Tag Archive for: greenkeepers

Ormskirk and Farleigh greenkeepers earn prestigious awards

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Ormskirk and Farleigh greenkeepers earn prestigious awards: One has an obsession with board games while the other is a rock climber who scales cliffs around the UK, but the winners of the 34th Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards are united in a passion for the greenkeeping profession.

The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), Toro and Reesink UK have revealed the winners of their prestigious student greenkeeping awards following a day of judging in the historic surroundings of Cheshire’s Carden Park.

Ormskirk and Farleigh greenkeepers earn prestigious awards

Ormskirk and Farleigh greenkeepers earn prestigious awards

With finalists representing eight education providers from across the UK, the awards also provide the students with the opportunity to develop their knowledge and expand their professional network.

The winner of the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award was revealed to be Michael Russell, assistant greenkeeper at Ormskirk Golf Club in West Lancashire. Michael’s nomination was endorsed by Phil Lomas, tutor at Oldham College.

Michael, 31, switched career four years ago from a role in the Civil Service and hasn’t looked back. A keen board game collector, he was a finalist in the 2021 hosting of the awards and has optimised his BIGGA membership, becoming an ICL Continue to Learn Scholar and graduating from the Future Turf Managers Initiative. He is married to Megan and has a one-year-old daughter, Millie. Michael was also the first finalist to ever score full marks in the multiple choice stage of the examination.

Michael said: “It was a little bit of a shock, but I know how much preparation I’d done coming into the finals. I think you can always underestimate yourself, seeing those around you and how much experience they have and their passion for the industry, but I was absolutely delighted to win and I know in terms of the rewards that are available as part of the event and just networking has been a brilliant opportunity.”

Runner-up in that category was Ryan Fiander, deputy course manager at Lees Hall Golf Club in Sheffield. Ryan’s nomination was endorsed by Andy Kenworthy, his tutor at Myerscough College.

The winner of the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award was revealed to be Daniel Martin, first assistant greenkeeper at Farleigh Golf Club in Surrey. A keen mountain biker and climber, Daniel is a thrill seeker who has found a professional passion in the greenkeeping industry. Daniel’s nomination was endorsed by Wayne Syres, tutor at Hadlow College. In another awards first, Daniel’s grandparents were in the area and stopped by the awards ceremony, making it extra special that he came out on top in his category.

Daniel said: “It’s a really good recognition of all the work that you have put into your career and studying to gain the extra knowledge to differentiate yourself from everyone else, so I felt satisfaction in the recognition of that work. For me, if I’ve achieved something well then it’s satisfaction of a job well done and on to the next one.”

Runner-up in the Young category was Jake Rose, apprentice greenkeeper at Moortown Golf Club in Leeds. Daniel’s nomination was endorsed by his course manager, Steven Robinson.

You can watch extended interviews from Michael and Daniel on the BIGGA YouTube channel.

The nomination period for the 2024 Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards will begin at the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition in January 2024.

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Greenkeepers granted access to career-defining training

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Greenkeepers granted access to career-defining training: The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and turf machinery manufacturer Jacobsen have revealed the 20 ambitious association members who will form the Future Turf Managers Initiative (FTMI) Class of 2023.

Each year FTMI co-founders BIGGA and Jacobsen invite 20 up-and-coming association members to participate in the intensive training programme, which has been credited with developing some of the greenkeeping industry’s most influential course managers and head greenkeepers.

Greenkeepers granted access to career-defining training

Greenkeepers granted access to career-defining training

FTMI was first hosted in 2013 as a two-day education event and since then has expanded around the world, with similar schemes being introduced in Spain, Portugal, Australia and New Zealand. The event is aimed at up-and-coming greenkeepers who are not yet in course manager or head greenkeeper positions. Focusing on personal and professional development, rather than agronomy-based subjects, FTMI utilises the expertise of leading course managers, dynamic trainers and industry experts to mentor and educate the next generation of industry leaders.

The members of the FTMI Class of 2023 are:

  • Jack Ashall, Knowle Golf Club
  • Will Barnes, The Berkshire Golf Club
  • Kevin Butcher, Walton Heath Golf Club
  • Dan Fisher, North Foreland Golf Club
  • Jack Hall, Northampton Golf Club
  • Oliver Kirk, Bury St Edmunds Golf Club
  • Stephen Mancini, Prestwick Golf Club
  • Christopher Naughton, The Gleneagles Hotel
  • George Nock, Enville Golf Club
  • Scott Patrick, R&A Lethamhill Golf Course
  • Aaron Peacock, Horsham Golf & Fitness
  • Levi Pethick, Stoneham Golf Club
  • Samuel Richards, Sherborne Golf Club
  • Michael Sparke, King’s Hill Golf Club
  • Shane Stannard, Aldeburgh Golf Club
  • Craig Swindells, Chipping Sodbury Golf Club
  • Nicholas Thorley, Saunton Golf Club
  • James Walker, St Andrews Links Trust
  • Jack Wellings, JCB Golf and Country Club
  • Bradley White, Wentworth Club

