01 REPARING FOR A TOP CHAMPIONSHIP • COMPACTION • VISCOUNT WH|TELAW INTERVIEW JLY 1994 • £3.00

The environmental routes different courses are following

Award-winning journal of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association It's the results that count with HARDI GREENCARE suppliers of the leading Aeration Equipment

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AD REF HARDI LTD • 4/5 WATLING CLOSE • SKETCHLEY MEADOWS • HINCKLEY • LEICS LE10 3EX • TEL 0455 233811 • FAX 0455 233815 25 President The Rt. Hon. Viscount Whitelaw K.T., C.H., M.C., D.L.

BIGGA BOARD OF MANAGEMENT Chairman: John Millen Vice-Chairman: Barry Heaney

BOARD MEMBERS Richard Barker George Malcolm JULY 1994 FREE READER Gordon Moir John Crawford REPLY SERVICE Huw Parry Dean Cleaver Jeffrey Mills George Barr Use the post- paid Reader EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Reply Card Neil Thomas B.A. Contents facing Page 54 EDUCATION OFFICER for further Ken Richardson information on the products ADMINISTRATION MANAGER Working with and services John Pemberton advertised in this nature issue. Just state With the words 'golf and the companies' Ad Ref numbers, post the card to us and 'environment' increasingly we'll arrange for further informa- tion to be sent to you direct. being linked, we look at three courses to find out ADVERTISERS' INDEX is the official monthly magazine of a quick reference guide the British & International Golf how they are tackling Greenkeepers Association. Ad Ref Page Contact us at Aldwark Manor, sensitive ecology issues. Linlithgow, Temple and Gleneagles Andersons 463 14 Aldwark, Alne, York Y06 2NF explain their policies for the 1990s Pages 17-21 A&F Warehouse 407 34 Brian D Pierson 40 21 EDITOR Dixon & Holliday 214 16 Chris Boiling Tel: 0347 838581 • Fax: 0347 838864 Enterprise Buildings 425 16 Preparing for a major championship E&S Sportsground 248 33 DESIGN/PRODUCTION EDITOR The Bell's Scottish Open is a four-day event, but preparations Eric Hunter Grinders 73 40 Tim Moat Golf Maintenance 440 55 Tel: 0904 610611 • Fax: 0904 643074 behind it stretch into years. We explain the procedures which Grundon 437 15 SALES AND MARKETING stop the Bell's from taking its toll Pages 9-11 Hardi 25 2 MANAGER Hayters 90 24 Bill Lynch ICI Professional Products Tel/Fax: 091 413 7218 Our friend in high places 54 56 SENIOR ADVERTISING SALES loG 365 41 EXECUTIVE He's the esteemed elder statesman of British politics but his Irish Greenkeepers Association Carol Dutton first love is golf... Chris Boiling meets BIGGA president and 458 12 Tel: 0347 838581 • Fax: 0347 838864 Jacobsen 4 32 greenkeepers' champion Viscount Whitelaw SALES AND MARKETING ....Pages 22-23 Lely (Toro) 61 36,37 ASSISTANT Midland Turf Aerating 464 34 Louise Lunn Multi-Core 347 33 Tel: 0347 838581 • Fax: 0347 838864 Voting with their feet Ocmis 360 6 Pattissons 35 16 PRINTING St Enodoc takes the hammering of 75,000 rounds of golf each Hi-Tec Print, Unit 7, Universal Crescent, Standard Golf 421 13 North Anston Trading Estate, year. Head greenkeeper Stuart Dymond explains how he keeps Times Mirror 462 13 North Anston, Sheffield S31 7NZ compaction under control Pages 33-37 Buyer's Guide • 44-48 Tel: 0909 568533 • Fax: 0909 568206 Classified • 49 Job Shop • 49 Please send all editorial contributions, advertising copy, subscriptions and Recruitment • 49-53 address changes to BIGGA at Aldwark Manor, Aldwark, Alne, York Y06 2NF Regular features Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission. Return postage must accompany all materials submitted News A bumper round-up of all that's happening in our industry, including if return is requested. No responsibility can be how BTME '95 has almost reached capacity Pages 5, 7,15, 25, 31 assumed for unsolicited materials. The right is reserved to edit submissions before publication. Namesearch A new competition to stir up your grey matter. Solve it and you Although every care will be taken, no responsi- bility is accepted for loss of manuscripts, pho- could win £50 or a BIGGA blazer Page 40 tographs or artwork. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Association and no Around the Green Regular updates from our correspondents. Find out what's responsibility is accepted by the Association for such content, advertising or product information going on, including news of the Hayter Challenge Regional Finals: ...Pages 26-30 that may appear. Circulation is by subscription. Subscription rate: UK £34 per year, Europe and Eire £44. The magazine is also distributed to BIGGA members, golf clubs, local authorities, the turf industry, libraries and central government. Cover ISSN 0961 - 6977 Graze-y days of summer on the © 1994 British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association course at New Forest Golf Club. ADVERTISING WORKS Picture by Joe McCarthy IN GREENKEEPER ran INTERNATIONAL: The response from our Greenkeeper Education and Development Fund Buyer's Guide far The Fund provides the key to the future for outweighs the expense greenkeeper, golf club and game. Individuals and of the ad. We can reach a much companies can join the Golden Key Circle and Silver wider audience which Key Circle. For details, contact BIGGA on 0347 838581. is not restricted to the English market. GOLDEN KEY CIRCLE COMPANY MEMBERS: • ET Breakwell Ltd • Hardi Ltd • Hayters PLC - JESSE JOHNSON, • ICI Professional Products • Jacobsens • Kubota UK Ltd BIGGA Managing Director, Liquid Sod • Lely UK Ltd • Rigby Taylor Ltd • Toro Irrigation GOLDEN KEY Inc and SILVER KEY FOR MORE DETAILS CALL: SILVER KEY CIRCLE COMPANY MEMBERS: Bill Lynch on 091 413 7218, or • Ransomes • Risboro' Turf CIRCLES Carol Dutton or Louise Lunn at For a BTME '95 information pack call Louise Lunn on 0347 838581 - quickly! The event is almost sold out... BIGGA HQ on 0347 838581.

GREENKEEPER INTERNATIONAL July 1994 3 WE SAY Spring time - or stress time?

t's early April and spring is in and perhaps, if necessary, seek ter than the departing one within I advice or guidance from BIGGA the resources made available to the air. The nights are drawing as the professional body repre- him and prevailing attitudes out and the dark days of winter senting their Course Manager's within the club. Indeed it may are but a fading memory. A time interests. Greenkeepers do not not be too long before the sce- of optimism when greenkeepers generally seek confrontation. nario repeats itself. So it could sally forth with a new spring in They ask quite simply for consul- well be that the club will reflect their heels. Or is it? For many tation, consideration and under- on the loss of a good man in the greenkeepers it's stress time once standing in carrying out a course of quietening a few over- again. No sooner is the month difficult job to the best of their excited members who really under way than greenkeepers are ability and under increasingly needed no other antidote that a confronted with their first major complex rules and regulations, let few low-scoring rounds of golf problem best summarised as the alone bad weather, inadequate before declaring the golf course 'Augusta Syndrome'. As the last BIGGA in focus capital and maintenance budgets to be in the best condition they images of the Augusta Masters BY NEIL THOMAS and too few staff. They do not could remember. tournament fade from our TV seek to stand above criticism or So now it is July and hopefully screens the knocking brigade deny their own foibles. However, for the survivors 'spring madness' come into action. Suddenly the workshops for 20-25 members at they surely have a right to expect is over for another year. For those golf course which was in fine con- a time on a rolling programme the employer to protect them who haven't made it one can only dition for the time of year only basis. Certainly more and more from the diatribes of those small hope that there are better days the previous week is now per- Course Managers are benefiting groups of ill-informed members ahead. Before we go full circle ceived as far from that when from a regular dialogue with whose knowledge of golf course once again is it too much to hope compared with the idyllic condi- members and this is a move in management is at best scanty and that a new spirit will prevail? Is it tions prevailing at the Masters. the right direction and to be very at worst non-existent. Yet how too much to ask that clubs pro- Little heed of course is paid to much encouraged. easily can such members produce vide the wherewithal for green- such mundane matters as climatic Where a negative situation a career-threatening situation for keepers to receive training in conditions, maintenance budgets exists in a golf club and there is a the greenkeeper. areas of identified weakness? Is it or greenstaff numbers. Winter is lack of communication, it is all As we move through May and too much to ask that green com- over and the course should be in too easy for the Course Manager June as peak playing months the mittees show greater understand- mint condition. to become isolated and inward- pressure is really on and perhaps ing and put their faith in their The Chairman of the Green looking - both within the club these two months more than any most important employee, the Committee is called into action. and indeed from his local BIGGA others will determine whether golf course manager, rather than Surely it is time the greenkeeping section where, if approached, car- the Course Manager's services are interfere in matters where their staff were sorted out. It is cold, it ing fellow greenkeepers would be terminated or indeed whether he knowledge is at best limited? is wet and the grass is not grow- available to advise and help in decides that he has had enough. I Finally, is it too much to ask that ing - but the Course Manager instances where an individual is would venture to suggest that meetings and workshops for golf protesteth too much and in vain. facing particular problems. such pressure and the resultant club members are established to Conditions must improve and Within the club this would seem stress is in no-one's best interests. enable the Course Manager to they must improve rapidly. Yes, to be the time when a sympa- As a result Course Managers who disseminate information on the it's stress time. Less the reader thetic employer should seek to are highly competent are lost to golf course - its maintenance and thinks that the writer exaggerates help the Course Manager golf clubs and maybe to green- management? In some instances then yet again this year reports whether the problem be an agro- keeping. The golf club then has to the answer may be yes on all have reached the office of green- nomic or personal one. Before seek a replacement and there are counts but hope springs eternal keepers throwing in the towel. acting precipitately wouldn't it be no guarantees that the new and I am optimistic that a wind of This article is not about protect- better for the employer to consult Course Manager will perform bet- change is beginning to blow. The ing the lazy, incompetent green- grounds for such optimism keeper but it is a plea for a emanate from the tremendous greater understanding and for a upsurge in the education and move away from the traditional Golfing triumph for Emma, training programmes made avail- 'spring madness'. able to greenkeepers in recent No doubt many of the prob- ex-BIGGA girl with ambition years and the increasing recogni- lems revolve around communica- tion within the game for the well- There was great excitement wildest- ambitions when, just tion and consultation and lack of qualified, experienced and recently in the office with the over a year later, she has suc- knowledge on the part of mem- technically competent individual. news of Emma Duggleby's tri- ceeded in winning golf's most bers. The regular changing of Such individuals will be con- umph in the Ladies' British coveted ladies' amateur title. green committee personnel does sulted and find that their advice Amateur Championship. Emma was a popular, unas- not help. Are all these problems is heeded and their maintenance Many of you will recall that it is suming member of staff whom insurmountable? I think not. programmes are sanctioned and only just over a year ago that we were very sorry to lose. Much can be achieved if the golf implemented. The golfer, much 22 year old Emma relin- However, we keep in touch club adopts a positive attitude to to his delight, will come to appre- quished her position with and will follow her career with greenkeeper training. The Course ciate the well-maintained golf BIGGA in order to pursue her interest in a future which we Manager's technical skills will be course on which he can aspire to golfing ambitions. Talking with hope will bring Curtis Cup complemented by managerial perform great deeds. All then is her at the time, Emma was in a honours and who knows in the and communication skills and he not lost and there must be a con- real quandary whether to years ahead perhaps she will should be encouraged to keep certed effort on the part of golf chance her arm in the quest tread in the footsteps of Nancy members informed on course club and greenkeeper to ensure for golfing glory or to pursue a Lopez and Laura Davies. We maintenance matters. I heard that, in the course of time, the career with BIGGA. In decid- all join in sending our congrat- recently that one Course Man- bad old days of 'spring madness' ing on the former, she must ulations and best wishes for ager, who for some years has will become but a fading mem- surely have exceeded her the future. been running an annual seminar ory. for members, is now setting up BTME '95 set FLYING DIVOTS to reach • The Isles of Scilly's one arid only greenkeeper, Peter Stringer, is off work at the capacity with moment thanking his lucky stars that he was wearing 81 % of space steel toe-capped boots. If he wasn't he could have lost his NEWS foot, according to doctors. already sold Peter, 64, was cutting the semi-rough at the nine-hole, With seven months to go, 81% of 18 tees course. He stopped the stand space at next year's his old Massey Ferguson to BIGGA Turf Management move a seat, but as he was Exhibition in Harrogate has been getting out the tractor began sold. moving forward. Peter lost his Many of this year's exhibitors balance and ended up under were so impressed with the event the tractor. that they have taken much larger The gang mowers cut sites in '95. These companies through the sole of one boot, include Lely UK, Ransomes, Hardi badly gashing his foot and Sprayers, Sharpes International, breaking two toes. "But if I Kings Horticulture and Sisis. hadn't been wearing my steel New exhibitors include the Golf toe-capped boots, I'd have Course Superintendents lost my foot," he said. Association of America, which will help give the seventh BTME a • The Sports Turf more international flavour. Reasearch Bill Lynch, BIGGA's marketing Institute has manager, said: "The response has promoted Stuart been overwhelming. More space Ormondroyd to had been taken and paid for by senior turfgrass the end of May than we had sold agronomist. by September last year. This, Stuart joined the combined with the fact that we STRI in 1980 and has been are restricting BTME to halls A, B specialising in go.lf since and C to preserve the show's 1986, advising many courses intimacy and the fact that we've in the north of England, lost a bit of space due to new fire Midlands and Ireland. He will regulations, means some continue with his existing manufacturers and distributors duties (including lecturing) as could be disappointed unless they well as assisting in the book their space soon." development and extension Britain's premier indoor turf of the STRI's advisory service. managment show will take place on January 25-27 in Harrogate's Luck of the draw • RPK Turfcare Supplies International Centre. For the first have appointed three new time, it will be preceded by brings prize boost area reps. Former BIGGA's National Education greenkeeper Peter Jordas will Conference rather than A postcard from the edge of Effingham has saved the local golf cover Surrey/Sussex, Harry workshops. The highly-successful course £1,000. Head greenkeeper Peter Broadbent was one of 2,000 Norman will handle Berkshire, UK and Irish greenkeepers sent a postcard from the USA to promote seminar programme will run as Buckinghamshire and an improved formulation of ICI's Turf Mark. Greenkeepers were normal throughout the exhibition. Hampshire, and Jenny # Next issue, you could win an able to swap the card for a free sachet of the spray dye indicator, and the cards were entered into a draw for £1,000 worth of ICI Pro- Waterfield will cover East all-expenses paid trip to BTME - fessional Products goodies. The draw was made at BIGGA's head- Sussex and Kent. Tel: 0734 watch this space. quarters by executive director Neil Thomas, watched by ICI's Roger 510251. • Exhibition plan to date: Pages Mossop. The winner was Peter Broadbent of Effingham Golf Course. 42-43. • The British women's amateur champion is a former BIGGA employee. Emma Duggleby, 22, worked for the David gets six of the best Association from September 1992 to March 1993 before David Eager, head greenkeeper at Northern Ireland's Blackwood quitting to try to 'make it' in Golf Course near Bangor has taken charge of six new Hayter the world of golf. Nobody, machines - five Triple Greens Mowers (three complete with probably not even Emma, groomers and two with treaded front tyres and tees cutting heads) expected success to come and a T44 fairway five-gang ride-on mower. "Being cut off from quite so soon. the mainstream of the UK trade has in the past restricted North- Just over a year after ern Ireland greenkeepers to a limited choice of mowers," said switching from greenkeeping David, "but I met Hayter at a number of trade shows and talked to to golfing matters, she beat their sales representative, Robin Boyes. He arranged a demon- 47-year-old Cecilia Mourgue I stration of their Greens Triple and T44.1 liked what I saw..." D'Algue 3&1 in the final of the • David is pictured with greens assistant Jonathon Eager and British Women's David Johnston of Hayter dealer Cyril Johnston in Belfast. Championships at Newport. At OCMIS we aim to provide the best possible service to EXPANSION the golfing industry and to help us in this objective we UPGRADES are conducting a survey to determine what your irrigation maintenance and service needs are likely to be. AUTOMATION As an incentive we are putting all completed surveys in a RENOVATION prize draw, first prize being a golfing holiday for two to MAINTENANCE Portugal plus a second prize of two tickets to a major WINTERISATION golf tournament plus a further twenty runner-up prizes COMMISSIONING of Somerset Royal Brandy. SYSTEM To be included in the draw please be sure to return your survey by the 1st of August. EVALUATION IMPROVING All head greenkeepers should have recently received a survey form. OPERATING If you are a head greenkeeper and have not received yours please telephone EFFICIENCY OCMIS as soon as possible. , , , PROJECT Good luck MANAGEMENT Ocmis Irrigation (UK) Ltd. Martock, Somerset TA12 6BU. tel: (0460) 241939 OCMIS Midlands Office tel: (0789) 414604 Northern Office tel: (0924) 453102 Scotland Office tel: (0312) 202102

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AD Ocmis Irrigation (UK) Ltd., Martock, Somerset TA12 6BU. tel: (0460) 241939 REF I Midlands Office tel: (0789) 414604 Northern Office tel: (0924) 453102 you can trust 360 " Scotland Office tel: (0312) 202102 Picking a winner INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK Icelandic greenkeepers for The Open look towards Scotland "I wish we could play The Open George, who backed Jose Maria here tomorrow," said Turnberiys Olazabal to win the US Masters course manager, George Brown, this year and Ian Baker-Finch to when we phoned him just before win at Royal Birkdale in '91, reck- we went to press. ons the conditions will suit US Three weeks before the big day, Open winner Ernie Els. he was very happy with the way The rough isn't as dense as it Hannes the course was looking. After a was when The Open last visited Porssteinsson very dry May, Ailsa had been Turnberry in 1986, and the fair- and Carol Borthwick, at blessed with enough rain during ways and semi roughs are more Elmwood the early part of June to put a generous. "You don't have to be College smile back on 55-year-old deadly accurate, so it will suit • That well-known land of golf, aspects of the sport when he George's face. Although he has a someone who hits it a long way Iceland, is making progress on spent some time working in Eng- fully-computerised irrigation sys- but sprays it about a bit." the greenkeeping front. They are land. It was then that his interest tem, he says: "You can't beat the Greg Norman might also receive setting up the Icelandic Golf in importing grass seed to Ice- real thing". a flutter from four-handicapper Greenkeeping Association and a land first emerged. Greens there Are your greens going to be as George. second Icelandic greenkeeper, have traditionally been allowed to fast as Oakmont, we teased him? BIGGA's president, Viscount Margeir Vilhjalmsson, has fin- develop from natural grasses, but "Bloody hope not," was his typi- Whitelaw, favours Seve Ballesteros ished his year's course at Elm- about four years ago Hannes set cally honest response. He says to add to his Benson and Hedges wood College, Cupar, Fife. The up seeding experiments with he'll be aiming for a speed of 9.5- triumph at St Mellion while Green- first Icelandic greenkeeping stu- imported mixes and during his 10. "If there's a strong wind you keeper International's editor, Chris dent, Olafur Agustsson, is now trip to Elmwood he learned from don't want it more than ten, oth- Boiling, is backing Scotland's own working at Leynir Golf Club in the Carol Borthwick, greenkeeping erwise they'll be there all day." Colin Montgomerie. south-west of the country. It is section head, explanations of the one of 45 clubs affiliated to the different grass mixes being tried Icelandic Golf Union, six of which out on the training ground. have 18 holes. During the visit Hannes pointed A driving force behind green- out that people imagine Iceland keeper improvements in the to be bare and rocky, but in fact it country is Hannes Porssteinsson, is a very green island and he is who played golf for Iceland as a hopeful that some of the new junior and for the last seven years mixes will mean that the Icelandic has been on the board of the courses of the future are nearer to IGU. His role during this period the quality of Scottish greens. was to look after the junior section While he was visiting Elmwood, of the Union and he captained he finalised details of Carol's the junior golf team, which forthcoming trip to Iceland, where included Agustsson until he went she will be guest of honour at the : to Elmwood. inauguration ceremony of the Ice- City of Ely Golf Club's Peter Reed won the Ufford Park Golf Day, spon- Hannes became more inter- landic Golf Greenkeeping Associ- sored by Sisis, RE Rushbrook & Son, Fisons, Rhone-Poulenc, and ested in the greenkeeping ation. Lockwood Grass Machinery. Thirty-five greenkeepers and golf-playing groundsmen took part in the event. A raffle raised £60 for Save the Children. America honours 'Masters' • During last January's BTME lighted is the fact that only eight Your chance Parker Hart those members who had the Master Greenkeeper awards to win award opportunity of meeting Terry have been earned worldwide. Buchen following his Master Terry says that he has received Entry forms will soon be acquired by Greenkeeper award, will recall at least 50 telephone calls from available for the the pride he took in joining the his peers and some 75 cards Environmental Steward Award. Printsphere august company of those now and letters from other people Although this award is aimed Parker Hart has been acquired by titled 'Master Greenkeeper'. within golf. He was recently hon- mainly at US golf course the investment group Printsphere Terry is based at the exclusive oured with a dinner and presen- superintendents, the which also owns Rigby Taylor Double Eagle club in Galena, tation. organisers have told BIGGA Ltd. But Printsphere's group Ohio - a 7,100 yard design by I have been saying for some "for the first time, we are chairman, Bernard Hedley, says: Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish time that the award of Master considering entries from "We intend that Rigby Taylor and which has only 102 members Greenkeeper status is the ulti- around the world". Awards Parkers will continue to operate with just 35 of those being local mate pinnacle for a greenkeeper created to recognise independently." members. Amongst the national and accords the recipient the greenkeepers who care for and The new managing director of members are Ray Floyd and Chi- highest respect from his peer enhance their local T Parker & Sons (Turf Chi Rodriquez. group and increasingly the environments are given in Management), which recently Writing from America, Terry game. The publicity given to the three categories: public, award in America is another bought the business of Maxwell has enclosed photocopies from private and resort. Closing major step forward in the world- Hart, is Jon Ryan. Mr Ryan, who eight magazine articles concern- date for entries is October 31 wide recognition of BIGGA and worked for Parkers for 15 years ing his receiving the Master and the forms are available Greenkeeper Certificate in Har- we are indeed lucky to have during the early stages of his from Ceres Communications, rogate. Amongst the magazines three outstanding ambassadors career, told GI: "I am deighted to 421 W Travelers Trail, are such well known titles as in America in Terry, Bil Montague be working again with so many Brunsville, MN55337, USA. Tel: 'Golf Digest' and 'Golf World' as and Bob Maibusch - Master 0101 612 8942414. Fax:0101 old friends and look forward to well as the GCSAA's own 'Golf Greenkeepers all. 612 8942423. building on Parker's traditional Course Management'. High- Neil Thomas strengths in the trade." He may be the mayor of Chippenham but the greenkeeper at Monkton Park still can't insure his machinery for theft.

