Tag Archive for: Bernhard

Stephen Bernhard to receive Outstanding Contribution Award

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Stephen Bernhard to receive Outstanding Contribution Award: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), has announced the finalists of the BIGGA Awards 2025, while also revealing that a lifelong supporter of greenkeeping is set to receive the association’s Outstanding Contribution Award with Kress.

The BIGGA Awards will be presented at the BIGGA Celebration with Kress, which takes place on the opening evening of the BIGGA Turf Management Celebration (BTME). Held in Harrogate each January, BTME is Europe’s largest gathering of golf greenkeepers and provides world class education and networking opportunities for BIGGA members and those working in the sports turf and golf industries.

Stephen Bernhard to receive Outstanding Contribution Award

Stephen Bernhard to receive Outstanding Contribution Award

At the BIGGA Celebration with Kress, Bernhard and Company founder Stephen Bernhard will be presented with the Outstanding Contribution Award. With an unwavering commitment to education and professional development, Stephen has provided countless opportunities for greenkeepers to achieve new heights, not least through his support of the BIGGA Delegation to the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show and the establishment of the Bernhard Academy in 2019.

Jim Croxton, BIGGA CEO, said: “Stephen Bernhard has been an inspirational character in our industry for decades and via his generous support – in particular of the BIGGA Delegation to the United States – he has made positive contributions to countless careers in greenkeeping. His enthusiasm for greenkeeping and the wider sports turf and horticultural sectors have been undimmed with the passing of time.

“He has always sought to innovate and challenge were appropriate and time spent with Stephen is always thought-provoking. I’m thrilled that we are able to recognise his outstanding commitment to our industry in this way.”

Stephen worked in his father Jeffrey Bernhard’s turf nursery and landscaping business from a young age. He formed Bernhard and Company in the 1970s and the business became a leading name in spin grinding in the 1980s with its renowned Anglemaster and Express Dual machines. Throughout its history Bernhard and Company has built a reputation for providing a range of innovative sharpening tools alongside educational support for greenkeepers and groundspeople and in 2008 the company was awarded the Queen’s Award for Industry.

Also to be presented at the BIGGA Celebration with Kress are the Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year with Bernhard and Company and the Greenkeeping Project of the Year with Price Turfcare awards. In both cases, the innovative thinking and creativity of BIGGA members are celebrated, with nominations being received throughout 2024. BIGGA is delighted to be able to reveal the finalists of these awards below.

BIGGA Awards finalists 2025:

Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year with Bernhard and Company

  • Burnham & Berrow Golf Club for the hosting of Final Qualifying for The 152nd Open in July.
  • Morlais Castle Golf Club for hosting the Men’s Welsh Team Championship in August.
  • Woburn Golf Club for hosting The G4D Open in May.

Greenkeeping Project of the Year with Price Turfcare

  • Cowdray Golf Club
  • Long Ashton Golf Club
  • Parkstone Golf Club

Further information about the finalists can be found in the January edition of Greenkeeper International and on the BIGGA website.

The BIGGA Celebration with Kress will be hosted by Sky Sports’s Sarah Stirk and is a free, informal event that will be held in the Harrogate Convention Centre’s Royal Hall on Tuesday 21 January 2025. All attendees to BTME are welcome to attend and more information can be found on the BIGGA website.

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Bernhard and Company announces distribution partnership

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Bernhard and Company announces distribution partnership: Bernhard and Company, an industry leader in fine turf management solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Maya Global, further embracing a data-driven approach within the sports turf industry and setting a new benchmark for industry excellence.

Maya Global offers software solutions that allow an analytical approach to sustainable land management, encompassing golf courses, vineyards, football pitches, and cricket grounds. Its artificial intelligence continuously anticipates the risk of turf disease, monitoring nutrient inputs using local weather conditions and providing customised alarms and notifications for turf professionals – such as indicators of disease and frost ahead of time.

