Thursday started off bright and early at 6:30 for a meeting with Trevor Dargan, course superintendent at Woodenbridge Golf Club. Woodenbridge is the second oldest course in Ireland, starting in 1884. Even though there was a steady rain, Trevor gave an exciting and energetic tour of his revamped facilities and eventually showed the course as the rain subsided. Trevor has a crew of six to maintain an 18 hole course, a number which I have seen a trend so far at the courses I have visited with Jon Kiger.

Since the amount of labor is minimal, Trevor has to make sure he gets reliable employees. He tries to keep the shop morale up by making jobs and tasks as enjoyable as possible. This can be seen by having cabs on fairways and rough units and reducing the mowing done each week on tees and fairways through the use of Primo. Trevor takes pride in the work ethic of his employees by stating that there have been zero sick days used in the last two years! 

Trevor Dargan showing the water line of a flood in recent history

After Woodenbridge, we stopped for a short visit at the oldest course in Ireland, the Royal Curragh Golf Club. Started in 1852, the course was grazed by sheep to keep the grass down. Grazing was still practiced until five years ago when the course was fenced in from any outside sheep. Course Superintendent John Dempsey sat down with us for a chat.

John said because of the sheep on the course there are only 15 bunkers, but he foresees more going in over time. John has a crew of five employees making for proper decision on areas of maintenance. Some areas are left alone in large sections creating native areas that have a variety of species. The history of the course is very prominent today as remains of old British army sites can be seen. There are even some areas where trenches from the early wars can be made out. However this means that the course is a historical monument, so not much can be done below the soil, but the course can still build on top of the existing soil. 

With John Dempsey, course manager at Royal Curragh, the oldest golf course in Ireland.

In the afternoon Jon played in the RISE Foundation Golf Classic held at The K Club in Straffan, Co. Kildare. While he played I met with course superintendent Gerry Byrne.

Since the Ryder Cup was held here on the Palmer course in 2006, Gerry has gone from 32 employees to nine full timers with seven seasonal and still has to maintain the same 36 holes of golf.

Gerry said that in the golf business each superintendent should have one day where the course is perfect, everything is in place and nothing is wrong. For him it was the week leading to the Ryder Cup. The course was in tip-top shape heading into the famed event.

Gerry also explained his role a Director of Agronomy for The Carr Golf Group. He takes on the role very well as a manager of 11 other courses and makes visits to the courses a couple times a year. Managing this many courses means that he has to make sure everything is running smoothly, especially the equipment. Gerry has a unique position and has seen serious reductions to his maintenance program, but he keeps the course at its highest level. 

Gerry Byrne with a Controlled Droplet Applicator (CAD), requiring no mask for protection.

Soon after the meeting I met back up with Jon and walked with him and his group as they finished out the round. It was really nice just to be able to walk a course and watch the way the players reacted to course. To finish out the day there was a dinner at the club for the charity where I met Frances Black, singer and founder of the RISE Foundation. The foundation focuses on family members of those with addictive behaviors to help them cope with the stress and anxiety of a loved one who is addicted to something. The night was amazing to see so many people helping out for the cause. 

Me with Frances Black, singer and founder of the Rise Foundation.