"No One Is Too Proud to Go the Extra Mile When Needed" |
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A Visit to the Greenkeepers of Golfclub Zeewolde
The greenkeeping team of Golfclub Zeewolde consists of ten people—no luxury on a 120-hectare golf course. Collegiality and team spirit define this group. These are values that head greenkeeper Christian Nueboer holds in high regard. "Together you can achieve more," he says.
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The team's mood is cheerful during the interview, just like Nueboer's dog Daisy, who has been a fixture at the workplace since the COVID pandemic and always seems to be wagging her tail. "She listens well and knows to stay on the property." That day, there's even cake to celebrate a high ranking in the "facilities" category on the Leading Courses platform. The cake, a gift from the club manager, is a great example of the close bonds at this thriving club. There has been substantial investment—not just in equipment, but also in a modern facility with a spacious canteen and a personal locker for each greenkeeper. Nueboer: "I think it's important that everything is well organized, and that pays off. No one is too proud to go the extra mile when needed."
Of the original team that he once led as the youngest head greenkeeper in the Netherlands, three members remain. The others were hired by Nueboer in recent years, including 18-year-old Jasper Brantsma. "I've been a junior member here for four years and just started as a greenkeeper. I saw a job opening and sent Christian a message. We had a great interview, and so far I really like the work." Brantsma combines his part-time greenkeeping job with his own photography and video business. "The only downside is that I have to get up really early to commute from Vaassen." As a talented golfer, he hopes to reduce his handicap from five to zero.
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"The team atmosphere is great, and that helps with long workdays."
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Mehmet Aydin is in his third year at Golfclub Zeewolde. The 44-year-old has been a greenkeeper for nearly 25 years. "I came to the Netherlands in 2000. My father worked at a rose nursery, and the owner was also a board member at Almeerderhout. That's how I got into the profession." Two years ago, he transferred to Zeewolde to be closer to home. He loves working outdoors and appreciates the extra hours during the season, allowing him to spend longer winters in Turkey with his family. His wife and two daughters still live there. This temporary separation is, as he says, "a bitter pill to swallow." "The team atmosphere is great; that certainly helps with long workdays."
Forestry Work
Wilco Roskam has been the second-in-command for three years and has worked at Zeewolde for twelve. His collaboration with Nueboer is seamless—they understand each other with just a few words. Nueboer: "I can trust him blindly. That's very valuable." The 36-year-old trained in horticulture in Velp and first worked for a contractor, then as a greenkeeper in Nunspeet. In Zeewolde, he helps keep the planning on track and enjoys forestry work. This past winter, part of the course's forest was tackled. A stack of logs near the workshop serves as evidence. "We've divided the course into three zones for forestry work to make it manageable and to minimize disruption for players."
Remarkably, many of the trees on the course were planted 40 years ago by 67-year-old colleague Henk Boesveld. "I worked for the IJsselmeerpolders Authority back then. Later, I worked with cattle, collecting milk samples." After a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, he switched to greenkeeping, where his forestry experience was valuable. Though he's of retirement age, he's happy to keep going. "I have great colleagues and enjoyable work," he says. "I especially enjoy sharpening the reels!"
Friendly Competitions
The greenkeepers not only maintain the course—they also play it. They regularly compete for the BB Cup, named after a former manager. Last year, Thomas Uijttewaal won. The 30-year-old greenkeeper joined Zeewolde in 2020 after working as a chef at Wageningen University. "I became a greenkeeper during the COVID lockdown. It was supposed to be temporary, but I really enjoy the work and stayed." His culinary talents shine once a year when he makes spring rolls for the team on his February birthday. He's completed his greenkeeping training and focuses on irrigation. "With this dry spring, getting the settings right is a challenge." The course lies on fertile clay soil, making it too wet in winter. Thanks to sand applications, that problem is under control. "The path edges are still too wet though. We'll tackle that this year by applying more sand," says Nueboer during a tour of the site.
