BIGGA - Turf Matters

Going for the buzz at Sawgrass

January 30, 2020/in News, Press Release/by Steve Mitchell

Going for the buzz at Sawgrass: Each year John Deere, in association with the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of Ireland, sends seven association members to Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida to join the agronomy team on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass for the duration of The Players Championship – the unofficial fifth men’s Major tournament.

It’s an incredible experience, where the volunteers get completely immersed in the hosting of the PGA Tour’s flagship event with flights, accommodation and other costs all thrown in. Representing the British and Irish associations, the successful seven selected to join the John Deere TPC Sawgrass Volunteer Programme in March 2020, working alongside the home greenkeeping team as part of the volunteer course maintenance force of over 90, are:

The BIGGA and GCSAI volunteers on the John Deere stand at BTME 2020 in January (left to right): Eddie Irvine, Alex Brougham, Mark Tucker, Peter Lewis, Dean O’Connell and Ben Hunter. (Inset) Yannick Weber on his home course in New Zealand.

BIGGA

South East: Ben Hunter, deputy course manager, The Richmond
South West & South Wales: Mark Tucker, head greenkeeper, Neath
Central England: Alex Brougham, deputy head greenkeeper, Trentham Park
Northern: Peter Lewis, greenkeeper, Royal Liverpool
Scotland: Eddie Irvine, deputy head greenkeeper, Trump International Aberdeen
International: Yannick Weber, assistant superintendent, Cape Kidnappers, New Zealand

GCSAI

Ireland: Dean O’Connell, greenkeeper, Grange Golf Club

Previous successful applicants of the scheme have described the experience as life changing and overwhelming. One of BIGGA’s 2019 delegates, Welshpool Golf Club course manager Jon Gamble, said: “TPC Sawgrass is an amazing venue and is out of this world. The presentation of the whole site is fabulous, from the condition of the course to the flowers and grandstands that sit very high on 17.

“They really do gear the tournament up so that everyone who goes has an awesome time, from a spectator point of view. Going to Sawgrass has made me want to go back every year now, just to get that buzz from what you experience. I would encourage and push anybody that wants to go there, to do so.”

This year’s tournament dates are March 12-15, 2020; the John Deere sponsored group flies out to the US on Friday March 6 and returns on Tuesday March 17.

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Michael Davie wins BIGGA award

January 24, 2020/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by External Source

Michael Davie wins BIGGA award: Greenkeeper Michael Davie – who set up a mental health support group to help his fellow professionals in the turf industry – has picked up the top award at the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association’s annual convention.

Davie, the course manager at Hazel Grove Golf Club, in Stockport, has tirelessly supported many BIGGA members and other greenkeepers, having overcome periods of depression in his own life.

In recognition of the incredible effort he has put in to supporting his fellow greenkeepers, Michael was awarded with the Outstanding Contribution of the Year Award, sponsored by Jacobsen.

After receiving the award, Michael Davie said: “I’m exceptionally humbled to receive this. It’s totally unexpected and really amazing.

“I’m retiring from greenkeeping in a few months and I hope the extra time that gives me will allow me to develop the mental health side of things.

“I’m looking into how I can try and help as many people as possible, so this is just the start!”

Michael established the ‘Greenkeepers mental health support group’ on Facebook so his peers could come together to support each other.

Michael also hosts a regular meet-up in Manchester, where greenkeepers discuss issues and provide a helping hand.

The UK’s best and brightest greenkeepers were recognised at a dazzling awards ceremony hosted by the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association at the opening night of BTME 2020.

BTME is the UK’s leading exhibition for those in the golf greenkeeping and sportsturf industries, with more than 5,000 BIGGA members, industry leaders and influencers expected through the doors of the Harrogate Convention Centre for the duration of the three-event.

The traditional curtain-raiser of the exhibition is the BIGGA Welcome Celebration, sponsored by Campey Turf Care Systems and hosted by television presenter Naga Munchetty.

A number of awards were handed out to BIGGA members who have done extraordinary things throughout their careers.

The Outstanding Contribution award is one of three BIGGA Awards given out to members during the event.

The other two are the Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year – sponsored by Rigby Taylor – and the Greenkeeping Project of the Year sponsored by Baroness and Kubota.

