Greenkeeper unfairly sacked after digger crash

Walton Heath Golf Club has a history of high profile tournaments

A greenkeeper who had worked at a Surrey golf course for almost 40 years has won a case for unfair dismissal after he was sacked when his digger fell into a hole.

In 2021, Michael Haynes' digger had to be hauled from a ditch at Walton Heath Golf Club, Tadworth, after it fell cab-side down while the driver was not wearing a seatbelt, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.

Mr Haynes did not formally report the incident as "no harm was done", but bosses said the incident was "significant" and sacked him for gross misconduct.

However, an employment tribunal found in December that other options should have been considered before he was dismissed.

Mr Haynes had been trained on how to use the site's two diggers since around 2005 and his certification was updated every five years - although his current renewal had been overdue, the tribunal heard.

A training instructor reportedly later told Michael Mann, the course manager at the time, that Mr Haynes was "very lucky with his accident that he hadn't been seriously hurt".

But Mr Mann said he did not know about the digger incident. Mr Haynes argued that he had told Mr Mann about the accident at the time.

Bosses at the club said it was a "serious breach" of health and safety rules that the accident was not reported.

Mr Haynes was dismissed without notice. His two attempts at appealing the decision were rejected.

An employment tribunal found that while Mr Haynes should have completed an accident log, the golf club had "exaggerated and maximised" the seriousness of the incident.

The tribunal ruled that Mr Haynes' compensation would be reduced by 50% for failing to log the accident. The amount was not disclosed.

Walton Heath Golf Club has been contacted for comment.

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