Peter Pattenden: 'I feel like this is a chance to make my own name'

Peter Pattenden always knew he wanted to be a greenkeeper and even asked if he could leave school early to begin his career.

 

As the son of the renowned course manager at Carden Park, also called Peter, victory in the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award is the opportunity to make a name for himself as the ambitious 19-year-old embarks upon his own greenkeeping journey.

“People say, when you left school, did you think you would become a greenkeeper? Actually, I did,” said Peter, who is studying towards his Level 3 in Advanced Golf Greenkeeping at Coleg Cambria.

“I feel like this is a chance to make my own name, otherwise I would forever be the ‘other’ Peter Pattenden. Now at least, when people say ‘Pete’s coming to BTME’, they’ll ask ‘which one?’ I’ve got my own name, so hopefully people will realise there’s another Peter Pattenden taking this industry very seriously.”

Born in Scotland, Peter moved to Wales when he was four years old as his dad took up a role at Carden Park, across the border in Cheshire. He would spend school holidays working on the course and some of his fondest early memories are times spent out on the course with his family.

“I’ve been on a golf course from day one,” Peter said. “Dad would take me and my sisters for a walk on the golf course. He’d say ‘stand there, I’ll get a picture for your mum’ and he’d put the irrigation on and soak us. It’s things like that, which you keep with you.

“I had a sit down with my dad about the industry and where it can take me. That conversation really pushed me to take it on full time and pursue it as a career.”

Both Peters are talented rugby players. Pete Snr played alongside Scotland’s Alasdair Strokosch, while Pete Jr turned out for North Wales and Scottish Exiles.

Pete Snr began his career as a seasonal at Gleneagles, becoming head greenkeeper of the PGA Centenary aged just 27.

 

Although now making his own way in the industry, Peter looks to his father for inspiration and direction.

“I am hoping within the next year and a half at Carden Park to take on a little more responsibility and show leadership. After that, I’ll look to progress to become a deputy head greenkeeper, a head and then a course manager. The end goal for me is to become a course manager at a top venue, hopefully in Scotland as it’s the home of golf.

“Dad and I have a really good working relationship. Obviously we know when there’s time to be working and to crack on with the grass and there’s other times when we can have a little bit of a laugh to keep the day moving, so it’s all good.”

Despite being raised on golf courses, Peter didn’t take it for granted that he would do well in the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year competition and in conversations with the awards judges it was clear that he had invested significant time into revising for the event. He displayed extraordinary knowledge and understanding of the golf course environment, but said that he was delighted the hard work had paid off.

“I put a lot of effort into the competition,” he said. “I was revising before work, after lunch, during breaks and every opportunity I could find. Big thanks must go to my girlfriend, Sarah, as she’s been really supportive and understanding.”

Despite this, Peter said he was still surprised when he was revealed to be the winner of the Young award, adding: “I got chills, to be honest. I completely did not expect it and it was a surreal feeling to be honest.”