Bernhard and Company announces distribution partnership

Bernhard and Company announces distribution partnership

The partnership between Bernhard and Company and Maya Global will unite the expertise of two industry innovators, ensuring the distribution of Maya Global solutions throughout England and Wales, so that pitch and land managers can perform their maintenance processes more efficiently.

“Partnering with Maya Global allows us to make further strides in our digital innovations, in addition to the Soil Scout product that we already distribute within the UK,” said Angelique Crosnier, Commercial Director at Bernhard and Company.

“As an example, calculating resource allocation will become automated, so combined with our Soil Scout sensors, customers will be able to use water more efficiently and reduce maintenance costs further. Making decisions is much easier when utilising instant insights that are fully backed by reliable data.”

“Maya was founded through a passion for nature, managing water resource and reconciling sustainable ambitions”, added Valentine Godin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Maya Global. “Technology can be used to advance the autonomy of greenkeeping, saving time and other valuable resources. To partner with an industry leader like Bernhard to help distribute our products fills us with confidence that our ethos and software solution can be used worldwide to further enhance turf management.”

Maya Global echoes Bernhard’s commitment to environmental sustainability and minimising wasted resources. Through their combined efforts, Bernhard and Maya Global will provide sustainable solutions such as an intelligent task management schedule, allowing turf professionals to optimise their maintenance regime and adopt informed agronomy practices.

Together, Bernhard Company and Maya Global are paving the way for a future where data-driven insights and advanced technology work hand-in-hand to transform the sports turf industry.

To speak to the Bernhard team about implementing Maya Global software in your facility, head to www.bernhard.co.uk/contact/ and speak to a member of the sales team.

To find out more about Bernhard and Company, visit: www.bernhard.co.uk

To find out more about Maya Global, head to: https://mayaglobal.io/

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Bernhard Academy to sponsor technician

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Bernhard Academy to sponsor technician: The Bernhard Academy is excited to announce its sponsorship of an equipment technician for the upcoming 125th US Open, held at the prestigious Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania, USA. The Bernhard Academy is working in partnership with the Turf Equipment Technicians Organisation (T.E.T.O) to bring a new opportunity to the group. T.E.T.O has been created to improve recognition, opportunity, communication and education across our industry whilst creating valuable support networks.

The Bernhard Academy is presenting this unique opportunity, inviting experienced equipment technicians from the UK and Europe to apply for a single, coveted spot on the volunteer support team at Oakmont Country Club next June, where they will gain firsthand experience working on golf’s biggest stage at the 125th US Open.

Bernhard Academy to sponsor technician

Bernhard Academy to sponsor technician

“This is the opportunity of a lifetime for an enthusiastic equipment technician”, commented Sami Strutt, Education Director for the Bernhard Academy. “To prepare the golf course that will host the game’s best players provides an excellent chance to apply their technical skills, as well as getting a front-row seat to the US Open.”

The successful applicant will possess a minimum of three years’ experience as an equipment technician in a sports turf setting. Bernhard’s knowledge and excellence will be shared with the lucky volunteer, when they attend a training workshop at a Bernhard Academy venue, to ensure that they are fully prepared ahead of their trip to Oakmont. Applicants must be part of T.E.T.O to be eligible. Shortlisted candidates will be selected for online interviews, in the week commencing 9th December.

This sponsorship underscores the Bernhard Academy’s commitment to professional development and excellence in turf equipment management, offering technicians a chance to elevate their skills and gain international recognition. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their applications promptly to take part in this extraordinary experience at one of golf’s most celebrated venues.

For further information on how to apply, please visit https://bernhardacademy.co.uk/tournamentvolunteer

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Bernhard and Company’s new senior management hires

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Bernhard and Company’s new senior management hires: Bernhard and Company has made two new senior hires with the appointment of Lee Wade as new Chief Operating Officer and Vitor Gomes as the company’s new Production Manager.

As new COO, Lee Wade will oversee Bernhard and Company’s operational functions, including manufacturing, engineering, HR, and customer care. With more than 20 years of operational experience, Wade is a versatile senior leader with a strong track record in managing multi-skilled teams and implementing lean manufacturing practices.

