Greenkeeper International

GREENKEEPER INTERNATIONAL GI £5.20 FEBRUARY 2010 Cover Photography by Steve Ansty except BOTTOM CENTRE (by Helen Fannan) Helen (by CENTRE BOTTOM except Ansty Steve by Photography Cover Harrogate Week 2010 Review An 8-page Supplement Inside... ALSO INSIDE: Phoenix from the Ashes (Muswell Hill Golf Course Feature) Anatomy of a Top Dresser, and Growing In Sports Pitches... GKI Eclipse 322 A4 v2:Layout 1 14/01/2010 14:33 Page 1 The new Eclipse 322 The world’s ﬁrst diesel electric hybrid greens mower with no hydraulics • Reduced noise, low fuel consumption and minimal maintenance means a lower cost of ownership • Electric drive systems mean no hydraulic leaks causing damage to greens • Diesel hybrid version • Cutting performance can be infinitely adjusted to any course condition • Ergonomically designed operator station reduces fatigue and provides an unobstructed view The Eclipse 322 – the green solution to precise greens mowing Jacobsen for further information Want an even better ﬁnish to your greens? Then contact Ransomes Ransomes Jacobsen Ltd West Road, Ipswich, IP3 9TT UK Tel: +44 (0) 1473 270000 Web: www.ransomesjacobsen.co.uk Driving Environmental Performance Code: GKI/02/E322 WELCOME FROM THE EDITOR BIGGA President Sir Michael Bonallack, OBE Board of Management Chairman – Paul Worster Vice Chairman Andrew Mellon Past Chairman Peter Todd Board Members Chris Sealey, Gary Cunningham, Archie Dunn, Ian Willett, Tony Smith, Elliott Small, Mark Dobell Chief Executive John Pemberton [email protected] Head of Learning & Development Sami Collins [email protected] Head of Membership Department Tracey Maddison [email protected] Contact Us BIGGA HOUSE, Aldwark, Alne, York, YO61 1UF [email protected] www.bigga.org.uk Tel – 01347 833800 | Fax – 01347 833801 GREENKEEPER International The official monthly magazine of the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association Limited. Editorial Looking for Solutions Communications Manager / Editor Scott MacCallum Tel – 01347 833800 Fax – 01347 833801 [email protected] I have just enjoyed what was my 15th BIGGA member, and now President of the Design Harrogate Week and, despite some Scottish Club Managers Association of Europe, Design and apprehension leading up to it on account and Managing Secretary of the Crail Golfing Production Editor of the weather, it wouldn’t be stretching Society. Tom Campbell the truth to say that it was one of the David described the pressures on Club Tel – 01347 833800 Secretaries, with many clubs seeking to hark Fax – 01347 833801 best we’ve done since my first way back [email protected] in 1996. back to the days of the Past Captain taking on Advertising There were many highlights. The “2 mil the role of Honorary Secretary. Debate” was a big hit, with tickets more sought “I’ve heard people say: ‘We managed fine with Sales Executive Kirstin Smith after than for Led Zeppelin at the O2, and an Honorary Secretary. I don’t understand this despite a new larger venue, brought in as why we’re employing this guy. What does he do Tel – 01347 833800 Fax – 01347 833802 numbers grew. It was fantastic to see a debate, anyway?’” said David, adding that the workload [email protected] on what was a pure greenkeeping issue, for every club has increased markedly. proving to be such an emotive and talked about “Now there’s health and safety, employment Sales Executive Jill Rodham event. law, licences, fire protection and insurance and Other highlights, other than the reassuringly child protection policies to look after… Tel – 01347 833800 Fax – 01347 833802 high decibel level of the legendary “Harrogate “There can be no doubt that the practice of [email protected] Buzz” in the Halls, included the Association’s employing unqualified people is harming golf,” Wild West Night on the Tuesday. he declared. BIGGA had moved its official Hotel to the While he was talking predominately about Printing Old Swan, which gave a freshness to the inside the clubhouse, we are all aware of the Warners Midlands Plc, The Maltings, Manor Lane, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH whole week, and the Old Swan staff; Wild West pressures enthusiastic amateurs – often in Tel – 01778 391000 | Fax – 01778 394269 Night organisers; Ransomes Jacobsen’s, who the shape of Captains and Chairmen of Green Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise sponsored the event, and our own Sandra - have put on Course Managers and Head reproduced without written permission. Return Raper did a superb job in created an evening Greenkeepers over the years and how their postage must accompany all materials submitted if return is requested. No responsibility can be that will be remembered for quite some time. “interfering” has had such a detrimental effect assumed for unsolicited materials. The right is Having