The quality of the playing surfaces at Crowborough Beacon Golf Club is the result of passion, precision – and the right seed. Course Manager Luke Jenkins has been achieving outstanding results using DSV’s PRO Summer Sport and PRO Rye Fairway mixtures from the EUROGRASS range, both of which have played a key role in improving the course’s playability and presentation.
Developed specifically for professional turf use, the EUROGRASS Pro mixtures are composed of carefully selected grass species and varieties to meet the highest standards of performance. Each blend is designed with the end user in mind – considering soil type, climate, intended use, and maintenance practices – to ensure exceptional establishment, density, and durability.
At Crowborough Beacon Golf Club, those qualities have helped elevate one of the South East’s most historic and scenic courses. Established in 1885, the club is steeped in tradition – with early members including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – and boasts a classic heathland layout renowned for its sweeping views and distinctive character.
Course Manager Luke Jenkins has been at the helm for four and a half years, leading a programme of continuous improvement that has seen the course break back into the UK’s Top 100 golf courses.
“It’s a sleeping giant of a golf course,” says Luke. “The layout and landscape are stunning, but the course needed some TLC when I arrived. My goal has been to raise standards and get Crowborough Beacon recognised again among the best in the country – which we’re now achieving.”
Luke’s journey in greenkeeping began at just 16 when he joined Shooters Hill Golf Club in south-east London as an apprentice. He quickly rose to deputy, later taking on head roles at Woodlands Manor and deputy at Royal Wimbledon, before moving to Crowborough Beacon. His experience at clubs of varying size and stature gave him a solid understanding of what makes great course.
A big part of that success, Luke says, comes down to using the right seed mixtures.
“On the tees, we use PRO Summer Sport, which gives us quick germination and excellent wear tolerance,” he explains. “We’re repairing divots every day, and because our tees are small, I need grass to be growing within a week. The DSV mix establishes really fast, gives great colour, and stands up to heavy play.”
For the fairways, Luke relies on PRO Rye Fairway, a 70/30 blend of fescue and ryegrass that balances strength with a natural fescue finish.
“Our fairways are naturally fescue-dominant, but the rye gives us early-season colour and resilience,” he adds. “We don’t have fairway irrigation, so we rely on strong establishment and drought tolerance. After overseeding, we saw germination in just over three weeks and fantastic coverage.”
Luke was first introduced to DSV through Craig Rodwell at Soil Biology, whose nutritional advice and recommendations have helped shaped the club’s agronomic approach. After trialling the seed on tees, Luke was quickly convinced to extend its use.
“The uptake was excellent, pricing was competitive, delivery was quick – all the boxes were ticked,” he says. “Most importantly, it worked. I’m not going to use something that doesn’t perform, and DSV seed has consistently impressed us.”
Luke has also visited DSV’s breeding and research centre in the Netherlands, where he gained a deeper appreciation of the company’s commitment to innovation.
“It was an absolute eye-opener,” says Luke. “The scale of the operation and the amount of research and development that goes into producing these mixtures is incredible. Some varieties take over ten years to bring to market. Seeing that process made me realise how much science and effort goes into every bag we use.”
With a settled team and a clear vision, Luke’s leadership has not only improved playing conditions but also boosted membership and morale across the club.
“We’re lucky to work in such a beautiful place,” he concludes. “If we keep improving the surfaces and stay focused on the details, the sky’s the limit. Using the right seed is a big part of that, and DSV has certainly helped us get where we are today.”
