October 2007

Mans's best friend helps greenkeepers too

There cannot be many golf clubs with a dog on their greenkeeping staff. But Andy Johnson would not be without his faithful friend Fred, a 10-stone (65kg) bull mastiff who accompanies his master everywhere as he maintains the prestigious Rosa Private Golf Club in Czestochowa, Poland.

Andy, 44, has 27 years’ greenkeeping experience and joined the exclusive Club in 2005, having emigrated from the UK four years earlier. Regarded as one of the finest in Poland, it is owned by Arkadiusz Mus, who also owns the mighty Press-Glas glazing products manufacturer.

“Fred’s one of the team,” says Andy. “He should be on the payroll as Pest Controller. He chases away hares, red deer and wild boar that roam the course, and if he ever sees any litter on the greens, he barks like mad until it’s removed.

“He’s a gentle giant and he would never hurt anyone. Bull mastiffs traditionally catch poachers by pushing them over and standing over them. Fred likes being around when I’m using the machinery, and his favourite is the Toro Workman utility vehicle which has big seats that he can lie down on.”

Andy gets a lot of his equipment from Campey Turf Care Systems. He has many implements from the company’s TurfWorks Fine Turf Greens Maintenance Cassette System, which fit on to the cutting reels of greens mowers and enable extra tasks to be achieved. Andy has sarel rollers, star spikers, top-dressing brush rollers and vibrating rollers.

“The top-dressing brushes with the vibrating rollers are simply terrific,” says Andy. “They save so much time, do an amazing job and leave a superb groomed finish. They are ideal for greens, and therefore great for golfers.”

Andy is also trialling a Dakota Turf Tender greens top-dresser from Campeys, which he uses with his Toro Workman. The Club plans to purchase next year. “It’s terrific, with an exceptional work-rate and high-quality performance.”

Fred takes a keen interest in all the machines, but when it all gets a bit too much he cools off by wading through the lakes around the golf course. Then he walks back to the equipment yard and has a big sleep.