Tag Archive for: Programme

GreenClub joins PGA Partnership programme

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GreenClub joins PGA Partnership programme: GreenClub – The PGA’s new principal partner – is set to offer a significant financial boost to golf clubs and resorts as part of its ambition towards becoming a carbon neutral sport.

Co-founded by PGA Member Paul Cuddy and respected environmental engineer Karl Gallagher, GreenClub aims to invest in partnerships with golf facilities to generate electrical energy through solar installations on clubhouse roofs or suitable ground-mounted sites.

GreenClub joins PGA Partnership programme

GreenClub joins PGA Partnership programme

As well as reducing energy costs and delivering new revenue streams with the sale of any surplus energy, ambitions are high for a concerted shift towards carbon neutrality for many golf clubs across the world.

Liam Greasley, chief executive of GreenClub and former commercial director at The PGA, is helping to drive the company’s initiative to deliver free solar energy installation, and he believes it could be the difference between prosperity or closure for some golf facilities.

Greasley commented: “We’re delighted to announce this exciting new partnership with The PGA and we look forward to helping PGA members and their golf facilities save money while helping golf become a carbon neutral sport.

“Club management will be looking at different and innovative ways of minimising their overheads and looking for potential new revenue streams. The GreenClub proposition addresses both of those areas and I believe it could be the difference for many clubs between remaining open and having to close their doors.

“Our ambition is to become the premier renewable energy company in golf and beyond. We want to partner with PGA Members who see the real value of working with us and we want to engage with as many clubs as possible.”

Initially operating in Great Britain and Ireland, GreenClub already has plans to expand into Australia and USA, which provides access to 24,000 golf clubs.

To date, feedback from potential partners has been overwhelmingly positive with several facilities already expressing an interest in becoming the GreenClub standard-bearers.

Greasley continued: “There is an opportunity for clubs to be seen as leaders in the area of sustainability. But the big draw is that the initial benefit will be at least a 15 per cent discount on current electricity bills, increasing to more than 30 per cent once the investment is paid down. At the same time, if clubs have any surplus to your own needs, there will be an opportunity to sell directly to the local businesses and residents, bringing golf clubs even closer into the heart of their communities.”

As a PGA principal partner, GreenClub will join an elite band of businesses that represent the highest level of partnership with The PGA. They are leaders in their business area and benefit from a marketing reach to PGA members and the wider golfing community.

Robert Maxfield, Chief Executive of The PGA, commented: “The PGA is delighted to welcome GreenClub to its partnership network.

“The PGA recognises the need to do more to help preserve golf for generations to come by acting on important issues such as climate change and the environment. The partnership with GreenClub is undoubtedly a step in the right direction.

“It’s also a relationship that can benefit members at a time when many golf facilities may be struggling with the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic, providing an opportunity to make instant savings while providing another potentially valuable revenue stream.

“We look forward to working with the GreenClub team as we all play our in part in helping the game of golf become a carbon neutral sport in the near future.”

For more information visit www.greenclub.energy, email info@greenclub.energy or call 0800 999 1904.

CLICK HERE to find out more about how to become a PGA principal partner.

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GaNTIP programme reports another year of progress

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GaNTIP programme reports another year of progress: New statistics show that the pitch improvement strategy instigated by the Premier League, The Football Association, the Government’s Football Foundation, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) continues to have a massive impact on football and cricket participation in England.

The organisations’ joint Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme (GaNTIP), which is funded by the Football Foundation and ECB, and led by the IOG, seeks to raise the quality of natural turf pitches to enhance player experience and increase capacity and participation levels.

GaNTIP programme reports another year of progress

And with over 2,890 pitches assessed by GaNTIP regional pitch advisors between April 2018 and March 2019, the results continue to impress, in terms of football, having:

  • Boosted pitch match capacity by 28% – from an average of 2.5 games per pitch to 3.2;
  • Reduced postponements by 24%;
  • Increased pitch quality levels – 83% of the 2,890 pitches assessed have improved; and
  • Engaged with 1,082 volunteers, of whom 192 have received training to boost knowledge levels and improve their pitch maintenance techniques. Indeed, the programme has engaged with volunteer time valued at over £3 million (if their time/value were calculated), based on minimum wage and average number of hours contributed (most volunteers work six-10 hours a week).

This, in turn, has enabled more than four million players to enjoy the game – calculated using 9 versus 9 pitches over a 40-week season; 18 players plus officials x 2,890 pitches and two games per week/weekend.

In order to increase pitch capacity, GaNTIP’s work with grassroots football has also involved the development of The Football Foundation Groundskeeping Community – a platform to provide expert advice to grounds staff – the development  of a digital pitch assessment tool and the implementation of online modules (via the IOG website), as well as ‘traditional’ attendance courses/modules to support Football Foundation funding criteria.

