Rick Ryland
Rainham
Summary
A highly motivated and enthusiastic individual, with a positive attitude towards work. I am well organised, a great team player and motivator but I am equally motivated working alone. I enjoy a challenging environment and am always willing to take on new tasks. I am reliable and extremely hard working. I thrive in pressurised situations and am adept at meeting deadlines. I am conscientious in my approach to my role, and that of achieving high standards of performance, I am still highly motivated and ambitious to enhance my skills as well as learn new techniques. My career in Greenkeeping and as a Premier League Groundsman spans 22 years and in this time, I have amassed vast experience of different golf course types, tournament preparation, elite level pitches and golf course construction. I have a strong understanding of health & safety standards and safe practices of which I adhere to on a daily basis. Lastly, I have over 12 years’ experience in a Deputy managerial role.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Greenkeeper
Upminster Golf & Bowls Club
Upminster
10.2022 - Current
- My 3 years at Upminster have been some of my most enjoyable of my career so far
- I have been heavily involved in the preparation and execution of multiple projects since joining
- These include:
- The planning and construction of the 18th Tee regeneration
- The 10th Tee & Halfway House Regeneration
- The 4th Tee regeneration
- Winter Tee Mat construction
- Pathway overhauls
- Various wooded area clearance/thinning/river exposure
- Drainage improvements to the lower holes
- Maintenance and renovations of the Bowls Green
- Multiple Greens renovations
- Spraying
- Tree planting projects
- This is alongside the general maintenance of our high Golf Course standards
- I also completed a 15-week Mechanical Maintenance course over the winter 2023/24 and have since been assisting with machinery maintenance, repairs when possible and yearly servicing
- I have also assisted Andy with the record keeping of our fleet
Deputy Head Course Manager
The Warren Golf & Country Club
Woodham Water
08.2022 - 10.2022
- My time at The Warren GC was short due to the sudden opportunity to come to Upminster GC
- I felt that Upminster was a better standard and more in keeping with the direction I wanted my career to go
- In my brief time at the club, I worked closely with the Head Greenkeeper to overhaul the Greenkeeping team and recruit new members, organising and assisting with interviews
- Assisting to manage the current team on a daily basis during a particularly busy time having a new irrigation system fitted as well as the maintenance of high standards of the 36 holes
Skilled Premier League Groundsman
London Stadium 185
Stratford
07.2021 - 08.2022
- Company Overview: (West Ham United)
- Pitch renovations
- Desso sewing
- Full Premier League match day procedures
- Spraying
- Fertilising
- Overseeding
- Pitch marking
- Other events such as Rugby, Athletic, concerts and other corporate events
- Maintenance of Community pitch
- Pitch maintenance
- Use and maintenance of machinery
- Cutting the pitch with Honda rotary mowers and Dennis cylinder mowers
- String lines
- Helping with pitch lights & cables
- Drag brushing
- Divoting and pregerm
- (West Ham United)
Part-time match day Groundsman
London Stadium 185
Stratford
02.2019 - 07.2021
- Company Overview: (West Ham United)
- Pitch maintenance on match days & training days plus other events such as Rugby & Athletics
- Use and maintenance of machinery
- Cutting the pitch with Honda rotary mowers and Dennis cylinder mowers
- String lines
- Helping with pitch lights & cables
- Drag brushing
- Divoting and pregerm
- (West Ham United)
Deputy Course Manager
Ingrebourne Links Golf & Country Club
Rainham
10.2016 - 07.2021
- Working closely alongside the course manager, The General Manager & the course Architect helping to oversee the course build & maintenance as well as managing, supervising & motivating the team of 10 Greenkeepers on a daily basis
- Helping to maintain the company’s high standards & expectations
- Assisting the Course Manager closely in meeting strict deadlines for each opening phase
- Maintenance, servicing and use of various machinery and equipment
- All aspects of greenkeeping listed below
- Good understanding of a vast Toro NSN wall to wall irrigation system
- Spraying (Knapsack, pedestrian & ride on)
Deputy Head Greenkeeper
The Wildernesse Club
Sevenoaks
05.2014 - 10.2016
- All aspects of Greenkeeping including-
- Mowing (Hand & Machine)
- Hole Changing, basically & via pin sheets
- Course maintenance, dewing, raking bunkers, strimming, Blowing etc
- Tractor work, scarifying, wiedenmann tining, blowing, brushing
- Use of pedestrian maintenance machines, graden, air 2 G 2 air injector
- Spraying
- Fertilizing
- General mechanical work
- Course renovations, building bunkers, tees etc
- Experience of tournament golf, The Open Regional Qualifier 2015/2016 plus various club tournaments
- Forestry
- Good irrigation knowledge
- Working closely with the course manager with the running of a team of 12
- Obtained my Chainsaw Certification
Assistant Greenkeeper/Deputy Head Greenkeeper
Austin Lodge Golf Course
Kent
11.2005 - 05.2014
- All of the above, plus from 2009 I was the Deputy Head GK where I was responsible for the day to day running of the course in the Head GK’s absence
- This role included –
- Daily organisation of the team
- Liaising with senior management
- Meetings & all my duties as a part of the Greenkeeping team
Apprentice Greenkeeper/Assistant Greenkeeper
Woodlands Manor Golf Course
Kent
05.2003 - 11.2005
- At this club I learned the basics as a Greenkeeper and ended up as an assistant GK, my role included-
- Mowing
- Bunkers
- Strimming
- Maintenance
- Holes
Education
NVQ Level 3 - Amenity Horticulture
Hadlow College
01.2008
NVQ Level 2 - Amenity Horticulture
Hadlow College
01.2005
GCSE - Mathematics, English, History, Geography, Physical Education, Double Science, Religious Education
Woolwich Polytechnic School
01.1997
References
Available on request.
Courses And Licenses
- PA1, PA2, PA6 Spraying licences
- CS30/31 Chainsaw licences
- City & Guilds Basic Mechanics Certificate
- Wood Chipper licence
- Jacobsen machinery maintenance course
- Tractor efficiency training
- Various health & safety legislation courses
- Manual Handling
- Fire safety
- Advance First Aider (Valid up to summer 2027)
- Defibrillator trained
Timeline
Assistant Greenkeeper
Upminster Golf & Bowls Club
10.2022 - Current
Deputy Head Course Manager
The Warren Golf & Country Club
08.2022 - 10.2022
Skilled Premier League Groundsman
London Stadium 185
07.2021 - 08.2022
Part-time match day Groundsman
London Stadium 185
02.2019 - 07.2021
Deputy Course Manager
Ingrebourne Links Golf & Country Club
10.2016 - 07.2021
Deputy Head Greenkeeper
The Wildernesse Club
05.2014 - 10.2016
Assistant Greenkeeper/Deputy Head Greenkeeper
Austin Lodge Golf Course
11.2005 - 05.2014
Apprentice Greenkeeper/Assistant Greenkeeper
Woodlands Manor Golf Course
05.2003 - 11.2005
NVQ Level 3 - Amenity Horticulture
Hadlow College
NVQ Level 2 - Amenity Horticulture
Hadlow College
GCSE - Mathematics, English, History, Geography, Physical Education, Double Science, Religious Education
Woolwich Polytechnic School