e's the head greenkeeper of a nine-hole par H3 course. He's the club pro. He's a gliding instructor. And now he's the town mayor. Mel Dawson has more hats than Gertrude Shilling. One minute he's changing the oil in his one and only ride-on mower, the next he's off to Windsor Castle to see his local Berkshire Wilt- shire Regiment amalgamate with the Glouces- ter and pick up new colours from the Duke of Edinburgh. Wearing so many hats is not a problem for this 40-year-old father of two. He and wife Bar- bie have been at the course for 20 years and are used to working all hours to get the job done. "It just means getting up a bit earlier," explained BIGGA member Mel. "If you were working 9-5, five days a week you couldn't do it, but we have a farmer's mentality. So far today we've only got half the fairways and greens cut because it's raining. If it dries up later we'll be out at 7pm or so finishing off. If there's work to be done, whether it's a Sunday, bank holiday or nine o'clock in the evening, we go out and do it. Because we're used to working like this we can fit in other things." As mayor he is also chairman of the council and has to attend at Mower and mayor least one council meeting a week. As mayor he is also the first citizen of Chippenham so he has to open everything from a hockey club to a job centre to guilty when people come to the shop to pay me work hard on my golf and get down to single a school's fete. "It's good because you meet peo- money." figures," says the Mayor of Chippenham who ple who work hard in Chippenham who you'd As you will have gathered by now, Mel is not got into politics through his father-in-law. never met before," he says. As a gliding instruc- a normal greenkeeper and Monkton Park is not When he married in '75, Barbie's father was the tor he spends most Sundays at the local club, a typical par 3 course. Set in 10 acres leased mayor. Later on, Mel was asked to get involved where he has been flying for 20 years. His from the local council, it is kept to a very high because of his contacts. He's been on the coun- father was also a glider pilot and all four of his standard considering the wear and tear it cil for seven years and was deputy mayor last brothers are involved with aviation in some receives (including divots in the greens). There year. way. are 16 (a 17th is on its way) bunkers and holes But, even though he is mayor, he can't get his As a greenkeeper, he has been looking after which range in length from the 90-yard 9th to machinery insured for theft. This is because it is Monkton Park - which he promotes as 'The the 178-yard 5th. So experienced players - housed in a "remote" 25x10ft shed in the mid- South West's Best Par 3 Course' - for 20 years there are 50 club members - will have to use dle of the park and Mel put in a £3,000 claim and has been a member of BIGGA for four most irons in their bags. And it's not easy last year (only his second in 20 years) when his years. Last November he took on a YTS lad, 17- because most of the greens are small. The Ransomes Auto-certes, chainsaw, strimmer and year-old Robert Jenkins (also a BIGGA mem- largest one is the 500sq yd double 8th/9th other equipment was stolen and his Sisis spiker ber), to help him maintain the course and repair green. The total size of all the greens is about was thrown in the nearby river (presumably clubs. Barbie also does her fair share on the 2,500 sq yds - easily covered with four bags of because it was too heavy and the wheels had course. "I had a council meeting at 3 o'clock fertiliser. been removed). yesterday, so she was out there shovelling sand The fertiliser and the topdressing has to be Mel is trying to find a way round it, but at out of the trailer because we've got nowhere to brought onto the course by a Land Rover and the moment he is taking much of the lighter store it," Mel told us. two-ton trailer because it's in the middle of a equipment home with him. Taking on Robert But Barbie is mainly responsible for the snack public park and access is limited. Mel says he may help because now it means that Mel and bar and golf shop, and employs some casual would like to topdress more often but because his landlords, the council, will have to meet labour to help her during the hectic, long sum- he has to have it bagged, it is too expensive. health and safety standards, and that could mer days. Their 15 and 17-year-old daughters There is also the problem of how to apply it as mean a better, more secure shed. also lend a hand. most of the modern topdressing machinery is "We've got decent machinery so we can get big and expensive. the golf course done quickly," says Mel, who Satisfaction The course, which is open 364 days of the wants to hang onto it. "We like to have the Of all his duties, jobs and functions, it's green- year, 9am til dusk, used to be 14 holes all course look nice and play nice." keeping that gives Mel the most satisfaction. about 100 yards. Now the most obvious tees Just like any other normal greenkeeper. "It's the thing I take the most pride in. Any are still about 100 yards from the greens but greenkeeper likes his golfers to come up to him there are also back mats on four holes for more MONKTON PARK EQUIPMENT experienced golfers, many of whom are also and say, 'The greens are looking nice today,' or 1 Sabo Kontinent 1200-3D, 1 Kubota G1700 'The fairways are looking nice today'. It might members of local 18-hole courses. ride-on mower, which doubles up as a utility only be 10 acres and a small golf course, but it's Mel and Barbie bought the business from vehicle, 1 Ransomes Super-certes greens still nice when members come up and pay us a Mel's boss, Frank Hill, a former touring pro, mower, 1 Sisis Autoturfman spiker, which they compliment. never dreaming they'd still be there 20 years use about once a month, 1 Echo strimmer, 1 "We do take a lot of pride in it, and because and two children later. Echo chainsaw, 1 Opitech Sprayer, 1 Cyclone we take a lot of pride in it it's easier for me to Mel doesn't play much but holds the course fertiliser spreader, 1 old Amazone leaf sweeper, get behind the counter and take £3 per round record - 24. When he's played full-size courses 1 Massey-Ferguson 135 tractor with gang mow- off people. If it's rained for four days and I he usually shoots in the mid-80s. "When I give ers, 1 Land Rover with 2.5 tonne trailer. Irriga- haven't been able to do anything with it, I feel up the gliding and council work I'm going to tion is via two standpipes and 100m of hose. for a major championship Jimmy Kidd, Scott Fenwick and Chris Boiling explain how he Bell's Scottish Open is the staff at Gleneagles stop the Bell's from taking its toll there are eight greenkeepers on Tonly a four-day event, but the on the King's Course. the Queen's and 15 on the staff at Gleneagles have been Monarch's. Each course has its preparing for it for 13 years. own machinery and maintenance Preparations began as soon as there, but it has taken a great deal As well as transforming the work- facility with mess room. Gleneagles became a private com- of effort to get to the stage where shops, they also transformed the "This new structure immedi- pany in 1981. Six years later it everything appears to run greenkeeping management struc- ately created a sense of responsi- Staged its first championship; now smoothly. ture "to ensure a top quality golf bility and identity amongst the the greenkeepers at the five-star When Gleneagles became a pri- product year round". estates staff plus some very resort - all 34 of them - are set vate company the first thing they Each of the courses (four then healthy competition between the for their eighth event, with many did was refurbish the hotel and but the new Jack Nicklaus- staff and their charges," says top pros treating it as a warm-up invest in a new country club facil- designed Monarch's replaced two Jimmy Kidd, the director of turf- to the Open Championship. ity. Current owners Guinness have of them) was given a head green- grass management at Gleneagles The Bell's Scottish Open at Gle- added other sports facilities (such keeper, deputy head greenkeeper, Golf Developments. neagles' 80-year-old King's Course as the Jackie Stewart Shooting other greenkeepers and appren- While the new clubhouse, has become part of the annual School and an equestrian centre), tices. The King's Course has eight offices, golf shop and comput- routine for the greenkeepers and new maintenance facilities. full-time and three seasonal staff, erised golf reservations facilities Preparing for a major championship

were being built, the King's Works proceeded on the greens, By 1985 the course had been maintenance route and during Course was undergoing some too, to get them up to European turned around and Gleneagles championship week for service fairly critical assessment to review Tour event standard - fast, firm was ready to stage its first Euro- and TV vehicles and as a walkway strategy, playability, crowd move- and true whilst holding a well pean Tour event, but the bid fal- for spectators. But no-one wanted ment, television cabling, tented struck shot. This proved difficult tered at contract signing stage. it to ruin the aesthetic appeal of village services, car parking etc. to achieve at first in 1983 because "This was due to a variety of cir- the course. As it is, the roadway is An estates survey was commis- years of low investment, poor cumstances," explains Mr Kidd, difficult to see from the playing sioned and a grand plan with pro- equipment and a lack of manage- "Not least of which was a poor areas. posals and costings was presented ment structure plus over-utilisa- slot in the ETPD calendar. The During the construction of this to the managing director for tion of the course had seriously late September date was totally roadway, ancillary services such approval. What they were looking diminished the quality of the unacceptable to a resort golf as water, sewage and television for was: crowd comfort, good first holes. course in Perthshire where opti- requirements were installed. The and lasting impressions of the Modern equipment in the form mum growing conditions only area designated as the tented vil- event, services such as TV and of aerators was brought in to occur four months of the year - lage site was surveyed and a grid septic tanks to be hidden, first break down the layers of thatch, June, July, August and Septem- survey produced from which all class car parking with shuttle ser- some of which were 3ins thick ber. A major championship in late future works could be planned. vice to the golf course ("as first and affecting playability - espe- September/October would cer- The most important first stage to impressions are of utmost impor- cially during periods of inclement tainly not allow any recovery from any tented village facility is the tance"), and quality catering. weather. A verti-drain unit with crowd damage before the next provision of services: water, "All of these items are simpler 8in hollow core and 12in x 3/4in spring." electrics, telephone and sewers. A to action and calculate for if you and l/2in solid tines with applied With a slot for the Bell's Scot- set of services to suit all types of are designing a course today with surface 'heave' or 'no heave' was tish Open established one week village layouts was installed, and championships in mind - not, as constantly used to introduce air to prior to the Open Championship, these would allow simple connec- in our case, the first championship the rootzone. Greens surfaces the King's Course, which had tions during assembly of the tent- for 20 years and never before age and hospitality units. Two with an anticipated 50-60,000 36,000 ltr underground tanks spectators in year one, growing were also installed. upwards to 115,000 as we're All car park gateways were expecting this year," said Mr Kidd, After the tournament widened to accommodate the who has been in greenkeeping for Within 48 hours of the champi- overseeded in early August PGA's recommended principle of 34 years, 11 of which have been onship, things are back to nor- using a straight bent mix two cars in, one out. Boundary at Gleneagles. mal with guests, members and applied with a Sisis seeder. fences were renewed and repaired Critical assessment of the James hotel residents carving up the Then they will be topdressed for security and to maximise gate Braid-designed course revealed a course once more. and mowed at a higher height receipts. weakness in length and strategy. After the tournament, the to protect the seeds. The fair- The Gleneagles Hotel's own Basically, it was an attractive greens are left for a week and ways are overseeded using a gardens department, which grows resort course suited to the moder- may get an application of liquid fescue/bent mix. 40,000 plants in a 36,000 sq ft ate player and local champi- feed "to kick them back in" After the tournament all the glasshouse, was instructed to pre- onships, not world-class events. according to head greenkeeper walkways are spiked, verti- pare the floral decor of the tented So 12 new tees were built during Scott Fenwick. They will be drained and fertilised. village. the winters of 1983/84, lengthen- Once the first competition had ing the course from 6450 yards to come and gone successfully, all almost 6900 yards. The strategy were topdressed during periods of already been described as "the the departments settled into a of the course was developed by active growth with sand dredged finest inland links course", was routine, with the greenkeepers improved teeing ground place- from the bed of the River Tay, made more links like with a fair- keeping their fingers crossed each ment, taking into account Braid's which is similar to the sand found way restoration programme that winter and spring. With Glenea- bunkers which had been taken at St Andrews. incorporated similar topdressings gles situated in a Scottish glen, out of play over the years by the In conjunction with this opera- as the greens - medium/fine Tay there is a risk of prolonged snow improvements to golfing equip- tion, greens were droughted care- sand. falls with relatively high air and ment and maintenance practices. fully to reduce the level of Poa Some 1,200 tons of sand were ground temperatures increasing A conscious decision was taken annua at a controlled rate whilst applied during the summers of '86 the risk of snow moulds. "Preven- at this stage also to restore the encouraging the encroachment of and '87. tative treatments of fungicide King's Course bunkers to the origi- bent and fescue into the putting Cutting regimes were directed December to March are our only nal Braid concept: no large waste- sward. and controlled by the use of hole- defence," says Jimmy Kidd, "But lands of sand but beautifully Regular use of wetting agents, by-hole charts and on-the-ground do not guarantee no incidence, contoured grass faces 'gathering' to aid capillary water movement contour lining to accentuate the resulting in poor spring conditions the ball. "The genius of Braid was and avoid surface tension during topography of the course and and little recovery prior to July at made apparent to greenstaff at this phase of the restoration was improve the strategy. Each green this altitude." our communications meetings most important, as was the avoid- was to be enfringed by "fat" grass If there has been a favourable whilst discussing the restoration - ance of an out-of-control situa- incorporating greenside bunkers, winter and comforting spring, not one ounce of wind blown tion, with the Poa kill accelerating each green approach was to be of preparations for the tournament sand from his bunkers on our beyond the pace of the desired a quality equal to the putting sur- commence with insecticide sprays exposed location was apparent species encroachment. Fertiliser faces. for leatherjackets and a light after 70 years of play and mainte- applications, little and often, During the winter of '86/'87, an dressing of organic nitrogen, nance. The grassy swales created hardening off the growth to attain integral roadway system through applied to the greens during the in front of them always took hard-wearing grasses. "Green- the championship course was 'false spring' in late March, to account of the prevailing winds," keeping working in harmony with designed, costed and constructed. bring the grasses out of dormacy Mr Kidd points out. nature," as Mr Kidd calls it. It was to be used year-round as a and protect what they have until back at 5 or 6pm and work till 10 or 10.30pm. Greens are prepared by pedestrian mowers - Ran- somes Auto-certes with brush attachments - each evening fol- lowing play and each morning. Green approaches are done every morning, tees and fairways each evening using lightweight ride-on units and Triplex tee mowers. All tee and fairway divots are filled with seed and sand mix each evening after cutting, to avoid smear. "It can be a lot of hassle leading up to it but when it's all done it's all worth it. When you see what you've produced on the TV, it's quite satisfying," says Scott, who is preparing for his fourth Bell's Scottish Open.

If you want to know, look in the Bell's Bible • All the information relating to real growth occurs, generally mid growth starts they are cut twice a in 250 ltrs of water per acre is the competition and its to late May. week. From about the end of April prepared and sprayed, both to aftermath is kept in a "Bell's No greens topdressing will take it is stepped up to three or four reduce seed head production and Bible", formed by Jimmy Kidd place until ground temperatures times a week, and during the discourage dew on greens, tees given to all the key personnel rise and there are some indica- summer it is daily. During the and fairways. at Gleneagles, including golf tions of natural growth. Once the event they will be cut two or three The minimum amount of water course superintendent Ross ground temperature reaches times a day, depending on the is used, with the irrigation care- Monaghan and Scott Fenwick. approximatley 42 degrees and speed. Greens like the 1st with fully monitored and any dry spots The folder is divided into 31 some real bent grass growth severe slopes will miss a cut if on the severely undulating greens sections, with separate occurs naturally, a consistent and they are too fast. "The idea is to hand-watered. Wetting agents are sections for all the information regular topdressing programme is get them all the same speed," says used -monthly during the growing relating to, for example, King's initiated to within three weeks or Scott. Speeds are monitored season. Course preparations, practice less of the actual event, coupled weekly from May onwards, and As the competition approaches, area preparation, wet weather with a light verti-cutting pro- daily with a fortnight to go. the whole course is put under a systems and contacts, key gramme every 7-10 days. Scott The tees come down from microscope for prospective 'ground contacts, floral decor, and Fenwick, the course's head green- 5/16th to l/4in, with the cutting under repair' areas - the aim being tented village/build keeper, says the greens receive stepped up during the growing not to use any white paint. schedule/breakdown about eight topdressings - "fort- season from three times a week to The bunkers are not only schedule. Everything seems to nightly depending on the daily the week before and during trimmed and re-sanded as be in it, including details of weather" - starting in April and the tournament. Fairways come required, but also 'pro-tested' tickets and pricing because using five parts sand, one part down from l/2in in winter to which, in 1987, resulted in 22 golfers are just as likely to ask peat. All greens approaches 3/8in in the summer. In the win- greenkeepers working around the greenstaff how they can get a receive similar treatment to the ter they're cut every 4-6 weeks. clock to take sand out of 110 ticket and how much it will greens. Generally, the greens are Once there is some growth they bunkers. Now they aim for depths cost. hollow-cored in September, verti- are cut weekly, then 2-3 times a of 4ins of sand in the base and 2in The King's Course drained in November and spiked week and from ten days out they up the faces. preparation section includes a from February onwards. are cut daily with a Jacobsen The spectator crossing points 'general tasks checklist' which Fairways will be verti-cut and LF100. Divots are filled all season and paths, which are regulary includes appraising stairways, topdressed regularly, too. Peat is but the programme is increased verti-drained, deweeded, sprayed pathways, septic tanks, course added to the high ridges. from weekly to daily as the tour- and edged during the season, are furniture, spectator walkways, One application of a slow nament nears. The green given a freshen up. tees netting, bog mire, hole release granular fertiliser at the approaches are slightly shorter A month prior to the champi- cups and TV compound, onship, play on the King's Course start of the season is backed up than the fairways at 3/16ths. ordering what's necessary and is cut back to about 60 per cent with an early summer dressing of The rough is never cut and the putting dates down for when and totally banned between the organic nitrogen applied six to semi rough varies from 1 1/4 to the work started and was hours of 3 and 6pm. In the eight weeks prior to the event 2ins. completed. It also acts as a evenings it is restricted to mem- and, thereafter, they use an Seed head suppression of the reminder to raise maintenace bers and hotel residents only. The organic nitrogen liquid feed cou- Poa annua percentage within the orders for the bridges, shelters course closes completely for two pled with a wetting agent and sward is the greenstaffs' main and tee fences. days only prior to the first practice trace elements. concern prior to the event. They When you're holding a major round. The height of cut on all areas achieve this by limiting the pres- event each year, it's easier to During the competition the will be gradually reduced. The sure applied to the plant - as the build up this information and height of cut is lowered, draught- King's Course greenkeepers are greens, for example, will come these checklists. But it means ing is effected and nitrogen levels backed up by the staff from the down from 5/16th over the win- nothing is overlooked or left to drop. A pre-tournament 'cocktail' Queen's and Monarch's courses. ter to l/4in, to 3/16 to 5/32 then chance. And it means that the liquid feed comprising 20 ltrs liq- The staff arrive on site at 4.15 for down to l/8in. The greens are cut Bell's doesn't take its toll on uid Alginure, 10 ltrs* Farmura a 4.30am start and work until as required over the winter, the course or staff. maybe once a month. Once Green and 5 ltrs Aqua-Gro mixed about 8am. After play they come EDUCATION Investing in your future

