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BIGGA Members To Take Part In FTMI

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BIGGA Members To Take Part In FTMI: Each year Jacobsen, a Textron Golf brand, invites 20 ambitious greenkeepers to its headquarters in Ipswich to undertake high quality education designed to help them take the next step into golf course management.

Each of the greenkeepers is a member of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association, which has worked alongside Jacobsen to provide the education programme for 20 members every year since 2013. FTMI was born in the UK but has rapidly expanded in the years since and has been introduced in Spain, Portugal, Australia and New Zealand.

BIGGA Members To Take Part In FTMI

Across two days of intense education, high quality speakers and experienced mentors, themselves course managers and head greenkeepers, will provide candidates with a wide range of knowledge and skills that will prove invaluable as their careers progress.

BIGGA is proud to reveal the members who have been selected to take part in the 2019 edition of FTMI, to take place from Tuesday 5 to Thursday 7 March 2019.

The successful candidates for the “FTMI Class of 2018” are:

Andrew Wilson, deputy course manager, Whitecraigs Golf Club;
Ben Hunter, deputy course manager, The Richmond Golf Club;
Ben Williams, first assistant greenkeeper, Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club;
Christopher Jones, deputy course manager, St Anne’s Old Links;
Craig Berry, course supervisor, St Andrews Links Trust;
David Stewart, deputy head greenkeeper, Walmley Golf Club;
Edward Campbell, deputy course manager, Sandford Springs Golf Club;
Gareth Hunt, deputy head greenkeeper, Cricket St Thomas Golf Club;
Graeme Davidson, assistant greenkeeper, Murrayfield Golf Club;
James Bruder, deputy course manager, East Berkshire Golf Club;
James Cleaver, senior greenkeeper, The Belfry;
John Scurfield, first assistant, Morpeth Golf Club;
Luke Hine, deputy head greenkeeper, Gaudet Luce Golf Club;
Michael Hughes, deputy course manager, Scotscraig Golf Club;
Phil Worth, first assistant greenkeeper, Prestbury Golf Club;
Sam Sweetzer, assistant greenkeeper, Queenwood Golf Club;
Scott Corrigan, assistant greenkeeper, Royal Troon Golf Club;
Scott Logan, first assistant greenkeeper, Royal Bled Golf Club, Slovenia;
Simon Pyett, greenkeeper, Halesworth Golf Club;
Tim Brewster, deputy head greenkeeper, Reigate Hill Golf Club.

Jacobsen and BIGGA recognise the importance of preparing the next generation of greenkeepers to take on a management role at a golf club. FTMI has been designed to provide practical tools and guidance to help delegates pursue their career aspirations through this professional development course.

BIGGA Members To Take Part In FTMI

Karen Proctor, Director Global Marketing at Textron Golf, said: “Congratulations to all 20 delegates chosen to take part in FTMI 2019. Each year the number of applicants increases, giving us a very tough job to choose just 20!

“We are looking forward to welcoming the class of 2019 to Ipswich in March and providing a unique experience that will help the delegates on their way to achieving their career goals.”

Sami Strutt, Head of Member Development at BIGGA, said: “FTMI pushes our members out of their comfort zones. Each of the successful candidates will be at the point in their career where they are itching to take the next step in their career. But what does that mean in a practical sense and what skills do you need to learn that you may not gain in your day-to-day working life?

“FTMI provides 20 ambitious BIGGA members with the necessary skills to take that next step. Each year the education gets better and better as we find out more about what the delegates find most useful and relevant as they work towards their career goals.

“We’re delighted that so many FTMI graduates have built upon their experience and are now embarking upon careers in course management. I’m sure the same will soon be true of this year’s 20 delegates, who were all of an incredibly high standard.”