Sam Evans MG was previously an FTMI graduate and now mentors on the initiative. The course manager at North Hants Golf Club, he said: “FTMI is a great way of proving to the industry that you want to kick on and that you realise it’s not going to be put on a plate for you. Everyone wants to help each other out and that’s one of the reasons I enjoy being a mentor. Hopefully, a few years down the line some of these guys will be mentors themselves.”

Adam Underwood, international marketing manager for Jacobsen, said: “Jacobsen values the Future Turf Managers Initiative as the pinnacle of our commitment to the industry. We understand the challenges our customers face and to support them with learning and development on training outside of agronomy is very important to us. Our thanks go to BIGGA and the team, without whom the FTMI would not be possible.”

Head to the BIGGA website for more information about FTMI and for a closer look at the class of 2023.

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Should greenkeepers have priority

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Should greenkeepers have priority: Who should yield first – greenkeepers or players?

Read the full article from National Club Golfer here

Should greenkeepers have priority

Should greenkeepers have priority

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Greenkeepers selected to support The R&A

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Greenkeepers selected to support The R&A: Royal Liverpool Golf Club will host The Open for the 13th time in July and the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has revealed the team of almost 50 greenkeepers, gathered from all over the United Kingdom, who will be on hand to support the home greenkeeping team for the duration of the championship.

Each year The R&A requests the assistance of BIGGA members in the staging of the event. Every full BIGGA member who has been with the association for at least two years is eligible to apply for a place on the Volunteer Open Support Team and those who are selected are given incredible access to golf’s oldest major, supporting every match with bunker raking duties.

Greenkeepers selected to support The R&A

Greenkeepers selected to support The R&A

Rory McIlroy was victorious the last time Royal Liverpool hosted The Open, in 2014, when BIGGA members raked the course’s 82 bunkers a total of 945 times. BIGGA members were even busier in 2006, when Tiger Woods claimed the Claret Jug and the team raked 1,092 bunkers across the four days of the championship.

In January, previous members of The Open support team were given the opportunity to stand beside the Claret Jug as it made an appearance at the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition, the annual trade show and education programme that provides incredible learning opportunities to those working in golf greenkeeping and sports turf management.

BIGGA is delighted that this years’ Volunteer Open Support Team will feature a large number of first-time team members as a place on the team is inspiring and showcases to greenkeepers what they can achieve through continuing professional development and by engaging with the numerous exclusive opportunities made available to members of BIGGA. Throughout the tournament the team members will be provided with accommodation, subsistence and uniform for the event.

BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton said: “The team at Royal Liverpool has the unenviable task of following in the footsteps of St Andrews, who last year created a truly historic championship. Yet I’m confident that the team led by Links Superintendent James Bledge, who is preparing to host his first Open Championship, will set a world class stage for what is sure to be an exciting event.

“I’m thankful to The R&A for once again inviting so many BIGGA members to participate in The Open support team, particularly given we have so many first time members this year. Is there a better way of inspiring the next generation of greenkeepers and showcasing what can be achieved in your career with a lot of hard work and dedication, than an up-close look at the world’s greatest major championship? I’m thankful on behalf of the BIGGA members who have been selected and I’m proud to be able to invite them to represent the entire association on this global scale.“

The 151st Open takes place from 20 to 23 July 2022. Applications for the BIGGA Volunteer Open Support Team for The 152nd Open at Royal Troon will open later this year.

Here are the BIGGA members who will be assisting the home greenkeepers for the duration of The 151st Open:

