Tag Archive for: Challenge

Action required to solve golf’s diversity challenge

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Action required to solve golf’s diversity challenge: Golf continues to experience unprecedented demand, but it is yet to persuade the public it is a game for all, a new social listening report from Syngenta and Ipsos has found. 

Golf & Social Media: Diversity, published today, is part of a landmark study analyzing 16.1 million social media posts, shares, comments and blogs over a three-year period to help businesses understand what is being said about golf online and respond with customer-centric solutions.

Action required to solve golf’s diversity challenge

Action required to solve golf’s diversity challenge

Despite highlighting successful projects that are making golf more diverse and inclusive, such as Black Girls Golf in the US and the UK-based Muslim Golf Association, the report confirms more work is required to overcome golf’s reputational issues and successfully welcome a wider audience.

Since the pandemic, just 5% of new golfers in the UK are non-white, the R&A’s Post Covid Opportunity Report previously found.

Similarly, in the United States, African American golfers make up just 5% of the country’s 25 million players, yet contribute $4 billion of the total market value.

Claire Martin, Ipsos Social Intelligence Researcher, said: “Golf is aware of its image problem and is trying hard to diversify, but the messages are not always reaching wider audiences and people outside the sport.

“Remarkably, two percent of all mentions in our sample related to Donald Trump and Republicans playing golf. This association does not help dispel the notion that it is a sport for older, white males.”

While the findings underline the challenge golf faces, the report offers solutions and case studies, including Black Girls Golf, founded by Tiffany Mack Fitzgerald, which has built a network of more than 4,000 female players in the United States.

And in a recent podcast interview with Syngenta, Jim Beatty, Executive Editor of African American Golf Digest, said the number of African American golfers could be doubled or tripled, significantly adding to the value of golf and the bottom lines of golf clubs and courses.

Brandon Bell, Syngenta People and Organizational Development Lead, Syngenta North America, offers advice to golf venues looking to build diversity and inclusive into their businesses and making golf welcoming to all: “As a starting point, use local demographic data to better understand the scale of the opportunity to engage with underrepresented groups, then invite these groups to take a survey or join a focus group so you can learn more about their wants and needs – and how you might address those.

“By creating an environment and experience where minority groups feel welcome and valued, and this is reflected in your club imagery and communications, this will help other diverse groups understand that this is a place where they could belong.”

WATCH: Brandon Bell on How to Make Your Golf Club More Diverse

Mark Birchmore Syngenta Global Head of Marketing, Turf and Landscape, who commissioned the report, said: “Golf has long been associated with exclusivity, and this study confirms that it is still widely viewed as a sport for a limited demographic.

“However, there are many examples of golf organisations and businesses making great progress in diversity. Now the sport needs to get better at communicating this progress beyond the industry itself in order to change wider perceptions.”

Data for the report was provided by Ipsos, with 16.1 million mentions of golf on social media in the United States and UK analyzed over a three-year period (2019-2022).

To download this report and all previous Syngenta market studies, visit: www.syngentagolf.com/golf-industry-reports

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John Deere employees complete 1,400 mile challenge

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John Deere employees complete 1,400 mile challenge: A 41-strong team of John Deere employees has completed its 1,000-Mile Challenge in style, smashing through its distance and fundraising targets in the process.

The group took on the Peak District Ultra Challenge on Saturday 8 July, choosing to navigate either 50km in 24 hours, or 100km in 34 hours. In doing so, team John Deere managed to collectively cover more than 1,400 miles.

John Deere employees complete 1,400 mile challenge

John Deere employees complete 1,400 mile challenge

Generous sponsorship has seen more than £11,500 pledged to Cancer Research UK in the process.

“Cancer Research UK does really important work which touches the lives of so many, and it is our chosen charity for 2023,” said Chris Meacock, John Deere Division Sales Manager for Golf and Turf.

“We wanted to find something to suit varying fitness levels to encourage more participation, in turn helping to raise as much money as possible. We achieved both and a highly enthused team set about the challenge.”

Five brave souls completed 100km with 36 covering 50km, and collectively the team far exceeded the 1,000-miles target.

“It was not easy, but the team was spurred on by the cause,” Chris said. “The event organisation was superb, and our team was looked after fabulously, with food, water, and feet patched up as required.

“From the company’s point of view the challenge has generated fantastic positive energy and strengthened relationships. The whole team is delighted to have completed the distance and raised a huge amount of money for a thoroughly worthwhile charity.”

