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Greenkeeper Sets Up Mental Health Support Page

December 5, 2018/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by External Source

Greenkeeper Sets Up Mental Health Support Page: The head greenkeeper of Hazel Grove Golf Club in Cheshire has set up a successful Facebook page that offers mental health support to greenkeepers in the industry. Mike Davie created the page after observing “the increase of expectations of the golfer with increased personal abuse aimed at, and stress […]

Rigby Taylor Centenary Celebrations

December 4, 2018/in Events, News, Press Release/by Colin Hoskins

Rigby Taylor Centenary Celebrations: Rigby Taylor will be making a major golf industry announcement at BTME in Harrogate to herald the start of a year of celebrations for the company’s 100-year anniversary. While details of the exciting initiative in conjunction with BTME organiser BIGGA will be released at the show, there is a host of additional […]

Greenkeeper Sets Up Mental Health Support Page

December 5, 2018/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by External Source

Rigby Taylor Centenary Celebrations

December 4, 2018/in Events, News, Press Release/by Colin Hoskins

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Greenkeeper Sets Up Mental Health Support Page

December 5, 2018/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by External Source

Mike Davie created the page after observing “the increase of expectations of the golfer with increased personal abuse aimed at, and stress among, the greenkeeping community”.

He added that he’s known greenkeepers who have left the industry due to this, and therefore set up the page ‘Greenkeepers mental health support group’ earlier this year.

It already has more than 250 members.

“Mental health issues are more apparent nowadays as more seek medical help,” he said.

“Yet little support is offered from many golf clubs and duty of care is apparently not seen as a necessity.

“One of the problems is that clubs are run by well-meaning volunteers, which means when they need to discipline members for acts against the club’s staff, they don’t want a confrontation with their ‘friends‘ and would rather brush the matter under the table and resolve the issue by providing a polite pat on the head of the greenkeeper. This all creates a feeling of isolation within the industry.

“Any sign of acknowledging a problem by oneself is deemed as thought of being weak, so we tend to bottle it up, causing greater problems.

“In late 2017 I attended a stress awareness seminar by BIGGA at Sale Golf Club and realised that, by the number who had attended, and the fact that many are highly respected within the industry, we had a problem with mental welfare.

“I started a local support group in south Manchester for greenkeepers who wished to attend and talk out their problems. The realisation that we are not alone made a huge difference. The feedback I got was positive so the Facebook page was started in late July.

“This group does not always need people to comment but, as I have been told, the fact there is a page that can be accessed gives strength to someone feeling down.

“A big problem with our industry is that it is a high percentage negative industry. For example, you lie in bed listening to the rain, wondering how the course is affected. Will there be breakdowns, will all the staff turn up? The first thought of seeing a committee member is ‘what’s their complaint?’ and so on.

“These sites help to promote the fact we are not alone and in fact are a strong community we just need to tap in to, build bridges and connect more.

“In the long term I hope that the governing bodies will take on the challenge of promoting, supporting and giving help to the welfare of greenkeepers.”

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Rigby Taylor Centenary Celebrations

December 4, 2018/in Events, News, Press Release/by Colin Hoskins

While details of the exciting initiative in conjunction with BTME organiser BIGGA will be released at the show, there is a host of additional reasons why greenkeepers should make a bee-line for Rigby Taylor’s expansive stand (stand 424, Purple Zone), including the launch of a specially formulated range of early season fertilisers, the 2019 grass seed mixtures and the company’s ‘Active Planning’ turf disease prevention programmes.

Rigby Taylor will also be launching a website for its Euroflor urban meadow flower products (www.euroflor.co.uk), further announcements will be made on the company’s involvement in the irrigation market.

In addition, a golf simulator ‘nearest the pin’ competition will be staged on every day of the show, in support of the trade charity Perennial.

For more information, visit: www.rigbytaylor.com

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

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Greenkeeper Sets Up Mental Health Support Page

Rigby Taylor Centenary Celebrations

Greenkeeper Sets Up Mental Health Support Page

Rigby Taylor Centenary Celebrations

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Greenkeeper Sets Up Mental Health Support Page

Rigby Taylor Centenary Celebrations

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