Eamonn Crawford, the links manager at Royal County Down, and his nearly 50-strong crew, are known for working at first light, particularly during the week of the Amgen Irish Open. With only the illumination from their machinery and their intimate understanding of the landscape to guide them, it’s all hands on deck even when everyone else is still in deep sleep, roughly around 4am.
The entire crew operates on a tight schedule with tight deadlines to finish the day’s initial cut and any other course-based operations before players begin their games, typically at 7am. Crawford, whose spent half a century as a greenkeeper at the Newcastle venue and plans to retire in March 2025, explains, “We start at 4am. Once the task sheets are assigned, the team sets off in the darkness with lights on max. It often looks like a spaceship descending on the fairways in the early hours.”
The necessity for efficiency necessitates that after the morning tasks are completed, the crew returns for the evening shift. After the last players have packed, the team kick-starts with catering provided by the [DP World] Tour, beginning at the first hole and gradually making their way around.
During tournament week, it’s almost a logistical operation, with machinery and mower blades highly regulated down to millimetres. Such precision is necessary not only to host a $6 million global event but to also retain the title of “Best Course in the World”.
“This week just requires additional cutting duties. The green’s cutting height, which is typically around 4mm, has been reduced to 3.75mm for this week. We often use groomers and brushes to straighten the Bent grass for a cleaner cut. Also, fairways are lowered from 10mm to 8mm allowing the ball to set neatly on top of the grass. Furthermore, tees reduced from 7mm to 6mm and approaches from 8mm to 7mm. A difference of a millimetre makes a huge impact on the golf course,” remarks an unassumingly modest Crawford.
In pursuit of an authentic links test for top-tier golfers, Crawford aims to achieve tight lies and greens from which balls can naturally run off, a characteristic he has received considerable accolades for this week. Conversations with distinguished players such as Rory McIlroy and Pádraig Harrington reveal their appreciation for the course’s firmness, with Rory commending it as the finest conditioned links and greens he has experienced this year. Crawford expresses his satisfaction with the superior state of the course and considers the commendatory remarks as an indication of their successful endeavors.
For tournament preparation and fast green speeds, Crawford has a preference for first aiming high before making necessary adjustments. He typically targets a speed of 11 on the stimpmeter, despite the Tour usually favouring a speed closer to 10.5. He notes that it is invariably simpler to adjust down to slower greens, thereby reducing strain on the grass.
Final decisions on pin placements lie with Tournament Director Miguel Vidaor and his team. However, Crawford lends his expertise before the final decision is taken. Currently, the pins are positioned on the wings, a placement pleasing to Crawford but he acknowledges that these can be swiftly altered according to daily weather predictions.
Prominent tournaments such as the Irish Open typically entice volunteer greenkeepers from across the nation. The Royal County Down’s team of 27 is supplemented by 20 volunteers from places such as Lahinch and Baltray, a support network which Crawford regards as invaluable.
The secondary course, Annesley Links, is not to be overlooked, despite the primary focus this week being on the Championship Links. Crawford emphasises the necessity of maintenance even during such busy times, as eager players are keen to return to play post-tournament.
Enabling their work is the latest cutting-edge equipment and newly built greenkeeping sheds, courtesy of a major capital investment. Besides this, a freshly installed irrigation system, completed in 2024, further enhances their capabilities.
The maintenance facilities have swelled in size to cater significantly to the team, including a kitchen, showers, changing rooms, a drying room, meeting space and office area among others. The key attraction though is the immaculate display of equipment. These machines, including wide-wheeled variants from John Deere and Toros, valued at multiple million pounds, are all prepared for their subsequent deployments. The appearance is more akin to a car dealership than a functioning groundskeeping storage facility.
This set up is radically different from Crawford’s initial tenure as greenkeeper, with the team only possessing a handful of push mowers, a single tractor and scarce other implements among a crew that barely made it to ten individuals.
“This is a completely different landscape now. I recall a time when this place was but a miniscule part, dubbed the powerhouse. There was a solitary light, icy cold, barely enough room for the one tractor and who knows what else scuttling around your feet – and look at it now.
“Before I call it a day, I wanted new storage facilities, a new watering system, and a new irrigation method; luck was on my side because I achieved all three,” Crawford quips.
The responsibility of management is shared amongst the Crawford kin; his brother Noel shares the deputy course manager role and his son Eamonn upholds an essential role in the team. As adamant golfers, their labour is undeniably influenced by a player’s perspective.
“We merely preserve this beautiful place. We derive immense satisfaction from our roles in the courses. Of course, it’s gratifying to receive top accolades, but we don’t dwell on them. My gratitude lies with my phenomenal team and this reassures us that we’re on the right path.”
Despite the long hours and unending responsibilities, Crawford remains enthusiastic for another historic week. “There’s no opportunity to put my feet up, even once I’m back home. I’m driven by adrenaline and the final responsibility always comes down to me,” he reflects.
The ultimate result? Returning to dawn starts, guided by headlights.