A change of pace at the Best Kept Green in Shropshire 2024

After an amazing 47 years working for the prestigious Shifnal Golf Club, Head Greenkeeper Peter Leath decided it was time to sit back and enjoy a more leisurely lifestyle by taking early retirement... of sorts!

Being a council-owned green maintained by contractors, the surface was nothing compared to the highly manicured greens Pete produced at Shifnal. It was time for a change, and it wasn’t long before Pete couldn’t sit back any longer. With little persuasion, he was encouraged to put his boots back on and improve the green at Edgmond. His goal was to provide a surface as close to the high standards of his golf greens as possible. As he says, “The same but different.” So, the seeds were sown, and Pete made it his mission to succeed.

As the pandemic put us all into lockdown and restrictions were in place, he was able to carry out extensive mid-season renovations without disturbance. The green was heavily scarified and Verti-cut in multiple directions to thin the sward, removing thatch, moss and undesirable grasses. Bare areas were spiked and seeded, followed by fertiliser applications. With regular mowing, the green started to improve.

Significant surface improvements

Now, with over three hundred hours of maintenance carried out per year - including mowing an average of four to five times a week in the summer, and once every three to four weeks in the winter (when conditions allow) - improvements in the performance of the green have proven that you get back what you put in.

On the golf course, year-round play is expected as long as conditions are favourable. This is something Peter is keen to encourage, but he also aims to limit overuse to allow recovery time for the bowling green.

“We occasionally invite the Bandits Bowls Winter Series for their weekly competition, and also the Edgmond Winter Shield, an open competition played between Christmas and New Year, where we have sixty-four people playing over two qualifying days and a finals day.”

His passion: A year-round 5mm sward

“Putting the green to bed” is not a sentence in Pete’s vocabulary. “You can’t carry out autumn renovations, close the gate, come back in March, and expect the green to be ready to play.”

Regular visits to remove dew, mow when necessary, and monitor pests and disease are a must.

“Not everything has been easy. Worm casts, disease, moss and thatch all had to be brought under control. Products that were once at our disposal are now banned or restricted, so we have to find new ways to manage these issues.”

Renovations

Peter carries out all in-season maintenance on his own but knows only too well the importance of end-of-season renovations. As these tasks require more substantial equipment, he employs the services of former fellow Greenkeeper/Groundsman Paul Mytton of Fine Turf Maintenance.

“I’ve known Paul for a long time. He was previously Course Manager at Lilleshall Hall and worked at other local golf clubs. He was also known for his time as Head Groundsman at Villa Park, where he was highly commended and won awards for the pitch in the Premiership.”

Paul arranges the supply and delivery of all materials to scarify, overseed, top dress and Verti-drain the green. Although it’s a busy time of year, he now assists in renovating a few other local greens while in the area, adding to the 35–40 greens he currently works on.

How have players reacted to the improvements?

Comments have been positive since Pete took over management of the green. “It is always nice to receive positive feedback; it makes all my efforts worthwhile. Although members now expect away greens to match the same high standard, I couldn’t do it without their support and fundraising efforts.”

He highlighted the financial challenges faced by small clubs. With a fair number of greens closing within a twenty-mile radius, he is keen to encourage others to join.

“Membership is so important to keep these clubs going. We need to promote the sport to all ages, especially the younger generation.

We have doubled our membership at Edgmond to around seventy-five over the past five years, through social media and open days.”

More members = more income.

“At Edgmond, we are lucky to have a membership willing to help. Food and beverages are available in the clubhouse for competition and open days, with funds raised being reinvested in the club. Quiz nights, bingo nights, football cards, and more all help us to survive. We aren’t just a bowling club; we are lucky to have a great social side too.”

Peter received the Best Kept Green in Shropshire 2024 award from now retired Head of Marketing for the Howardson Group, Roger Moore

Award winning 50th anniversary year

Earlier this year, Edgmond Bowling Club were awarded the title of Best Kept Green in Shropshire 2024 - a competition sponsored by Dennis and SISIS.

The initiative aims to improve the standard of greens across the county, recognising the hard work of greens teams and providing them with valuable feedback to enhance their maintenance programmes. Each year, the competition grows in popularity, with a record number of clubs entering in 2024 - a testament to the ongoing improvements in bowling greens throughout Shropshire.

Drawing on his greenkeeping background, Peter implemented a rigorous maintenance routine, including verticutting and aerating the green, to encourage healthy growth. He also invested in a SISIS Supaturfman, using it up to 16 times a year. His efforts have paid off, with Edgmond’s green now widely praised for its smoothness and playability. “There have been a lot of really positive comments about the green,” Peter said.

The journey

Peter attended Shifnal Secondary Modern School, and with a golf course on site, he was always keen to help out. Upon leaving school, he started his full-time career in sports turf at Shifnal Golf Club, where he remained for forty-seven years, working through the ranks to become Head Greenkeeper.

“During my time at the golf club, I learnt everything I needed to know about turf care. I saw nineteen greens chairmen come and go and worked with some great lads, members and visitors. Sometimes they were hard to please - a course is only as good as the last round played - but I still enjoyed all the challenges that came our way.”

“Early retirement after all those years seemed right for me. Walking the dog and bowling with Sarah seemed the way to go. However, Edgmond called, and here I am still maintaining greens.. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve even started working to help improve a few other local greens. It’s something I genuinely enjoy.”