An extreme change of environment at Desert Springs Resort
Just over a year ago, Tom Nutting moved from the rainy elements of Shropshire to the sun-stricken Almeria as he became the Head Groundsman at Desert Springs Resort.
In this candid article, he highlights why he made the move but also acknowledged the naivety behind the phrase “the grass is always greener.”
There were several reasons why Tom took up the role at Desert Springs Resort. He said: “The move worked for my family. I’m married and have a four-year-old son. He was at the perfect age to move, as I didn’t want to disrupt his education. My wife works remotely, so the change hasn’t caused much disruption.”
Tom has been in the industry for nineteen years, but the two years before the move were the hardest. “It was the worst weather I had seen in my entire career - it was almost depressing how much rain we were getting. It was the wettest summer on record. There weren’t even four consecutive days without rain.”
Why Desert Springs Resort?
“I had been exploring my options. I didn’t want to go as far as Australia or New Zealand due to family commitments. I knew a bit about the resort, spoke to people who had worked there, and I understood there would be challenges. I wanted a project, and I knew I’d thrive on the challenge.”
Is the grass greener?
Tom was surprised by how swift the recruitment process was. “I had a Zoom interview, and they flew me out ten days later to see the facilities. From the moment I sent the enquiry email to being in Spain permanently took just three months.”
He wanted more responsibility in a new role and addressed whether that has happened. “I’ve always worked on cricket grounds alongside my full-time job. However, I’ve never held the head groundsman role in a full-time capacity. Here, I’ve been able to put my own stamp on the job. I have full control over the cricket and football facilities at the resort. It’s rewarding to have that final decision and responsibility.”
The consistent weather has made event planning easier. “If I have a team coming in ten days for pre-season, I can prepare without many issues. I know the weather will be fairly consistent. Compare that to the UK in February - you might have one day of heavy rain, and that throws everything off.”
The move has been positive for Tom, but it hasn’t been without challenges. “At the beginning, it was stressful. I had to move on my own for several months before my wife and son could join me. She was back in the UK speaking to letting agents and managing the house with a toddler. It was tough for her, but they came to visit a few times and have now moved here permanently.”
Tom reflected on the challenges of the past year: “The language barrier was difficult at first. A lot of the staff are Spanish and don’t speak much English. They also don’t know much about cricket apart from what they’ve learned here. I’ve tried to learn some Spanish to better integrate with the staff.”
Brexit has also complicated access to materials. “It’s been a nightmare getting certain products. We can get things like seed and fertiliser, but because cricket isn’t widely played in Spain, it’s hard to find some essentials. I ordered sheet covers from Stuart Canvas, and they took three months to arrive because they were stuck in customs in Madrid.”
Despite escaping the rain, working in a desert climate brings its own challenges. “The weather isn’t as predictable as you’d think. We had the Ireland International cricket team here in February. I put out flash sheets the day before they arrived. The next morning, the sheets had frozen water on them, and by 10 a.m., it was 22°C and sunny. The grass has no idea what’s happening.”
“In summer, when it’s boiling, it’s not pleasant. Because of the lack of rainfall, we have to source water from elsewhere. We’re surrounded by farmland, which makes water access competitive. Sometimes we use desalinated water, but that brings its own problems.”
Making a positive impact Since arriving, Tom has identified problem areas and implemented improvements. “We’ve overhauled all of the cricket facilities. We renovated the main cricket square and the two academy squares. We stripped them and killed off any existing growth. We introduced Seeded Hybrid Bermuda grass - a first here. The climate allows warm-season grasses to thrive, unlike elsewhere in Europe. Bermuda doesn’t need much water and grows well in 40°C heat.”
He explained the science behind the seed selection. “Ryegrass grows in individual blades, making it ideal for cricket. Bermuda grows like a strawberry plant - it spreads, which is great for covering a field but not ideal for cricket pitches. We established it, and now we constantly verticut to inhibit the natural, lateral growth pattern allowing us to produce cricket pitches with these types of grass species. When temperatures drop, we scarify the Bermuda and sow three types of ryegrass. The Bermuda goes dormant in the cold, but its strong root structure remains. The ryegrass takes over until the warmer months return, at which point the Bermuda thrives again - it’s essentially a natural hybrid pitch.”
“Undertaking these conversions on the cricket surfaces and transitioning the grass plants with the seasons, is enabling us to produce cricket pitches all year round... I think we´re the only cricket venue in Europe that is offering that!”
Tom has also invested in his staff by enrolling them in the Level 1 GMA Cricket course. “They’ve never had the opportunity to learn more about the industry. They’ll always go out and cut the field if I ask them to, but they might not know why. You need that level of understanding. You want your team to match the standards you set for yourself.”
Career advice
Like many in the industry, Tom found his passion for turfcare by chance. “I was always academic at school - my dad was a headteacher, so I was pushed to work hard. I always loved cricket and played it. I went to Loughborough University to study Chemistry, but I didn’t enjoy it. I came back that summer and started working in turfcare. I did my Level 2 at Rodbaston College and went from there.”
He has worked at several multi-sport venues including Wrekin College, St Dominic’s Grammar School, and Birchfield School. He values the experience gained in those environments. “There’s a common misconception about the glamour of working in professional sport - you’re working when no one else is. Working in the private school sector gives you a broader skill set across different sports and surfaces. You also get a change of scenery and can focus more on horticulture. This afternoon, I’ll be cutting the football pitch while cricket matches are on - more for my own wellbeing than anything else.”