Golf

Michaels scientific approach to Greenkeeping has enabled him to take Farleigh to the next level. Working closely with John Jacobs Associates Michael and the team go on to trial ground breaking new technology on the golf course, centered around the industry first in Benonite bunker lining hoping to combat the common problem of bunker contamination.

His passion for the game does not stop there; he actively encourage the conservation of wildlife on our courses. Our current inhabitants are Sparrow Hawks, Badgers, Geese, Deer and a Kestrel have been spotted on the estate alongside ample rabbits, squirrels and birds.

2011 will see Michael work closely with the Woodlands Trust in the planning of more trees on the estate.

Before long he joined John Jacobs Associates Golf Consultants, the team designing Hoebridge and Fairlop Waters Golf Centres before Jacobs returned to his first love, teaching. David formed John Jacobs Associates Golf Limited in 1985 initially with John as a consultant and the late "Laddie" Lucas as chairman. Both John and "Laddie" continued their involvement until the early to mid 1990's with David celebrating the company's 25th anniversary earlier this year.

During those 25 years David's company has designed golf projects in many Countries including China, France, Tenerife, Poland and Mexico and has carried out consultancy work in several others. Perhaps his best known course is The Edinburgh Course at Wentworth designed with John Jacobs Associates. Gary Player and Bernard Gallaher acted as consultants to the project, which at the time was one of the biggest events in world golf.

Other courses include The Buckinghamshire, Golf de Apremont near Paris and Farleigh Court - all for Japanese giants Kajima – Golf Las Americas in Tenerife, The Bedford, Town Farm at High Wycombe, The Open Golf Centre at Christchurch and Flamingo Lakes in the Yucatan in Mexico, where David also designed the project's masterplan.

A number of course renovations have also been undertaken, not least, Fakenham and Rushmore, the latter being re-designed and re-built without closing a single hole.

David was a Senior Member of the Institute of Golf Course Architects before he resigned a few months ago and has presented numerous papers, mostly on golf centre design and written numerous articles for golf journals. He has been married to Chris for 45 years. They have two sons and a beautiful granddaughter.

David has a wealth of extensive knowledge and experience in the construction and maintenance of high quality golf courses. He was awarded Greenkeeper of the year in 1991 and his Master Greenkeeper's Certificate in 1992. The latter recognition was only the third awarded to a European Greenkeeper and currently there are only 48 worldwide.

After 13 years as Course Manager at the prestigious Wisley Golf Club (RTJll design 27 holes) and before that at Golf du Domain Imperial, a private members club near Geneva, Switzerland, David has become one of the most well known and highly respected individuals in his profession.

During the past 15 years he has operated his own consultancy company working in several parts of the UK as well as Ireland, France, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Moscow. Most recently David has completed the duel role of Project Manager and Consultant Greenkeeper, during re-building and up-grading of the prestigious Karnataka Golf Association Golf Club, Bangalore, India.

Co-incidentally David has been an active member at Foxhills for almost 20 years.