When the boat comes in

Jun 22 2008 By Euan Mclean

WHEN greenkeeper David Cole took up his dream job looking after Loch Lomond Golf Club's lush fairways he expected exciting challenges ahead.

But hauling a runaway speedboat out of a lochside bunker was certainly not one of them.

That bizarre sight was one of the first problems he faced following his promotion to the top job of course superintendent last month.

Chances are it will remain his strangest day at the office but he's not counting on it. Not when more than 80,000 people are preparing to descend on his pristine patch for one hectic week as the Barclays Scottish Open tees off from July 10-13.

You can never account for the unpredictability of people, the weather or those freak moments life throws at you from time to time.

All Cole and his team can do is put in 60-hour weeks to prepare the course for it's ultimate annual examination from the best players in the world - and the unforeseen if and when it happens.

He smiled: "I'll never forget that Sunday afternoon when I'd just got home and was ready to relax in the garden when the phone rang.

"It was Ian at the front of house, who never calls me unless there's something wrong, so I was already expecting a problem.

"But I'd never have imagined hearing, 'We've just had a boat fly into the bunker on number six!'

"I thought it was a wind-up but sure enough when I got back to the club there it was in the bunker.

"Apparently the guy driving hit a wave the wrong way, knocking him out the boat which then turned and went skiting 20 yards up the shore. If it hadn't hit the slope it would have probably cleared the bunker and kept going!

"So we had an RAF helicopter here, the coastguard and three police cars all for this one boat.

"We flipped it up and pushed it back into the water and amazingly there was no damage to the course.

"We're lucky it didn't go across a green or fairway - and luckier nobody was standing in the bunker.

"The poor guy thrown out of the boat had to swim to the shore where he was met by a member - he was apologetic and very embarrassed.

"That's certainly the strangest day at the office so far." Hopefully on tournament week the boats will stay in the loch because the greens staff have more than enough to keep them busy.

Cole's average day during the tournament starts at 4am and ends at 10pm as he seeks to ensure Loch Lomond boasts the high standards for which it is loved by stars such as Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els.

It's a demand he is accustomed to after 10 years working as deputy to Ken Siems who left last month.

Now his first tournament in charge brings new pressures as any criticism of the course will ultimately be pointed at him.

While it's important to listen to grumbles he also realises a player's fondness for a layout often depends on how well he played that day.

David said: "I have the best job in the world but with that comes the added pressure that the buck now stops withmeand the pros will expect everything to be perfect.

"However due to the exclusivity of our membership every day has to be like that to the greens staff.

"We have American members who only travel here once a year so the standard always has to be high.

"I listen to what the players say during the tournament although if there are complaints you must keep them in perspective.

"There are so many opinions and players don't always appreciate the challenges presented by various climates on tour."