For a closer look at FTMI, check out this video on the BIGGA YouTube page: https://youtu.be/xbl8mjt1dUY

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BALI GoLandscape Pledges Support To YMCA

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BALI GoLandscape Pledges Support To YMCA: The British Association of Landscape Industries’ (BALI) careers initiative, GoLandscape, has forged a partnership with YMCA Training to support their work on delivering industry apprenticeships in the wake of a 28% shortfall in the number of apprenticeships being undertaken in the UK*.

Along with a decrease in apprenticeships, the Open University have recently reported that only 8% of companies in the UK have drawn from their levy, proving that more support is needed to inspire, educate and encourage industry employers to understand the benefits of taking on apprentices as part of their workforce.

BALI GoLandscape Pledges Support To YMCA

YMCA Training – part of Central YMCA – helps young people find new opportunities through work and training. Every year, thousands of apprentices are trained and go on to build rewarding and fulfilling careers.

BALI’s Education Officer, Stephen Ensell, said; “GoLandscape is proud to support YMCA Training in the industry apprenticeships they offer; their bespoke training means that, nationally, they can help landscapers develop a workforce that addresses the skill shortfalls they so desperately need, which in turn helps boost the economy and grow their own business. We are really looking forward to supporting and working with them in the promotion of the industry”.

BALI GoLandscape Pledges Support To YMCA

 

BALI’s GoLandscape initiative launched nationwide in March 2018 at RHS Garden Wisley and has already made significant progress in working with employers and industry colleges to provide more opportunities for school leavers and career changers to find suitable employment within the landscape industry, where their skills and knowledge are mapped to the needs of businesses operating in both domestic and commercial capacities.

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Tributes Paid To Popular Groundsman

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Tributes Paid To Popular Groundsman: Tributes have been paid to a popular football groundsman who has lost his battle with cancer, aged 87.

Adam Grant, of Tillymaud, near Udny, gave his tender loving care to the North Lodge Park pitch at Formartine United for more than three decades – despite losing a hand in a tragic farm accident, aged 31.

For his many years of dedication to the community, Adam was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s honours list in June 1996.

He travelled with loved ones to a Buckingham Palace garden party in 1997 – one of his proudest moments, said his son, Colin.

According to Colin, another of his dad’s best memories was enjoying a day out at the home of Manchester United for his 80th birthday.

“He wanted to go on the pitch to see if it measured up to North Lodge Park – like he had done with all the Highland League grounds – but he wasn’t allowed as it was a match day.

“We still had a great day though,” said Colin.

Mr Grant worked for many years as a farm grieve and suffered a horrific injury to his right hand in 1962 when it became trapped in a combine harvester.

After receiving medical care, he slowly recovered with the help of a false arm fitted with gadgets to help him work.

Colin said: “It was a horrible thing to happen, but my dad was extremely brave. The doctor gave him a scolding and said ‘you have to live your life’ and he went back to work.”

His dedication was such that, aged 66, Adam was given an MBE in recognition of his services to agriculture in Aberdeenshire.

“He found out through the post and couldn’t quite believe it,” said Colin.

“Going down to the palace was such a proud day.”

Upon his retirement in 1996, Adam turned his attention to tending land of a different kind, as a football groundsman. Colin said that, in an era of less high-tech equipment than now, his father would “beg, borrow or steal” machinery from farming contacts so he could keep North Lodge Park at its best.

He added: “The pitch was his pride and joy. He used to get irritated when players would do certain pre-match training drills and ruin the surface with their studs. He kept the pitch looking pristine.”

As a huge Aberdeen FC fan, Adam travelled with Colin to Gothenburg in 1983 to watch them beat Real Madrid in the European Cup Winners’ Cup final.

Adam passed on the groundsman role in 2014 and was sadly diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. He died at Roxburghe House on October 30.

“It’s incredibly sad to have lost him, but I’m glad he is no longer in pain,” said Colin.

Adam, husband of the late Sheila, leaves son Colin, daughter Maureen, grandchildren Gordon, Craig and Russell and great-grandchildren Teigan, Raegan and Amerah.

