Required turf reading

The Old Course at St. Andrews is arguably the most widely recognized golf course in the world. It earned the Home of Golf moniker more than a century ago and golfers make pilgrimages from all over the world to walk and play its hallowed grounds. 

I first met former St. Andrews Trust director of greenkeeping Gordon Moir in January 2019 while traveling with a group to the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition in Harrogate, England. We stopped in Scotland prior to the conference where we met with Craig Boath at Carnoustie for a course walk and Gordon McKie (course manager of the Old Course) for a tour of the Jubilee Greenkeeping Center at St. Andrews. The highlight was playing the Old Course with Gordon and his neighbor Alex Rowe.

When I learned Gordon had written a book chronicling his career in greenkeeping, I did not hesitate to snag a copy. Gordon was born in the northeast of Scotland in the town of Fraserburgh and joined the greenkeeping team at Fraserburgh Golf Club as an apprentice in 1976. By 1980, he had ascended to head greenkeeper of FGC, the fifth-oldest golf course in Scotland and seventh-oldest in the world.

But after spending 11 years leading the team at FGC, Gordon took a leap of faith. And, in 1991, with the blessing of his wife, Pauline, Gordon decided to pursue other opportunities. Having been actively involved with the Scottish and International Golf Greenkeepers Association, the precursor to BIGGA (the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association), Gordon parlayed his contacts and networking into an interview to become head greenkeeper of the Eden Course at St. Andrews under the direction of then-links supervisor Walter Woods.

And thus began a 27-year career at the planet’s most famous golf facility. “St. Andrews–The Greenkeeper’s Tale” is the firsthand account of Gordon’s work and life experiences during that time and chronicles his rise from head greenkeeper of the Eden course to eventually becoming director of greenkeeping over all seven courses managed by the Links Trust prior to his retirement in late 2018.

Over that period, he saw many changes. There were only four golf courses — the Old, New, Jubilee and Eden — when Gordon was hired and the greenkeeping department worked from one shared, antiquated facility. The Strathtyrum course was established in 1993 along with the newly redesigned Balgove course. Plus, he oversaw many changes to the Eden, New and Jubilee courses as well as the Old Course, including a few revisions deemed controversial by some golf course architecture enthusiasts. 

The addition of the two new courses led to the creation of the Eden Greenkeeping Center servicing the Eden, Strathtyrum and Balgove courses, and the newly redesigned Jubilee Greenkeeping Center became the hub for the Old, New and Jubilee courses.

Gordon also oversaw the creation of The Castle Course (opened for play in June 2008) designed by David McLay Kidd of Bandon Dunes fame. Gordon dedicates an entire chapter to this period. Because I had read “The Seventh at St. Andrews” by Scott Gummer, which tells the story of the creation of the Castle course from McLay Kidd’s perspective, I really enjoyed Gordon’s recollections and perspectives. 

Gordon’s tenure at St. Andrews parallels a great period of innovation in greenkeeping. Many readers may be surprised to learn about some of the earlier rudimentary working conditions but will witness the evolution to upgraded modern facilities, the adoption of precision turf management practices and data collection, and countless environmental sustainability efforts — not to mention the vast number of committees and other regulatory entities required of the world’s most famous greenkeeping team. 

In the 27 years Gordon worked for the St Andrews Links Trust, he was involved with five Open Championships (1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015), two Women’s Opens (2007 and 2013), one Senior Open (2018) and numerous European Tour Alfred Dunhill Championships. The reader gets Gordon’s take on each major as it relates to that period of his career along with the unique challenges brought about by Mother Nature and the R&A in each.

The book is filled with numerous stories and anecdotes from Gordon’s travels and adventures, whether it be attending industry-related events or just carving out some holiday time visiting with friends and colleagues he met along the way. If anything, this book shows you the power of networking and the building of lasting relationships possible within our wonderful industry.

Whether you are young or old, a turfgrass newbie or established veteran, there are lessons to be learned from “The Greenkeeper’s Tale.”