Brooke - no nonsense

So times move on and so do I. . . . . I have started a new job as Golf Club Manager at Borrowdale Brooke in Harare.

This was the only job I had applied for in the last 10 months or so, and I was truly blessed to be appointed. I have quite a lot to learn - especially in Golf Administration, but hopefully it will only be a couple of months before I am playing myself regularly, and all is running smoothly.

The Brooke is a beautiful Golf Club - this is the scene that welcomes me to work every morning at 06.30 when I arrive:

This might sound like an early start - especially so considering we are into winter now, and the sun only rises at 06.00 - but our Green-keeping staff have an even earlier kick-off - our greens have been attended and are ready to play golf on by 05.30 in the morning, having been brushed of dew, and then mown, and the pin position changed for the day.

Talking of winter starting, I shall try next week to publish a photo of me on my motorbike at 05.30 (I have a 25 minute ride to work in the mornings) as I genuinely look like the abominable snowman in winter clothes!Very funny, with scarves and gloves and leather jacket.

But what a beautiful course! Our intention is to offer the prime golfing experience in Zimbabwe, and a lot of attention is paid to detail. This, for example, is the arrangement in our entrance foyer - complete with fresh orchids . . . .

Of course we are busy most week-ends, and today - being a Friday, we are hosting about 150 rounds of golf, and then over the next 2 days we have the Club Championships, with about 120 players. We also have a wedding tomorrow, in addition to the Club Champs, so I am going to be a busy tortoise!

Lots of golf carts around the place, and the sun shines the whole day with the gentle 'click' of golf club on golf ball in the background the whole time. I think I'm going to be happy here!

The veranda is busy, and folk catch a quick snack between 'nines'.

We have a simple but tasty menu, and mostly it is folk stopping by and grabbing a bit to eat halfway round. Then the tables are set up so that they overlook the 9th and 18th greens - much cheering and jeering when friends finish their rounds! The section you can see in the background is the practice putting green

And then there is the 'Proshop', where all golfing accessories are sold. Apologies for the very poor picture quality, but I think you get the idea.

The Bar is also busy - and I had to wait quite a while before I could take a picture without drinkers in it! Unfortunately some idiot chose that exact moment to take a photograph from the other side, but he looked quite intimidating, so I quietly left . . . .

You will also notice the tree in the background which kept getting stolen, so they had to wrap it in barbed wire!

Have a great day one and all!

Cheers