This month's article continues required by all golf greenkeepers, in Golf Course Supervision. This sory and Management Courses, on the theme of National Voca- from apprentices to course man- level is appropriate to aspiring concern has been shown by some tional Qualifications (NVQs) agers, and provides a means of golf course managers and current members that the new courses do and Scottish Vocational Quali- recording training and assess- head greenkeepers. not take account of knowledge fications (SVQs), looking more ment. Hence, evidence can be col- Completion of a specified set of gained on previously attended closely at their effects on lected for presentation to an level 4 units leads to the award of management courses. Moreover, greenkeeper training and gives approved assessor towards the an N/SVQ in Amenity Horticul- some members are finding it diffi- more details on the autumn's award of Level 2, Level 3 and ture ( Managing Landscape Con- cult to decide which week or supervisory and management Level 4 N/SVQs. struction and Maintenance) and weeks to attend. In general, the courses. the GTC Certificate in Golf Course following information should help Levels of N/SVQ Management. This level is for members to choose the correct The Level 1 N/SVQ in Amenity aspiring estate managers. week, but some members may Industry Lead Body Horticulture requires competence need to contact me for individual When the National Council for in a range of broad based horti- Accredited Prior Learning advice. Vocational Qualifications (NCVQ) cultural skills. This level is not All training, including college • Year 1 of the old management established the framework for thought suitable for golf green- courses, 'on the job' training, courses contained little informa- N/SVQs, the number of Industry keepers and there is no equivalent regional and section seminars, tion that can be related to the Lead Bodies was limited to those section in the training manual. BIGGA in-house courses, National new N/SVQ based supervisory industries with more than 20,000 At Level 2, successful comple- Education Conference, BTME and management courses. There- workers, whilst those industries tion of a set number of tasks will seminars, the Master Greenkeeper fore, those members who have with less than 20,000 workers lead to the award of an N/SVQ in Certificate and experience ie prior completed none or only 1 week of were grouped together with Amenity Horticulture (Greenkeep- learning, can all count towards the old style courses should related industries. Hence, the ILB ing Option). In addition, comple- the award of an N/SVQ. attend all 4 weeks of the new for Greenkeeping is the Industry tition of a series of extra tasks will Approved assessors consider evi- courses to gain all the underpin- Lead Body for Amenity Horticul- lead to the award of the GTC Cer- dence submitted in a portfolio ie. ning knowledge requirement for a ture. tificate in Golf Greenkeeping. This a collection of relevant material, level 3 NVQ. Courses can be level is appropriate to assistant and decide if sufficient evidence attended over 1 to 4 years and do The Greenkeepers Training greenkeepers. has been presented to grant a full not have to be attended in Manual Similarly, completion of a speci- N/SVQ or a number of N/SVQ sequence ie delegates could The Greenkeepers Training Com- fied set of level 3 units leads to units. Further training, at college, attend week 1 followed by week mittee (GTC) has produced a the award of an N/SVQ in at work or at any other approved 4, then week 2 and finally week 3 training manual which lists all the Amenity Horticulture (Sportsturf centre dan then provide the skills or any other sequence unless all essential skills and knowledge Option) and the GTC Certificate and knowledge necessary to com- weeks were attended in 1 year. plete a particular qualification. • Year 2 of the old management courses contained many elements Assessment that relate to the new 'Managing Assessment will be conducted by People' modules. Therefore, mem- IRISH GOLF 'approved' assessors at 'approved' bers who have completed years 1 assessment centres. Initially, only and 2 of the old courses would be GREENKEEPERS' colleges will be used as assess- advised to complete weeks 3 and ment centres. However, during 4 of the new courses. ASSOCIATION 1994, the GTC will be approving a • Year 3 of the old courses con- number of leading golf courses to tained many elements that relate become assessment centres. to weeks 1 and 2 of the new Assessment centres will have courses and some limited cover- SECOND TURF trained assessors, who may be age of weeks 3 and 4. Therefore, greenkeeping tutors or leading members who have completed MAINTENANCE greenkeepers. It is envisaged that years 1, 2 and 3 of the old courses Course Managers/Head Green- would be advised to attend weeks EXHIBITION keepers will be used to assist can- 3 and/or 4 of the new. Members didates to 'gather evidence' for may need to discuss their individ- presentation to an assessor, using ual needs with me. Last November, nearly 800 people - greenkeepers, the training manual as a guide. Members who have completed golf club committee members, course managers, all four years of the old courses course designers, county council and corporation Why N/SVQs may need some training to com- parks superintendents, developers, sports N/SVQs are nationally recognised. plete the underpinning knowl- groundmen, students, etc. - attended the first ever They tell an employer what you edge requirements of an N/SVQ Irish Turf Maintenance Exhibition. can do not just what you know level 3 and those members may and lead to the award of a certifi- need to discuss their individual Already half of last year's exhibitors have asked for cate by City and Guilds in Eng- needs with me. space this year, but we want to increase the range of land, Wales and Ireland and by Each week of the new courses exhibitor - so if you are interested in participating, SCOTVEC in Scotland. N/SVQs will have time set aside to discuss contact us now for further details. can be entered at any stage with individual needs on collecting and credit being given for previous presenting evidence to an 3 and 4 NOVEMBER 1994 training and experience. Better approved assessor. trained greenkeepers means bet- Ken Richardson, education officer ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY, DUBLIN ter golf courses. Fairlink Ltd, 58 Clonard Court, Balbriggan, To book your place on a Co Dublin, Ireland Supervisory and Management Management and Courses AD Supervisory Course, see Tel: + 353 I 841 1362 Fax: + 353 1 841 2934 REF Following the publication of the the card facing Page 54. 458 timetable for the 1994 Supervi- SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER FREE BIGGA merchandise vouchers when you buy the following Turfgrass Management books. * Redeem against any item in the quality BIGGA range * Buy a copy of each of the books below STANDARD GOLF and receive £55-worth of vouchers free! Management of Turfgrass Diseases WE RAISED by JOSEPH M VARGAS Jr, Michigan State University. Second edition. 1994. THE STANDARD Written by a leading international lecturer on turfgrasses and now completely revised and updated to include the latest information on maintaining a healthy turf and identifying turf FOR GOLF diseases. Topics also include cool and warm season grasses, growing conditions and new diseases. With 72 colour photographs and over 100 illustrations in 336 information-packed Our Professional Series Ball Washer pages. The essential handbook for greenkeepers £52.50 is an improvement on the competition! Made from high grade Golf Course Management space age plastic case and superior construction, its easy crank design and Construction and super ball cleaning action, it is by JAMES C BALOGH, Spectrum Research Inc. able to wash up to four balls at a time. and WILLIAM J WALKER. 1992. The Pro Washer can be mounted on An excellent introduction to the concepts of "non-point our Tripod Ball Washer Stand, or source" environmental impacts of turfgrass management. attached to any 2-3/8" O.D. Post. A massive 976 pages containing technical and scientific research Available at £120.72 each on the environmental effects of turfgrass maintenance. In addition to golf courses, the book also discusses turfgrass systems for Dimple-T Markers: residential and commercial lawns and parks . £61.00 plain, numbered or personalised. Rugged Handbook of Integrated Pest durability, Dimple-Ts Management for Turf and Ornamentals are 5" in diameter with moulded-in, by ANNE R LESLIE. I 994. Volumes in the Advances in galvanised steel Turfgrass Science series. James B Beard, series editor. spikes for easy This essential reference of 576 pages provides complete placement and coverage of integrated pest management, with special removal. consideration to golf courses. Including siting and design Colours available: considerations; design management of constructed ponds; Red, White, Blue, Yellow, Black minimising environmental impact by golf course developments; and Plain: pest management strategies for golf courses ,.-. £61.50 Numbered: Personalised: Landscape Restoration Handbook by DONALD HARKER, The Earth Fund. 1993. How to develop a natural landscaping programme for turf as an alternative to intensive management. Its 640 pages discusses Our Economy Rake is priced so low, you water quality improvement • erosion reduction • lower can order several for each bunker! The maintenance • chemicals reduction • plant and animal species full-size 15" head is made from high- diversity £65.50 impact, molded plastic, and the 4' bright yellow'handle is available in wood or long ORDER FORM Gl 94 lasting fibreglass. NB: we no longer fit spikes as standard. Please supply the following Turfgrass Management books from Complete rake w/Yellow Wood Handle: Lewis Publishers, and my free BIGGA merchandise vouchers: £4.93 each plus VAT in packs of 12 (qty) Management of Turfgrass Diseases 2nd edition (I 56670 046 9).... £52.50 (qty) Golf Course Management and Construction (0 87371 742 2) £61.00 SPECIAL OFFER (qty) Handbook of Integrated Pest Management for Turf (etc) (0 87371 350 8) ..£61.50 Green Ball Washer with 46" post @ £122 each (qty) Landscape Restoration Handbook (0 87371 952 2) £65.50

Post and packing: Please add £1.50 to your order. Ask for our full colour 1994 Catalogue and Price List. I enclose my cheque made payable to BIGGA for £ Note: cheques will not be cashed until your book(s) are despatched. Driving Mat "Divot Action" 1.5m x 1.5m guaranteed for 12

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Address:.. Contact Paula or Lisa at: Standard Golf (UK) Limited, The Maxwell Hart Building, 612 Reading Road, Winnersh, ..Post Code:.. Wokingham, Berkshire RG11 5HF. Telephone: Send to BIGGA, Aldwark Manor, Aldwark, Alne, York Y06 2NF Telephone: 0734 788044. Fax: 0734 785805 ^ Transfer these details to a plain sheet of paper if you don't want to cut up your magazine ^

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AD Telephone 0963 251129. Facsimile 0963 251168 REF © 1994 The Andersons 463 Enthusiasm can be measured by the queues at new golf course en days after the opening of acre golf course site were seeded, Tthe driving range at Rudding 9,500 trees were planted, 400 Park, near Harrogate, North York- trees were transplanted using a shire, golfers were queueing up to tree spade, 7-8,000 hedge plants use the facilities. Managing direc- were planted, and 20,000m of tor Mark Mackaness hopes the drainage pipes were laid. They golf course will meet with similar have also planted thousands of enthusiasm when it opens next aquatic plants in the three lakes June. and put up 100 nest boxes. Designed by Martin Hawtree The greens are built to USGA and constructed by John Greasley spec and have been sown with Ltd, the 18-hole 6,786-yard 80% Freda, 10% Sabovil and 10% course is set in a mature, walled Highland. parkland estate. John Greasley Ltd moved 60- Rudding Estate was bought by 70,000 cubic metres of soil during Mark's father, John, in 1972 and the construction, which isn't a lot the house was turned into a pres- by modern standards. tigious banqueting and confer- The most fascinating fact, we ence facility. Also on the estate is up nicely. John Greasley has he was back in greenkeeping with think, is that there are only seven a caravan and holiday cottage handed over much of the mainte- a short stint at Outlane GC, Hud- bunkers and four of them are on park. nacne and growing in to head dersfield, before getting his first the tree-lined 14th. This is Work began on the golf course greenkeeper Richard Holling- head greenkeeper position. because planners don't want the in June 1993. By September most worth and his three assistants. When we met him on the estate to look like a golf course - of the construction had been done Richard, 23, is the son of Graham course he was standing near an which is why they have stipulated and all the greens, tees and the Hollingworth, the head green- overgrown cemetery which he that the rough can't be longer six holes outside the walled estate keeper at Horsforth Golf Club, will also have to tend. Fortunately than 7.5cm. had been seeded. The fairways Leeds. Richard began his green- the chapel in Rudding House This will make it a relatively and roughs inside the walls keeping career at Moortown, hasn't been used for anything easy - and enjoyable - course for already had suitable grasses on Leeds, where he stayed for five other than weddings for 40 years. the mid to high handicappers they them. years before joining Yorkshire Lovers of statistics will want to are likely to attract to this "quality A year on, the course is shaping Mowers as a rep. Six months later know that 120 acres of the 200- pay and play".

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'Golf' and 'the environment' - words that are increasingly being linked. With the Anti-Golf Group gaining worldwide publicity for its demonstrations in the Far East and now recruiting members in the UK, it's an issue that all courses need to tackle. In this special feature we look at three courses to see what they're doing and why. LINLITHGOW GC David Roy, course manager at Linlithgow Golf Club, West Lothian, explains how and why he got involved in golf course conservation, and how you can allay your club's fear of environmentalists.

y involvement with golf course conserva- Mtion started in June 1992 when I responded on behalf of the club to an offer of a free species study to be carried out on the course. This study was part of a local initiative and the work was duly carried out by the Scot- tish Wildlife Trust (SWT) and paid for jointly by UK2000 and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). It was during the species study that I found out that my knowledge of what was growing on the golf course was virtually non-existent. Merely walking round the course with the sur- veyors from the SWT I learned a great deal and I quickly became far more interested in finding out more about the local flora and fauna. It was suggested at this point that this local initiative could be expanded into a national scheme promoting golf course conservation. This would take the form of each club in Scot- land appointing a conservation officer to help the course manager draw up a wildlife man- agement plan. The technical data necessary to produce a plan like this would come from the local Wildlife Trust or similar such body and Linlithgow Golf Club Photograph: Lome Gill once the plan was written it would be kept up- to-date and possibly modified by both the con- that these orchids on your golf course are the tion at all for endangered habitats and even servation officer and the course manager. only ones in a radius of 50 miles then this can then this is scanty to say the least. The honorary conservation officer at Linlith- count as a source of pride for the club as a Secondly, the very essence of this wildlife gow Golf Club at that time was George Ander- whole. initiative is that by enhancing the wildlife of son who I approached because he was already There are many other apparently simple the course this will in turn increase the aes- a member of the SWT. George worked very aspects to caring for the environment that will thetic value or "feel good" factor so often hard and collected a good proportion of the be learned from becoming involved in conser- found on many of the great courses in Britain. information required to draw up our manage- vation, but most importantly it is the fact that Thirdly, the cautious manner in which our ment plan. wildlife habitats are disappearing all over the committee approached the wildlife initiative Unfortunately George retired to Southport country and golf courses are a potential haven simply highlights how important it is that the but we were again fortunate in finding Craw- for many apparently 'common' forms of ideals of conservation are presented properly. ford Smith who, like George, is a SWT mem- wildlife. It should be stressed that at all times the club ber as well as being a member of the golf club. It is my opinion that Linlithgow Golf Club is has total and absolute control over the devel- So with the combined representative of many opment of a conservation management plan. It efforts of Gill Smart clubs in Britain and is the club who will use the expertise of envi- from the SWT, George * When it became apparent the attitude of our ronmental bodies to improve the golf course. If Anderson and Karen that the club was a committee to my there are areas of conflict between conserva- Morrison of SNH, we involvement in conser- tion and golf, the club will always have the last have created a conser- potentially important wildlife vation may well be say in what happens in these locations. vation management similarly representa- At Linlithgow we have had to break down policy for Linlithgow site the message was one of tive. Initially the com- preconceptions on both sides of the fence, but Golf Club which, if car- mittee only had to the hard work put in by all involved will hope- ried out correctly, will fear of the power of grant permission for fully benefit not only future generations of serve the club for 9 the survey to take golfers at our club but those wishing to follow many years to come. environmental legislation... place, but when it our example. It is interesting to became apparent that I may add that my involvement with the note that the SWT have gained from the expe- the club was a potentially important wildlife Scottish Wildlife Trust has added a whole new rience of working closely with a golf club and site the message to George and me was one of dimension to my job which I enjoy immensely some long-held preconceptions have been bro- fear of the power of environmental legislation and I feel that many other greenkeepers would ken down. It was common, for example, for being used against any future expansion of the feel likewise. environmentalists to suppose that golf courses club. This initially implied to me that regard- used fertilisers and chemicals in the same less of the rarity of the flora found on the manner and quantity as intensive agriculture. course, this would willingly be sacrificed for I have now been involved with conservation the sake of some architectural tinkering with TEMPLE GC for a little over a year and this time has just the design of the course. Here is an edited version of the 45-page been enough for me to become aquainted with It was at this point that I feel that we failed environmental report prepared by local the necessary expressions that are commonly in bringing across the true meaning of what conservationists for Temple Golf Club, used by environmental bodies. For example, a conservation means to Linlithgow. Maidenhead, and its course manager, Martin species has various forms of rarity, and Firstly, the legal power of environmental Gunn. although northern marsh orchids may flower legislation is in reality minimal. Even the gov- in profusion in many parts of the country, this ernmental quango, Scottish Natural Heritage, ollowing an ecological report on Temple plant may be classed as locally rare if found on has to go through a complicated process of FGolf Club by the Sports Turf Research your golf course. If it turns out to be the case designation before there is any form of protec- Institute, volunteers from local conservation Dead wood supports many species. Many of the interesting beetles, including two notable ones, were found under old beech bark at Temple Golf Club

