A GREENKEEPER'S lot can be a tough one at times - they spend hundreds of man hours preparing a course only for golfers to come along and hack great chunks out of it.

Unreplaced divots, gaping pitchmarks, trolley tracks around green aprons, - the scars of a golfing round can be cruel on a greenkeeper.

Bruce Mytton, head greenkeeper at Worcester Golf and Country Club's, Boughton Park, has seen it all in his time during 22 years and thousands and thousands of rounds.

But apart from a pet hate of trolleys being dragged over every conceivable part of the course ("some people would take them to bed if they could") he remains immune to the idiosyncrasies of golfers.

Bruce is schooled in the old ways, eschewing modern computerised methods to keep historic Boughton Park in tip-top condition, relying instead on instinct and knowledge picked up from years of experience.

The 61-year-old head greenkeeper, who takes great pride in maintaining the course, has a rich heritage to live up to.

Boughton Park was one of the last six designed by Dr Alistair Mackenzie, whose credits also include the famous Augusta course in Georgia as well as Royal Melbourne and Cypress Point in California.

"I'm fortunate to have a course of this standard," said Bruce.

He was a former soldier in the Worcestershire Regiment and served under head greenkeepers, Bill Bowcott and Hector James before taking the helm in 1989.

He is a quiet and unassuming character around the 140-acre course but the carefully manicured greens and sculpted fairways are testimony to the work of Bruce and his five staff.

Much like a farmer, Bruce's work is dictated by the weather and he always keeps something indoors to occupy wet days when outside work is impossible.

He uses the distant Malvern Hills as a weather barometer and if they appear close then he knows rain is on its way.

"If they appear right up close it's best to take a Mac with you," he said.

General greenkeeping duties include changing the tee blocks, cutting the greens, fairways, tees and rough as well as building new greens when required.

"When I first came here a lot was done by hand and walking behind a mower but now we have tractor machines," he said.

"In the old days it took forever but in the last 15 years greenkeeping machinery has advanced so much."

One of the biggest problems for greenkeepers is disease on the greens.

"It's a constant headache and what I have not been able to fathom yet is why disease only affects the green and never the apron," he said.

Bruce has no formal training but has picked up the secrets of the trade through trial and error.

"I believe in the David Bellamy way of getting your hands dirty and stuck in the mud, that's how I have picked things up," he said.

"Modern greenkeepers have got everything on computer but I've got it all in my head.

"I haven't been to college but my number two, Andrew Barber, is a qualified course manager and I pick up one or two things from him.

"I like mixing in with the lads and if it is a toilet that needs cleaning I will do it."