Click here to read the original article

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Holiday Park Switches To TYM

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Holiday Park Switches To TYM: Despite being loyal to another machinery brand for the past 18 years, Smytham Holiday Park in Devon, has made the switch to TYM and purchased a new T353 tractor, to ensure they have the best machine for the large park’s needs.

Set in an idyllic valley and surrounded by 33 acres of parkland, the grounds require 10 acres of grass to be cut and collected up to twice a week in peak season. As a result, reliability, durability and power are essential traits for the machinery purchased for the park, says owner, Tony Harper.

Holiday Park Switches To TYM

“We needed something simple and straightforward that meets the demands of a holiday park. It’s important for us to have a reliable workhorse with a lot of power, but small enough to manoeuvre between the caravans with cutting units attached.”

He continues: “We’ve been brand-loyal since we started the business, but the TYM T353 was a similar size to our previous machine, with the added bonus of a higher lift capability. Plus, the way the hydraulics were put together was a lot tidier. I’ve operated it myself, it’s simple to use, good for switching from one task to another and handles all my attachments perfectly. I’m confident it will improve the quality of the park.”

A demo, organised by Devon Garden Machinery (DGM), saw Tony and his family try out the T353 for themselves.

“We were able to organise a free, onsite demonstration within a week of first discussing the T353, as TYM’s distributor Reesink Turfcare delivered really quickly,” comments DGM sales dealer, Robert Read. “Tony was impressed by the tractor as soon as he saw it, it’s a great size for the holiday park environment. After the demonstration, Tony decided there and then he would purchase it.”

Speaking of the demonstration, Tony added: “Robert was very knowledgeable, he showed us the safety measures and how it worked, but then stepped back and let us give it a try. The tractor spoke for itself really, I knew once I’d seen it in action it was the best product out there for the price. And it was a definite bonus that he could leave the tractor with us and we could trade in our old machine that day – it made buying an easy decision!”

The T353 is already being put to good use. Along with keeping the park in top order, the tractor has been used to move a 12-foot-wide caravan, weighing five tonnes, offsite. “It’s a bit of a funny sight, seeing a little tractor pull a big caravan like that, but it just shows the power it has,” says Tony.

With a high base specification, the T353 is suitable for a wide range of tasks such as transportation, ground preparation and seeding and mowing, it’s clear to see why the compact utility tractor is nicknamed a ‘multi-tasking marvel’. The easy-to-use controls allow effortless switching from task to task, while an excellent turning radius and powerful rear lift capacity of 1200kg, makes the tractor more than capable of small and large jobs. Considering all that, it’s no wonder the T353 was found to be the best option for Smytham Holiday Park.

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Milton Jones To Perform At IOG Awards

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Milton Jones To Perform At IOG Awards: The 2018 IOG Industry Awards will feature several high achievers although it won’t include scheduled comedian Tom Allen – who regrettably now has filming commitments with the Great British Bake Off.

No worries though, the IOG has signed up an incredible replacement, Milton Jones – the wild-haired ‘Prince of Puns’ who, fresh off his UK tour, will be sharing gags to a sell-out audience at the IOG’s annual Awards night at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on the first evening of SALTEX next week.

Milton Jones To Perform At IOG Awards

Milton is a previous Perrier Best Newcomer, the winner of two Sony Awards, and a British Comedy Award nominee. His TV credits include Live at the Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Mock the Week, and Dave’s One Night Stand.

One of the UK’s most successful ‘one liner’ stand-ups, Milton’s acclaimed live shows have all played to more than 100,000 people, all of whom laughed themselves silly at lines such as: “About a month before my grandfather died we covered his back with lard. After that he went downhill very quickly.”

Commenting on the new act, IOG CEO Geoff Webb says:

“Milton Jones is excellent and his one liners will no doubt have our audience in stitches. We can’t wait to host our 10th edition of the IOG Awards celebrating a decade of achievement in groundsmanship.”

For more information about the IOG Awards please visit https://www.iog.org/awards

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