groups were recruited to rowed by a metre or so conduct a year-long sur- and the cutting frequency vey of the course. decreased, the damage The main aim of this would be reduced. The was to provide a thor- present fairway width ough record so that the could be retained by effects of the manage- extending its northern ment regime could be edge where the semi-rough monitored accurately. is of less botanical inter- The volunteers from est." the Windsor and Maid- A plan to leave an area of enhead Urban Wildlife rough near the Bypass Group and the Berk- Wood uncut to allow the shire, Buckinghamshire scrub to extend should be and Oxfordshire Natu- abandoned as the lower ralists Trust made more than 40 visits during Several rare species of fungi were found, growing grassland there is considered higher 1992. including Coriolus hirsutus and the first in value than the potential scrub. Twice-a-year They found: recording in Berkshire of the continental form cutting should be resumed. The predominant habitat, hardly surpris- of the Hoof fungus. They also recommended more frequent but ingly, is grassland. About 80 per cent of the Over 200 species of flowering plant, mostly less extensive cutting of the leg of scrubby 180-acre site is grassland of one type or perennials, were recorded. The most amazing grassland running between the edge of Bypass another. Approximately 10 per cent is wood- find was the number of orchids, both the num- Wood and an established scrubby copse land, about 5 per cent is hedgerow and small ber of species and the number of actual plants. beneath some pylons which was cleared occa- stands of trees, and the remainder is the club- "On the basis of the orchid population alone, sionally by the electricity company, leaving house, car park etc. parts of Temple merit scheduling as a site of helliborines overexposed to sunlight in the first The grassland is over 50 per cent rough, 25 special scientific interest," said the report. In season or two after clearance. The new per cent semi-rough, 15 per cent fairways and the long rough more than 200 green-winged regime, they say, "would provide a better bal- about 2 per cent greens and tees. The rough is orchid plants were found, including a pure ance between the needs of the plants and the cut twice a year, in spring and late summer, white variant. More good finds were made on utility". with the cuttings removed to prevent the the edges of the woodland areas - including As for the woodland, the report warned nutrient enrichment that encourages the more several species of violet, wood spurge, spurge against being "excessively tidy" as a lot of con- vigorous grasses at the expense of wildflowers. laurel and a few primroses. servation value comes from the dead and No special study was made of mammals but A few areas are left without any intervention. 6 The semi-rough is cut weekly to about three evidence of badgers and foxes was found, Few birds were spotted, weekly depending upon the growing condi- although no badgers or foxes were actually tions. They said these areas are "particularly reflecting the lack of suitable species rich and form the most important fea- habitat... but 22 species of ture of the course in nature conservation The recommendations: terms". They noted the fairways are cut at Essentially more of the same. The conserva- butterfly were recorded - least once a week to keep the grass less than tionists applauded Temple's minimal use of 2cm high, but artificial watering and chemical fertiliser and irrigaton because the natural veg- excellent for this part of the treatment are kept to a minimum. Seaweed etation is adapted to dry and quick draining country...5 extract and trace minerals are used to promote conditions, so excessive irrigation would only growth. promote unnatural species and fertiliser run- dying trees and leaf litter. Grass cuttings left to They found there were three main areas of off could alter the species balance in the rot under the trees may promote nettles rather woodland: Mungden Wood is predominantly roughs. Weedkiller treatment should be strictly than more varied woodland floor vegetation. mature beech wood; Badger Wood is more limited, and a policy of spot weeding only if Unsuitable species in the copses, such as the varied, has a much better shrub layer with an necessary should be used on the fairways. turkey oak and sycamore, should be gradually attractive line of hazel, wayfaring trees and They said encouraging birds will help con- eliminated and replaced with more suitable other shrubs; Bypass Wood is predominantly trol turfgrass pests and earthworms, and that species, such as hawthorns and roses. mature beechwood and litter. Clumps of trees the use of persistent and highly toxic vermi- Some patches of nettles IN FULL SUN and some large single specimens dot the cides should be avoided. should be retained for butterflies. Some of course. There is also a line of trees or When the roughs and many of the semi- each clump can be cut back in early June for hedgerow round most of the course, but this roughs are cut, the cuttings should be removed tender regrowth to support second broods in has become straggly and overgrown in places. to prevent nutrient enrichment that would July. Golfers are often more tolerant of nettles Most of the old hedge has now been coppiced encourage the coarser grasses and weeds. A tucked away in shady places, where they will and the gaps replanted with suitable native potential problem was noticed at the edge of still support various invertebrates but they will species to provide a double hedge in future some fairways where cuttings were left over not support butterflies. years. an area rich in orchids. Odd corners should be left unmanaged. Few birds were spotted, reflecting the lack They suggested omitting the spring cutting Some rotting stumps or 'holey' trees should be of suitable habitat: hedges of low conservation of some roughs to avoid damaging the left in woods near the car park and first tee for quality and the absence of an understorey in cowslips and green-winged orchids. They were nesting marsh tits and woodpeckers. most of the woodland. But 22 species of but- also concerned about the damage done by Bird and bat boxes could be put on the terfly were recorded, which is excellent for this machinery and buggies to the orchid rich buildings around the clubhouse and in Bypass part of the country. The numbers and diversity edges of some fairways. "If the fairway along Wood. But, remember, different types of boxes of beetles and bugs was also good. the edge of Mungden Wood could be nar- attract different types of birds. GLENEAGLES Gleneagles is cutting down nearly 200 trees - on advice from environmentalists. It's part of a plan to return the landscape to how it was when designer James Braid created the King's Course 80 years ago. Jimmy Kidd of Gleneagles Golf Developments explains what they've done and why.

t the same time as Gleneagles Golf Devel- Aopments were putting together an envi- ronmental management plan for the estate and three golf courses, they were carrying out an 'historical audit' of the courses. The objectives of the audit were: • Identify alterations over the past 70 years, reasoning and timescale; • Investigate possible weaknesses in the golf strategy and natural experience; • Define current problems with regard to safety and maintenance; • Examine the championship status and requirement; • Propose possible improvements and alter- ations; • Estimate costs; alterations. Encroaching and invasive species, 830-acre estate. As part of this plan we: • Indicate possible timescale for realisation of such as broom, whin and gorse, which is • Identified all sites of special and scientific proposals. exceptionally good to look at when it's in interest - (20 sites exist); The study of all available historical informa- flower, was having a serious impact upon the • Set up 'control' and 'experimental' botanical tion indicated some fairly major changes in the golf experience. monitoring quadrants to assess changes in veg- length, par and golf strategy over the years. A detailed examination of each hole then etation. (There are 13 selected sites with It also became evident during the historical took place, taking into consideration the envi- 2 sq m control plots and 2 sq m experimental audit that vegetation had forced golf strategy ronmental management plan for the entire plots alongside. A botanist analyses the

When James Braid side. The strategic drive, there- broom/whin, gorse, rowan and mental plan and historical audit designed the King's and fore, was played to the right to bracken on both sides of the many years ago would have Queen's courses at Gleneagles, open up the green for the fairway. As a direct result of the identified the problem and sub- the land was covered in grass approach shot. loss of the dog-leg strategy on sequent investment in construc- and heather. It remained that By 1974 there was no longer the right side of the hole, it was tion and development of a new way until about 25 years ago. a dog-leg, the bunker count had deemed prudent to incorporate strategy would have been Then the courses were opened increased from four to nine, the THREE new bunkers on the left avoided, along with the extra all year. length had increased by just side as most golfers now pre- daily maintenace burden of five So what? you're probably seven yards and the par had ferred that route. This in turn new bunkers. thinking. Opening all year meant decreased from 5 to 4. forced strategic changes to the The removal of the invasive not using it for sheep and deer Closer examination reveals right side of the green and two scrub, which is now being done, grazing in the winter. The sheep much of the reasoning behind extra bunkers were incorpo- would have restored the original and deer used to nip the heads the major strategic alterations rated to catch the typical shot - architectural concept. At Gle- off the alien broom, whin, was due to the severe slightly pushed out to the right. neagles, they now make it pol- bracken, rowan trees and silver encroachment of invasive A comprehensive environ- icy for everyone to understand birches, whose seeds were James Braid's original concept. probably introduced by birds. Not all of it is valid with the mod- "I look back at aerial photos ern game, but only when you from ten years ago and there's understand what the architect nothing there, and I look at it was trying to achieve on each now and it's just an absolute hole can you say what is rele- mass," according to Glenea- vant today and what is out- gles' Jimmy Kidd. dated. Research shows that as close Says Mr Kidd: "You can only as 1958-1968 there were no properly maintain a golf course rowan trees on the golf course, if you have a perfect under- very little bracken and only a lit- standing of the architectural tle gorse and whin. But in recent concept. I see too many green- years it has gone out of control, keeping errors created altering the strategy of many because the superintendent holes. The 1st hole is a prime doesn't have a good under- example standing of a) who the architect In 1921 it was a 355-yard par was and b) what his concept 5, dog-leg right to left with two was. Once you understand that bunkers on the right side of the you can make up your own fairway and two guarding the mind whether you want to retain green on the left. It was a rela- it because it's useful or discard tively simple opening hole with a it because it's outdated. And at very wide fairway. Sketches of least when someone asks you the hole at the time show there why you're doing something was little or no scrub on the right you can explain it." Left, the 1 st and right, the 15th at Gleneagles' King's Course nfvnjowmc wTuf.

variety, type, size, and problem to the greenstaff quantity of plants inside means they can go out the squares and com- and eloquently explain pares the results with why we're getting rid of previous years. He then "those beautiful shrubs produces a conclusion and trees" when asked by which may indicate a guests, members or hotel slight modification of staff. maintenance practices); • Established future management prescrip- Conclusion tions; Awareness is the key. • Produced a vegetation Awareness of what you've map, identifying scrub got on your course and invasion to the detriment how to keep it there (or of golf strategy and the not). Awareness among the aesthetic appeal of the greenkeeping staff of what courses; assess the impact of our golf courses and you are trying to achieve, so they can make • Conducted ornithological and entomologi- estates management practices and consider members and others aware of what is being cal surveys to find out what we've got, what future management plans and prescriptions. done and why. we want and what it takes to keep those When these plans are formulated, it is Golf courses, old and new, are becoming species. important to communicate these to all staff, increasingly important as models and reminders An essential element of our plan was the members, guests and visitors. of how beautiful and wild our countryside can establishment of a monitoring group, compris- be, whilst still performing a very necessary com- ing professionals in ecology, botany, geology, Awareness is probably the most important mercial leisure role. Scottish Natural Heritage, a member of the Long established courses must make special hotel staff and, most importantly, a respected thing when it comes to golf and the environ- efforts to retain their habitats and new courses member of the local community. have the potential to develop into beautiful and The monitoring group meets twice a year to ment. Firstly you have to make the greenstaff valuable wildlife areas.

aware of what you're trying to do. In our case

it was mainly why we're controlling scrub

invasion (see panel). Communicating the

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GREENKEEPER INTERNATIONAL July 1994 21 BIGGA's

British greenkeepers have a friend in high places. Viscount William Whitelaw, who has been playing golf for 72 years (since he was four), knows they do a "crucial" job. Greenkeeper International's editor, Chris Boiling, went to the House of Lords to meet BIGGA's president.

'd studied politics for five years - two at school and three at university - but the nearest I'd come to the Houses of Parlia- ment was taking a photo of Big Ben - along with a group of Japanese tourists. Yet, after only five months with BIGGA there I was marching past the police- Iman at the gates to the House of Lords pro- claiming: "I've got an appointment with Viscount Whitelaw". Into the hallowed cloakroom, with pegs labelled Earl This and Lord That. "I've got an appointment with Viscount Whitelaw," I told the policewoman at the tiny reception desk. After a few minutes, the former deputy prime minister's secretary, Shirley Hoole, came to collect me and lead me through the corridors of power to the BIGGA president's small wood-panelled office, which he shares with Mrs Hoole. After all those years of studying politics, I was now only a few feet away from a politi- cian who was once one of the most powerful men in the country. An MP from 1955-83, he held several key offices: Leader of the House of Commons, Home Secretary, Chairman of the Conservative Party, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Secretary of State for Employment, and now an active and influen- tial peer. And what did I want to talk to him about? Golf. Other journalists who have interviewed the 76-year-old lord recently have asked about the Thatcher Years or shake-ups in the police service. Not me, I asked about his first love, golf. He welcomed the change. Politics and the Conservative Party may have taken over his life, but golf will always be his first love. His father, who died from his wounds in World War 1, was a good golfer and his mother was a very keen player, so it was nat- ural that he should take up the game. Espe- cially when you consider where he was brought up - Nairn. Shortly after his fourth birthday he was marched off to the local pro, Jimmy Nelson, who taught him how to hit fir cones. This, claimed the old pro, was the best way to learn the swing. Viscount Whitelaw reckons it just saved the pro from having to retrieve dozens of golf balls. Lord Whitelaw practised on the cones for friend in high places

several weeks. "If there is anything more use- as a teenager. Some members allege that he been the most enormous success. All the time less than hitting a fir cone, I don't offer it. It has driven into the sea on the first seven I've been with them I've admired enormously can't go anywhere. Marvellous for a tiny old holes during different rounds. Anyone who what they've done. I've admired enormously Scottish professional who sat on a stick knows Nairn will know when it's windy it's what Neil Thomas has done and what has watching you and didn't have to go and col- quite easy to do so off the first, second, fourth been done by the greenkeepers themselves lect any balls. After three weeks I told my and fifth. But from the third, sixth and sev- when they've become chairmen or on the mother that if I had to go on hitting cones I enth it takes some doing. "Now if I turned at board of management. They have played a would never play the game again. The next the sea I wouldn't reach it," he says. terrific part in this. And if anyone wants a day my mother and the pro obviously under- That, of course, is not the only change he sign of it they need look no further than the stood, for he turned and said, and I can has seen during his 72 years of playing the two occasions when I have tried to see them always remember the phrase: 'I think the game. all. First of all, Harrogate. Harrogate's a very boy's swing is now good enough to hit a ball.' "The standard of our greenkeeping and the remarkable advance and it is a great success - Therefore I was now allowed to hit a ball and standard of our courses is amazingly differ- much prized by the trade generally and good it sailed away in the air - many haven't since, ent," he told me. "And it is now accepted that for everybody. And then of course there is the but that one did - and I never looked back. a greenkeeper is a crucial figure who has got help that the greenkeepers give at the Open After that I became terribly keen and have to be backed up." Championship, when they all come together played all my life ever since." That's why, when the Royal and Ancient and are seen to help on the course. And a For a short time before the World War II, Golf Club of St Andrews asked their former marvellous job they carry out. when he was at Cambridge University, he was captain if he would take an interest in a new "Now, of course, your publication has done down to scratch. After the war he had handi- association for greenkeepers, which they were a great deal of good. The more we can publi- caps of 1 and 2 "but I was never quite as good helping to fund, back in 1987, he readily cise the profession, the more it will be seen after the war as I had been before it". agreed. that greenkeepers are vitally important peo- Then, when he became an MP in 1955, he ple. And if you see the jobs that are offered to gave up playing competitively. At the moment them now, much of the great difficulty in he plays two or three times a month at Sil- years to come will be making sure we keep loth-on-Solway in Cumbria. He says he would FAVOURITE COURSES the best of our greenkeepers in this country. like to play once a week but he is still busy Viscount Whitelaw says he's A lot of them, inevitably, are being offered even though he has "retired". jobs in Europe. And that is a real sign of how always loved St Andrews and "The theory is that I have retired and the successful this organisation has been." theory is that I therefore have more time for he's been a member there since Viscount Whitelaw is involved with several golf, but one way or another I don't. Now charities, but BIGGA is the only professional 1937. "You can't compare it why don't I? I come to the House of Lords association to which he is attached. As presi- quite a lot; this weekend for example I'm with anything else." dent, he is in regular contact with BIGGA's going down to open a new police headquar- executive director, Neil Thomas, and he tries His other favourite courses are ters at Bournemouth; then I have a long diary to meet Association members at Harrogate of different meetings to do with politics and Silloth-on-Solway, Nairn, and the Open. other things near politics, other organisations "If you are president I believe you come Muirfield, Royal St Georges and such as yours," he said as I admired the old when you are asked and you don't go when golfing prints and antique 4 wood hanging on Westward Ho. you're not asked," is his philosophy. his office walls. As far as the future of the Association goes, Do you have any plans to wind down your he says: "I would like to see it continuing to activities, I wondered? "Well, yes, my wife "I always believed it was very important to make sure that greenkeepers are well trained thinks there is," he replied with a smile. But improve the standing of greenkeepers gener- and can be really good people for our the evidence points the other way. ally, not only their knowledge and their work courses. And that it will become accepted by but also their standing in the club and their all courses. I would like to see all clubs using Honorary member importance to the club. I always thought that the opportunities given by BIGGA for them to Recently he became president of Nairn. He is when you hear people say, 'The course isn't train their staff and that all greenkeepers also a member and the president of Silloth, a right, we must get a new green convener', become members of BIGGA." member of St Andrews and an honorary there's absolutely no point in getting a new After three-quarters of an hour chatting to member at Penrith, Carlisle and Prestwick. green convener, what you need is a good new him about golf, greenkeeping and the Associ- If he had a handicap now it would probably greenkeeper if the course isn't right. The ation, I realised that he had a busy day of pol- be about 16 or 17. greenkeeper is the man who will make it itics ahead. There were meetings with "When you get old it's a very annoying right, and green conveners can only be there Ministers, fellow Lords and leading figures game and it's particularly annoying on to back their greenkeepers and make sure the from industry awaiting. But there was time courses you used to play. I went and played greenkeepers are getting what they want and for one last story which shows he certanly did at Nairn recently. Suddenly bunkers I'd never doing with what they've got all that has to be not become president of BIGGA for any politi- seen before I was taking four shots to get done. So the standing of a greenkeeper has cal gain. over. As you get older you lose the capacity to always been something that I believed enor- At the last general election, while he was get the club moving fast enough. As a result mously important and it's a fact of recent canvassing in the north of Scotland, a young you hit it quite straight but it doesn't go any- years that this has come out and now it's man came up to him and said: "I'm very where. I find myself hitting a driver on a accepted." grateful you've been so helpful to BIGGA." short hole and not getting there. That's infuri- He credits the Association with much of the Viscount Whitelaw replied: "Thank you and ating, but you have to get used to it." success for elevating the status of greenkeep- I hope you will vote Conservative Party." It's a bit different to when he played Nairn ers. He states: "I believe the organisation has "Certainly not, I'm Scottish Nationalist." SCOTLAND SW ENGLAND POWERSHIFT ROCHFORD Dundee GARDEN 0382 24152 MACHINERY LTD Wincanton NORTHERN 0963 33713 ENGLAND GIBSONS GARDEN DEVON GARDEN BY APPOINTMENT TO H.M. THE QUEEN MACHINERY MACHINERY LIMITED MANUFACTURERS OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY LIMITED Kirkham Torquay 0772 682516 HAYTER 0803 872124

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• Time for a reminder. Members should note that the Association is approved by the Board of Inland Criticism against STRI is unjustified Revenue under Section 201 Income and Corporation After reading Paul Copsey's letter Birkdale (which was cut at 18mm country for maybe several rea- Taxes Act 1988. This means in your May edition ("Advice Left thickness) contained no organic sons, including commercial ones. that individual members can Wanting"), I must take issue with mineral soil - the turf comprised I agree with Mr Copsey's com- claim tax relief on their many of his remarks and espe- of some thatch layers with sand ments that in all areas of perfor- subscription payments cially those comments based on (the latter material orginating mance bents and fescues through their annual tax assumption, inaccuracy and mis- from several years of past top out-perform Poa any day. How- returns whilst golf clubs understanding. dressings with pure sand). Mr ever, I do not think that one paying subscriptions for Whilst brief details were pro- Copsey's assumption that the should ignore the fact that Poa members can claim tax relief vided to produce an interesting relaid turf was inappropriate as it annua is a ubiquitous species through their accounts. This March edition article on the must have contained in part the which is found in most golf benefit for members reconstruction of the greens at "undesirable soil" is wrong. Could greens in varying degrees. Of substantially reduces the Royal Birkdale Golf Club, I hope I also say that in making his criti- course, if greenkeepers can apply cost of their annual your readers will appreciate that cism of the re-use of the predomi- good management to sites where subscriptions and in claiming as advisers/consultants, the STRI nantly Poa turf, Mr Copsey architectural, constructional relief members should simply will always operate normal pro- appears to substantiate his posi- make-up and environmental fac- list their membership of fessional and business criteria tion by purporting to quote from tors are favourable towards bent BIGGA and indicate that the with its clients, including that of my remarks in the March edition and fescue development, then Association is an approved confidentiality. I am, however, article about Birkdale. He mis- Poa annua content can be min- body under Section 201 ICTA able to say that the decision to quotes! imised. Nevertheless, at many 1988. replace the old turf of Poa annua The articles in your March and clubs it is clear that without Poa after the greens were recon- April editions do not demonstrate annua there quite simply would • Brokenhurst Golf Club in structed at Royal Birkdale was inconsistency of agronomic not be golf greens. Yes, thatchy, the New Forest was fined not based on economic grounds. advice from the STRI. Each article stagnant, disease-prone bogs of £2,500 plus costs of £610 for It is, perhaps, somewhat naive to was quite different in its concept Poa annua is the nightmare sce- "illegally" taking water to suggest that a golf club totally and purpose, viz an article about nario for any greenkeeper, but irrigate its greens. The club committed to producing the best green reconstruction in unique there are many courses (includ- admitted it took 80,000 possible standards would jeopar- and specific circumstances in con- ing Championship courses) which gallons more than it was dise the success of remedial trast to Mike Canawa/s article on will have varying but often signif- licensed to use because of a reconstruction works for the sake part of a short-term research pro- icant amounts of Poa annua (usu- breakdown in of an item costing a relatively ject. Whilst Mike Canawa/s arti- ally with some bent), and whose communication. Secretary small percentage in the context of cle properly points out some of greenkeeping staff proudly pre- manager Stewart Craven the significant overall costs (least the possible dangers associated sent such greens as very good said: "When I took on the job of all Royal Birkdale Golf Club). with returfing sandy rootzones playing surfaces throughout most my predecessor did not tell The option to import new (substantiated with facts and fig- of the year (and where members me about the conditions. It bent/fescue turf was fully consid- ures), potential dangers associ- are very happy). was a genuine mistake." ered but decided against in the ated with turfing works had been I trust my response will be seen light of previous experiences with well appreciated by STRI advisers as being mainly explanatory in • Andy McKee top quality imported bent/fescue for some considerable time, as nature, although I suspect that in has left Fisons turf laid onto an improved sandy well as many greenkeepers and some quarters with a blinkered after seven soil rootzone (such turf took sev- others in our industry. Similarly, outlook it will be seen as a purely years to join eral years to acclimatise during the possible merits of washed turf defensive repost! Erin Marketing which time there was significant have long been understood but as J Perris, assistant director Ltd as sales invasion by clumps of Poa yet this avenue of establishment (advisory services), STRI, and marketing annua). The relaid turf at Royal has not been pursued in this Bingley director. • The greenkeepers at Why we must build on The Way Forward' Brighton's Hollingbury Park course had a shock when May I make a comment on it seriously and took some action then, if things go wrong, who is they turned up to prepare the "Looking Back to The Way For- found much support and enthusi- blamed ? course for a pro-am. A ward" (GI May '94) and congrat- asm. Some, not many, clubs and The R&A is respected through- vehicle had been driven ulate Michael Bonallack for the the Home Unions, especially the out the golfing world and any across the 12th green leaving clear description of the R&A's English Golf Union, have really report or recommendation emi- tyre marks in the turf, the flag role in golf, probably not well moved with their seminars up nating from St Andrews is lis- had been stolen and children understood by many. and down the country. tened to and trusted. I believe had used a bunker as a sand "The Way Forward" surely But I sense that the momen- "The Way Forward" was a suc- pit. People, believed to be exceeded the expectations of the tum has slowed and this is the cess and I would like to see fur- travellers camping just to the authors and its publishers in the reason why thoughts were ther advance on that success. north of the course, had also impact it made. Accepting that, it expressed at the BTME work- Some sort of review of where we been spotted playing football had a slow start, partly I suspect shop which I attended that an are now and what future is indi- on the green. because of the reticence in intro- update of "The Way Forward" cated would be relevant and The local council's three ducing it with much publicity, would be timely. We still hear very influential. municipal greenkeepers, led and partly because the greater too often of large greens com- I am glad that BIGGA has by Terry Spence, worked part of the audience to whom it mittees meeting frequently and stirred up this subject and hope frantically with rollers and did was addressed, ie those in the head greenkeeper taking the organisation will keep the a bit of "cosmetic surgery" to infuential positions in members' instructions from a chairman discussion going; but we must get the green fit for the club's golf clubs, didn't think there was who knows all about the techni- also get Golf Club Management biggest event of the year. anything wrong in their current cal problems - surrogate green- involved. methods. But those who did take keepers they call them. And Arthur King, Lymington Around the Green

