Discovering hidden waters at Droitwich Golf Club

Droitwich Golf Club has seen its 10th hole transformed with a recent pond discovery project. Course Manager, Billy Hayes, explained how the pond would not only add an aesthetic appeal, but also benefit the drainage on the course.

Billy started by telling us where the idea came from: “The previous year had been one of the wettest on record at Droitwich and the 10th fairway had suffered the most from the conditions, so we knew that something was needed to help with drainage in that area. On the right side of the fairway, there was what I thought to be a grass bunker however, upon further investigation, I realised it was an old pond.”

“It had been a dry summer and we had seen a lot of old drainage lines popping up around the 10th fairway. At first, we didn’t know where they led, but one afternoon I followed them to the previously mentioned grass bunker, which used to be a soakaway and had been left to grow out. I began to dig and found four lateral pipes leading into the hole. I took 30 tonnes of rubble away from the area, without knowing if it would be beneficial, and reopened all the pipes which had been blocked up with material over the years. The pond was then filling with water, which was nice to see after the challenging work.”

“In order to restore the pond, we hired a digger and it took eight hours to dig it out. A lot of the material has been taken away, but some of it we have recycled to create a feature. The pipes and clay were already in place for us to start utilising it and the project has only cost us £400 to hire out the digger. The difference it will make will be amazing.”

A recent winter drainage project on the 6th green. 100mm pipe trenched at 600mm. Backfilled with gravel and sand.

Billy went on to explain how the pond has improved drainage on the 10th and how it will enhance ecology: “We have already started to see surface water from the 10th fairway draining into the pond. I didn’t want it to be a big hole in the ground with nothing in it, so we have plans to plant wildflowers and make it a place for ecology to thrive. We want to incorporate wildlife into the area where the pond is; I know that newts and other wildlife are on the course and, hopefully, they will use the area in the future.”

“The reaction from members has been extremely positive because it has improved playing conditions. Previously, it was extremely wet and harsh to play on whereas in 2024, we had buggies out in November - which has never been possible before. It was only a little job, but it had a significant impact going into the winter.”

On the importance of the winter for small projects, Billy said: “From the end of October through to the end of March, there is a drop off in the number of golfers on the course. That helps because we get a chance to try and recover the course and introduce new projects, without too much disruption. As a golf course manager, you want to get things done nice and early before any of the horrible weather comes in. We like to do things in September and October because we can then get a quicker recovery; the cold nights, including frosts and dewy mornings, can cause complications with plans. The weather is changing… we don’t get an autumn or spring anymore; it’s pretty much summer and winter with not much in between.”

Trevor Ward (Deputy Head Greenkeeper), Tommy Hall (Apprentice), Billy Hayes (Course Manager), Mark Thomas (Greenkeeper), Nathan Slater (1st assistant Greenkeeper) and Cameron Green (Deputy Head Greenkeeper).

Being proactive

During his interview, Billy stated that he wanted to join a club that is investing: “I wanted to join a club that was going to back my ideas. The irrigation system on the course was well over thirty years old, so there was no pressure to it and very limited water sources. The club had already started an irrigation project when I joined and, thankfully, I had previously installed an irrigation system while at Leicester City FC, which meant I knew some of the ins and outs of what was needed.”

Billy also highlighted the importance of being proactive with staff, he said: “The team that we have built here is new but also ambitious; a lot of them are working on their Level 2 and 3 at the moment. I always try and support them and make them feel positive about the job because sometimes it can be a tough industry. I would hate to have an article and not touch on the hard work that the team have contributed to the course, and I have always valued the work from every team that I have been in. I hope that has been reflected throughout my career.”

7th greenside pond and approach project which took 3 days to complete.
Over 250 tonnes removed, then dug, shaped and ready for levelling to turf. 

An experienced young man

Despite Billy being in his thirties, he has racked up a lot of experience within turfcare and here is what he said about his journey so far: “I started greenkeeping the same day as my last GCSE; I was accepted at Lutterworth Golf Club in Leicestershire as a 16-year-old lad. I always wanted to work outside and use my hands, and I had an interest in the industry from an early age.”

A job had come up as an apprentice greenkeeper, which I went for and started the next day. I stayed at Lutterworth for eleven years as I worked through my turfcare education. After accumulating some achievements and winning the Level 3 Advanced Greenkeeper of the Year award at the age of 23, I was approached by Antsy Golf Club to take up the mantle of course manager. I was very young and not in a management position in work or life, but I took the opportunity and stayed there for two and a half years.”

“Then (at only 27), I took on the role as a manager at a golf centre at a hotel in Stratford Upon Avon. That was a fantastic facility with football pitches and tennis courts as well as golf. It was on my shoulders to run a big complex; the overall area was 110 hectares. It felt like I was maturing fast because of the career roles I had acquired.”

“A job then came up at Leicester City’s new training facility in Loughborough. I was the first person to be employed at Park Hill and I was tasked with building a new nine-hole course around the training ground. I knew it was a massive job working for a Premier League club, there were no pro shops or putting facilities; It was purely for the players and owner to play for leisure. It was a very different career move for me, but I learnt a lot. I had over three years at the club, and it was magical.”

Billy reflected on his desire to be back in management at a 18 hole golf course: “Droitwich Golf Club got in touch about an opportunity as course manager and I knew I wanted to get back into golf club greenkeeping. It has been a fantastic two years here; that’s now a total of eleven years as a course manager and it’s been a great experience.”