Interestingly, GaNTIP’s inspections reveal that 82% of the pitches tested had below standard levels of compaction. “A common issue throughout GaNTIP’s history,” says IOG director of technical & learning Jason Booth, who is responsible for GaNTIP.

In addition, in collaboration with the ECB to develop and initiate a structured approach for local grounds staff, GaNTIP has:

  • Serviced 38 County Cricket Boards and 38 County Grounds Associations/support groups, working with nine ECB Regional Club and Facilities managers to develop and deliver plans locally;
  • Revitalised the County Pitch Advisor programme by supporting more than 70 Advisors;
  • Developed a ‘toolbox’ to enable County Pitch Advisors and County Cricket Boards deliver a consistent approach to support;
  • Trained 233 delegates (via the IOG’s online and day attendance cricket courses); and
  • Assisted and developed the ECB’s new junior format for pitch sizes.

GaNTIP is monitored and supported by Sport England and the programme is now in year three (April 2019-March 2020) of Phase 2 (Phase 1 was 2014-2017) with two key account managers – Tom Rowley for football and Ian Mather-Brewster for cricket.

Jason Booth points out that the programme continues to increase awareness of the importance of the sustainability of natural turf pitches and hopes to invigorate more education and learning over the next 12 months.

“The programme is successfully achieving its aims of improving grassroots pitch quality and the education of the people who maintain those pitches, enabling the national governing bodies (NGBs) of football and cricket to provide clear direction on their grass pitch strategies,” he says.

“GaNTIP is making great strides and the programme and its RPAs are regarded as an integral part of the strategies of the NGBs currently within the programme. But the implications and benefits of GaNTIP could – and should – impact all grass sports and it is reassuring that other NGBs are monitoring our progress and showing great interest in what has been achieved and what GaNTIP could contribute to their sports.”

He adds: “Importantly, GaNTIP is also providing the grassroots and volunteer community with access to unrivalled training and education, which is proving indispensable in terms of pitch care. The programme is working hard with the NGBs and stakeholders to align volunteer training with the likes of coaching, because playing surfaces are equally as critical to participation levels.”

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Reesink Grow Training Programme

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Reesink Grow Training Programme: Two new hands-on machinery mechanics courses have been added to Reesink Turfcare’s industry-leading training offering for 2019.

The two new courses, Air-cooled Engines and Basic Electrics and Hydraulics, have, says head of turfcare training at Reesink Neil Adams, been added according to demand: “With these two courses we’re going back to basics. There’s so much technology used in machinery maintenance now with diagnostics tools and the like and while that is incredibly helpful, our customers are telling us they want to learn the foundation of these subjects such as how to do a complete engine strip down. Both courses offer a solid start for those new to the industry and a fantastic refresher course for those with a few more years under their belt.”

Reesink Grow Training Programme

The one-day Air-cooled Engines course covers understanding the operation and function of a four-stroke engine, learning how to identify components and operate in-line diesel injection and petrol fuel systems, and diagnosing and repairing common faults associated with modern engines.

The two-day Basic Electrics and Hydraulics course includes understanding and reading electric and hydraulic symbols and schematics, how to use and demonstrate safe practices with electrical instruments and test equipment and how to diagnose and repair electric and hydraulic systems failures effectively. In addition, battery operation and construction, basic electric theory including Ohm’s Law, electrics and hydraulics safety and hydraulic oils and contamination procedures will also be covered.

Further information such as dates, which start in February for Air-cooled Engines and April for Basic Electrics and Hydraulics, can be found at www.reesinkturfcare.co.uk. There, turfcare professionals and employers keen to offer staff the opportunity to learn and expand their areas of interest and need, will also find all the details on Reesink’s biggest range of vocational training for land-based disciplines delivered with Lantra, the national awarding organisation. Alongside that is City & Guilds training and Toro and TYM manufacturer-backed turfcare machinery training.

Neil concludes: “These two new courses bring the total number of courses offered by Reesink to eleven, that’s one of the biggest selections from a distributor and is something we’re incredibly proud of. There’s something to suit everybody, at every level, whether you work in the golf and fine turf sector, sports or grounds sectors.

“Our range of training courses demonstrates our belief in continuously improving standards in the industry. We aim to make training convenient with some courses delivered at the trainees’ working premises, too, using familiar equipment in a familiar environment. This set-up means it could not be easier for customers to develop and invest in their employees.”

Visit www.reesinkturfcare.co.uk and select the Training tab to view this year’s training courses in full, plus find details such as dates and how to book.

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