A golf course greenskeeper maintains the greens, fairways, and other course areas to ensure they are in top condition for play. Their tasks include mowing, watering, fertilizing, and pest control. They manage the irrigation system, set up the course for play, and maintain landscaping. Sounds easy? Well, we met up with Krzysztof, the greenskeeper for Poland’s premier golf course Black Water Links just outside Poznan to find out more!
Hi. Let’s start with what is your golf handicap.
Hahaha. It’s currently 18 but I had it down to single digits back in the day!
You didn’t want to be a golfer?
I was in the Polish PGA for a year and was also an instructor but I realized I preferred to be behind the shadows.
Like a superhero?
Hahaha. Sort of.
Is hot or cold weather better for a greenskeeper?
It doesn’t matter. Greenskeepers always complain. Perfest though is 25 degrees during the day and light rain during the night. A bit of thunder is also good during the night.
Thunder?
Sure. I don’t know why but I realized that the grass grows better after thunder.
How long have you been a greenskeeper?
25 Years! I have worked in many countries such as the UK, Switzerland, Germany, and Estonia to name just a few.
Are you any good?
Hahaha. You should ask my boss that. I don’t like to brag but I was voted in the TOP 15 greenskeepers in the world a few years back.
Apart from being a premier golf course, I have heard that Black Links is very different from other courses.
We are the only golf course in Poland that doesn’t use pesticides. Not many people know that these chemicals can harm golf course workers and players, drift onto neighboring properties, seep into the ground or well water, and devastate local wildlife.
Really?
Sure! Evidence shows that pesticides are one of the primary drivers of declines in populations of insects, birds, and many other groups of species. Moreover, pesticide exposure can cause several chronic diseases in humans, with users of pesticides and vulnerable groups such as children being particularly at risk.
So how do you do it?
Our sprays are natural. I work with Ian McMillan who uses old-school methods to eradicate weeds, insects, and diseases. We are very proud of this.
I also heard you get free water for the golf course. Is that true?
Yes. Sewage water from nearby cities is filtered and pumped to Black Links and refiltered. It saves cities from dumping this water into the rivers. When we water the grass, the water seeps down deep into the earth and disperses into the rivers but it’s clean water. It’s a win-win situation.
Amazing! Have you introduced any other interesting things?
Well, we are planning to use robots and drones to cut and spray the grass. It will reduce our carbon footprint by up to 80%
Will that mean people will lose their jobs?
Not at all. It just means I can direct people to concentrate on greenskeeping instead of sitting on top of a diesel-powered machine cutting the grass all day long.
Is it easier to look after a professional football pitch or a golf course?
Well, considering a football pitch is about one hectare of grass compared to 75 hectors it’s much more work on a golf course. Plus, grass on football pitches is typically 25 mm high and our putting greens are currently between 3-4 mm which is a lot harder to control!
Does it break your heart when you see a player rip a huge chunk of grass out when he swings?
hahaha. Of course!
Do you have any tips for homeowners with grass lawns?
Water the grass every 2nd or 3rd day. The water should be a fine spray and administered early morning.
Golf is just starting in Poland. Do you think Golf will be as popular in Poland as in other countries such as the UK?
I hope so. It’s still considered to be an elite sport in Poland but in England it’s a sport for everybody. There are over 250 golf courses just in London! I’m sure it will happen here also.
I hope so. It’s a great way to spend your free time. It’s been a pleasure to meet you and congratulations on doing such a fine job here. One last thing. Which is the best golf course in Poland?
Thats easy. Black Water Links!