Keeping in touch with news and comment from the regions

KENT new faces at the event and the reappearance The Kent Section had one of its biggest ever of some old ones, many of us having to turnouts on May 10, with over 40 players EVENTS DIARY make a special effort to attend due to pres- participating in the Spring Tournament at July 14-17: Open Championship, Turnberry sure of work, after a late spring and a slow the Mid Kent Golf Club. The morning Rigby August 1-3: National Tournament, Dartmouth Golf start, now the flood - not only yet more Taylor Stableford was won by Peter Biscoe Club, Devon rain, but grass growing like the clappers. with 36 points closely followed by Paul Rud- September &-8: Saltex (previously loG) Trade We are still trying to finalise our summer kin and Shaun Donovan with 35 and Exhibition, Royal Windsor Racecourse, and autumn golf programme and trying to Berkshire. prepare a series of educational winter work- Richard Hopgood with 34. September 22: Hayter Challenge Final, Pannal Golf The afternoon medal and Hayter Qualifier Club, Harrogate shop courses. Details will appear at a later was again a hotly contested event with November 9-10: Scotsturf, Ingleston, Edinburgh date or will be sent to you in due course. If everyone eyeing a place in the Regional December 1 : Scottish Region North Section there are points you wish to raise, things one-day conference at Craibstone Estate, you feel unhappy about, things you would Final at Banstead Downs. The overall winner Bucksburn, Aberdeen was Derek Keen, nett 68, followed by David January 25-27, 1995: BTME '95, Harrogate like to add, concerning the Association at Wood, 70, and Vince Clegg and Paul Copsey, International Centre national or local level, or items 71. Best scratch score went to Steve Suttle, and information for "Around the 79. The successful qualifiers for the next Green", please contact David round were, in the 0-9 category, Steve Sut- thanks go to all our hosts at Mid Kent Golf Wood on 0342 850875, or myself tle, Huw Morgan, lan Rawlins, and John Club, especially to John Rootes and his lads on 0831 115139 or 0322 Wakelin. In the 10-18, Derek Keen, David for their preparation of the course. As 664547. Wood, Paul Copsey and Paul Rudkin. In the always we are very grateful to our friends PAUL COPSEY 19-28, Vince Clegg, Haydon Hayes, Phil from the trade for attending all our func- Hirst, and Richard Page. tions and supporting with raffle prizes, and EAST SCOTLAND I think we all had a very enjoyable day, we especially on this occasion to our main com- The annual skittles night was held at the were blessed with fine weather, a superbly petition sponsors Rigby Taylor and Hayter. Right Wing, Willowbrae Road. Twenty-two kept golf course and great food. Many It was certainly very pleasing to see many people turned up to this very enjoyable

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It was moved to the east of the city land Cres, Tain; March £40 - James Whyte, following complaints that everything was St Combs, Fraserburgh; April £100 - Linda Around the Green Harkiss, Craig Cres, Tain. Three winners held in the west, so where were the people who complained? I certainly didn't see them from Tain and still I miss out! We thank and neither did the same people who have everyone at Forres for a great day, especially attended them all in previous years - I won- Charlie Mackay and his staff, the course was der if the dance will be the same? I certainly excellent. hope not. Come on members, we have done Five more new members to welcome: Mar- all the spade work, why don't you start sup- tin Cameron, head greenkeeper Buckpool; ffifaftrf itlfd Richard Hendry, assistant at Forres; Mark porting us? I had the pleasure of being present at the But this took nothing away from what was Cordell, assistant at Moray; Scott Macken- North Section outing at Forres. What a great a highly enjoyable day both socially and zie, apprentice Royal Aberdeen and Paul day this was: the weather was perfect; the competitively, with 58 people taking part. Conway, apprentice at Caird Park, Dundee. course was in excellent condition and the Any club that allows that number of courte- Gordon Fraser is leaving Tain to become an North's hospitality was second to none. I sies over an afternoon is of an extremely assistant at Wentworth, whilst also on the thank them all for a wonderful day. generous nature and our thanks are move is Alan Strachan who has left Royal The Hayter Regional Finals were played extended to Bob Clarke, the administrator of Dornoch to become assistant links superin- over Duddingston Golf Club on May 24; I the Old Course, for his kindness. Thanks also tendent at Carnoustie. Moving up is Michael went down to cheer on the East team but, go to the greenstaff and the caterers. Clark, who has taken over the head job at alas, we only had one qualifier for the The day's results are as follows: 1, C Tozer Kingussie, vacated by Mike Wilson who has National Finals. This was our old friend Dick and M Savage 38 points; 2, R and T Greaves moved to Fraserburgh. Dugan from Glencourse. You can always rely 37 points; 3, M Haring and P Hampton 36 Despite the horrendous winter, both Nairn on Dick to keep the East flag flying. Congrat- points (won on back 9); 4, P Baynton and G and Nairn Dunbar were in super condition ulations Dick; and you won't be alone on Dacombe 36 points, 5, K Green and G for the recent Amateur Championships. your trip to the finals, hopefully I will be Fuidge 35 points (won on back 9); 6, J Tay- Hopefully, more major competitions will be down beside you. lor and S Mulraney 35 points. held in the section in the near future, we By now you should all have your new fix- As of May 25, there are now 249 members certainly have many fine courses and the ture card; you will see by it the work that in the South West section. The next opportu- travelling is much easier than before. has gone into this year's events. The one nity to meet some of them will be at the Work is under way on extending Invergor- change is the Willie Woods Tournament. Summer Tournament, Filton GC, July 27. If don GC from nine to 18 holes. This will be held at Murrayfield GC on your application has not already been sent, The job, being done by local firm August 17; letters will be out in plenty of please contact me immediately to secure a Morrisons, will take under two time, but we are limited to 40 players. tee time. years with opening scheduled for Tickets are going fast for the annual KEVIN GREEN summer £96. dance. Don't be caught out, get yours early. IAIN MACLEOD Kilspindie Hotel is the venue, and a great DEVON AND CORNWALL night is in store, especially for those from Not a lot to report this month as we are all AYRSHIRE the east who have not been before. cutting grass like mad. I would like to The Ayrshire representatives in the Scottish I said in an earlier issue that courses in the remind you that your views on the Associa- finals of the Hayter Challenge made a good east were under water after a very wet win- tion's review are now due. If you haven't put run at the prizes, with Ian McNab and ter. Now the opposite has happened - at the pen to paper yet, please do so today or call Steven Knaggs qualifying, and myself a first time of writing we have not had rain for four me so I can forward your suggestions to HQ reserve. The team was second, despite being weeks and the very cold east wind has com- who need your input so we can continue our two men short, but made up for that by out- pletely dried the courses up. Yes, it's a hard progress. lasting even the East section hardies in the life being a greenkeeper. I am nearing completion of next season's evening. Our thanks to Hayter and to Dud- We give a very warm welcome to all new fixture card which will be winging its way to dington GC for an excellent day out. members and hope to see them at the vari- you soon. Our thanks once again to Devon Gordon Heran at Brunston Castle tells me ous tournaments etc. Any information they Garden Machinery who have kindly spon- his greenkeeping sheds are going up now reguire - just give me a ring and I will do sored the fixture card again. after two years of next weeks that never everything I can to help. There are still a RICHARD WHYMAN came. Even though the receivers are in, they number not yet members and they are the have allowed Gordon to build 15 new tees ones who are missing out. If NORTH SCOTLAND forward from the championship tees to there is someone on your course It's finally happened! A section outing with allow for more enjoyable golf for the higher not yet a member, give them a glorious weather. Eighty-four golfers played handicapper. Hopefully a buyer will be push; we will be delighted to In the Spring Outing at Forres with another found shortly to enable this project to fulfil have them aboard. nine members present for the day. Shirt its potential. WILLIE BLAIR sleeves were the order of the day, and those Further to last month's report on the that benefited most were: scratch - 1, Alan babies being waited for at the spring outing, SOUTH WEST Dempster, Strathlene 75bih; 2, George Bob McKay, Paul Rae and Jock McLauchlan A different venue from last year awaited the Paterson, Fortrose 75; class one - 1, Kevin are now proud fathers of Heather, Jodie and competitors for the recent Greenkeeper/ Peace, Inverurie 70bih; 2, George Mitchell, Jemma respectively. Best wishes to them all. Amateur Greensomes event held on May 11. Royal Aberdeen 70; 3, John Taylor, Forres DUNCAN GRAY Minchinhampton Old Course was our desti- 73bih; class two - 1, Gordon Mckie, Tain 65; nation, not to be confused with Minchin- 2, Sam Morrison, Royal Aberdeen 68bih; 3, SURREY hampton Golf Club as was the case with a Colin Mackay, Cruden Bay 68; class three - A date has now been set for our Surrey sec- few who turned up at the wrong clubhouse. 1, Colin Burgess, Forres 71bih; 2, Bruce tion dinner dance. It will be held at Reigate Those who got it right first time were con- Forsyth, Peterhead 71; 3, John Geddes, Manor Hotel on Friday, November 11. We fronted with a course with a difference. Ellon 72; veteran - 1, Tom Simpson, Mur- have organised our own function room and There was no intensive manicuring here, just rayshall 70; 2, Arthur Williamson, Craigie tickets will be available from committee rough and more long rough. The reason for Hill 72; apprentice - 1, John Milne, Elgin members at a price of £18 per head, which needing plenty of balls in the bag was 71; 2, Mark Ross, Elgin 72; Trade Shield - includes a three-course meal and a disco because the course of some 100 years of age Tom Brannan, Souters 71bih; and guest - R until lam. Accommodation is being looked is situated on common ground and restric- Bruce, Aboyne 71. into at present for those of you wishing to tions are placed on the use of herbicides and Off the course winners were Colin stay overnight. indeed on the frequency of cutting through- Burgess, Forres, who won the free draw for The first winter lecture has now been out the year. This led to a naturalists' par- a BIGGA blazer, and 200 Club winners: Jan- organised and will be given by Bill Oliver of adise with a wide variety of wild plants uary £30 - John Urquhart, Mansfield Estate, Hardi Sprayers on Wednesday November 9. growing and flowering undisturbed. Tain; February £30 - Gordon Fraser, Suther- Venue will be announced later. Other forth-

28 GREENKEEPER INTERNATIONAL July 1994 coming events include the McMillan contact Bob Cully, the tournament organ- Tankard at Sunningdale on August 11 and iser, early as entries will be on a first come Around the Green first served basis. Bob will need names, the Parkers Salver at Purley Downs GC on September 21. handicaps and a cheque for both members DAVID GIBBS and guests. Entries should be sent to Bob Cully, 63 Upper St NORTH WEST Helens Road, Hedge End, Trying to find a venue for the Spring Tour- Southampton S030 0LS. Tel: nament each year is far more of a problem 0489 782976 than any other tournament. The reason is, ALAN MITCHELL and it's understandable, the greenkeeper keeper at Eaton GC, Waverton, and we hope wants his course at its best, and he would he has a 'speedy' recovery from his recent SOUTH WALES prefer to stage a tournament later in the car accident, the moral being, Justin, that if Our annual Greenkeepers v Golf Club Secre- year, when there is some growth. you were still at Carden, you wouldn't have taries match at the Southerndown Golf Club One greenkeeper who took a chance and had time for any accidents. was marred by the fact that 16 greenkeepers gave me the OK was Chris Hulme, course Northop Country Park also deserve our failed to turn up for what is normally a well manager at Sale GC, and I am sure he must best wishes on their opening. I am sure we supported fixture. have been regretting his decision at times. all look forward to playing what looks like a After personally contacting each team No need to have worried, Chris, your course delightful layout. member a few days before the event, I con- was a credit to you and your staff, with There is a paucity of news this month, per- firmed with the organiser that we, the green- greens that could not be faulted and the haps you are all too busy or maybe we all keepers, would have a team of 26 - 13 pairs. course was presented to perfection. Many lead boring lives. Whichever, without your By far our largest team for a number of years. thanks go to Sale GC for allowing the cour- views (good, bad or indifferent) journalistic Well, on the morning in question, 10 peo- tesy of the course, to the greenkeeping staff artistry becomes a nightmare so please con- ple turned up. Enough for only five team for all their hard work, to Graham Barber, tact me with any info regardless of how matches. Thank you lads! Not only did you the caterer, for a lovely meal, and to the fol- small. portray us, the greenkeepers, in a bad light, lowing companies for supporting us with Lastly, are any members interested in tak- you made me as your organiser look a right prizes: Fletcher Stewarts, Richard Campey, ing part in social events, eg bowls, fishing fool. Burrows, and Groundcare. etc? If so, contact me on any of the follow- However, I would like to thank those who The winners were: best nett - James ing numbers: 0244 676022 (home); 0829 did make the effort to turn up, especially as Hutchinson; best gross - Paul Pearse; over- 250556 (office); 0374 685879 (mobile). we were victorious by three games to two and 55 - Bert Cross; guests - Ian Vernon, Sale ANDY CAMPBELL therefore retain the shield. Winning pairs captain. The qualifiers for the Hayter were: Steve Mills/Mike Norfolk 5+4; Chriss Regional Final are: cat 1 - C Leeming, P WEST SCOTLAND Thomas/Gerwyn Price 3 + 2; Idwal Pearse, S Moon; cat 2 - C Hulme, P Simp- Sixty-eight greenkeepers and trade members Morris/Daryl Jones 4+3. Both P Lacey/S son, B Cross; cat 3 - J Hutchinson, A Holt, A attended the ever-popular first outing of the Price and JB Jones/L Walter lost on the 18th. Davies. year, at Dougalston GC. Unfortunately, the I thank the Golf Club Secretaries, who The Regional Final will be at Worsley GC weather was not very kind and credit must were prepared to accept the result on the five on July 20. The next section golf is the sum- go to Sandy Young and his staff for getting matches that took place, especially Fred mer meeting on Monday July 25 at Stock- the course ready for play. Close inspection of Crossman and Digby Lloyd for their splendid port GC. Soup and sandwiches between 12 the following scores may indicate that more organisation. I'd also like to thank Keith and 1pm and tee off from 1.30pm. Applica- than one ball was lost. Wilcox and all at Southerndown GC for their tions to Paul Pearse, 1 Swan Close, Poynton, Scratch - R Bunting 81bih; cat 1 - 1, D hospitality and Jan Williams and the catering Stockport SK12 1HX, enclosing £10 deposit McLoren, Cathcart Castle, 81-6=75; 2, J staff for what can only be described as the by July 18. Steadward, Douglas Park 89-9 = 80bih; 3, D largest gammon steak I have ever had the I still require a team for the Roses match Gaul, Cordross, 89-9=80; cat 2 - 1, D Mont- 'pleasure of eating. at Mottram Hall on Wednesday August 10, gomery, Cawder 86-11 = 75bih; 2, J Mathew, Good luck to Philip Huw Thomas of Pon- and also for the stewards match at Fishwick Dougalston, 91-16=75; 3, J Young, Dougal- tardawe GC who is representing our section GC on Monday September 5. Both of these ston, 95-17=78; cat 3 - 1, S Murray, Dou- in this year's ICI Master Greenkeeper of the matches are sponsored with no cost to the glas Park, 101-21-80; 2, A Young, Year Award. competitor. If you are available, please ring Dougalston, 106-22 = 84; 3, AJ Young, PETER LACEY me on 051 7245412. Cawder, 109-24=85. All the above have The Autumn Tournament is at Royal Birk- qualified for the Hayter Challenge. EAST MIDLANDS dale on Monday September 12, and we have Donald Ferguson, first assistant at Cow- This month we welcome the following mem- split tee times - 10.30am-12noon and 1.30- glen GC, has taken early retirement due to bers to our section: Robert Myatt of Bramp- 3pm. Your applications for this tournament ill health after 13 years of service with the ton Heath Golf Centre, Ian Needham of have to be in by Monday August 15 with club. His experience of the course will be Beedles Lake GC, Graham Gilson of Market your preference for am or pm, and your missed by myself and the rest of the staff. Harborough GC and Justin Aley of Stoke deposit of £10 (apply to Paul Pearse). The We wish him a long and happy retirement. Rochford GC. tee-off times must be strictly adhered to. The above position was soon filled by J Here are the results of our singles and pairs Congratulations go to Bob Janovskis who McGoldrick, also of Cowglen. I'm sure he KO tournaments. In the singles first round D has become a grandfather for the first time. will prove to be an able replacement for Cooper (Rothley Park) lost 4&2 to J Bedford His daughter gave birth to a son, Robert Donald. (Birstall), and G Miller (Ullesthorpe) lost 3&1 Michael, a few days before the spring tour- to D Leatherland (Kedleston Park). In the first nament, and Bob kindly donated a bottle of SCOTT BALLANTYNE round of the pairs KO, A Bindley and M Hop- 'fire water' for the prize table kins (Kirby Muxloe) beat G Robson and A because, he said, it would be SOUTH COAST Mcgreal (Lingdale) 6&5, whilst D James and complicated to treat everybody to Our Summer Tournament approaches now C James (Wollaton Park) beat S Swann and a drink. and will be held at Southwick Park GC on M Smith (Ramsdale Park) 2&1. Second round See you at the Open! August 15, teeing off from 13.06. The for- matches must be played by July 15. BERT CROSS mat will be a fourball better ball consisting Finally, we hope to circulate a list of all of member and guest. A guest may be either section members telephone numbers to NORTH WALES a member from your own club or a green- members who would like a list. If, This month our congratulations go to the keeper from another club. The entrance fee however, any member wishes Royal St Davids GC, Harlech, who are cele- is £10 per person to include a ploughman's their number to be omitted, brating their centenary, and a distinguished lunch on arrival and the evening meal. please inform me as soon as 100 years it has been. Our best wishes also As Southwick Park can only cater for a possible. go to Justin Cheung, deputy head green- maximum of-40 persons, a closing date of ANTONY BINDLEY August 5 is being set and you are advised to MID ANGLIA This month sees the regional final of the Hayter Challenge at Birstall Golf Club, Leicester. Good luck to all the finalists and let's hope we can retain the team trophy we HAYTER CHALLENGE REGIONARL won last year. The reward for qualifying for the national final is a trip to Pannal Golf FINALS Club, Harrogate, on September 22. Hospitality is a feature of the Bude The Lodgeway fourball competition is well and North Cornwall Golf Club. With under way and I would remind all partici- perfect weather the South West and pants that they have until the end of this played very well and was presented in excel- South Wales Regional Final of the month to complete all their league matches. lent condition thanks to Kim Blake and his Hayter Challenge went without a The Summer Tournament at Brampton staff. The nett prize was won by Tony Liv- hitch, and was certainly a day to Golf Course on the July 26 will be a stable- ingstone, closing with a fine 66 nett in the remember. ford competition. The Autumn Tournament afternoon. The gross prize was won by Mike Our thanks must go to Richard is confirmed for October 12 at Mentmore Hughes. Sisis' John Burnham, who's having Whyman and his greenstaff for the Golf Club and this will be followed by the weekly lessons, won the trade prize by too excellent presentation of the course. AGM. many shots to remember. A truly enjoyable In spite of all the ribbing, he did a The Christmas Texas Scramble will be day was rounded off with a most enjoyable grand job. Thanks also go to all the held at the Family Golf Centre on Thursday meal. catering staff for looking after us, and December 8. Many thanks to everyone for supporting the club captain, Derek Davey, who Good luck to two members who have this event and especially to our trade friends made us most welcome. Most of all recently taken up new positions: Don Pem- for once again pledging their support to our the Hayter "boys" who made it all berton, who is moving from Brocket Hall to section. possible. a new course at Pavenham as course man- I have decided with my regional and now Category 1-1, Robert Barrett, nett ager, and Jon Moorhouse, who has been board of management commitments to retire promoted to deputy course manager at as section secretary at the end of the year. 69; 2 Paul Godwin, 71; 3, Cary Brocket Hall. The section is now looking for a Rawlings, 72; reserve, Mike Jones, 72; Finally, Ronan McKeown from replacement and anyone inter- Category Mug - E West; Category 2 - Arkely Golf Club will join me in ested in taking the job on should 1, Robin Greaves, 69, 69; 2, J Cooper, representing the Mid Anglia sec- contact me on 0789 762912. 70; 3, C Thomas; reserve, D Gladwin, tion on the regional board. DEAN CLEAVER 71; Category Mug - P Ferragut; PAUL LOCKETT Category 3 - 1, P Legg, 68; 2, S Milne, CLEVELAND 69; 3, P Saviour, 71; reserve, J MIDLANDS Ten players are required for the Cleveland v Chidley, 74; Category Mug - S Sage. The Midlands Section's Summer Tourna- North East section match at Whickam GC on The winning section for the ment at Fulford Heath GC was played over July 27, 3pm tee off. If you are interested, Regional Shield is the South West 27 holes on a warm and sunny day, which please contact Gary Munro on 0642 785195 section. seems quite rare these days. The course (home) or 0677 425357 (work).