Grant Peters and the team at Parkstone Golf Club in Poole were winners of the Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year Award after successfully hosting the Ladies’ European Amateur Championship, in July, which was won by Berkhamsted’s Alice Hewson.

Also nominated in the same category were Craig Haldane’s Gleneagles team for the hosting the 2019 Solheim Cup, and Graham Brumpton and the team at Ipswich Golf Club, which staged the English Ladies’ Open Amateur Championship at Purdis Heath last summer.

The Greenkeeping Project of the Year Award was won by Darren Anderson MG and the team at Cheshire’s Bromborough Golf Club.

The team replaced a 46-year-old irrigation system, alongside rebuilding greenside bunkers. Completing the work in-house, it is estimated that the greenkeepers saved the club around £150,000.

Also nominated in the same category were Master Greenkeeper Andrew Kerr’s team at Surrey’s Surbiton Golf Club and Robert George’s team at Essex’s Thorndon Park Golf Club.

For the first time, a new set of prizes were introduced at the BIGGA Welcome Celebration.

The BIGGA Excellence in Communication Awards sponsored by Campey Turf Care Systems seek to recognise those BIGGA members who have embraced communication as a vital tool available to the modern greenkeeper.

Awards for the best use of social media and work in the community will be handed on the second day BTME on the Campey Turf Care stand, but at the BIGGA Welcome Celebration, the winner of the Innovation and Thought Leadership Award was unveiled.

The award is given to the BIGGA member who had written the most thought-provoking article for BIGGA’s monthly magazine, Greenkeeper International, with Ryun Holden, of Switzerland’s Golf Club Wylihof, claiming the inaugural prize for his feature discussing the importance of conveying a positive message from the greenkeeping team to golfers at their club.

Ryun received a £750 cash prize and all-expenses paid trip to Florida, where he will visit the Campey Air2g2 factory, Daytona International Speedway, TPC Sawgrass and TIAA Bank Field, the home of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.

BIGGA chief executive Jim Croxton said: “I take immense pride in the BIGGA Welcome Celebration as it is the opportunity for our association to recognise the unbelievable hard work and dedication that BIGGA members all over the world demonstrate every day of their working lives.

“As we saw once again through the story of Michael Davie, it can become all too easy to get caught up in all the negativity that surrounds the golf industry.

“Yet there are many passionate and hardworking greenkeepers who have dedicated their careers to ensuring this great industry has a strong and vibrant future.

“BIGGA is nothing if not a community where members can come together to support each other through the bad times and the good.

“Thank-you to all our sponsors and to everyone who came along to support this brilliant event.”

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Charterhouse Links Up With BIGGA

March 6, 2019/in News, Press Release/by Karl Hansell

Charterhouse Links Up With BIGGA: Charterhouse Turf Machinery has teamed up with the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association to offer educational opportunities for golf course professionals across the nation.

In its new capacity as Education Supporter for the association, Charterhouse will help provide valuable professional development opportunities for BIGGA members.

For over 35 years, Charterhouse has been a leading provider of professional maintenance machinery to keep both natural and artificial surfaces in first-rate condition. The company distributes the Redexim range of aerators, overseeders, topdressers and scarifiers for natural turf. To compliment this, the Graden range of pedestrian verticutters and the BLEC range of specialist landscaping and turfcare products, are also available.

Commenting on the new agreement, Charterhouse Sales Manager Nick Darking said: “We have been a supporter of BIGGA for many years, in many different guises, including a number of years as sponsors of the annual National Championship. We are proud to now be working alongside BIGGA as an education supporter, helping to provide valuable professional development and educational opportunities to those in our greenkeeping industry.”

BIGGA Business Development Executive Lauren Frazer said: “With their extensive expertise providing valuable tools for the modern greenkeeper, Charterhouse Turf Machinery has long been a proud supporter of BIGGA members, including as title sponsor of the BIGGA National Championship. In conversation with Nick and the Charterhouse team, it was clear they wanted to build on that relationship and find a way to help greenkeepers all over the country to achieve new heights and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to sign this agreement, which will enable that to happen.”

To find out more about Charterhouse Turf Machinery, visit www.charterhouse-tm.co.uk

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Rigby Taylor Agree BIGGA Deal

February 25, 2019/in News, Press Release/by Colin Hoskins

Rigby Taylor Agree BIGGA Deal: Rigby Taylor has announced a major sponsorship with BIGGA to tee off the company’s 100th anniversary campaign this year – a two-year sponsorship deal.

