Genuinely Meticulous With Jack Darling
Name: Jack Darling
Title: Golf Course Manager
Facility: The Montgomerie, Dubai
Troon Value: Genuinely Meticulous
Q: When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up and please explain if there was a story around that.
A: From a young age I was always on the golf course with my father and Grandfather, religiously trying to improve my game so I could beat them whenever we played. When out on the course, I would always see Greenkeepers doing different tasks and would stand and watch wondering what they were doing – it interested me how they fine-tuned and detailed every aspect of the course. This then resulted in my immediate decision that I determined that there could be no better than when your involved with golf, outdoors in the nature of it all and seeing the impact your role has on a course and being proud everyday of what you have achieved because you can physically see it.
Q: What/Who got you interested in the business of agronomy and what was your first experience with the industry?
A: Throughout high school, I had the opportunity to do work experience at my local club of Letham Grange with Course Manager Gary Tough. This was my first initial opportunity to see the ins and outs of the operation and what it takes to manage a high-end facility. I was fortunate enough from there I could join the Agronomy Team on the weekends helping with many tasks and learning the trade until I was able to land my first Summer Seasonal Role at Blair Athol Golf Club with Course Manager Stuart Griffiths prior to the start of my Education. These experiences and opportunities made my passion grow for the industry and put me on a great path to achieve upon learning from established Course Managers.
Q: What has been your career progression thus far?
A: Upon completion of my Golf Course Management Diploma, I have had roles and opportunities at some great clubs in a variety of countries such as Lindo Golf (Sweden) , Loch Lomond Golf Club (Scotland), Portlethen Golf Club (Scotland). Short spells at Evian Le Bain Golf Club (France), Golf Club Crans Sur Sierre (Switzerland) which gave me LPGA and European Tour Course set up expectations, which was all part of gaining experiences and knowledge. I spent a large part of my career in Denmark at Great Northern Golf Club where I was part of the Senior Management team working closely with the Superintendent, Aidan O’Harra, learning more in-depth Agronomy and Soil Science of Cool Season Turf. From there I moved to the UAE to be a part of Troon, firstly taking up the Role as Assistant Superintendent at Dubai Hills Golf Club then Golf Course Superintendent of The Track, Meydan to now being Golf Course Manager of The Montgomerie working alongside Jordan Fairweather (Director of Agronomy) who’s knowledge and experience has been vital in continuing to learn and develop more Warm Season Turf knowledge.
Q: What do you do in your daily job or life to inspire others interested in turf management and agronomy?
A: I think communication is the most important thing to utilize. Explaining and making sure associates understand the reasoning of performing certain tasks and what benefit they will have keeps them informed and feel included in decision making. Another major factor would be social media. Using platforms such as LinkedIn and Instagram where people share their golf courses and the practices to tell their story. Seeing what other folks do is intriguing and you can take ideas and thoughts from this to use or test at your own facility. I do, however, believe that inspiration must come from within to make a career within Agronomy. The early starts and long days and constant attention to detail is not for the faint-hearted. You can inspire someone to a certain extent, but you must be driven, determined and have your own inspiration to make this your career.
Q: What is one interesting science fact about agronomy that not many people know about?
A: Turf helps purify water entering the ground because the root mass and microbes act as filters and capture and breakdown many pollutants – making it one of nature’s best filters
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