Tag Archive for: Exceptional

BIGGA celebrates exceptional BTME

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BIGGA celebrates exceptional BTME: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) signed off from its annual education conference and trade show in Harrogate with news of a refined strategy that will shape the direction of the association for years to come.

A video of BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton, Head of Membership Scott Reeves and Chairperson Steve Lloyd discussing the strategy can be viewed online here.

BIGGA celebrates exceptional BTME

BIGGA celebrates exceptional BTME

The BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) saw turf professionals and some of the most influential figures behind the sport of golf gather at the Harrogate Convention Centre in North Yorkshire. Held alongside BIGGA’s Continue to Learn education programme, the best learning opportunity in Europe for golf greenkeepers, BTME is considered among the most important events in the golf industry due to the development opportunities and access to the latest technology and innovations afforded to golf greenkeepers and club officials.

Across three show days, 4,204 visitors walked through the doors of the convention centre, where 157 exhibitors provided a warm welcome. Visitors stayed for an average of 1.56 days and of those who came to Harrogate, 10% were from overseas.

The Continue to Learn programme was 99% sold out with 1,220 places pre-booked across the Classes and Conferences schedule. Accompanied by two outstanding free-to-attend seminar programmes throughout the show, the popularity of Continue to Learn solidifies its importance in the training and development of the greenkeeping and wider turf management community.

A large number of product launches and major industry announcements took place during BTME and you can find details of these in the Digital Media Centre on the BTME website.

A wide variety of events also took place during BTME, strengthening the festival feel of the entire week. Organisations such as The R&A, Bernhard and Company, ICL and others hosted events, while the Golf Environment Awards also took place. The BIGGA Celebration with Kress revealed the winners of this year’s BIGGA Awards and the Syngenta-sponsored Early Bird Run raised £810 for the Greenkeepers’ Benevolent Fund. The Monster Putt with Huxley Golf raised a further £957 for BIGGA’s charity, which supports members and their families in need.

Jim Croxton, BIGGA CEO, said: “BTME 2025 has been a resounding success, not only in terms of attendance but also in the invaluable opportunities it has provided for learning, networking and innovation within our industry. With over 4,200 visitors and more exhibitors and educational opportunities than ever before, it’s clear that BTME remains a cornerstone of the golf and turf management calendar and we’re excited to welcome everyone back to Harrogate in January 2026 for what we are certain will be another exciting and vibrant BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition.”

At BTME, BIGGA also revealed a three-pronged strategy that will further advance the ambitions of the association in its role as a prominent figurehead within the golf industry. Informed by the recent membership survey undertaken by the association, alongside an extensive consultation period, the refocused strategy will ensure BIGGA remains a strong and influential voice, effectively representing its members on an international scale and supporting them in their professional ambitions.

Jim Croxton, BIGGA CEO, said: “We had an absolutely fantastic response to our membership survey at the back end of 2024. Thank you so much to all the members and non-members who responded and gave their views on our association, membership, the initiatives we run and the work we’re doing to improve the greenkeeping industry. All the results of the survey are helping us refine our strategy.”

The key strategic pillars are:

  • Increasing membership numbers as a unified greenkeeping community is better able to positively influence the sport of golf.
  • Increasing engagement in BIGGA activity and evolving the membership offering to ensure all members, at every stage of their career, can get involved, become better educated and progress through their careers.
  • Advancing BIGGA’s advocacy efforts to positively influence the governance structure within golf facilities, ensuring greenkeepers are recognised as critical to the success of the sport.

These strategic pillars will inform BIGGA’s activities over the coming period and further updates will be revealed in due course.

The BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition and Continue to Learn education programme are hosted by BIGGA and take place at the Harrogate Convention Centre in North Yorkshire. The trade show will return on 20 to 22 January 2026, with Continue to Learn taking place from 18 to 21 January 2026.