Father
Thirty-three-year-old Wilco Boesveld has been on the team since February. He previously worked three years as a seasonal greenkeeper at the same course. After stints at Het Rijk van Nunspeet, Almeerderhout, and De Goyer, he returned to where it all started. "I live in Zeewolde, so I won't find a job closer to home. The course is still developing, and I'm happy to contribute. It's especially nice to be on the same team as my father."
Musical Greenkeeper
His colleague Geert de Vries, seven years younger, works part-time as a greenkeeper and part-time as a freelance musician. "It's ideal to work outdoors for three days a week. The atmosphere here is great." He helped out during school holidays and internships while studying landscaping. The musical greenkeeper graduated from Abbey Road Institute, plays several instruments, and hopes to become a composer for media like film. "Right now I mostly do audio engineering as a freelancer."
Danny Sybesma (35) entered the greenkeeping profession thanks to his brother's holiday job. "He told me: this is something for you." In hindsight, he was right—Sybesma has now been a greenkeeper for 15 years. He switched from working at a campsite to the golf course. "Campsite work became monotonous, and I wanted something new. I learned most of the trade on the job." He's a valuable member of the Zeewolde team. "Always cheerful and never sick," says Nueboer.
Mechanical Skills
Wim van Olst joined the parkland course two years ago after twenty years in the drainage industry. A double neck hernia forced a career change. After surgery and a year of rehab, he saw the greenkeeper job ad and applied right away. "I already knew the course from my previous work flushing the pipes here." He enjoys the job variety and will finish his greenkeeping course this year. "In my free time, I love tinkering with machines. Thanks to my technical background, I now manage the workshop and maintain all the equipment. I really enjoy it!"
"Youngest Head Greenkeeper in the Netherlands"
The man who in 2016 was the youngest head greenkeeper in the Netherlands is now 33. After high school, Nueboer began a degree in engineering in Zwolle but didn't complete it. "I missed the practical work and became a greenkeeper during a gap year. I loved it. It's so much more than raking bunkers and mowing grass. As head greenkeeper, every day is different. One day you're defending a budget, the next you're in muddy boots." He was promoted quickly—just three quarters of a year as second-in-command before being asked to lead. "I had the qualifications, but I was only 23—it was nerve-wracking. The team really supported me. That experience taught me the importance of a strong team. You have to trust each other completely."
Good Communication
That trust is alive and well in Zeewolde. The greenkeepers work independently, thanks in part to excellent communication. "If I've learned one thing over the years, it's that communicating with members, the course committee, and the board is crucial," says Nueboer, showing videos of course work on his phone. It helps explain what the greenkeepers do and why. Most of the course work is handled in-house thanks to staff and a well-equipped fleet. They even have their own grinding machines, which Henk Boesveld happily operates.
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"We recently celebrated our 40th anniversary. But there's still a lot of work to do on this young course."
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"We recently celebrated our 40th anniversary. But this course is still very much evolving," says Nueboer. "It's wonderful to help shape that." Recent projects include upgrading the irrigation system, renovating tees, and creating more wildflower beds along the fairways. "It looked stunning last season and was well received. We plan to expand this." Future plans include renovating the shed, improving paths and fencing at the driving range, and building an entirely new clubhouse. The club continues to invest, including in automation and electric equipment for the greenkeepers.
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"Nice work on the tee boxes, guys!"
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With part of the mowing work now automated, the greenkeepers have more time to further improve course quality. Who knows—they might climb even higher in the Leading Courses rankings. A member loudly praises their work after a group photo: "Nice work on the tee boxes, guys!" Nueboer: "This course is always busy. That can be challenging for us, but also fun and social. The club is really the driving force here." The greenkeepers feel completely at home. Their camaraderie is strengthened by games of golf, matches with nearby teams, BBQs, and snacks and drinks after work.
This article was first published on 30 April 2025 on the Greenkeeper website.
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