In Pursuit of Perfection

But according to Downie, who started his golf career as an assistant pro at venerable Gullane Golf Club in East Lothian, it’s still very much a work in progress.
“You know, golf courses are always evolving. You always have to keep changing them and doing little bits. My focus has been on transforming the Serapong and members should see a marked improvement from month to month, rather than nothing and then a flood of changes.”
The “little bits” that he’s referring to have already proved significant. The addition of bunkers on certain holes—and the removal of bunkers on others—as well as lowering the tangly Zoysia rough and adding strategically-placed trees has so far proved a winner with both members and professionals alike.

“Last year at the Barclays [Singapore Open], we gave the pros a feedback sheet,” remembers Downie. “Responses varied but there were some excellent suggestions. Darren Clarke was very meticulous and commented on every hole. Many of the changes are based on what they told us.
“I didn’t want to know what’s good about the course. I want to know what’s bad. Critique me, fine, but let me know what’s wrong. I want negative comments. I can’t do anything with “good” comments. I can’t fix “good.” Now, I may not agree with your negative comment, I might let it just wash over me, but I will take it on board. And we listened.”
Some of those comments surrounded the large, undulating TifEagle greens. While they are considered among the best-maintained in the region by regular visitors, according to Downie, that’s not good enough.
“They [the pros] wanted the greens far healthier so we could make them faster – they weren’t fast enough,” he explains. “The course is probably six out of 10 condition-wise. It’ll probably take us a year, maybe a year and a half to get it where we want it. 10 is unsustainable, especially in this environment and weather. I reckon we could get it to eight, maybe eight and a half.”