Donations can still be made at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/johndeere1000milechallenge

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R1 and R9 from OAS overcomes challenge

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R1 and R9 from OAS overcomes challenge: Where most bowling greens benefit from the flexibility of changing heads to spread the wear, the small green at Errol Bowling Club in Perth offers Greenkeeper Graham Craig no such luxury!

It’s down to the resilience and recovery of R1 and R9 seed mixtures from Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS), that despite the high wear and challenges of long dry spells of weather that the green is looking and playing better than ever.

R1 and R9 from OAS overcomes challenge

R1 and R9 from OAS overcomes challenge

OAS brings together four leading industry names – Rigby Taylor, Headland Amenity, Symbio and TurfKeeper. The group benefits from Rigby Taylor’s market-leading ‘R’ Range grass seed being added to their portfolio.

On his retirement from running his own thatching supply business, Graham took on the role of Greenkeeper seven years ago – at which time the decision was also made to bring more of the green maintenance in-house. “While the two jobs may appear contrasting, there were some principles of working with the water reed grasses that I could apply to operations here at the club, and when I needed advice on things, I called upon contacts such as Andy Menmuir from OAS who has helped me a great deal over the years to tackle the challenges of our high wear surface.”

The green, at just 1000m2, is tasked with hosting friendlies and league games so to give Graham and the club the best chance of withstanding such traffic, Andy suggested a combination of R1 and R9 seed from the Rigby Taylor fine turf range. “We’ve used this combination for the last four years” Graham explains, “with R1 oversown on the full green, and then a mix of R1 and R9 used for additional strength on the heads.”

R9 is a fast-establishing, 100% ultra-fine perennial ryegrass blend of four dwarf PRG cultivars – hard wearing, with fineness of leaf, high shoot density and a tolerance for close mowing making it ideal for fine turf applications. “I apply R9 to the heads, oversown into core holes and then dressed which gives us outstanding establishment and germination. The initial burst of growth shoots up like a forest of fir trees and is brilliant for filling in any bare areas. Longer term, it stands up well to the wear.”

“Andy also plans out our summer and winter-feeding programmes, in particular working with me to keep on top of moss which is a big issue for a lot of greens and saps the run out of the bowl.” He concludes, “I am very proud to say I have zero moss on the green at the moment thanks to the OAS plan, in fact – as a player myself travelling round and visiting lots of other greens – I’d say ours is looking and playing incredibly well.”

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The Wildlife Trusts’ big nature challenge

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The Wildlife Trusts’ big nature challenge: 30 Days Wild, the UK’s biggest nature challenge run by The Wildlife Trusts, invites people of all ages to connect with nature every single day during the month of June. This year there’s a new twist: 30 Days Wild will take you on a week-by-week adventure moving through five different themes:

  • tune into the senses
  • movement and play
  • learning and discovery
  • helping nature
  • emotional connection to nature
The Wildlife Trusts’ big nature challenge

The Wildlife Trusts’ big nature challenge

These themes will help guide you, your family and friends through the challenge helping you reach that 30 day target, whether tuning into the sound of bird life, moving through your local woods by moonlight, building a den, discovering an unexplored country lane or local park, making time to build a bug hotel or owl box or starting a diary of your day-to-day wildlife sightings.

New 30 Days Wild activity packs include a wild bee poster along with seeds and other materials to inspire you to do something wild every single day.

30 Days Wild is funded thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery and has grown a huge and dedicated fan base – over two million people have taken part over the last 9 years.

Last year over 500,000 people took part in the challenge including 114,245 households, 11,740 schools, 898 care homes and 1,384 businesses. Popular activities include wildlife-watching, eating outdoors, planting wildflower seeds and listening to birdsong. Other favourite pastimes included bug-hunting, fruit-picking, growing plants and flowers, exploring a nature reserve, creating a mini pond or going on a beach or river walk.

We all know how much happier and healthier we feel when connecting with nature – and we have research to prove it – so save the date!

