Adare turned out to be so much different to Ballybunion. Different grasses, different set up different aesthetic different in every facet – bar 1 the desire to produce the best playing conditions possible. In Adare under the stewardship of Golf Course Superintendent Alan MacDonnell I had to adapt my ways and nearly relearn what I already had learnt. Parkland and Links are just so different, more cutting, more feeding, more trees but less windy. It was really whilst I was in Adare that I convinced myself that this would be career for myself. I had taken the skills I brought with me from Ballybunnion and developed them more getting involved in bigger projects with drainage, growth of the nursery and showing my interest in spraying for diseases

I started off in Ballybunnion as a summer job, I looked forward to each year renewing my acquaintance with Ballybunion as soon as the school year finished. I wanted to be the best at the practical element of my job. The early mornings and late evenings whilst an inconvenience to many suited me because I wanted to learn. I developed my practical skills and became confident in all facets of my works. Elements of greenkeeping such as overseeding, topdressing, aerification, disease identification and nutrient management became an every day part of my lexicon and the further I went down the turf management rabbit hole the more I loved it.