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Support Greenkeepers tackling driest spring in 70 years

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Support Greenkeepers tackling driest spring in 70 years: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) is calling on golf clubs and golfers across the UK to support their members as we face our driest spring for decades.

Following some exceptionally wet recent winters, the spring of 2025 has brought a stark contrast. According to the Met Office, rainfall across many regions has been at historic lows. Wales recorded its driest March since 1944, while East Anglia experienced its second-driest March on record. With May showing little improvement, greenkeepers are under extreme pressure to maintain playing surfaces amid growing turf stress.

Support Greenkeepers tackling driest spring in 70 years

Support Greenkeepers tackling driest spring in 70 years

David Byron, Head Greenkeeper at Thorndon Park Golf Club in Essex, said: “It’s very, very dry. It’s the driest start to spring in nearly 70 years. We’ve had almost no rain, and what we have had has come in just one hit.

“In our fairways, we’re down to about 3–4% moisture content. Normally, you’d want 10 to 15% for the grass species we have.”

These conditions are presenting major challenges for turf recovery and maintenance. Areas without irrigation, such as fairways, are suffering, while teams attempt to preserve greens and tees with limited water resources.

Royal Aberdeen’s Course Manager, Richard Johnstone, said he had recorded just 11mm of rainfall between April and early May: “We’re experiencing extreme weather patterns. There’s no longer a balance. Instead, we’re seeing one extreme or the other – either constant pouring rain or complete drought.

“There doesn’t seem to be much consistency anymore, and that presents some big challenges.”

Paul Woodham, The R&A’s Agronomy Lead for Europe and the UK, noted that warm days combined with cold nights have disrupted seasonal growth, resulting in stressed grass and delayed recovery from winter damage.

Clubs are encouraged to communicate openly with their members, sharing insight into current conditions and course management strategies. Transparent engagement and social media updates are key tools to foster support.

“Our advice to clubs is to engage in professional dialogue with your Course Manager, set agreed objectives and show open support for your team of greenkeepers,” said BIGGA’s CEO Jim Croxton.

“They will be much more motivated and determined to overcome these challenges with strong support from their members.”

“As course managers, it’s our responsibility to communicate and educate,” said Johnstone. “We need to use various channels like social media, blogs, and other platforms to help people understand the current conditions and our management approach.”

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 UK Takes Top Spots in BSPB Turfgrass Seed Rankings

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DSV UK Takes Top Spots in BSPB Turfgrass Seed Rankings: DSV UK has made a major breakthrough in the turfgrass sector, with three of its perennial ryegrass varieties now ranking among the top ten in the British Society of Plant Breeders (BSPB) Turfgrass Seed Booklet.

Notably, two of these varieties have taken the top two positions in the highly regarded sports table (S1) for perennial ryes—marking a significant achievement for the company.

DSV UK Takes Top Spots in BSPB Turfgrass Seed Rankings

DSV UK Takes Top Spots in BSPB Turfgrass Seed Rankings

The new rankings place Euromagic at number one, followed closely by Flannel at number two. Additionally, Reybann has secured a spot in the top ten, reinforcing the strength of DSV’s breeding programme. While Eurogala, another standout variety, ranks just outside the top ten at number 12, its versatility across multiple tables—including lawns, greens, cricket, golf, and bowls—makes it an exciting commercial prospect.

Sam Horner of DSV UK emphasised the significance of these results: “When people look at this booklet, the sports table is the one everyone wants to top. We’ve always had good breeding, and this proves that our material is now the best in these trials.”

The BSPB Turfgrass Seed Booklet is widely regarded as a key reference for industry professionals selecting the best-performing grass seed varieties. The sports table, in particular, carries significant prestige within the turfgrass sector, making DSV’s achievement even more impactful.

“This kind of result doesn’t happen often,” Sam continued. “We’ve been at the top of the table before, but to come straight in at number one and number two—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment. It speaks volumes about the quality of our breeding programme and the strength of the DSV portfolio.”

The introduction of DSV’s EuroGrass range of grass seed has also elevated DSV’s profile. The products in the EuroGrass portfolio have quickly gained recognition, becoming a preferred choice for sports turf and amenity managers who seek reliability and superior results.

One standout feature of DSV’s varieties is their strong genetic colour, which is becoming increasingly important in modern turfgrass selection. High-end facilities and stadium environments now prefer a darker green aesthetic, as it enhances the visual appeal of playing surfaces under natural and artificial lighting.

Flannel, in particular, boasts excellent dark summer greenness, making it especially desirable for stadiums and televised events. “As good as certain other cultivars are, some tend to be on the paler side, which can be a turnoff for top-tier venues,” Sam explained. “We believe we can offer something genetically darker, delivering both performance and a more camera-friendly appearance.”

The results are based on independent data from the BSPB Turfgrass Seed 2025 booklet and highlight the advancements in DSV’s diploid material. This success further cements DSV’s reputation as a leader in sports turf breeding and innovation.

DSV has been supplying industry-leading cultivars into the UK seed trade for the past 40 years, but to many, it remains a relatively new name in the turfgrass sector. However, these latest rankings demonstrate that DSV is not only competing with the best but also setting new benchmarks in performance.

Please visit www.dsv-uk.co.uk/products/amenity for more information.