What makes RPK Turfcare Investment advice Supplies different from for BIGG A members I am interested in the following: other well known golf Life Assurance Pension/Frozen Pensions • • course supplies? Savings Financial Planning • Investments Family Security • ^Mortgages *Other RPK's attention to detail enables us to Please arrange for one of your panel of Independent Financial Advis- look more carefully at ers to contact me. I understand that I am not committing myself in any way by making this request. *Not covered by Financial Services Act 1986 turfcare needs, detail helps to right first time Name: Golf Club: Private Address:, ..Post Code:. Club Telephone Number:. RPK: Getting closer to our client Home Telephone Number: Complete this coupon and return to Financial Services, BIGGA, Aldwark Manor, For details call 0734 510251 ^Aldwark, Alne, York Y06 2NF. For more details, telephone 0347 838581. ^

30 GREENKEEPER INTERNATIONAL July 1994 Richard's Training Manual FLYING DIVOTS round of • Paul Harley, formerly the head greenkeeper at sets career path Pachesham Golf Centre, has 150 holes taken charge at 18-hole Crewe GC following the for charity for greenkeepers retirement of Ron Rimmer.

BIGGA board member Richard The Greenkeepers Training set up three years ago. • British Seed Houses has Barker played 150 holes in one Committee working group met This group comprises BIGGA published the first edition of a day and raised more than £600 at St Andrews recently to put chairman John Millen, BIGGA new Wild Flora manual for the for charity. The head greenkeeper the final touches to the Green- education chairman Huw Parry, landscaping industry. The 48- from Kirby Muxloe, Leicester, keepers Training Manual. Elmwood College greenkeeping page illustrated manual sets took on the challenge in aid of The Manual has three main tutor Carol Borthwick, Rease- out the basic ground rules for charities supported by the captain sections: craft, supervisory, and heath College greenkeeping successful establishment and and lady captain of Longcliffe Golf management (or in N/SVQ tutor Dennis Mor- maintenance of wild flora Club, where he is a four-handicap speak, levels 2, tram, Askham Bryan areas. It provides a practical, member. and 4). There College greenkeep- technical guide for Teeing off at 4.40am, Richard are, however, ing tutor Nick Bisset greenkeepers who want completed 150 holes by 9.10pm additional man- and GTC education advice on seed source and stopping only for an hour's lunch ditory units in director David mixture specification, site and and 30 minutes for tea. His fastest conservation Golding. mixture selection, ground round was lhr 32mins; later in management and "No praise is high preparation and the day he was taking 2hrs 5mins. an optional sec- enough for the establishment techniques. Scores between 74 and 82 for the tion including work of this work- Copies are available from 6439-yard par 72 course indicated greenkeeper/ ing group," said British Seed Houses Ltd, golf of the highest order and the mechanic tasks, David, "It has Portview Road, Avonmouth, back nine holes of the eighth chainsaw opera- been determined Bristol, Avon BS11 9JH. Price round were completed in a level tions and advanced to set out in black and is £4.95. par 36. first aid. white a career path for future With an eagle 2 at the 265-yard The Training Manual acts as a generations of greenkeepers and • Silvermere Golf Club, uphill 6th and 18 birdies, Richard trainee's record of achievement course managers." Surrey, now has two of the completed the eight rounds and and also evidence towards the The Manual will soon also be "most inspiring" closing holes six holes in 52 over par. Only one new National/Scottish Voca- available in French, German in the country, says architect ball was lost in the lake at the tional Qualifications. and Spanish, with funding for Martin Gillett. Martin was 15th and it is estimated that about The craft and supervisory sec- this coming from the PGA Euro- asked to remodel the fairway 40 miles were covered during the tions have been available for a pean Tour. to eliminate a blind drive and event which was well supported short while. The management The.working party has also a spectacular finishing green by Longcliffe members. manual has only just become been developing an employer's has been built to give a shot available - thanks to the efforts guide to greenkeeper qualifica- over water to a bulkheaded of the working group which was tions. green. The Brentwood-based • John Bourne and Co Ltd has architect has also redesigned been appointed sole distributor of the 18th at Redbourn GC, London golfers Fendress to the south-east of Hertfordshire. The green is seek help with England. Fendress topdressing now in front of the new consists of East Anglian fensoils clubhouse following an French course and Leighton Buzzard washed upgrade of the range building silica sands. It complements and a new target range. Two young London golfers have Bourne's existing range which gone to France to open an 18- includes rootzones, amenity • Members will be saddened hole par 3 course. Nestled in the sands, construction materials, turf heart of Finistere in Brittany, the to learn of the passing of Ivor improvers and drainage sytems. Golf de Pont Pierre course is a Scoones' wife, Ann, following Tel: 0797 252298. dream come true for BIGGA a long illness bravely borne. associate members Manley During Ann's illness, Ivor Wordy winner Mason and Gary Chisholm. • Shropshire-based BCM continued with his Board of They have long wanted to run Contracts is now manufacturing Management and Regional RPK Turfcare Supplies had a a course "where beginners are and marketing the product range Board duties and indeed was tremendous response to their welcome to come and learn the of Surrey golf equipment chairman of the Association recent 'Wordsearch' competition. etiquette and basic techniques specialist Pro-Tee Products. This during 1990. Often under Jamie Bennett, RPK's sales all golfers should possess, and includes golf tee mats and golf considerable strain, Ivor manager, said: "We were looking where experienced players can driving bays. BCM, which already carried on both his for a novel way to let our perfect their shots." They have manufactured the glass reinforced professional and voluntary customers know about the many six members at present, with the cement bases for the tee-mat, is duties with great fortitude products we offer and with 118 course nearly completed. Once now marketing the Pro-Tee range whilst at the same time giving they have purchased some adja- words to find it was certainly no under the trade name Links Ann his constant and total cent land, they hope to create a pushover." Leisure. Tel: 0948 665321. support. The Association The first correct entry was 27-hole complex which will one day "provide the Ryder Cup remains indebted to Ivor for received within 48 hours and was • Deere & Company, the his efforts on BIGGA's behalf sent by Alec Bradshaw, course team with a Frenchman!" American agricultural equipment In the meantime they're look- particularly during recent manager of Maiden GC in Surrey. manufacturer, has reported record ing for a student greenkeeper to years when Ann fell ill. We For his effort, Alec collected a net income for the second quarter help them this summer. Write send our deepest sympathy £500 credit to spend over the next of the 1994 fiscal year of $189.3 to: Golf De Pont Pierre, 29246 to Ivor and his family at this 12 months. Alec (right) is Poullaouen, Brittany, France. million, compared with last year's sad time. pictured with Jamie at his club. restated income of $101 million. Greenkeepers urged to think now about pension provision

lanning for retirement starts ment planning with your Indepen- Some employees will have joined ing a total of £100 invested. A Pon your first day in work. dent Financial Adviser - IFA for a company scheme where the higher rate taxpayer paying the That sounds extreme but it is true short - the better. employer will pay a fixed amount same receives £25 from the gov- for the most crucial aspect of your or a percentage of salary. With ernment plus an extra £15 per financial planning - your pension. What does the State provide? this type of scheme the employee month increase in take-home pay After life assurance protection In short - not very much. Pro- can pay personal contributions after adjustment to his tax code. for your dependants, your pension vided you have a complete up to a maximum of 15% of It therefore costs a higher rate is the single most important item National Insurance contribution salary but is disbarred from taxpayer £60 to invest the same in planning for retirement. It record there is a basic pension of effecting a personal pension £100. forms the foundation and several £57.60 per week for a single per- unless it is used solely to collect In addition your money is courses of the brickwork for that son and £92.10 per week for a monies received from contracting invested in a tax free fund that time of your life when you decide married couple. There may be an out of SERPS. The majority of increases the growth potential. to stop working. It has to be built additional pension payable from employees will not be invited to to the very best standards your the State Earnings Related Pen- join a company scheme and so How do I choose the right pen- resources allow. But, as with any sion Scheme (SERPS) but this has have to make their own arrange- sion provider? finished construction, the founda- a maximum for high earners of ments either with or without the With care! There are over a hun- tions are just the start. It is the £74.60 per week and will proba- help of their employer. For this dred pension providers willing to quality of the fixtures and fittings bly be very much less. Anyway, group the only logical choice is to accept your money. Some have that can determine a building's most young people will take the effect a personal pension. performed well over the years - value. Equally, it is additional opportunity to contract out of some have not. This is where your planning on top of your state pen- SERPS and increase their private How do personal pensions IFA is able to provide specialist sion that decide whether your pension instead. work? advice. retirement years are comfortable A personal pension plan works in or just adequate. So what types of pension two stages. Up to the time of Why an independent financial The earlier you discuss retire- scheme are available? your retirement the amounts adviser? paid in by you and by your Advisers on life assurance, per- employer are invested. Whoever sonal pensions and unit trust is investing the money will try to products are of two types. Either, earn the best return they can representatives of a particular Low cost with the money. When you get to company, or independent. retirement, the proceeds of the Both types of adviser should investment must be used to buy only recommend life assurance, you a pension from an insurance personal pensions or unit trust finance on company. This does not need to products if they consider such a be the same insurance company product is suitable to your needs. that you saved with. Your IFA A representative of a particular will help you select the best company acts on its behalf and available under the Open Market will recommend a product picked JACOBSEN Option. There may also be a only from the range of those lump sum available at your offered by that particular com- retirement - normally 25% of the pany. Most of the building soci- fund. eties and banks fall into this machines category. How much can I pay in? An independent will act on your The maximum amount you can behalf in recommending a prod- Jacobsen are able to offer a low cost pay into a personal pension uct picked from the ranges of all depends on your age at the the companies that make up the finance scheme for new ride-on mowers beginning of the tax-year. If you market place. and 810/2315 trucks. This scheme will are aged 35 or under you can pay up to 17.5% of your earnings Does it cost me anything to be operated by FAF Ltd on all orders rising in bands to 40% for those obtain independent advice? aged between 61 and 74. Not directly - your IFA is paid by placed by 31st August 1994. commission that comes out of the What is this tax relief I've normal charges applied by the For further information contact your heard about? insurance company. In order to encourage you to save local Jacobsen dealer or Jacobsen direct towards your pension the gov- How do I get in touch with an on: ernment allow you tax relief at IFA? the highest rate of tax you pay. Contact BIGGA who has made Tel: 0536 417777 For example, a standard rate tax- arrangements for a panel of IF As payer pays £75 per month to an to provide members with impar-

AD Fax: 0536 310245 insurance company. The insur- tial advice. Complete and return REF ance company claims a further the coupon on Page 30 or phone 4 £25 from the government mak- for advice on 0347 838581. DYMOND'S LITTLE GEM

The view from the 14th tee out across the 12th century church to Daymer Bay

In 1888 there was just a small ith all eyes on Turnberry represents a gap in the golfing edu- "St Enodoc unvisited had always party of undergraduates play- Wthis month, it's not easy cation of far too many golfers. Per- been portrayed to me in much the ing golf at St Enodoc. By 1988 thinking of an introduction to an sonally, I had first heard of it 40 same terms. The golf had been there were thousands tram- article on a links course at the years prior to my first visit. When I described as eminently natural, pling over the pretty little Cor- other end of the country, in Corn- did go, not only did the course fully amusing and dramatic in a coun- nish course. This year there wall. live up to all the exciting things I try of glorious and terrific sand are even more. Chris Boiling I could write: had heard about but I realised that hills. All this proved to be perfectly talked to Stuart Dymond about "Everybody has heard of St it was a very simple matter to get true and yet when I saw it I felt compaction and other prob- Enodoc but not nearly everybody there, for Rock is only a few miles that full justice had not been lems. who ought to has been there. It from Wadebridge. done."

E&S SPORTSGROUND CONTRACTORS HOLLOW TINING The superb TM1500 Greens/Fairway Aerator and CORE COLLECTION VERTI-DRAINING

• Drainage • Overseeding • Construction and Renovation • Tee Extensions • Bunker Refurbishments • 1.5 metre coring width # No grease points. Fully sealed throughout. • Green Reconstruction/Alterations • Variable spacing with a choice of tine sizes. • Fits your tractor. From Hollow or solid tine. 22HP gearbox or • Productivity. 67,000 hydrostatic. Contact: Richard Veitch square feet per hour at Aerators Ltd, 3 Hillside 2.6MPH. Close, Euxton, Chorley, The Fairways, King Street Lane, Winnersh, Lanes PR7 6JB. Wokingham, Berks RGII 5AX • Adjustable depth. Tel: (0257) 231861 Depth capacity to 5 Fax: (0257)231861 inches. For Ireland please contact: Croft Turfgrass Industries, • Durability. Rubust all Greencroft, Castlebellingham, AD AD REF 0734 795454 REF steel welded frame Co. Louth. Tel: 010 353 4272163 347 248 MIDLAND TURF If you haven't done your work by AERATING SERVICE

* Verti-Draining * That's how I could have started been done before, a long, long this article because, when I asked time ago. In fact they are the Hollow Coring with greenkeepers to name an inter- words (more or less) that cele- esting course, St Enodoc was the brated golf writer Bernard Dar- Ryan GA30 * Core name that kept coming up. When win used more than 50 years ago I got there I realised why, but for his article on the 104-year-old none had done justice to the course. Collector * Deep sandhills and hollows, plateaux In those days he played with a and tussocks or to the view from brassey and mashie-niblick. And Slitting * Top the 14th tee out across the pretty the greenkeeper, F Camps, was 12th-century church where poet also the steward and club Dresser laureate John Betjeman is buried repairer being paid 25s per week to Daymer Bay, or over the Camel for his services. * Over- Estuary from the 16th fairway Now his jobs are done by a and 18th tee. dozen employees of the club. As I said, that's how I could There are seven greenkeepers, Seeder * Tractor k have started this article - but it's led by 51-year-old Stuart Hire * Competitive Prices * Professional Aeration/decompaction: nationwide service. what the scientists say Tel/Fax 0922 417567 by WA Adams of the is there is an underlying prob- University of Wales and lem which should be identified AD RJ Gibbs of the New Zealand and rectified. REF Charles Frost 464 Turf Culture Institute The intensity of foot traffic on tees is comparable with or The most frequent need on greater than on greens so the golf greens is to improve (or compaction problems are sim- restore) water infiltration and ilar. One difference is that air entry into the rootzone. This since the turf usually has a does not require decom- larger root system the soil paction and can be achieved macropores are better pro- by physical penetration of the tected. Hollow tine coring is surface with solid tines which probably the most valuable may be flat or round. Fre- treatment. quency of operation should be Compaction problems are determined solely on need. In relatively minor on fairways the growing season spiking except on restricted thorough- introduces should be required once per fares which may require spe- A TOTALLY NEW CONCEPT month or less often. A higher cial attention. Routine aeration frequency is likely to be maintenance using a slit tine IN SOIL AERATION THE needed on golf greens from spiker is normally confined to autumn to spring when rainfall the period between late Octo- is in excess of évapotranspira- ber and April. The purpose is tion. The depth of penetration to penetrate a surface which required may be shallow (less has become sealed. Decom- than 40mm) but this will paction at a depth exceeding PORTABLE SOIL DECOMPACTOR depend upon the nature of the 100mm is rarely necessary rootzone. but, when it is, a moderate • NO NOISE # NO POLLUTION Hollow tine coring is the amount of surface disturbance most widely used technique to can be tolerated so that mini- • OPERATES ANYWHERE • IMPROVES improve aeration and relieve mole ploughing is practicable. DRAINAGE • NO MAINTENANCE compaction in the top 100mm • This extract is taken from a • MINIMAL RUNNING COSTS of rootzones. On intensively recently published book, Natu- used golf courses, treatment in ral Turf for Sport and Amenity: This truly portable soil decompactor and autumn and spring may be Science and Practice. The aerator is a must for conserving our necessary. On less intensively book covers general princi- used golf greens annual treat- ples and how they work on natural habitat. ment in autumn (with one or golf courses, bowling greens, PHONE OR FAX FOR FURTHER DETAILS two passes) will suffice. Too soccer, rugby and cricket frequent use results in a soft pitches. Aimed at students surface. An operation to taking courses in turf science relieve compaction below and sports ground manage- AD REF TEL/FAX 0428 661767 100mm should not be needed ment, the 416 pages cost 407 on an annual basis. Indeed if it £24.50. Tel: 0491 832111. 10.30 you're struggling - it's just heaving'

Dymond. But there are now 36 holes - the 6,243-yard par 69 Church Course and the easier 4,142-yard par 61 Holywell Course, which was completed in 1982. For much of its history, St Enodoc has had 27 holes, although the short course had long periods when it was not used. Club records show that in the early days the highest handicap for a round of 27 holes was 60, which suggests either the stan- dards of play were low or the course was very difficult. The courses lie in 250 acres of which 40 are fairways, two are tees, and three are greens. The rest is left to mother nature. The James Braid-designed main course, only called the Church Course since 1987, hasn't changed much since Darwin's Golfers who have conquered the Himalayas make their way to the 6th green day, but it has seen a tremend- nous increase in traffic, which has years as head greenkeeper at fortnight and aerated before Many of the greens are old - necessitated a great deal of aera- North Wilts and 15 years at Bude, receiving their monthly dose of built in the days when £50 would tion work to relieve compaction. of which ten were as head green- liquid manure and wetting agent. get you four new putting surfaces keeper. "It's something we tried last - and have sunk in places. Stuart 75,000 rounds The greens are verti-drained year and it seems to be working - and his team have redesigned In 1949 the club took 1,123 once, in the autumn, using half- the greens are looking beautiful two of them since he's been at the green fees, in 1989 the figure was inch thick tines and left open. at the moment," he says. course, and he hopes to do a cou- 19,645. Now there are 1,200 During the winter they are spiked The- greens are about 50 per ple more this winter, if he gets playing members and 75,000 every 7-10 days. In the spring cent annual meadowgrass, com- the go-ahead from members. rounds played per year (over the they are hollow-cored to a depth pared with the 99 per cent when Most of the redesign of the 13th two courses), the bulk of which of 4-5ins using quadro and solid he joined. This turnaround has and 14th greens has involved tak- comes during our short summer. tines and topdressed. This is the been achieved by a lot of aeration ing out the "silly slopes". For "If you haven't done your work only topdressing they will receive. work. "We've never overseeded example, to remove the hollow by 10.30 you're struggling, it's "Too much topdressing only them, we've spiked and proded a on the 14th they had to lift it by just heaving," says Stuart, who causes problems," says Stuart. lot but mostly we've left it to nearly 3ft. They started the work came to St Enodoc after seven The greens are scarified every nature," he says. on a Monday morning in Novem- ber and had finished it by the Fri- day after taking off the turf and Equipment update top soil, building up the hollow using nearby sand, replacing the top soil, remodelling it and putting the turf back. The green was in play again by January. Stuart is quick to praise his men for their efforts: "They're a bunch of blokes second to none. They can do a week's work in a day and a half."