David Oakes, actor and ambassador for The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“I truly hope you’ll join in the 30 Days Wild challenge wherever you are in the UK! We need nature more than ever and 30 Days Wild is a chance to really celebrate our connection to the precious green and blue spaces both on our doorstep and further afield. Whether you’ve a legendary forest a short train ride away, or a young sapling in your local park that is primed to be the Tree of the Year 2523; whether you turn down the tunes on your next jog in favour of nature’s wild beats, or head to your nearest coastline to explore the rhythms in the rock pools and the sounds of the sand dunes; whatever you choose to do, there are limitless opportunities to dive into this 30 day adventure. However much time you can spare each day there’s always an opportunity to take part, whatever your age. Please get involved and tell all your family and friends to join in too!”

Jo Richards, head of communications at The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“The Wildlife Trusts’ 30 Days Wild challenge in June has to be one of the highlights of my year! What better an excuse to go out and enjoy the UK’s great outdoors, which is simply buzzing with nature’s activities, whether it be wildflowers blooming, butterflies fluttering or skylarks bouncing up and down. I love the challenge of making myself set aside at least five minutes a day for thirty days in a row to encounter something new in nature or perhaps take a little longer to do something that’ll help wildlife where I live. 30 Days Wild is always a big hit, but I hope that even more people will join us this year to bask in the glory of our wonderful wildlife.”

30 Days Wild – Big Wild Weekend:

To help motivate you on this journey, we’ve enlisted the help of our friends David Oakes and Sophie Pavelle for the Big Wild Weekend on 18th June.

David Oakes continues:

“Come and join me and the glorious Sophie Pavelle on the Big Wild Weekend. If you love nature, join us via YouTube on Sunday evening, the 18th June, for fun and games with the Wildlife Trusts Big Wild Quiz. Come along to be top of the pollinators or just tune in to be entertained by the incredible and fascinating world of bison, beavers, bees, beetles and bats! Other wildlife species are available. I can’t wait to see you then.”

The Wildlife Trusts provide free resources for everyone who signs up. Just register your interest here wildlifetrusts.org/30dayswild. There is also a 30 Days Wild session planner specially designed for teachers to use in class.

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GGM Group’s charity cycle challenge

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GGM Group’s charity cycle challenge: This year Lancashire based business The GGM Group have pledged to fulfil 12 months of fundraising for their chosen charity the North West Air Ambulance, and have set an ambitious target of £10,000.

Having kicked off this year’s fundraising with a 96km bike ride across the North West from the depot in Haydock back to the Head Office in Colne via the Leeds and Liverpool canal.

GGM Group's charity cycle challenge

GGM Group’s charity cycle challenge

19 team members, came together from across all departments ranging in age between 18 – 62, and took on the 95 kilometre route, despite sweltering heat, and a number of punctures the team finished the route together and enjoyed a well-deserved team BBQ to celebrate.

To date the cycle ride has raised over £2,600.00 and is continuing to rise, for this year’s chosen company charity partner The North West Air Ambulance, which are much needed funds during these difficult times. The business will be running further initiative over the coming months with their aim to raise £10,000 for the charity over the year. Since the launch of the charity in 1999, it has continued to operate 365 days a year and has responded to over 24,500 missions across the Northwest. The charity receives no government or NHS funding and must raise over £9.5m each year to remain operational.

GGM Group operates across the North West, is following hot on the heels of previous year’s highly successful charitable efforts, where the organisation raised over £10,000 for charities across the North West, and is keen to build on this success and keep the momentum running.

Managing Director Chris Gibson explains more:

“Every year we carry out a physical challenge to raise funds for our chosen company charity and it’s a huge highlight in our calendar. Previously we have completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks and in 2020 we didn’t let lockdown dampen our spirits, carrying out a charity walk and cycle ride in socially distanced stints.”

“I am hugely proud of what our staff have done in this year’s charity cycle and it is teamwork in the truest sense. Not everyone regularly cycles, yet they have committed to taking part in this challenge for our charity. As a family business, it’s fantastic for us all to come together.

“It’s a key part of our ethos at The GGM Group to give something back to the local community and North West Air Ambulance provide an essential service. Amazingly they receive no government or NHS funding so every penny we and others raise for the charity makes such a lifesaving difference.”

About GGM Group

The GGM Group operates two businesses across two sites. GGM Groundscare is a specialist supplier of tractors and high-quality professional land-based equipment for commercial and domestic use, servicing the North West and Yorkshire, it supplies a range of products from leading franchises including Kubota, Baroness and Amazone. PSD Groundscare is the national distributor of specialist landscaping equipment, including AS Motor, Eliet, Koppl and TS Industries.

To support the team and make a donation visit the Justgiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/the-ggm-group

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