LOSSIEMOUTH MAN GRANT STEWART LANDS SUNNINGDALE POST

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Calcarsongolf@btinternet.com
Moray Golf Club member Grant Stewart was recently appointed head greenkeeper at one of the top south of England golf clubs, Sunningdale.He takes up the post at the beginning of December.
Fifteen years ago Grant, pictured, was only 16 and just left school when he started as an apprentice greenkeeper at the Moray club, Lossiemouth.
A year or two later, Neil Ballingall, the then head greenkeeper at Lossie, took Stewart with him to Fairmont St Andrews Bay where he rose to be head greenkeeper, overseeing the links for the staging of some some prestigious events, such as the Scottish Senior Open.
"Those of us he left behind at Moray Golf Club, are really pleased for him," says Malcolm MacLeman, a North District team player with +1 of a handicap and one of the leading golfers at the Lossiemouth club.
"Grant is a very popular, quiet, modest guy. Very hard working, very knowledgable and the last to blow his own trumpet. He is passionate about greenkeeping often talking about work. He has played golf since he was seven and before work took over he had a handicap of nine.
"All his mates and members at Moray wish him all the best and we are sure he will do a great job.
Neil Ballingall, course superintendent at Fairmont St Andrews tracks Grant Stewart's progress down through the years:
"When I took over as manager of the two courses at Moray Golf Club in April 1997, my first thoughts of Grant Stewart - the youngest 'loon' of my inherited squad - was that I would rather walk round him than through him, a sturdy lad indeed.
"From the start Grant was willing to do any task on the golf course without question, a credit to his family and the way he was brought up. The only draw back I found in the first few years was Grant's love for having a long lie in bed - to such an extent that I told him to take his holidays at the same time as his mother (his alarm clock) was away on hers!
"In 2001 I was appointed to the post of Golf Course Superintendent at St Andrews Bay. This was a new project with no greenstaff in place. The first person I invited down was Grant. He was the kind of person I needed, someone not scared of a challenge and someone who knew the right end of a shovel.
"I employed him in as a Grade 2 greenkeeper even though his qualifications merited a Grade 3 position but he needed the extra money to rent a place in St Andrews or he 'wisnae coming doon.' One thing that surprised me was Grant's ability to soak up information. He showed little of that as a young greenkeeper when only his ability for hard graft was evident.
"However with this 'gift' he soon moved up the Grades; from 2 to 1, then deputy to head greenkeeper of the Torrance Course and then finally Head Greenkeeper for both Kittocks and Torrance courses.
"Grant has become a very competent manager over the past five years, coping efficiently with all that has been put his way. He has been the daily driving force behind the greenkeeping maintenance programme at Fairmont St Andrews.
"His ability to man manage the large squad has been a pleasure to watch and all the staff will be grateful for the time they have spent learning from him.
"For pastures new there can't be many finer in the UK than Sunningdale, 36 holes of immaculate golf in the Berkshire countryside - home to the Sunningdale Foursomes, International Open Qualifying as well as the occasional British Seniors Open.
"I have no doubt that Grant will take this new challenge in his stride and our loss at Fairmont St Andrews will be Sunningdale's considerable gain, However, I also feel that this won't be the last we hear about the 'young loon fae Lossie' and in the not too distant future he will be master of his own destiny and at yet another notable venue. Of this I am certain.
"Apart from digging holes what has Grant done in the past 10 years? He can boast a final Open Qualilifier 2010 and three Scottish Seniors Opens 2009-10-11 as well as many other very successful events in his time in St Andrews but probably the best reference he has had recently is from Ryder Cup- winning captain Sam Torrance, himself a member at Sunningdale.
"On being told that Grant was to join him down there, Sam said: 'Well, I hope you bring your greens down with you.' Joking aside though Sam is very appreciative of the involvement Grant has had in shaping the Torrance lay-out at Fairmont - 'his golf course" - and as he says 'the best greens in Scotland bar none."
"I have been fortunate to have worked alongside Grant for over 14 years, witnessing him morph from apprentice to greenkeeper to manager and I can't think of anyone who deserves the move to Sunningdale more. It gives me immense pride to have been involved in his career.
"Everyone at Fairmont St Andrews would like to wish Grant all the very best in his new venture down south."
Last word from Moray Golf Club captain Mike O’Brien:
“Unfortunately, Grant was already gone from Moray before I found my way onto Council, so my knowledge of him is fairly limited
“All I can really say is full credit to Neil Balingall who clearly saw Grant's potential during his time here as our Courses Manager. When Neil left and head hunted Grant away to Fairmont St Andrews, I always thought that move in itself was quite an achievement, but presumably Grant still had to develop his own style and skills to fulfil his promise.
“Having started with Moray Golf Club, served his time and then gone on to hone his skills and become a true profesional in his chosen career serves as an inspiration to anyone with ambitions to climb the ladder.
“Moving out of your comfort zone can be a big step, but Grant's progress stands out as a shining example of what can be achieved.
“To be appointed at a prestigious club like Sunningdale must surely be the pinnacle of any career and I can imagine how thrilled he must be.
“It is always good to hear about any local lad doing well, but for one of our very own it is so much better.
“Well done, Grant and best wishes for the future from all at Moray Golf Club.”

+Colin Farquharson would like to thank Malcolm Macleman, Neil Ballingall and Mike O'Brien for their contributions to the above article which would not have been possible without them. The only man not quoted is Grant Stewart - but Malcolm, who instigated the article, wanted its appearance in Scottishgolfview.com to be a surprise for him and for that reason I did not contact Grant.  Once he settles in at Sunningdale, I shall get in touch with him for a follow-up article.