Wear and tear When he first joined they concen- trated on the greens, now they are putting a lot of effort into the fairways. The problem there is a • The Jacobsen Aero King PT2448 is a tractor • Sisis recently launched the Technicore, a common one: wear and tear and mounted aerator for large turf areas. There is a vertical aerator for all year round use. The lack of growth. "When I moved choice of hole patterns which will match interchangeable hollow coring, slitting, solid down nine years ago we decided aeration needs, and can be combined with a and large diameter hollow tines have quick to get stuck into the greens first variety of tine sizes. Easy to fit, it can be used release fasteners. Multitine and Microcore and the fairways were only titi- on any three-point hitch, 540rpm PTO tractor heads are also available. A wide range of vated a little bit. But recently with 18hp or more. The Aero King T1224 is a hole patterns can be obtained and a true we've spent a lot of time on the self-propelled aerator which gives you a choice 127mm depth of penetration. All Sisis tines fairways - spiking them basically of five coring patterns to handle different now have an upgraded hardness and a couple of applications of aeration needs. There is also a choice of tines. specification. potash, which has made a fair improvement to them. "I think they are better now The fairways are slit through- Other work they've been doing away. The greenstaff know some- than they have been in a long out the winter (almost weekly) includes extending tees, improv- thing needs to be done, but time." using a Ransomes TM80. Bottle- ing pathways (they've laid 90- what? One little change that has made necks and other areas that take a tonne of stones and grit to cope "We put some netting around a big difference is switching from lot of traffic are verti-drained. with the traffic and buggies), and to protect it on a temporary basis conventional gang mowers to The fairway sward comprises revetting bunkers. In January and it has stayed like that now Hayter gangs with rollers on the natural fescue/bent grasses "and they revetted six of the 29 for five years. We're going to front and back, so they don't scalp rubbishy coxsfoot". They're win- bunkers using 1,000 sq yd of turf have to think hard and do some- the humps. "We've actually got ning the battle against this by "so we've just got the little ones thing up there but what we grass now on the tops of the hills." scarifying and digging it out. left to do this winter". haven't decided yet. It's going to The course's most famous be difficult to do anything bunker is the aptly-named because it's so far up. How do we EQUIPMENT Himalayas (according to Darwin, get stuff up there?" St Enodoc has a programme of replacing everything every five "the highest sandhill I have ever Fellow greenkeepers wonder- years but, because they maintain everything well, much of the 'old seen on a golf course"). It's about ing whether they need climbing stuff' still performs well. "Good blokes and good kit make my job a 80ft high and the top is blowing doddle," says head greenkeeper Stuart Dymond. gear to rake it need not worry. 1 John Deere 2243 Greens 1 Massey 40hp Tractor/Loader Mower 1 Iseki 525 Compact Tractor 1 Toro GM3 Greens Mower 1 Iseki 2160 Compact Tractor 1 Jacobsen Diesel Greens 1 Verti-drain Mower 1 Coremaster 1 Ransomes 171 Surround 1 Ransomes TM80 Fairway Mower Spiker 1 Ransomes 180D 2 Sisis Greens Spikers 1 Saxon Triple 1 Hardi 400L Sprayer 1 Toro 70 1 Alman 300L Sprayer 3 Saxon Hand Mowers 1 Diesel Cushman 1 Greens Mower 1 Petrol Cushman 1 Beaver Hydraulic 5 Gang 1 John Deere 6x4 Gator Mower 1 Cushman Topdresser 1 Jacobsen Trail 3 Gang Mower 1 Royer Shredder 1 Beaver Articulator 1 Royer Power Screen 1 Massey 35hp Tractor 1 Suzuki 4x4 The 14th green, which the greenstaff rebuilt in five days

The finest of turfs - that's what this greenkeeper achieves with Toros unique bowling green, cricket wicket or tennis court, Hydroject complements water injection Hydroject aerator. Able to tackle very wet or rock hard conventional aeration methods. And for large turf areas, Toro's Fairway ground conditions, it allows play to resume immediately. On the golf green, and HC4000 heavy duty aerators cover up to 1.5 acres per hour with ease. They only have to rake it for a couple of major events each year, locals can pick their balls out under penalty. Another unusual feature of the course is granite and slate posts in the semi-roughs. Presumably old boundary markers, they have to be trimmed around once a week. Old boundaries were also marked by stone walls. One forms an obstacle on the third fairway and another is a feature of the 14th green. But all these oddities add to what Darwin called "fine, vigor- ous, adventurous fun". And as you walk around the course it is easy to be reminded of the last verse of John Betjeman's poem, Seaside Golf, which was inspired by the 13th hole at St Enodoc: "Ah! seaweed smells from sandy caves And thyme and mist in whiffs, In-coming tide, Atlantic waves Above: Stuart Dymond admires one of the best Slapping the sunny cliffs, views in golf - the Camel Lark song and sea sounds in the air Estuary, Padstow and And splendour, splendour everywhere St Enodoc golf course from A splendour enhanced by the 18th tee Dymond and his gems: pictured from left, Mike Lane, Charlie Bosley, Steve Evans, Mike Bosley, Graham Mitchell, Malcolm Bosley and Stuart Dymond.

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like to walk your course with you and discuss your needs. You can trust arrange for a local dealer to contact you. Bringing perfection REF

TORO DISTRIBUTED BY LELY (UK) LIMITED, STATION ROAD, ST NEOTS, HUNTINGDON, CAMBRIDGESHIRE PE19 1QH TELEPHONE 0480 476971 FACSIMILE 0480 216167 to play. My part in building Vietnam's

We heard recently that 20 golf courses his story begins back in December 1992 are being planned in China. Vietnam is and mainly controlled by the army. But at Twhen I received a telephone call from an another country on the eve of a golf long last I managed to get two bulldozers and architect friend who asked if I would be boom. Stephen Swanson of Country Side one excavator, one of the bulldozers must interested in a project starting soon in the Golf Services has been to look at his sec- have been 44 years old. As for the lorries, Far East. At this point I was thinking he ond project there. Here he tells how he well they were very old and pure Russian, but meant Hong Kong or somewhere like that, so helped build the first golf course in North they did all eventually arrive on site. when he said it was in Vietnam I thought he Vietnam. Now I could finally begin trying to explain was joking. But after he repeated himself sev- to the Vietnamese workers why we needed to eral times I realised he was not. flatten the land and make shapes but I was By the time everything had been arranged wheeler with only four wheels. They all seem very grateful that they were very quick learn- and contracts and tickets were finalised, it to drive in the middle of the road with their ers. My next problem was to find the right was February 1993 before I was on a plane hands on the horn and whoever has the most mixture for the greens. The stones and gravel heading for Bangkok and my first meeting courage and the loudest horn wins. were no problem, I had discovered a quarry with the American and Thai people organis- I had to spend a week in Hanoi to get SCCI on my travels. I got the sand from the river ing this project - the very first golf course in (department of commerce) approval, then beds - it was lovely, they had been North Vietnam. I had to spend one week in began the epic journey up country to see the untouched for years and I found the mixture Bangkok to get my visa for entry into Viet- site. The site is surrounded by the most beau- made a fine base for the greens, it was also nam. Once this was arranged I was on a tiful islands, water and mountains, and a few used for the sand cement. plane bound for Vietnam's international air- shacks they called holiday homes as this is a We are now two months into the project port which is no bigger than a small private bit of a tourist place for the Vietnamese. and I am two stones lighter as the food was flying club would use over here. We then had I walked the site with the company direc- scarce and, more importantly, the beer lim- to travel to Hanoi where we had to stay in tors. I asked if they had any drawings or ited. Eventually I had it shipped up country the army guest house (hotel). On the way to plans but was told they had not but were via the black market. Now things are moving Hanoi I got my first impression of Vietnam relying on me to come up with something, so very quickly so I now have my next problem which is very primitive - there were people I sat down and came up with some which which was to find some irrigation. Eventually working in paddy fields, there was no took some time for us all to agree. My first I came across a pipe factory in Haipong but drainage or sanitation, no lights, the roads objective was to mark out the course which trying to explain to them was yet another were unmade. As for the vehicles, they may took a few days then the next big task was to problem because they only understood pip- have a bonnet but usually two wings are sort out the machinery which proved to be ing for dams so they kept asking me how missing and it was nothing to see a six very hard because plant hire is very limited high I wanted to pump the water, but I had Clockwise from top: at work on the 8th tees; work in progress on the 2nd; the "blacksmiths"; and a common method of transport. The Vietnamese are wonderful people to work with, says Stephen Swanson

to explain I did not want to pump high but a long distance. We finally came to an agree- ment and I purchased 4inch, 2inch and linch pipe that was all they could offer me. I man- aged to get some sprinklers shipped in from Bangkok. Yet again on my travels I came across a man who specialised in pumps and we obtained an engine and pump combined, the same as the ones used over here on fair- grounds. It was very powerful so all was order and progressing very well. Next I needed to find 40 women to start sprigging out the grass on the greens and tees. For the tees I used local, natural Her- And that is how I got my land leveller made. challenging experience for a good green- mucla grass; for the greens imported The Vietnamese will survive on anything keeper - once the course is all seeded, Tiffwarf; and Sahara seed for the fairways. and everything. One day I managed to get sprigged and the irrigation installed and We imported an Amazone spreader that fit- some paint, very watery, out on the site. I working - is there are some very big Cana- ted an old Russian tractor. I found once I had remembered I had no paintbrushes so my dian snakes out there. shown the people how to do the seeding they surveyor, Mr Hiat, went into the woods, cut a The future of Vietnam looks very bright. carried on with no problems but when it branch from a special tree and frayed out the There are many people from Taiwan and came to the cultivation on the fairways end, bound it with reed and there was my Japan looking at developing golf courses to believe it or not I came across a farmer who paint brush. One women who was 28 years attract tourists. I have been approached had a set of discs which I used but- for level- old with four children used to plant grass about a couple of future projects and am ling I had to go to a shanty town called Son seven days a week. She lived in all weathers looking at the site of the second course in the Tay where there are many blacksmiths which on a reed boat about 10ft long, 2ft wide with North. Another one has opened in the South. comprise an open fire with bricks around a small roof. The weather in winter is very And there is room for a lot more. with someone who turns a bike wheel with cold and damp but in the summer it is 46 This was a great experience and challenge fans on it, an anvil and two little boys with degrees which means it goes from one and I am very pleased I was given the oppor- sledge hammers. As the metal turns, the extreme to the other. tunity to be part of the project. The Viet- boys, standing either side, hit it into shape. Anyway, back to golf course work. Another namese are wonderful people to work with. NAMESEARCH Compiled by Mark G Smith

R A H C S R 0 Z 1 L

L E S P R 0 E N N K

Y R R E E G C 1 D C

K 1 S 1 *H U T V E A

K R K E C T H J

A L 0 W H A S R

Hobson Industrial Estate, Burnopfield, Y D P N 0 S 1 R T 0 Newcastle upon Tyne NE16 6EB. L Y F N 1 C A S S L Tel: (0207) 270316 Fax: (0207) 270312 R L E F A K M S Y Y

E N K L U L A U T A

WIN A BIGGA BLAZER OR £50 IN CASH!

This month we're replacing the Greenkeeper's Crossword with a Namesearch. Starting at *H, trace a route through the surnames of 14 former Open champions, moving only one 42" capacity Mower Cylinder and Bottom Blade The new Juno 36" capacity square at a time either horizontally or vertically (but not diago- Grinding Machine. A truly 'precision' grinder, built Cylinder and Bottom Blade Grinder to last half a century. Used and preferred by will accommodate every make and nally). Every letter must be used once and once only. professionals. type of professional and domestic cutting cylinders and soleplates. Simple to operate, fast changeover When you have completed the Namesearch, answer the follow- from cylinder to bottom blade ing questions: grinding. The 1. Which surname appears last in the sequence? Rolls Royce Range 2. What was the player's first name? Quality engineering at its accurate 3. In which year did he win the Championship? best. Improve standards - cut costs

4. On which course was the Open held that year? Our clients include:•

Beadlow Manor Golf & Country Club Milltown Golf Club (Dublin) Bramley Golf Club Mold Golf Club Answer the four questions, add your name and address and Caldy Golf Club Muirfield (Gullane) Golf Club send it to: Namesearch, Greenkeeper International, Aldwark Carnoustie Golf Links Newbury & Crookham Golf Club Carvoeira Golfe SA (Algarve) Northwood Golf Club Manor, Aldwark, Alne, York Y06 2NE. Closing date is July 22, Cawdor Golf Club Omonde Fields Golf Club 1994. Photocopy your entry or send in a postcard if you don't Charleslands Leisure (Co. Wicklow) Piltdown Golf Club want to cut up your magazine. First correct entry drawn after the Chirk Castle Golf Course Pineridge Golf Club Clitheroe Golf Club Ponteland Golf Club closing date will win the prize - either a BIGGA blazer worth Collingtree Leisure Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club £87.95 or £50 in cash. Please state on your entry whether you'd Crompton & Royton Golf club Royal Dornoch Golf Club Delapre Golf Complex Royal Liverpool Golf Club prefer a blazer or the cash if you are lucky enough to win. Eaton Golf Club Rye Golf Club Ely City Golf Club St Andrews Links Trust Glenbervie Golf Club Slaley Hall G&C Club Winner of the May crossword was John Harrowing and the win- Gleneagles Hotel South Moor Golf Club ner in June was Mr W Shipley. Both opted for BIGGA blazers as Goring and Streetley Taunton & Pickeridge Golf Club their prize. Haggs Castle Club Tehidy Park Golf Course Harpenden Golf Club Telford Golf Club Hellidon Lakes Golf & Country Club The Berkshire Golf Club Kinross (Green Hotel) The Vale Golf & Country Club Name: o • Leek Golf Club Turnberry Hotel Lingfield Park Wellingborough Golf Club Maione Golf Club West Herts Golf Club Address: Massereene Golf Club West Sussex Golf Club AD Mere Golf & Country Club Whitecraigs Golf Club REF 73 If I'm the winner, please send me • £50 cash or • BIGGA blazer, size. Ifthere's a better you'll find it at SALTEX

You need an open mind to manage open spaces. And if you're looking for a helping hand, you've just found it. Introducing SALTEX, the new Institute of Groundsmanship event for sports, amenities and landscaping professionals. You'll see everything - from heavy machinery to horticulture, from chemicals to climbing frames - and much more.

You'll share ideas with Europe's most accomplished groundsmen, landscapers, architects and space managers. You'll see the latest equipment in action in the working demonstration area. And you'll get your hands on dozens of new products. Join us for the loG's triumphant return to Windsor. Free Ticket Call now for your FREE tickets. Hotline 0954 230722

SALTEX SALTEX SPORTS There's no reason on AMENITIES earth to miss it LANDSCAPING AD TRADES EXHIBITION REF 6-8 September 6-8 SEPTEMBER 1994 365 Royal Windsor ROYAL WINDSOR RACECOURSE Racecourse! EXHIBITION

PLAN to date 25-27 January 1995, Harrogate, North Yorkshire

Exhibitors for the 1995 BTME, as at July Elmwood College C35 23, 1994. Call Louise Lunn today on 0347 English Golf Union C2 838581 for an information pack and to Eric Hunter Grinders C28 check space availability. We're almost sold out! Farm &Garden Machinery C25 Farmura - A19 M J Abbott Ltd B2 Fisons PLC B1 Adas A3 3 Fleet Line Markers Bll Aitkens Sportsturf A36A Garfitts International Ltd B27 Allen Power A26 GEM Professional B31 Amenity Land Services B8 The Golf Sign company B32 Amenity Technology C55 Golf Course Superintendents Atterton & Ellis A7 Association of America C2A Avoncrop Amenity Products C13 Grace Sierra A27 Barenbrug A24 J D Greasley Ltd C27 E P Barrus CIO Greenkeepers Training Committee CI Baileys of Norfolk A13 Hadlow College C32 Better Methods B35 Hardi A31 Lamborghini UK C61 Blazon Europe B43 Hayters C57&C26 Lely UK Ltd A35/A15 Blec Ltd B47B Hole in White A3 Lindum Seeded Turf B3 British Seed Houses A12 Huxleys Grass Machinery A34 Lloyds & Co Ltd B34 Cannington College C36 Industrial Power Units A2 Lockwood Grass Machinery C54B Charterhouse Turf Machinery A18 Institute of Groundsmanship Cll Martin Brothers B29 Ciba Geigy C54 Interseeds Ltd C7 Massey Ferguson B40 Claymore Grass Machinery B45 Inturf Ltd A36 Mommersteeg International C5 Cleveland Sitesafe B25 Jacobsen Ltd C51 Multi Core Aerators Ltd A22 C M W Equipment Co A21 John Deere Ltd B48 Myerscough College B4 D & E Turf Maintenance Ltd A10 Johnson Seeds A20 National Turf Grass Council C4 DWTomlin B28 Kings Horticulture B9 Netlon Ltd B6 Echo GB B12 KubotaUKLtd A37/A17 New Holland Ford Ltd C56 GOING, GOING...... stand space for the 1995 BTME has almost GONE! A record-breaking 81 per cent of available stand space in Halls A, B and C is ALREADY booked and paid for". Just look at the shaded areas on this plan - it represents the companies who have already made a sound investment for their future. JOIN THEM TODAY by calling Louise Lunn on 0347 838581. Don't leave it until tomorrow -

you might be too late! "25 per cent deposit paid

Oaklands College C37 Rufford Top Dress Supplies Ltd A25 TACIT B1A Ocmis Ltd A32A Saxon Industries B30 TildenetLtd B13 Outdoor Power Products Ltd C6 Sharpes International B26 Turf-Actant Products C8 PAC Organic Products B2A Shelley Signs Ltd BIO Turf Management A34B H Pattisson & Co Ltd B44 Sisis Equipment Ltd B46A Turf Management Systems C54A Philip York & Partners B7 Sovereign Turf Ltd C24 Vitax Ltd A34A PSD Ltd All Sports Ground Irrigation A8 Warwickshire College C33 Prime Waterman A33 Sports Turf Research Institute C3 Wiedenmann UK Ltd B47A Ransomes A30 StaBrite Supplies Ltd A5 Zeneca Professional Products B42 Reaseheath College C40 Standard Golf UK Ltd B36 The 1995 event promises to continue Rhone Poulenc A6 Supaturf Products Ltd A4 BTME's amazing growth. Whatever your Rigby Taylor A23 Supreme Mowing Ltd A32B connection with the fine turf industry, Rolawn A32 Symbio B24 make a date in your diary - and be there! The most cost-effective way of reaching readers of Greenkeeper International. Simply ring Bill Lynch on 091 413 7218, Carol Dutton or Louise Lunn on 0347 838581 and ask about an alphabetical category listing: the cost ers' Guide starts from the equivalent of under £25 per month.