  • Aaron Allibon, first assistant, Orsett Golf Club
  • Jake Austin, first assistant, Royal Wimbledon Golf Club
  • David Ball, senior greenkeeper, Thetford Golf Club
  • Adam Barton, greenkeeper, Conwy Golf Club
  • Andy Bate, greenkeeper, Hesketh Golf Club
  • Jamie Blake, head greenkeeper, Broadway Golf Club
  • Paul Boozer, head greenkeeper, Sheerness Golf Club
  • Tom Bromfield, first assistant, Trentham Golf Club
  • Daniel Bungay, greenkeeper, Hockley Golf Club
  • David Collins, head greenkeeper, Lickey Hills Golf Club
  • Aaron Cross, assistant greenkeeper, Thorndon Park Golf Club
  • William Curran, deputy course manager, Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club
  • Marcus Davies, assistant greenkeeper, Wentworth Club
  • David Duke MG, superintendent, Golf & Country Club Seddiner See
  • Daniel Evans, head greenkeeper, Maesdu Llandudno Golf Club
  • Tom Evans, course manager, Wexham Park Golf Centre
  • Paul Fowkes, deputy head greenkeeper, Scraptoft Golf Club
  • Paul Gater, first assistant, Caldy Golf Club
  • Richard Goddard, deputy course manager, Ashridge Golf Club
  • Lee Greveson, course manager, The Manor Golf Club
  • Craig Hempseed, estate manager, Mortonhall Golf Club
  • Rob Jones, deputy course manager, Enville Golf Club
  • Richard Keith, assistant greenkeeper, Ferndown Golf Club
  • David Leach, first assistant, Ruddington Grange Golf Club
  • Sam Ludlow, assistant greenkeeper, Luffenham Heath Golf Club
  • Adam Lund, head greenkeeper, Dinsdale Golf Club
  • Benn McLeod, first assistant greenkeeper, Musselburgh Golf Club
  • Scott McTaggart, course manager, Sandyhills Golf Club
  • Jake Messenger, assistant groundsman, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
  • Ashley Millar, deputy head greenkeeper, Churston Golf Club
  • Danny Millar, deputy head greenkeeper, Rudding Park Golf Club
  • Darren Miller, first assistant, Farnham Golf Club
  • Jason Norwood, greenkeeper, Reay Golf Club
  • Ryan Oliver, assistant greenkeeper, Hornsea Golf Club
  • Peter Pattenden, greenkeeper, Carden Park Golf Club
  • Steven Penman, deputy head greenkeeper, Thornton Golf Club
  • Scott Rigby, head greenkeeper, Gathurst Golf Club
  • Luke Sheldon, head greenkeeper, Beau Desert Golf Club
  • Curtis Small, greenkeeper, Stover Golf Club
  • James Stratford, greenkeeper, Broome Manor Golf Club
  • Craig Surgeon, head greenkeeper, Kirkcaldy Golf Club
  • Mark Tyson, deputy course manager, Oakmere Golf Club
  • Ken Ward, head greenkeeper, Harrogate Golf Club
  • Sam Wilkinson, deputy course manager, Ponteland Golf Club
  • Ryan Williams, first assistant, Caldy Golf Club
  • Lewis Whatsley-Parsons, greenkeeper, Queenwood

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MM solutions for greenkeepers at BTME

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MM solutions for greenkeepers at BTME: Visitors to the MM Sports Seed stand (130) at BTME can expect a range of market leading products that can significantly improve both the quality and aesthetics of a golf course.

The demand and pressure placed on the modern-day greenkeeper to produce a consistent playing surface continually grows at a pace. Seed quality, purity and vigour are the essential ingredients of a first-class golf course, and the MM range of seed mixture provides exactly these.

MM solutions for greenkeepers at BTME

MM solutions for greenkeepers at BTME

All the varieties in the MM mixtures are thoroughly tested at the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) – ensuring that the finished product will meet your requirements for play, appearance, and maintenance.

Here is a snapshot of some of the MM products being showcased at BTME:

The MM Supreme Ryegreen mix offers golf course managers a 100% Ryegrass mixture for use on greens and fine turf areas. This new mixture benefits from the inclusion of Singapore Perennial Ryegrass, which is extremely fine leaved with good shoot density along with high disease and wear tolerance. Furthermore, MM Supreme Ryegreen brings the main benefits of Perennial Ryegrass – fast establishment and wear tolerance in close-mow situations.

MM9 Grass Seed, a 100% Bent mixture, provides an excellent formulation for summer overseeding and autumn renovation of top-quality golf greens. It produces a fine, dense sward which gives an excellent playing surface. MM9 has excellent Fusarium resistance due to the inclusion of the new variety Cleek.

MM50 is one of the UK’s biggest selling grass mixtures. The hard-wearing Ryegrass mix is very fine leaved, has high shoot density, is tolerant to close mowing down to 5mm and produces a great colour all year round. It also has quick recovery from damage and play.

This superior mix contains the Perennial Ryegrass cultivars, Venice, Alison, Malibu, and latest fine leaved Ryegrass Singapore, which are renowned for providing a great sward for golf use.

All the MM mixtures are treated with HEADSTART® GOLD – a unique seaweed-based seed treatment which helps to ensure rapid and even germination. This tried and tested grass seed treatment helps the seed get off to the best possible start.

For further information, please contact MM Sports Seed on 01386 791102 or visit the company’s website www.mm-seeds.co.uk.

You can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed.

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