Stuart Greenwood calls it a day after 30 years managing the links

Stuart Greenwood has retired from his role at the West Links

Golf has resumed in East Lothian after a nine-week shutdown due to the coronavirus without a familiar face out on one of the area’s top courses.

After 30 years as course manager of the West Links in North Berwick, Stuart Greenwood retired in the period it lay dormant because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He’d spent 46 years in total in greenkeeping, having started his career at Kilspindie, where he now plays his own golf, then spending 11 years at Winterfield in Dunbar.

“I think I had done my punishment,” said Greenwood, laughing, of his stint in the industry in his own backyard, having been brought up in Aberlady and now living in North Berwick.

In his time looking after the West Links, it staged numerous big events and attracted thousands of visitors from all around the world.

“I think the course started to get far more spotlight in the time I was there and I’d say it was a successful 30 years,” he said. “I think I did three Open qualifiers, a British Amateur, a Ladies’ Amateur, Ladies’ Stroke Play, Men’s Senior Open Amateur and Scottish Open qualifying.

“Every day was a highlight, really. I honestly don’t think I can pick out one day or one event ahead of the other.”

After being used to seeing the course busy all the time, Greenwood’s era ended with just greenkeeping staff maintaining it in preparation for the eagerly-awaited reopening.

Asked if that had been strange, he replied: “Not really. Retiring had been in my mind for a while, and I thought this was as good a time as any. I felt it was a good chance when all that was going on and it was the main reason for my decision.

“The biggest change over the years was the weather, with this one as strange as it has ever been, possibly, and also the course getting a lot busier.”

The club has advertised the vacant post, which is likely to attract candidates from far and wide. “It’s a great opportunity for someone coming in,” said Greenwood. “I was always considered myself a cutodian. I was looking after it for the next person to come along.”

For Greenwood, one of the benefits of retirement is that he doesn’t have to set his alarm for the crack of dawn. “I’ve adapted pretty well the last three of four weeks,” he said of that welcome change to his routine.

“It’s about enjoying retirement now, catching up with lots of jobs and playing a bit more golf myself, having neglected my own game for a number of years now.”

North Berwick’s general manager Elaine McBride said Greenwood had been “an incredibly important part of the club” during his 30-year spell.

“We thank him for his contribution and commitment to the club over the years and wish him well in his retirement,” she added.