The difference one man can make

In his role of Head Greenkeeper, Sam worked with Oliver Pate at Worksop Golf Club and Chris Szoradi at Meltham Golf Club and is credited by both for instilling a level of passion, positivity, commitment, and energy into them that saw them in the finals of the most prestigious industry awards at the same time.

Sam, who is now working in golf course construction and renovation for Profusion Environmental, says: “I’m proud to have played a part in Chris and Oliver’s success. I am in no way trying to claim I’m responsible for their accolades, that is strictly down to each of them, their personalities, work ethic, being willing to take a risk and being open to opportunities. To have a positive influence on anyone is good but when it’s two lads who are so deserving of the success makes it even more pleasing.”

Both employers and tutors can endorse a Toro Awards entrant, and previously tutors outweighed employers in this respect. However, this has changed in recent years, and we wondered if Sam had any thoughts on why this might be.

“You learn so much about this job on a day-to-day basis from those who you work with. Golf course management is a site-specific job and technology advances quickly, so it’s important to be willing to listen and learn to soak up the practical side of things and benefit from the experience of others in that real-world, real-time situation. Employers get to see this learning and can equally see the potential in someone.”

Sam was fortunate that during the early years of his career he had good role models to look up to who invested time and effort in him. By his own admission he might not have lasted in the industry or developed the enthusiasm for the job he has or made it to the position of Head Greenkeeper without them. It’s why he’s been so generous with his time and expertise.

Chris says working with Sam “taught me the value of hard work and the importance of maintaining high standards in everything I do. He taught me strong leadership skills, the foundations of good greenkeeping practices, and how teamwork plays a vital role in achieving success.

“His passion for greenkeeping is clear and showed me what it means to truly love the work. He created an environment where we all gave our best. I’m truly grateful for the example he set and the lessons he shared, both in work and in life.”

Chris confirms Sam was influential in his application to the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards: “Sam encouraged me to apply, knowing how transformative even reaching the finals would be for my career. Throughout my journey, he has been a constant source of support and guidance, offering his help in any way he could. His encouragement gave me an extra boost of confidence.”

Sam says it’s important to go with your gut when making recruitment decisions, this was especially true with Chris: “We interviewed Chris for an apprentice position as a shy and very nervous 16-year-old. It was a gut feeling to select him for the position but within a few days we knew it was the right one. Chris’s enthusiasm soon became apparent, and we watched him grow up in front of our eyes. His confidence rocketed and his humour and personality shone through as he started thriving at work and college.”

Oliver had a similar experience working with Sam and also coincidentally went to the same college – Askham Bryan – as Sam! He says: “Sam and I started work at Worksop Golf Club about a month apart and he quickly became more than just a boss, it was like we’d known each other for ages. I realise you get out what you put in, but he went over and above, showing faith and guiding me. As a 35-year-old (36 now) chasing my tail in the greenkeeping sense, Sam gave me the opportunity to make up for lost time, as well as the confidence to believe in myself.

“He’s opened doors for me and as far as what I learnt from him, the main one would be not letting adversity get you down. If you do everything with a smile on your face and with a good attitude, then positive things will happen, even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time.”

Sam says, “The thing I first became aware of with Oliver was his enthusiasm for the job and ambitions for his long-term career. His readiness to work and learn was relentless, he constantly asked questions and always wanted to try something new and be part of what we were aiming to do as a club. Not everyone matches my passion and enthusiasm levels, but Oliver certainly does.”

Sam is ever humble, when asked if he was aware of the impact he made on Chris and Oliver he says:  “I kept in touch with them both since working with them so yes to an extent, but it wasn’t until I saw that out of the five finalists for the Greenkeeper of the Year Award two of them had worked under me, I realised that’s a pretty good ratio!”

In summary, Sam says, “I think investing time is the least you can do for your staff if they are willing to work hard and go the extra mile for you. It must work both ways, if you are demanding more from them, you have to give something back. Sometimes rewarding people financially isn’t possible so you have to find other ways to demonstrate your appreciation and sometimes those things will be worth more in the long run.”

We couldn’t agree more. As Chris and Oliver embark on the next stages on their greenkeeping careers with Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards 2025 finalists on their CVs, we predict big things!