New Green Keeper for Colin Park Golf Course
Pat Devlin makes big changes
It is evident of late that there has been a change in quality of the greens on Colin Park – 9 Hole Golf Course. But why such a dramatic change? Surely it’s not all down to the weather putting Rose Tinted Glasses on us!
In Short it is down to the efforts of Pat Devlin whose career as a green-keeper has spanned more than 50 years. Pat’s vision and hard work has rubbed off on other green keepers and staff at Colin Park enabling the dramatic turnaround. But who is Pat Devlin, and what brought him to Colin Park?
New Green Keeper for Colin Park Golf Course
‘In June 1966 I began my career at Balmoral as assistant green-keeper & worked my way up to head green-keeper, where i spent 13 years. I played golf as much as possible with the great Fred Daly and Eddie Polland reducing my handicap to 4. Being offered a position as Course Manager at Lisburn GC was great and in 1979 we hosted the Ulster Professionals. I was then offered the position of Course Manager at Co. Louth {Baltray} in 1991. It was an easy decision as as I wanted experience on a links course. We hosted the Irish Professionals and the East of Ireland. However I stayed for only 2 years as I always missed the North. The position of course Manager came up at Belvoir Park GC and I was lucky enough to be appointed, where we hosted the Irish Close, the Irish Professionals and many other high ranking tournaments including The World Blind Championship. I have now retired from full time work and accepted part time Course Manager position at Colin Park GC which i wish to transform on a low budget – a great challenge which i totally accept and look forward to. I started on April 11th 2017’.
During the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass this week our Head Greenkeeper Pat Devlin is giving us a taste of the speed of the greens will be reaching at Sawgrass. Using a Stimpmeter at Colin park, Pat has got the greens running at 10.4. When you think the fastest they got at Augusta this year was 13, Pat will be making the members very twitchy!
https://www.facebook.com/colin.park.77/videos/1275223505927374/
Recent Changes to Course
Here are some of the changes we have made to date:
The fairways has been double cut, so there is no longer any rough, just a first cut which will speed up play and promote no hold ups. with noticeable increase in speed of play with no hold ups. The greens are now being cut 4 times a week and rolled instead of 2 which helps with speed and role. Colin Park is now perfect if you want to nip out for 9 holes with just an hour to spare.
For more information for our Golf Course and Golf Lessons please contact us by email at colinpark@colinglentrust.org or call us on 02890614115.