Building a better life thanks to a greenkeeping career switch
A career change to greenkeeping has given Josh Greenley a new lease of life – and more precious time with his young son.
The Gog Magog apprentice was working in the building trade, where the hours meant missing out on many of the joys of fatherhood.
“I was going to work before my lad was waking up and coming home as he was going to bed,” said Josh. “I wasn’t really seeing him, and it was disheartening. I didn’t want to miss those moments of him growing up.”
He made the bold decision to step away from a career that had consumed 14 years of his life.
He had been offered the chance to do a couple of months’ work at Cambridge Country Club by his friend Simon Winters, the head greenkeeper there. It was a very appealing offer.
“I love playing golf and I had this opportunity to go and work in golf, and I just thought, ‘I’m going to do it’,” he said. “I quit my job and that was it – I was away, and I’ve never looked back. The lifestyle is so much better.”
Josh’s son turns three in September and will soon be at school. Thanks to the more favourable hours, Josh will be able to pick him up.
“You can’t put a price on that,” he said. “You can always earn money, but you can’t get back time you’ve lost.”
His previous work experience is not going to waste either.
“Coming from the building trade, I’ve got a fine eye for detail, and that has helped me with the transition into greenkeeping,” he said. “I was thrown in at the deep end – cutting greens on my third day – and I progressed quickly. It made me realise how much more there is to this industry.”
He is enjoying the educational side of things and has already landed a place on the BMW PGA Championship Volunteer programme this year.
“Going back into education has really benefited me, and I feel like I’m in a better place to learn,” he said. “I want to get my Level 2, then my Level 3 and see how far I can go. I’m going to volunteer at big events and jump on everything I can. It feels like the world’s my oyster at the minute because I can put myself forward for everything, and I will because I genuinely love it.”
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