enjoyed a successful week, BIGGA on so many of the country’s golf courses. We reserved to edit submissions before publication. Although every care will be taken, no can now look ahead and tackle the next can all point to a Captain’s ornamental conifer responsibility is accepted for loss of manuscripts, photographs or artwork. Opinions expressed 12 months, knowing that the tough times half way down the 1st fairway, which sticks out are not necessarily those of the Association, currently being experienced will undoubtedly like the proverbial sore thumb. and no responsibility is accepted for such content, advertising or product information afflict our sector of the industry for quite some Fortunately it is becoming rarer but the that may appear. Circulation is by subscription. time yet. message must still go out - if golf clubs are to Subscription rate: UK £50 per year, Europe and Eire £65, Rest of the World £95. The magazine is On the issue of golf’s problems, it has been get the best out of their facilities. also distributed to BIGGA members, golf clubs, interesting to follow the recent series “Golf “Leave the professionals to get on with their local authorities, the turf industry, libraries and central government. Timebomb” in Scotland’s Herald newspaper, jobs.” written by Douglas Lowe. Aware of the problems the game of golf is experiencing in the Home of Golf, Douglas profiled some clubs which are looking at schemes to attract or retain younger members - to counter an Scott MacCallum average member age of 54, while he also ISSN: 0961– 6977 Editor © 2010 British and International Golf interviewed David Roy, a former prominent Greenkeepers Association Limited FEBRUARY 2010 GI 3 CONTENTS GI A look at what’s inside the magazine this month FEBRUARY 2010 COURSE FEATURE 16 Phoenix FEATURES from the Ashes 16 Phoenix from the Ashes Scott MacCallum meets Matt Plested, Course Manager at Mus- Muswell Hill Golf Club suffered a horrendous arson attack just before Matt Plested took over as Course Manager. Since then, well Hill GC, a man who had a as Scott MacCallum found out, things have got a lot better… tough start to his new job 22 The Anatomy of… a Top Dresser There can be few more While he was serving his notice “As well as every machine, all the stressful experiences in life at Old Fold Manor Golf Club, in paperwork – drainage and irrigation than changing job or getting north London, and about to march records – went, and we did indeed James de Havilland with the married so spare a thought for down the aisle with his beautiful have nothing but a shovel.” Matt Plested who combined bride, Matt got a phone call from the The fire, in June of 2007, was truly those two activities in the Chairman of Green at Muswell Hill horrific. A total of 55 fire fighters space of a couple of weeks two Golf Club to say that the Mainte- from all over London attended and second in the new series, taking and a half years ago. nance Facility had burnt down. with a 5,000 litre delivery of diesel While I soldier on the certain “It was a real shock. When I asked that day, and a school just a few knowledge that a wave of “So him what had survived he told me, yards from the scene frantic efforts a serious look at the workings of what’s!” will be the response of many ‘a shovel’,” said Matt, as we sat in were made to ensure that it didn’t who have been in a similar position, his fantastic new facility, a clue to spread beyond the boundaries of the MAIN PHOTO: The 11th hole at let me give you more information the fact that the harrowing start to golf club. Muswell Hill looking splendid. BIGGAeveryday machinery. which might just make you a little his career at Muswell Hill was not to The culprit, of this deliberate act INSET ABOVE AND LEFT PAGE: Damage caused by the fire Harrogate Week 2010 Review more sympathetic to Matt. last too long into his married life. of arson, was found to be a 14 year A Professional Body for GI FEBRUARY 2010 GI 17 Sports26 New Turf Beginning. Professionals Q: Are you employed in the maintenance of sports turf at a sports facility? Q: Do you want to be taken Communicationseriously as a sports turf professional? Q: Do you want access to a wide range of bespoke education courses? Q: Do you want to be part ofand a large network Managing of like-minded people where shared knowledge is a key ingredient? Q: Do you want to be part of a progressive association that actively works to enhance the professional reputationDifficult of sports turf professionals? Members If you answered YESPaul to any of theLowe, above questions of Bromsborough then Membership of BIGGA is for Golf you. CoverPhotography StevebyAnsty except BOTTOM CENTRE (byHelen Fannan) Why Join BIGGA?Club offersBIGGA some is about great promoting: advice on • Affordable, industryhope

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