Bernhard and Company's new senior management hires

Bernhard and Company’s new senior management hires

Wade commented: “This is a truly exciting opportunity to be working with a brand that has achieved such global success and is so synonymous with its industry. A key part of my role will be to help guide the senior team as we look to capitalise on what has been a hugely successful year for the company and help shape what the future looks like at Bernhard.”

Vitor Gomes is joining Bernhard’s senior management team as Production Manager. Gomes brings with him a wealth of manufacturing experience, particularly in resource allocation, production scheduling, and workflow management.

Gomes added: “I’m delighted to join Bernhard and Company. I can’t wait to really dive into the intricacies of the production cycle for our various machines and products, finding new ways to add efficiencies and enhance what is already a fantastic team and operation.”

Steven Nixon, Managing Director for Bernhard and Company, said: “It’s great to have both Lee and Vitor on-board. This is an important moment for Bernhard and Company, as we look to continue pushing forward after another successful year. Introducing such significant and relevant experience will help us to further build our momentum as we look to take our business to the next level around the globe.”

The two new additions to the Bernhard leadership team will be based at the company’s production facility in Haverhill, United Kingdom.

For more information on Bernhard and Company, head online to: https://bernhard.co.uk/

You can also find Bernhard and Company on Twitter at @BernhardCompany, on Instagram at @bernhardcompany, and on Facebook and LinkedIn by searching Bernhard Company.

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

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Ten GCSAA members chosen for Bernhard Academy Links to Success

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Ten GCSAA members chosen for Bernhard Academy Links to Success: Ten members of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) have been selected for the Bernhard Academy Links to Success United Kingdom 2025, and they will attend the 2025 BTME conference in Harrogate, England, in January.

For more than two decades, Bernhard has selected 10 members of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) to attend the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in the U.S. to experience the show, and through this programme, North American superintendents will now have the opportunity for a similar experience in the UK.

Ten GCSAA members chosen for Bernhard Academy Links to Success

Ten GCSAA members chosen for Bernhard Academy Links to Success

“We are very proud to introduce this initiative to GCSAA members.” Sami Strutt says, “we look forward to welcoming the selected ten to the UK to visit BTME, the largest turf exhibition outside the US and to take part in the Continue to Learn education programme in Harrogate. We’re excited to get them to explore British turf practices and discover iconic golf courses.“

While in the UK, the GCSAA delegation will experience traditional Links golf courses, get an inside look of an Open Championship golf course, discover the heritage of the first Ryder Cup venue, attend the BTME annual conference, have global networking opportunities and more.

The members of the Bernhard Academy Links to Success United Kingdom 2025 class are:

  • Brent Downs, CGCS, MG, director of agronomy at Otter Creek Golf Course in Seymour, (Ind.)
  • Tyler Miget, equipment manager at Harmony Golf Club (Colo.)
  • Matt Gourlay, CGCS, MG, AGS superintendent at Hillcrest Country Club in Boise, (Idaho)
  • Cole Miedema, assistant superintendent at Overlake Golf & Country Club in Medina, (Wash.)
  • Matthew Overton, superintendent at Buffalo (Wyo.) Golf
  • Emily Casey, assistant superintendent at Seven Canyons in Flagstaff, (Ariz.)
  • Matt Earhart, superintendent at Chartwell Golf & Country Club in Severna Park, (Md.)
  • Clay Payne, superintendent at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course in Garden City, (Kan.)
  • Ryan Franklin, superintendent at Brickyard Crossing Golf Course in Indianapolis, (Ind.)
  • Carol Turner, superintendent at Bigwin Island Golf Club in Huntsville, (Ontario)

“The Links to Success programme will no doubt strengthen international relationships within the industry,” Kevin Sunderman, CGCS, GCSAA chief operating officer, said. “This opportunity will benefit not only the GCSAA members involved but will enhance the future of the game of golf.”

To learn more, visit www.gcsaa.org/foundation/education/links-to-success

To find out more about the Bernhard Academy, visit www.bernhardacademy.co.uk

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