Morlais Castle: Big Results with a Small Team

As head greenkeeper at Morlais Castle Golf Club in Merthyr Tydfil, Stewart Freeman leads a crew that, at its peak, consists of just four members. And yet, despite the challenges of limited staffing and a modest budget, the club claimed the BIGGA Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year Award – a testament to years of careful improvement and a frantic, focused final push to deliver a stage fit for the Welsh Team Championship. “It was an honour to win it,” said Stewart. “All the hard work over the years made it worth it. After 40 years of learning from experienced head greenkeepers and just gathering knowledge, it meant a lot.”

A life in the landscape

Stewart’s journey into greenkeeping began almost by accident but was grounded in a love of the outdoors from an early age. “My dad became a head gardener at a hotel in South Devon, and from the age of 11, I used to go with him,” he recalled. “That hotel had a par-3, 9-hole golf course, and that’s how I got into golf. I used to help cut a bit of grass, drive the odd tractor, and I stayed involved until I moved into farming.”

By the age of 19, he’d stepped into his first formal greenkeeping role at the Thurlestone Golf Club in South Devon. That was back in April 1985, marking the start of a career now spanning more than four decades. “I’d held the head greenkeeper role before at Thurlestone for about 10 years, but things started to change – more staff, different responsibilities – so I stepped down,” he explained. After a spell as assistant to long-time colleague Victor Dyer at a nearby par3 course, Stewart decided it was time for a fresh challenge. “In 2018, I fancied a change and applied to come up here to Morlais just as a greenkeeper. During the Covid period the position of head greenkeeper became available and I was offered it.”

Working within limits 

With tight budgets and minimal staffing, Stewart set about making the most of the resources at his disposal. What followed was a steady transformation of the course. “It was really about staying on top of cutting and looking after the greens. They’d been a bit neglected. I got straight into it, started cutting, spiking them, getting more air into them. I’ve always worked on a limited budget here in Wales, so I’ve had to work with what the club could give me.”

Creative thinking became a hallmark of Stewart’s approach. “We just kept going, patching up, maintaining, adjusting the way we cut the fairways. I started cutting them in half-and-half patterns to make things more manageable.” That approach was especially important given the size of the team. “At the time, I only had three staff,” he said. “Right now, we’ve got two full-time, and two part-time though these are only for the summer period, so I’m the only full-time greenkeeper during the winter months.”

Rising to the occasion

When Morlais Castle was awarded the honour of hosting the 2024 Welsh Team Championship, it was the result of years of improvement. But turning that opportunity into a successful reality was an altogether different challenge. “We had known we were to host the championships for a few years in advance,” said Stewart. “At the time, it felt manageable and we just carried on as normal. But then we started building new tees and a new buggy path around the back of the 1st and 2nd. We started just before Christmas, and then the weather turned bad. That delayed us a lot. We were still working on it the week before the championship.”

Despite the delays, Stewart and his team, supported by a committed group of volunteers, kept pushing forward. “It all creeps up on you – you think it’s months away, then suddenly it’s next month, then next week. But we had regular team meetings, we talked everything through. My brain is always planning ahead. If the weather changes, I just adapt.”

One of the unlikely heroes of the championship preparation was Stewart’s wife, Tessa. “I even had to get my wife involved – she’s fully trained now,” he laughed. “She can mow fairways, cut tees, change holes, rake bunkers – she’s brilliant. During the championships, we returned in the evenings to cut tees, fairways and some rough, tidy up the course and check for litter. We were in early to change holes for that day and prepare the course for the day’s play. All in all, it was a very busy period for our small team.” That dedication paid off. Feedback from players, visitors and fellow professionals was glowing. “We had lots of positive feedback, especially from other local clubs. I got asked so many times if I’d move and be their greenkeeper. It was quite flattering. Sometimes I had to back off a bit, especially at social events in the evenings, because everyone was coming up to me!”

Looking ahead

Even after the event, Stewart’s momentum hasn’t slowed. Infrastructure continues to improve thanks to a little bit of luck and a lot of initiative. “We’ve made significant improvements to the buggy paths and are continuing this project,” he said. Another pressing concern is water usage. With Morlais Castle reliant on mains supply, the club are seeking long-term solutions. “We use mains water, but I try to limit it as it’s expensive, and I don’t want to overwater,” he explained. “We are looking to find a more sustainable solution to our water supply issues such as borehole and rainwater capture schemes.”

A career to be proud of

For Stewart, greenkeeping is more than just a job – it’s a way of life. And his advice to the next generation reflects the wisdom of someone who has seen it all. “If you like being outdoors and you’re okay with early starts, it’s a great career,” he enthused. “The key is to get your head down, go to college, learn the trade. Find a good placement, somewhere with a friendly team like we have here. That makes a big difference. If you’re keen, go for it.”

With a major award under his belt and Morlais Castle enjoying increased footfall and praise, Stewart is rightly proud, but he remains humble. “Like anyone, if I had more money, I could do more,” he conceded. “But with what I’ve got, both budget and staff, I do the best I can. You just have to be careful and efficient. Having limited resources doesn’t mean you should put a limit on your standards.”