My New Job: Hayley Beard
Hayley Beard’s journey to becoming head greenkeeper at Mawgan Porth Golf Club hasn’t been linear, but her love of golf has been a running theme.
After a promising start as both a junior golfer and greenkeeper, Hayley stepped away from the industry to work in viticulture while raising her daughter. Returning to course maintenance rekindled her enthusiasm, and a new opportunity on the north Cornish coast has brought her back to a head greenkeeping role.
How did you start your career in greenkeeping?
I left school and completed an apprenticeship with English Landscapes in Portsmouth, who had contracted work with the Royal Navy. We looked after bowling greens, cricket fields, football pitches, everything. From there I went on to work as an apprentice at Lee on the Solent Golf Club, and once I finished there I moved to Quindell Golf Club as head greenkeeper in 2009, when I was 21.
What relationship do you have with the game of golf?
My dad was a really good golfer, and I played a lot when I was younger. I was Hampshire captain five years in a row and was selected to train with the England squad at one point. I was balancing playing golf with being a greenkeeper and still do to this day. I was a much better player when I was younger, but I still play and represented Cornwall last year.
Why did you take a break from greenkeeping and what made you want to come back?
I had a bit of a break and moved jobs when I had my daughter. Someone I knew through golf built a vineyard and kindly asked if I’d like to work there while I had a young child. I did that for a while, even going to university to get a degree in viticulture, but I knew that I didn’t want to do that forever. I really missed golf. It was over 10 years later, I got a position at St Enodoc Golf Club as an assistant greenkeeper and instantly fell in love with the job. I’m now at Mawgan Porth and I haven’t looked back since – I absolutely love it. I’ve always known that I’m a greenkeeper and a golfer at heart, and it’s here where I feel I can reach my full potential.
What excites you about your current role?
The fact it’s a heathland golf course has made my job really interesting. I previously worked on links courses when I was in Hampshire, but Mawgan Porth was something completely different and brings new challenges. Some parts of the course weren’t in the best situation when I first came, but it’s since improved quite a lot and I think that’s because I’ve been able to put into practice everything I’ve learned at my other jobs. Maintaining the course has been made so much easier too because of the really good team I’ve got around me.
How has the job gone since starting in March?
It’s going really well. I’m incredibly lucky to have a great team and work with some fantastic people who have helped me constantly. Everybody pulls together and does their bit to make sure the golfers have the best surfaces to play from.
How have your past experiences shaped the head greenkeeper you are today?
As soon as I had finished my apprenticeships, I knew I wanted to do this full time. Sometimes you make life choices which can make you change direction, but I’ve kept going and now I’m really excited for what the future holds. I’ve worked at some excellent courses across the years with some talented greenkeepers whose high expectations have helped me to hold myself to high standards.
What does the future hold for Mawgan Porth Golf Club?
We’ve started hosting some county events now, and I’d love to see us host some more big ones in the future. If I could host The Masters here, I would! To be able to put Mawgan on the map and have people say, ‘Yeah, that’s a really nice course’, is something I’d love to see in the future.
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