"My 30 years at Belmont is actually up on May 9, that's the date I started here in 1983. Before that I'd spent seven years at the Rangitikei Golf Club. I guess my love of the game got me into this career and it's not a bad lifestyle," Shannon said.
The 62-year-old has been a handy golfer since his younger years and remains a force today playing off a scratch handicap.
Over the years he has won three Wanganui Golf Club championships (1984, 1986 and 2001) and two Manawatu Opens. He has also been a regular on the Freyburg Rosebowl circuit and represented New Zealand at senior level in the Asia-Pacific competition in both China and Australia. "I had to wait until I was 55 years old to represent New Zealand. That's the age senior level starts," he said.
"I do still play off a scratch handicap, although I shouldn't really - my golf hasn't been up to that lately, I need more game time," Shannon said.
During his tenure as greenskeeper, Shannon has played mentor to numerous up-and-comers in the game as well as aspiring groundsmen.
The late Wayne Lourie was one, along with his prodigy Ritchie Nimmo, who is now greenskeeper at the Rangitira Golf Club.
On Saturday, a fun stableford competition has been planned to mark the 30-year occasion aptly called the "Greenkeeper's Revenge".
Wanganui club manager Keith Stewart said Shannon gets to set the course up for the day.
"Barry gets to set the course up and they tell me he puts pins in some awful places to make it tough, but the idea of the day is to have fun. We have extended an invite to all clubs in the district and we urge everyone to come along. Registrations are at 11.30am with a shotgun start scheduled for noon. We will have a barbecue afterwards to celebrate Barry's achievement," Stewart said.
