of experience and knew the course well, my wish came true.”   

Career progression 

I was intrigued to know why Gemma made that decision and how her career has progressed. She said: “I have a love for greenkeeping and it was like a second home-coming, being appointed as a qualified assistant. I was familiar with the site and what was expected of me, plus I had security of income and no longer needed to chase up clients for payment. I also enjoy being part of a team as opposed to working solo in gardening and landscaping. “Doug and the club have encouraged me to progress and in 2018 I gained my NVQ Level 3 via an online course.”

Gemma has also acquired various spraying qualifications, cross-cut chainsaw and small-fell certificates and more recently has added First Aid and Mental Health qualifications, which helped her gain promotion and take on the vacant deputy role in 2021, following Doug’s appointment as course manager.

Current role and achievements 

With 11 years golf course experience and a good array of qualifications and certificates, I asked Gemma what her current role involves and to expand a little on work detail as we tour the course. She said: “Firstly, I work closely with Doug, planning and organising work scheduling, both weekly and daily. Doug has given me responsibility for health and safety, machinery servicing and daily equipment checks, while we generally share admin work. This ranges from cost controls and ordering materials, to nutrient input and labour data using the Ground2Control system.”  This ‘paperwork’ side of the role is considered essential as it ensures course management remains consistent and continuous, irrespective of who is on site.

Gemma added: “As far as tasks that are required, we all do whatever is necessary on a daily basis and I was just out strimming ditches with other members of staff. One day I could be walk mowing tees, mowing roughs, raking bunkers or applying topdressing, no different from any other of our team. I’m not as good using a mini-excavator as Doug, but he has had more practice than me. I prefer doing more of the ground prep work and then bringing projects to completion, such as top soiling and turfing. “I also enjoy the various woodland and environmental projects we implement to help promote a natural and sustainable golf course. It’s a nice balance to have working on such a great course and each day I can look back with job satisfaction.” This winter the team will be draining the 13th green, a project Gemma is looking forward to. 

In terms of other achievements, she is also thankful to the support and encouragement she has received from the BIGGA community as part of her on-going training. She explained: “As well as attending the Future Turf Managers Initiative in 2020, which I found inspiring, I have been fortunate to work as a volunteer for tournaments at Wentworth (BMW PGA), Gleneagles (Solheim Cup), Forest of Arden (European Masters) and Parkstone (Ladies Amateur Championship), which has given me an insight into course preparation at the highest level. “Being part of a ‘girls’ team for the Solheim Cup was an experience I’ll never forget and the support we received from Craig Haldene and his team was superb.”  

Thoughts and aspirations

In spite of light rain falling when touring the course, it became increasingly evident how much pride, knowledge and enthusiasm Gemma has as we discussed on-going work programs ranging from organic matter control and bent overseeding on greens, to water flow challenges and the importance of a network of ditches. Many examples were highlighted where work had been completed and what was planned this winter.

Gemma explained further: “One of our main challenges is that the course is largely clay based and holes 2 to 4 are on a flood plain, therefore the removal of excess water is paramount for playability. We have tried various aeration techniques and timings to see what works best on the course and to some extent that applies to the greens as well.  “As part of our rolling five-year development plan, we have enlarged and re-levelled numerous tees, reconstructed bunkers and lined them with rubber crumb, installed more paths, improved ditch crossings and cleared large amounts of bracken to encourage a better balance of flora.”

Being a Colt designed course that is over a century old, the course has remained largely as he intended. However, the quirky nature of mounds and banks around greens and tees mean that a lot of hand mowing and strimming is required, hence the need for eight staff in order to produce the consistent standard by the club’s membership.

Gemma added: “They are very supportive and understand the challenges we face, which makes for an enjoyable environment in which to work. Since I play golf and have a handicap of nine, I have a good understanding of the course from a playing perspective. I just don’t play often enough, but that’s another story.”

On the subject of what lies ahead for Gemma in terms of her career, she explained: “This may come as a surprise, but I just love working here and with the people around me. I am lucky to work in a fabulous environment in the middle of the New Forest, which covers an area of 220 square miles. It’s also less than 10 miles from the south coast.

“Since volunteering for events, I am actively involved with other working ladies and we have our own Women in Golf WhatsApp group, which has around 80 members, although not all are in the UK or work on golf courses. We can talk openly about our work, the challenges we face, exchange ideas and discuss anything else for that matter. This has been a great tool for communication and brings us closer together.

“With schooling at a critical stage for my children, I need to stay local for the time being, but I’m not averse to relocating in the future. I don’t like flying but there are many opportunities here in the UK.

“I also need to gain further qualifications, maybe more management based, while also gaining a digger licence. I just need Doug to allow me to renovate bunkers!

“Attending BTME has been beneficial and I will continue to enrol on other courses, while networking with other greenkeepers, male and female.”

Summary

The quality of course conditioning, attention to detail and presentation at Brokenhurst Manor is testimony to a good team effort. There is a positive vibe and my impressions are that this is a happy club, proud of their course and its heritage.  Doug and Gemma work effectively as a team and help each other to achieve a high standard of work, while leading and encouraging others to do likewise.

Gemma is very positive about her role at Brokenhurst and her employment within a male-dominated industry. She has witnessed a significant change for the better since she first started in 2000. During our course tour, I asked her if she had any advice for other women considering or just starting a career in golf course management. Her reply was that if you don’t mind the early starts, there are many opportunities to advance, travel, work in different environments and make friends.

“Don’t be afraid to give it a go and you will find there is genuine support and friendship,” she said. I could not have put it better myself.