For more information about BIGGA and its various activities including how to become a member, visit www.bigga.org.uk

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DSV’s PRO Bent Delivers Exceptional Results at Millbrook Golf Club

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DSV’s PRO Bent Delivers Exceptional Results at Millbrook Golf Club: Millbrook Golf Club’s greens are thriving thanks to the use of DSV’s PRO Bent grass seed, which has aligned perfectly with the greenkeeping team’s ethos of continuous improvement.

Chris Jones, Deputy Head Greenkeeper at Millbrook, reflects on the transformation since incorporating the PRO Bent seed, working closely with Craig Rodwell from Soil Biology Ltd – a DSV distributor, to ensure the best results for the course.

DSV's PRO Bent Delivers Exceptional Results at Millbrook Golf Club

DSV’s PRO Bent Delivers Exceptional Results at Millbrook Golf Club

Located in the scenic Bedfordshire countryside, Millbrook Golf Club is a course rich in history and renowned for its beautifully maintained greens. The club, nestled between the village of Millbrook and Woburn Forest, boasts year-round playability due to its elevated position on the Greensand Ridge and its free-draining sandy soil. The course is a mix of heathland and links-style features, with indigenous pine and silver birch lining many of the holes, creating a challenging yet enjoyable environment for golfers.

Chris Jones has been with the club for 18 years and shares a deep connection with it. “The majority of the people who work here tend to stay here. We’re always trying to improve and push the course forward. The course is unrecognisable from what it was when I started; literally, every hole has had some improvement, whether it’s the putting surface, bunkers, or new tees. We’re not just maintaining – we’re here to improve and push it further and further,” he said.

When their previous seed supplier underwent changes, Chris and the team began looking for alternatives. It was then that Craig Rodwell, a consultant from Soil Biology Ltd, introduced them to a range of nutritional products and DSV’s PRO Bent grass seed. From the start, the results were impressive. “By the end of the summer, we noticed remarkable improvements in the greens, including better root systems, healthier plants, and a reduction in thatch. We even went through the winter virtually disease-free,” Chris explained.

PRO Bent is part of DSV’s EuroGrass range, a collection of high-performing seed mixtures developed to meet the specific needs of golf courses and sports pitches. PRO Bent, made up of 100% Browntop bentgrass, is particularly suited for summer and autumn overseeding, as well as species exchange operations. It offers excellent density, drought tolerance, and is ideal for close mowing—making it perfect for maintaining high-quality greens.

Chris highlighted how they overseeded all 18 greens at Millbrook. “We got very quick germination—almost 100%—in just six days, even while people were still playing on the course. By the weekend, the greens were already a good putting surface.”

The positive feedback from both members and visitors has been overwhelming. “We’ve had a lot of compliments about the greens not just from members but also from visitors. It’s great to be recognised, especially since there are so many good golf courses around us. The hard work is really paying off,” Chris said.

The results have been so impressive that Millbrook has expanded its use of DSV products beyond the greens, applying them to the tees and fairways as well. “Once we saw the germination, we quickly realised this was money well spent. The most important thing is getting good seed strike, and that it’s surviving the winters. It’s been progressing each year, and that’s the hardest part with overseeding—getting the cultivars to thrive,” Chris added.

DSV's PRO Bent Delivers Exceptional Results at Millbrook Golf Club

DSV’s PRO Bent Delivers Exceptional Results at Millbrook Golf Club

The success at Millbrook has also been bolstered by the guidance and expertise of Craig Rodwell, who has provided invaluable support throughout the process. “Craig has been fantastic. He has a lot of knowledge and is always there to offer advice,” Chris said.

Craig also praised the EuroGrass range for its suitability to Millbrook’s conditions: “DSV has some excellent cultivars that are healthy and wear tolerant. They’ve really fitted the bill for this type of course.”

Thanks to DSV’s PRO Bent and the ongoing collaboration with Soil Biology, Millbrook Golf Club’s greens are in top condition, demonstrating that continuous improvement and the right products can truly elevate the quality of a golf course.

Chris concludes, “From the results we’ve had, I’d recommend DSV’s PRO Bent to anyone. It’s been a game-changer for us, and we’re excited to see how it continues to improve the course year after year.”

Please visit www.dsv-uk.co.uk for more information.

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