The agreement includes BIGGA’s three annual golf tournaments:

The National Championship
The Golf Management Trophy and
The Greenkeepers Benevolent Fund Golf Day.

Rigby Taylor will also be involved in all qualifying matches for each tournament and offering further support through the involvement of its key suppliers.

In addition, where the opportunity exists, the company will provide technical advice on tournament preparation and product support.

Commenting on the announcement, Richard Fry, Rigby Taylor’s Marketing Director, said: “Rigby Taylor has a long history of supporting those who work in the golf industry and, as a founding member of BIGGA’s Golden Key Education initiative (as was), has always had a close relationship with the association.

Rigby Taylor has announced a major sponsorship with the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) to tee off the company’s 100th anniversary campaign this year – a two-year sponsorship deal as BIGGA’s Golf Partner. The agreement includes BIGGA’s three annual golf tournaments:

The National Championship
The Golf Management Trophy and
The Greenkeepers Benevolent Fund Golf Day.

“Our sponsorship of the BIGGA golf tournaments is the company’s expression of confidence in the industry and a vehicle for gaining closer ties not only with golf course managers and greenkeepers but also their greens committees and other key decision-makers.”

Jim Croxton, BIGGA CEO, added: “I’m thrilled that Rigby Taylor is supporting BIGGA in its golf activities for the next two years. The events are an opportunity to not only have some fun, but competitions such as the Golf Management Trophy also bring together all levels of the golf club structure, helping to build stronger relationships within teams and across barriers. And that’s incredibly important to us as an association.”

For more information, visit: www.rigbytaylor.com

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BIGGA Award For Harleyford GC

January 25, 2019/in Awards, News, Press Release/by Karl Hansell

BIGGA Award For Harleyford GC: The greenkeeping team at Buckinghamshire’s Harleyford Golf Club has been recognised for its incredible performance in preparing the course for The Matchroom Sport Championship at a prestigious industry awards ceremony.

The greenkeeping team at Harleyford was tonight (22 January) announced as winners of the BIGGA Awards 2019 Championship Performance of the Year sponsored by Rigby Taylor just five years after the club was declared bankrupt.

Course Manager Craig Earnshaw and members of the Harleyford team accepted the award at the BIGGA Welcome Celebration hosted by Jacobsen, taking place on the opening day of the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

Harleyford, which is the home course of European Tour star Tyrell Hatton, has a team of six greenkeepers whose office is 1.5 miles from the golf course – meaning a 15-minute drive from the maintenance facility to the first tee.

The team has not only been commended for its incredible work in preparing the course to a standard worthy of hosting a professional tournament, but the staging of the event didn’t go without incident.

When stormy conditions and heavy rain on the eve of the tournament completely washed out the club’s bunkers, the team worked through the night to replace the sand, with even Craig’s fiancée, Tracy Forth, being enlisted to cut rough and blow fairways.

The tireless efforts of the team paid off and Harleyford has been chosen to again host the PGA EuroPro Tour’s Matchroom Sport Championship once again in 2019.

Craig said: “This is mad, I can’t believe it to be honest. When you look at who I was up against, I am really just a little short for words. I didn’t think we would win. The guys on my team were amazing and they’re a real credit to the golf club.”

BIGGA Chief Executive Officer Jim Croxton said: “I’m delighted that the team at Harleyford was nominated for this award as they are a fantastic example of what can be achieved with a talented and determined team led by an exceptional course manager, as Harleyford has in Craig Earnshaw. For the club to bounce back from bankruptcy to the hosting of the PGA EuroPro Tour is quite remarkable and to then overcome the stormy conditions that plagued the build-up to the tournament is exceptional. Congratulations to everyone at the club and good luck for 2019!

“Congratulations also to the Gullane Golf Club and Carolina Golf Club teams, who were both worthy finalists after hosting exceptional tournaments during 2018. All are a credit to BIGGA and the greenkeeping industry as a whole.”

BTME 2019 runs until Thursday 24 January and features more than 159 exhibitors from all aspects of the turf management industry. The exhibition is a celebration of the golf greenkeeping industry in the UK and each year more than 5,000 greenkeepers, trade members, club managers and other representatives come together to network and share the latest education and innovation opportunities.

Visit http://btme.org.uk/ for more information.