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Putting the New in Nutrition with VerdeLNX

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Putting the New in Nutrition with VerdeLNX: The Aquatrols Company is pleased to announce the launch of VerdeLNX, their groundbreaking nutrition line; designed to enhance plant health while minimising environmental impact, and at the same time honoring the legacy of their NPK range. These innovative products offer environmentally and economically smarter solutions for turf managers everywhere, through two proprietary technologies exclusive to the VerdeLNX range.

VerdeLNX is…

  • Designed to significantly enhance nutrient absorption, optimising both foliar and root uptake of macro and micronutrients.
  • Able to minimise nutrient losses by retaining nutrients higher in the soil profile for longer. This maximises nutrient uptake by grass plants and reduces the risk of environmental issues caused by leaching.
  • Highly eco-friendly, fully renewable, and completely biodegradable. These technologies leave no trace or residue in the soil or water.
Putting the New in Nutrition with VerdeLNX

Putting the New in Nutrition with VerdeLNX

The Aquatrols Company is dedicated to maximising water efficiency, improving turf surface performance, and optimising the effectiveness of other input applications. For the risk averse turf professional who deals with the shifting challenges of nature, budgets, expectations and regulations, The Aquatrols Company helps them manage their properties more successfully.

Learn more about VerdeLNX here > 

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Women in Golf awards return to Foxhills

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Women in Golf awards return to Foxhills: The Women in Golf Awards is delighted to announce that the fourth annual ceremony will take place on November 27th 2025 at Foxhills.

The awards make a return to the Surrey venue following the resounding success of the 2024 event, that included golf tuition and networking opportunities followed by the gala awards ceremony in the evening. With plans to expand the event for 2025, and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the 2024 awards, Foxhills was a natural choice to host once more.

Women in Golf awards return to Foxhills

Women in Golf awards return to Foxhills

“We couldn’t have been happier with the 2024 awards,” said co-founder of The Women in Golf Awards, Nicole Wheatley. “The team at Foxhills were fantastic to work with and the venue itself provided everything we needed for a wonderful day of networking and celebration. The last 12 months has seen the awards evolve further, and I’m delighted that we can work with Foxhills once again to deliver even more opportunities for everyone who attends.”

2025 has seen the Women in Golf Awards hold its first education day for past winners and nominees in collaboration with Bernhard Academy and Colt, Mackenzie, McNair. The event that was funded via sponsors contributions to the awards’ Women in Golf Fund, provided educational and networking opportunities while contributing to an insight paper identifying factors that prohibit women considering golf as a career.

“In addition to the golf, networking and celebrations that have previously been part of the awards, we are going to expand the educational opportunities on offer,” continued Nicole. “The generosity of our sponsors has allowed us to grow the Women in Golf fund and add personal and educational development opportunities on the day of the awards. The event is becoming a real vehicle for change in the industry and I’m very proud to be helping provide more opportunities for women to progress in their careers.”

“Since 1978, when the club hosted the third ever edition of the Women’s Open, Foxhills has had a strong affinity to supporting women’s golf, so we’re beyond thrilled to host the Women in Golf awards for a second year running, in 2025,” added Marcus Weatherburn, Director of Membership at Foxhills. “The 2024 event was such a positive experience for everyone at the club. To be in the room with so many inspiring women was a real privilege, and to know that we’d helped to make the event such a special occasion was hugely satisfying. Having heard Nicole’s plans for 2025, we’re delighted to be able to provide facilities for every aspect of the day and can’t wait to welcome everyone to Foxhills in November.”

As in previous years, the Women in Golf Fund will provide a number of free tickets for women working in the industry, who might not otherwise be able to attend. These are allocated via a ballot accessed through the website www.womeningolfawards.co.uk.  There will also be a limited number of subsidised tickets available to purchase later in the year. Women interested in these tickets can sign up for priority access on the website.  The 2025 sponsors and awards categories will be announced at the end of July with nominations open from Mid-August.

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Berner strengthens its position in the Nordic market

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Berner strengthens its position in the Nordic market: Berner Ltd and Indigrow Ltd have agreed that the business operations of Indigrow AB (Sweden) and Indigrow AS (Norway) will be transferred to the Berner Group as of 24 April 2025. This is a business transfer, and the legal entities Indigrow AB and Indigrow AS will remain unchanged.

Berner and Indigrow have had a long-standing collaboration, especially in the distribution of Indigrow products in Finland. In recent years, the partnership has extended to the Baltic countries. With this transfer, Berner will take over the distribution of Indigrow products also in Sweden and Norway, further strengthening its position in the Nordic golf course management market.

Berner strengthens its position in the Nordic market

Berner strengthens its position in the Nordic market

As part of the transition, Berner will establish a new Nordic business unit, Berner Turf, focusing on turf and green area products and services. The unit will be led by Saila Innanen, who brings extensive experience and expertise in the care of sports turf.

“This business transfer is a natural continuation of our long-term cooperation with Indigrow. It enables us to serve our Nordic customers even better and strengthens our position as a specialist in sports turf,” says Kalle Erkkola, Business Unit Director at Berner Ltd.

“We are pleased to deepen our partnership with Berner. Their strong local presence and expertise support the availability of our products and enhance customer service across the Nordic region,” says Carl Crome, CEO of Indigrow Ltd.

The business transfer will not affect existing customer relationships or order and delivery processes. All orders and deliveries will continue as normal during the transition period.

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