20 years of Simon Berry

How has the estate evolved over your 20 years?

“I turned up in 2004 when The Downs course was just being rebuilt. There were no greens, no bunkers, so there was a lot to do! I was headhunted to come over and help with the project. 

“We were given the task of getting The Downs ready and for it to be in the Top 100 when it opened. We wanted it to be special and to be able to hold really special competitions. There were 12 of us to get it open and ready in time. It was a huge achievement for everyone involved and we managed to get it straight into the Top 100. 

“I was up at The Downs for six years and then moved to The Park in 2010 when it was brought back from the then Marriott Hotel. The course was looking very different to what it is now, so there was a lot to do to get it ready to be at a Goodwood standard. 

“Slowly but surely, we’ve built the team around us to get us to where we are today. I’ve seen The Park from where it was 14 years ago, to now and it’s a proud moment.”

What do you consider your proudest moment to be?

“When we opened The Park was a proud moment. From the condition it was in when I first came down here to what it looked like when it opened, that was a big moment for me.  

“The opening of The Copse was also up there, along with the Clutch Pro Tour that we had this year. The feedback that we got from the course was exceptional. As a team we’d had a busy few weeks with the opening of The Copse, the competition and Goodwoof so to get such amazing feedback was a great feeling.”

Tell us about The Copse… 

“Talks about what we were going to do with that area started in 2010 but it was Gary Beves who pushed it to what it is now. Once the build had taken place and it was all mud, and the architects said ‘right, it’s over to you!’ it was quite a frightening thought!

“It was a challenging time and the weather always made things interesting. The seed went into the ground in May and we had the hottest June on record. The irrigation system didn’t want to work so that was very difficult which meant we had to hand water the course four times a day, so we were doing shift work to make sure this was being done until the irrigation system started working.  

“We then had the wettest period on record which meant the seed was being washed away which was challenging. 

“It has been so rewarding and when we got it prepped for the opening of The Copse, I was so proud of everything we had achieved. You always know you can do it, but with disease and insects there is always that doubt, but to see it looking the way it did once it had all be set up, it was amazing.

“A big thank you and well done must also go to, Danny Carter, as he is the guy who has been down there on the ground. His attention to detail is amazing and he works very hard.”

Talk us through your journey to becoming the Park Course Head Greenkeeper?

“I started as First Assistant up at The Downs and then got promoted to Deputy Course Manager before I came down to The Park to become Head Greenkeeper.”

What are the biggest changes you’ve seen at Goodwood and how have you had to adapt?

“It has to be how popular the golf courses have become. From seeing where the course was when I first came down to The Park course to now, there is a big difference. Even since the pandemic, golf as a whole has done really well and we have to make sure that the course is at its best at all times for our members and their guests. 

“It is really nice that members are enjoying The Park course and the challenge that comes with it.”

What are the biggest changes you’ve seen at Goodwood and how have you had to adapt?

“It has to be how popular the golf courses have become. From seeing where the course was when I first came down to The Park course to now, there is a big difference. Even since the pandemic, golf as a whole has done really well and we have to make sure that the course is at its best at all times for our members and their guests. 

"One area we’ve had to adapt is our maintenance practices, essentially with the increased footfall we have to make sure our on-going maintenance programs are as effective as ever, that’s not just the Spring and Autumn maintenance but also year round.  

“It is really nice that members are enjoying The Park course, we have far more members playing the Park now than ever before as we’re closed to pay and play and have very few hotel groups now, so I really enjoy the challenge that comes with that and the inevitable increased expectations. Naturally when you receive positive feedback from members it means a great deal”

Talk to us about the biggest challenges in the Agronomy world today?

“We try and be as organic as we can, as there are certain things that we are not allowed to use. Things that we used to do 10/20 years ago are now longer allowed so we are always learning about what we can do to help the courses fight against disease and different creatures. The one thing it does mean is that we have to be all over the greens all year round, as it’s so much easier to pick up disease as a result. The other major challenge is the changing climate, we’ve had a few summers recently of bad droughts as well as some really wet winters which causes a few challenges for us that’s for sure”

What advice would you give to any greenkeepers starting out in their career today?

“Education! The apprenticeships that are out there are fantastic and help so much to guide people into the world of a greenkeeper. There is a lot to learn and these courses cover a lot of ground.”

How do you see the Park Course evolving over the coming years?

“It is just going to go from strength to strength. We’re devising a long-term vision for the Park Course, to try and elevate the course to the next level. Members would’ve seen the very early stages of this with the bunker changes on the 4th and 13th, we know the bunkers generally need improving and this is central to the overall improvements to the course. There is a lot coming up over the next few years with lots of different projects so watch this space!”