'I won Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year'
Nick Machin won Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year in 2017
Victory for Toro Student Greenkeeper 2017 Nick Machin came just three years after he packed in his job at a bottle factory.
The business was based in an old cow shed, there were no windows, and Nick decided to make a change.
“I was on a night shift and I thought, ‘what’s going on with my life?’” said Nick, 31, who was crowned the 29th Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year last September. “I have always been someone who worked hard and gave it a hundred per cent, which is something my parents instilled in me. I knew I had the potential to make something of myself, it was just a case of getting my foot in the door in a profession I genuinely loved.”
Click here to apply for the 2018 Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year awards.
Originally from Sandwich in Kent, Nick moved to Deal, where he works at Royal Cinque Ports with Course Manager James Bledge, who nominated him for this year’s award.
For a 29-year-old who had just taken on a mortgage, quitting his full-time job to take up a seasonal role as a greenkeeper was a big risk.
“I didn’t know if it was going to work,” said Nick. “But I didn’t hesitate because I knew it could lead to a career that I would love.
“The most important thing for me was to be involved in an industry that was a passion. I would give up a hundred-grand a year job to be a greenkeeper. Being outdoors is a massive plus, but so is being involved in a team that’s hugely ambitious and is always trying to drive themselves forward, and that makes Royal Cinque Ports a pretty exciting place to be.”
Nick credited James Bledge as a major influence on his success, explaining how his passion for education encourages the members of the team to continue their own professional development.
Nick’s new career has led to some sacrifices, such as the amount of time he is able to spend with his girlfriend, despite living together.
“She is a primary school teacher,” Nick explained. “And so, in our daily life I go to work really early and she comes back at 6pm and is then working until 9pm. But we are both very career-driven and passionate about what we do, which means we are always encouraging each other to succeed. She’s over the moon for me.”
Nick alongside the other Toro Student Greenkeeper and Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year finalists
How did you prepare for the final?
“The build-up was the hardest bit actually. I was doing masses of work and putting a lot of pressure on myself. It’s funny, it was Sunday night and I read a quote from Jimmy Heritage, who won last year. He said beforehand he had put pressure on himself, and he decided ‘you know what, I’m just going to do my best’. Reading that was like a lightbulb going on in my head. Don’t get me wrong though, I was ridiculously nervous.”
The final begins with a debate on Monday evening. How did you feel that went?
“My mind went blank before we started, but as soon as the first question came up, it seemed to focus my mind.
“I knew I got off to a good start and I thought the debate went really well for me. You obviously got a few questions that you don’t know the answer to, but preparing yourself well and trying to learn as much as you can before you get here gives you a good platform to work from.
“The standard was really good and I honestly thought anyone could win and that they could represent BIGGA and Toro as well as I can, I was just lucky to get the nod.
How did you feel as Stuart Green prepared to announce the winner?
“My head felt like it was going to explode, there was so much anticipation. I knew I had a good chance, but at the end of the day you never know what the judges are thinking.
“When your name is read out it’s almost a sense of ‘oh my God, what have I just achieved?’ The best way of describing it is to say I was proud of myself.”
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