Getting Personal with Neil Ballingall
Who are you? Neil Ballingall, born January 1963, and proud to be Golf Course Superintendent at Fairmont St Andrews.
Family status? Married to Susan, two daughters, Jenni and Nikki; two step daughters, Jessica and Caitlin and a step son Aidan; two dogs, Rio and Billy; one cat, Mino, and one Guinea Pig called the Baby Jesus.
Who's your hero and why? My dad, I always wanted to be just like him.
What would you change about yourself? Could do with being younger.
What's your guilty pleasure? Golf course books and collecting golf clubs.
What's been the highlight of your career so far? I have been fortunate to have had a few and wouldn't pick one ahead of any of them.
What are your pet peeves? Laziness, people being late and not caring how it affects others.
If you could go anywhere right now, where would it be? White sandy beach on a Caribbean island.
What's the best part of your job? Fresh air, sense of achievement, preparing for competitions.
… and the worst? Waiting on decisions.
Do you have a lifetime ambition? To be in charge of an Open.
Favourite record, and why? Rush 2112, if I could play electric guitar I'd like to play it like this.
Who would you choose to spend a romantic evening with? Definitely my wife.
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Buy a house closer to work.
If you were to describe yourself as a musical instrument, what would you be and why? Saxophone - relaxed and easy going but can be heard if needed.
Which three people, living or dead, would you invite to a dinner party? Will Ferrell, Seve Ballesteros and Jesus (just in case we run out of wine).
Do you have any bad habits? Of course not, although my family might say different.
... or any good ones? Plenty, although my family might say different.
If you could be anyone for a day, who would it be and why? Bill Gates, and give all his money to charity.
Do you go to bed worrying about the next day's workload? Never have and hopefully never will.
What are you reading at the moment? Weems Witch and Largo Untold by Leonard Low.
What's the best advice you have ever been given? Don't eat yellow snow.
What's your favourite smell? Indian curry.
What do you do in your spare time? Golf, walk my dogs.
What's the daftest work related question you have ever been asked? "When do you think the fog will lift?"
What's your favourite piece of kit? Stevens POGO, my Bernhard grinders.
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Easygoing, enthusiastic, dedicated.
What talent would you like to have? To be a great public speaker.
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? Any politician found wilfully lying for their own or their party's gain must be imprisoned - that should release about 600 jobs.