Branston deputy course manager joined when he was 16 and has witnessed plenty of change
By ECG Newsdesk
Frank Allsop, second from the left, is pictured celebrating 40 years working at the same club.
The 56-year-old joined Branston Golf &Country Club at the age of 16 straight from school thanks to his love of gardening and the outdoor life.
In that time, Allsop has seen Branston’s golf courses completely transformed. He won the Club Championship in 1983 at the age of 23, and has grown from a young boy to a grandfather of three.
Now 56 and the deputy course manager, Allsop has seen many changes with the development of Branston’s Academy, 20-bay floodlit driving range, a nine-hole (18-tee) Eagle Course and the superb Championship Course famous throughout the Midlands for its challenging water features and parkland setting alongside the River Trent.
“The biggest changes have been in the clubhouse,” says Allsop. “That’s gone from a set of tatty Portakabins to a stunningly attractive American style building housing a first-class fitness suite with pool, spa and beauty salon coupled with a magnificent restaurant, meeting rooms and bar open all day together with the splendid Branston Pavilion function suite.
“Branston’s gone from being held together by string and cable ties to having the finest state of the art equipment, a clubhouse like Buckingham Palace and a continually growing membership of golfers from juniors, ladies, men, the finest seniors section for many miles and many county and regional champions.”
TRANSFORMED
Now staffed by five PGA professionals, led by director of golf Richard Odell, Branston’s 350-acre grounds are cared for by a team of five greenkeepers and Gavin Robson, course manager who, since arriving at Branston in 2014 has transformed the courses and golf facilities earning the club the reputation of being the Midlands’ finest.
Robson said Allsop’s commitment to the role and focus on the job was unmatched.
“It’s absolutely fantastic to mark 40 years at the same workplace - very few people nowadays can hope to achieve that and it speaks volumes for Frank’s talents and Branston’s outstanding reputation for friendliness and business success that he’s determined to stay on and has no plans to retire - Frank’s a treasure,” said Robson.
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