Aerators Bacteria YOU'RE ONTO A WINNER WITH AERATORS GREENKEEPER INTERNATIONAL GREEN CIRCLE Problems with dirty water or aJgae bloom? Let Otterbine clean-up your The biological way to: lakes and ponds. / Degrade Thatch The world leader in water quality / Increase Root Depth management / Promote Fine Grasses Available from leading irrigation / Reduce Fertiliser Needs companies. Full details from: / Combat Disease Qo% Coutse Services Tel: England/Wales: 081 669 0011 Scotland 0764 683250 6 Stuart Road, Ireland 045 61389 Market Harborough LEI6 9PQ Tel: 0858 463153 • Fax: 0858 410085 win a realone, for fee! Agronomy HERE WE GO with another chance to WIN £50 with Greenkeeper International! J^v PATHFORM PSD AGRONOMY LTD All you have to do is take a look at the £50 note symbol above. Now 2 fH^ ^ Hardwood A COMPLETE AGRONOMIC CONSULTANCY look through the ads in the Buyers' Guide section and spot THREE of SERVICE FOR THE GOLF CLUB Chips and GREENKEEPER them - they've been reduced in size, but they're there, somewhere! • Contract Management of ^vfRing for samples Extensions and New Courses Write down the names of the three ads where the £50 notes are and colour brochure • Site Management and Problem located and send your entries on a postcard to: Note the Notes Diagnosis on Existing Courses Iver, Bucks, SL0 9LA • Technical Advice and Support Competition, BIGGA, Aldwark Manor, Aldwark, Alne, York, North all year round Yorkshire Y06 2NF, to be received by first post Friday, July 22, Tel 0753 652022 • Soil and Turf Analysis 1994. The first correct entry drawn after that date will win £50. For further information contact: Fax 0753 653007 David Stansfield or John Hacker It could be YOU! Enter today - and Note the Notes! 42 Garstang Road, Preston PR1 1NA Judges' decision is final. Not open to BIGGA staff. Tel: (0772) 884450 Fax: 884445 M & B SUPPLIES All Weather Walkways Eagle-eyed Adam Morey, deputy greenkeeper Walkway Chips, at Dunwood Golf Course, was the lucky Softwood Bark - All Grades, winner of our June competition. A very handy £50 Fertilizers, Composts, Peat, ALL WEATHER Horticultural Sundries WALKWAYS is on its way to him. Would you like a crisp £50 Baths Road, Longton, Limit turf damage with a note? Well, get searching - YOU could be next Stoke-on-Trent natural woodfibre walkway. month's big winner! Staffordshire. ST3 2JQ • Free draining • Soft and quiet tread Telephone 0782 593233 • Engineered particle size • Blends into the landscape • Expert construction advice Dormit For further information please call us on Tree Spade Hire Worting House TOTAL TIMBER ENGINEERING Cirencester (0285) 860781/2 • Semi Mature Basingstoke Trees supplied •ORCE Hants RG23 8PY Animal Repellents • Mulches LEISURE BRIDGES supplied Tel: 0256 811014 Pedestrian and Vehicular Ring for colour REVETMENTS • COURSE CONSTRUCTION • brochures SHEET PILING ^AIRWAYS Iver, Bucks, SL0 9LA • SYNTHETIC GRASS TEES • SHELTERS DISCREET CONTROL • WINTER GREENS • HICKSON LEISURE DEVELOPMENTS CONSULTANCY Tel 0753 652022 NEW POTTER GRANGE ROAD, GOOLE • ADVENTURE GOLF • NORTH HUMBERSIDE DN14 6XF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE & TRAINING Fax 0753 653007 telephone (0405) 766060 fax (0405) 768622 LANCASHIRE PR6 0QG FAX: 0285 770910 Architects Tel: 0257 269983/269069 Fax: 0257 261064

SCUTTLEr JONATHAN i • VERDE TEE FRAME ANIMAL REPELLENT I Steel platform, woven grass top. GAUNT * • VERDE WINTER TEE Up to ten weeks protection from B.A. (Hons.) Dip L.A. Generous size, self-install kit. browsing by rabbits from a single, GOLF COURSE ARCHITECT • VERDE DRIVING MATS effective spray application. From feasibility studies to complete Top quality - Long Life - Best Prices. j design projects including contract THE SHOW OF For product leaflet and the name ? • ARTIFICIAL GRASSES > supervision of your nearest distributor, call J t DRIVING BAYS AND NETS i THE YEAR! 40C NORWICH ROAD FOREST GATE | For club and home use. 5 -a- 0734 510033 KSSyoubuy Scuttle contains sulphonated LONDON E7 9JH \ TWENTY YEARS EXPERIENCE SUPPLYING THE £ Call Louise Lunn at Fax: 0734 510044 codiwai TEL: 081 5$5 8577 FAX: 081 519 6163 i BEST SURFACES AT COMPETITIVE PRICES, f BIGGA on 0347 838581 ® Fine Agrochemicals Ltd., Worcester WR2 5AA. Associate of the British Institute of Golf Course Architect! # Please call for samples & information | for an information pack •.•^-.v-i^'. - - t -»-., M i r > f Buildings Consultancy SLEATH & SON G • 0 • L - F SPORTSTURF DRAINAGE LANDSCAPES Full range of modern equipment providing David Hem stock UK and European service LIMITED Associates Contact Geoff Sleath Consultants on: Tel: (0709) 862109 Fax: (0709) 862075 ASHWELLS ROAD, BENTLEY • Golf Course BRENTWOOD, ESSEX CM15 9SR upgrading Club Houses • New Course development TEL: (0277) 373720 Driving Range Buildings • Specialists in irrigation, drainage, contour and GREENKEEPERS STORES DESIGNED TO INCLUDE: FAX: (0277) 374834 environmental surveys. As Required • Machinery Storage • Maintenance Workshops Suite 4d, East Mill, Bridgefoot, Belper, • Fertiliser and Weedkiller Storage Derbyshire DE5 1XF. • Offices and Staff Mess Rooms Tel: 0773 827115 Fax: 0773 821083 • Any other specialist usages Mobile: 0850 744957 Golf Courses FREE initial designs and costings Michael and PLEASE CONTACT Lowe Sportsfields Course Accessories • Drainage Ivan J Cooper Ltd & Associates • Construction Steel Framed Buildings • Water Mains Moorside Works, Cauldon Lowe, GOLF COURSE DESIGN, • Fin Drains Stoke-on-Trent ST10 3ET CONSTRUCTION & CONSULTANCY WHY DOES • Approved sand, Tel: 0538 702282 Fax: 0538 702662 gravel and pipe Design only, complete construction or TACIT'S supplied any stage in between, including FLAGPOLE LAST Sunnyside, Blairadam, by Kelty, Drainage. Cockleshells Pro-Shop, 72 Bryniau Road, TWICE AS Fife KY4 0HY Tel: (0383) 830217 Llandudno, Gwynedd LONG? Tel: (0492) 876878 Fax: (0492) 872420 Fax: (0383)831771

• Sportsturf Ltd • Fertilisers Suppliers of COCKLESHELLS Sierrablen Turfmix Controlled Release Fertilizer The best with fast start portion pathway material and MONEYSTONE single appli bunker sand feeding for the whole growing season. NORTH Tel: (0229) 465555 High Quality. Proven In Practice IWIUII Fax: (0229) 465544 Grace-Sierra UK Ltd QAT TrfTT Tel: (0823) 432231 High technology in plant nutrition OUUin Fax:(0823)432231 CONTACT THE 61 Loughborough Road, West Bridgfbrd, PROFESSIONALS Nottingham NG2 7LA Tel: 0602 455100 • Fax: 0602 455311 COCKLESHELL FROM £8 per MP Tim Banks, Secretary, BAGCC, WHY USE IT? Angel Court, Dairy Yard, High Street, • Will not damage mowers Market Harborough LE16 7NL. Golf Course Supplies • Always looks clean Tel: 0858 464346 • Superb drainage • Easy to lay • Great value for money 95 Market Street, Dalton-in-Furness, Whitnell Contracts Ltd Cumbria LA15 8DL Golf Course Constructors Tel: 0229 468001 Martin Fax: 0229 468002 Woodlands, Ellis Road 1 Imv» PHOENIX lB oxted, Colchester EAGLES, BIRDIES, —hotels- PATHWAYS and Essex C04 5RN Vf S J CONSTRUCTION Tel: (0206) 272834 FALD0S ^ ^ SUPPLIES Fax:(0206)272104 TOP QUALITY, Mobile: 0860 421074 Tacit's upright flagpoles TOP SERVICE could have the same effect Chemical Disposal WKitntl with your members. Distributors of Wrttracts TACIT-Suppliers of CHEMICAL & EMPTY ltd Holecups, Flagpoles and Cheshire Quality CONTAINER DISPOSAL equipment for Top Dressings, A PROBLEM? European Ryder Cup 1993 ENVIROGREEN offer a Specialist The Belfry. Root Zones and Pesticide Disposal Service for both full and empty Container disposal. C Tee Mixture Also Record Books, Signs, Chemical "TACIT" & Fuel Stores and Protective Clothing MoneyStone ENVIROGREEN Limited CJ. Coffins Manufacturers of quality The Maxwell Hart Building, Golf Course Accessories Bunker Sand 612 Reading Road, Winnersh, Construction Britain's best, Wokingham, Berkshire RG11 5HF Tel: 0788 568818 Registration No: BRL/05342 Golf Course Contractors! head and Tel: 0345 125398 \Fax: 0788 537485/ shoulders above the rest Drainage Construction Specialists in complete Par-Link Red construction, or green, IAN MARTIN Pathway Gravel and tee, bunker and AGRIPOWER ideal link from BOB HORNEGOLD drainage refurblshments Green to Tee, Construction Specialists in Project any course Management, Golf Course Drainage anywhere Construction, Renovation, Stone Picking Finishing and Maintenance .¿•SSOQ, Verti-Draining Contracts / 9 \ Burgess Hffl, West Sussex iBAjn C Tel: (0277) 810616 t l Tel: 0444 242993 Fax: 0444 247318 or (0425)655586 Tel: (0494) 866776 iK&l Golf Course Supplies GERSON A National Lake Construction Grass Seed Irrigation Service STRIKE Free consultation and design TOP TURF QUALITY AMENITY service GRASS SEEDS Suppliers of quality products for Merchants to the sports all types of irrigation and leisure trade & WILD FLOWERS The complete range under one banner Local installation and - if you require it, we will have it 119 Holloway Head, maintenance throughout the UK GT GROUP Fertilisers - all grades and types, loams and dressings, Birmingham B1 1QP LEAST COST pesticides, tcip dressing; Rootzone, cockleshell; Specialists in the refurbishment of WATERPROOFING OF Horticultural and agricultural tools, golf course Tel: 021 631 2303 existing irrigation systems LAKES AND RESERVOIRS equipment, work clothing and much, much more! Fax: 021 633 0281 Call 061 456 7109 or mobile 0831 639798 For further information - using lining membranes and associated for up to date list and quote telephone 0460 241939 geosynthetic materials. 40 Offerton Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport, • Comprehensive service available to Cheshire SK7 4NL Irrigation owners/architects/consultants and contractors. GT GROUP, Nags Corner, Wiston Road, SOCMIS Nayland, COLCHESTER C06 4LT For technical and sales enquiries Grass Cutting Equipment Design and service Tel: (0206) 262676 éRTECH you can trust Fax: (0206) 262998 SAVñ H- SYSTEMS LTD. MONñW TURF IRRIGATION Machinery Repairs SPECIALISTS EX DEMONSTRATION We offer full design, Installation AND TOP QUALITY REMANUFACTURED GOLF COURSE MACHINERY AVAILABLE and After Sales Service lo FROM STOCK Hortech Systems Ltd, __ ffffffi JACOBSEN Installation i T.Vk-w,', i ¿i mm Hallgate, Holbeach, Sales HORTICULTURAL ENGINEERS MtiO^ & Service Spalding, Lines PE12 7LG Service and repairs of all makes BE N.E. England, Yorkshire, Tel: 0406 426513 *r —• X N. Lines, N. Derbys, N. & S. Humberside of professional grass cutting SISIS CUSHMAN ROVER Contact: E.B. & L. Simms equipment for the sports and VERTI-DRAIN Tel: (0765) 602175 Fax: (0765) 603488 leisure industry Par 4, Unit 18, Camphill Close, 1HHHI Contact Andrew or Rosemary JŒTàs Dallamires Lane, Ripon, TZotoi N. Yorks HG4 1TT Tel/Fax: 0827 284415 UK & EXPORT DELIVERY ARRANGED Unit 7, Roman Park, Tame Valley Industrial ? hone för a full catalogue NCW The impact sprinkler for tees, Estate, Wilnecote, Tamworth, Staffs B77 5DQ GREENSWARD greens and fairways made in ENGINEERING COMPANY Britain by Manor Farm, Otley Road, Adel, CRESSWELL MIDLAND IRRIGATION Leeds LS16 7AL, England Mower Spares Tel: (0532) 676000 ENGINEERING LTD AN INDEPENDENT IRRIGATION COMPANY

340/342 Cherrywood Road, 2 Fairdene Way, Great Barr, MOWER ACCESSORIES Birmingham B9 4UU Birmingham B43 5JS LTD Grass Seed Tel: 021 772 2512 Fax: 021 773 9548 Tel: 0213581246 Manufacturers of high Fax: 021357 6789 quality lawnmower PROBLEM AREAS? DESIGN • SUPPLY blades and cylinders. T. & G. TURF INSTALLATION • SERVICE Suppliers of spares and Scan-Seeding is IRRIGATION SERVICES Full member of BTLIA accessories. 38 Halfpenny Lane, Knaresborough, 65 Forncett Street North Yorkshire HG5 ONS Sheffield S4 the answer Tel & Fax: (0423) 864963 Our unique, mulch-free Full member of B.T.L.I.A. Tel: 0742 765825 hydroseeding system will B IRRIGATION Fax: 0742 765855 solve your seeding problems on difficult areas such as aV services banks, slopes or where soil Making sure your erosion may occur. Netting The unique Scan-Binder soil Golf Irrigation system stabiliser ensures that the isn't a handicap. East Midlands Area seed stays in position until Installation, Sales and ••TILDENET germination and Contact: S. Penny Service ••• ••• 109 Chapel Road, Hesketh Bank, Preston, establishment. Everton, Doncaster, DN10 5DR •• - Lanes., PR4 6RU Tel: (0772) 813571 Tel: (0777) 817410 Call us now for more * Germination Sheets Southern Office: N. Ford Tel: (0708) 761717 • Frost Protection Sheets details and a quotation on • Target Nets è AQUAPLAST * Perimeter Netting 0372 749909 Putting water in its place • Ball Stop Netting Hmifer • Rain Covers The Irrigation Innovators • Mobile and Static Nets Gear driven sprinklers Available from all good distributors including the new golf range Longbrook House, Ashton Vale (U.K.)LIMITED Road, Bristol BS3 2HA available from Franchises available Wátermation Tel: 0272 669684 S.G.I. Sales Manufacturers, designers 6 Stuart Road,

and installers of Market Harborough, Leics LEI6 9PQ Management GOLF COURSE Tel: 0858 463153 for IRRIGATION Fax: 0858 410085 PRE-GERMINATED GRASS SEED NOW YOU HAVE A CHOICE! "LIQUID SOD" SPRAY ON GRASS FOR 24 YEARS TOP DRESSINGS Tongham Road, Aldershot, GRASS SEED Hants GU12 4AA Automatic Watering FERTILISERS HERBICIDES Tel: 0252 336838 Systems for Sports HORTICULTURAL PRODUCTS Fax: 0252 336808 and Leisure Grounds and • Designed • Supplied • Installed BUSINESSES All Turfcare Materials Don't miss your chance BRITISH OVERHEAD GLEN HEAT & IRRIGATION Dromenagh Farm, to take part in the IRRIGATION LTD. Pinchbeck, Spalding, Lines. Sevenhills Road, Iver Heath, SHOW OF THE YEAR. • Manufacture Equipment • H Tel: (0775) 722327 Bucks SL0 0PA • Design and Install Systems • Call Louise Lunn at The Green, Upper Halliford, 1 Fax: (0775) 725444 Tel: 0895 834411 BIGGA on 0347 838581 Shepperton, Middlesex TW17 8RY Fax: 0895 834892 Tel. (0932) 7M301. Fix. (0932) 780437 for an information pack! pH Adjustment Seats Tree Planting

High pH? • Sportsturf Ltd GOLDSMITH Suppliers of TREES & LANDSCAPES MONEY Seats, tables, chairs, Specialists in growing, benches, supplying, planting is a unique source of STONE planters and lit terbins made and moving of , flowable sulphur for use The best ¿M from plantation as a nutrient additive or bunker sand «¡¿A grown teak. Listed in TREES pH adjuster. the Good Wood Guide. Crown Nursery,High Street MfiRTTJ Tel: (0229) 465555 Send for brochure Ufford,Suffolk IP1 3 6EL i>UIUn Fax: (0229) 465544 TeIephone: 0394 46 07 5 5 Available exclusively^ from D-Scan (UK) Ltd Concorde Road, Patchway, Bristol BS12 5TB . QHTTTU Tel: (0823) 432231 Tel: 0272 315335 Fax 0272 315334 OUUin Fax:(0823)432231 Tree Planting Service and its ^^^^ distributors. Secure Storage Large Grants Available Ring 0963 251129 today for Eamonn Wall & Co. more information and your own Woodland Design and Management GRUNDON SECURE STEEL LOCK-UPS FREE pH adjuster chart. 22 West Burnside, Dollar (Ex Shipping Containers) Tel: 0259 743212 FOR SALE OR HIRE LIQUID SOD, LINDEN VIEW, NOW SPREADING REDWING ROAD, MILBORNE PORT, SHERBORNE, DORSET. DT9 5DB IN YOUR AREA Eastcote Top Dressing Nurseries Delivered to your golf club or premises by self Bunker Sand w (Solihull) Ltd Pumps unloading lorries within 24 hours (Mainland UK) Root Zone 10' x 8', 20' x 8' and 40' x 8' insulated or uninsulated. • Tree Spade hire Tees Dressing IF YOU NEED ECONOMIC SECURE STORAGE • Tree moving All Aggregates RING NOW FOR PROMPT • Semi mature trees GRUNDFOS Nationwide service Path Gravels EFFICIENT SERVICE Hampton Road, Barston, Solihull, Cockleshell LAWRENCE CONTAINERS PUMPS* West Midlands B92 0JL £50 Tel: 0622 820308 FOR SPORTS & RECREATIONAi L NEW HOTLINE NUMBER: Tel: 0675 442033 NAL I TURF IRRIGATION, BOOSTING L Fax: 0622 820300 AND WATER SUPPLY Contact Gordon Fax: 0675 442324 Contact our sales offices today for on 0367 244078 full information on the Grundfos range Tee Mats SOUTH: (0525) 850000 Trenchers NORTH: (092^) 813300

GRUNDFOS ^ GARSIDE 40SMM33K. TRENCHERS FOR HIRE Width: 15cm—30cm SANDS Depth: up to 122cm Complete range of dried graded Railway Sleepers silica sands for all purposes. Trenchex Plant Sales Tel: 0889 565155 Fax: 0889 563140 Contact John Deavin at GOLF COURSE - RAILWAY SLEEPERS Eastern Way Works, DRIVING RANGE 8'6" x 10" x 5" Eastern Way, Heath & Reach, TEE MATS & FRAMES CROSSING TIMBERS Leighton Buzzard, 12" x 6" up to 16' long Beds LU7 9LF Tel: 0291 625351 Price quoted for number required. Tel: (0525) 237911 Fax: 0291 628203 Tel(0233) 625121 or 620277 Fax: (0525) 237991 Fagg's Fleet, Whitfield Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 1TY ARC BUCKLAND TUPI INDUSTRIAL MINERALS ARTIFICIAL GRASS TEE MATS, Sand and Silica Company DRIVING RANGE MATS AND COMPLETE RANGE OF PUTTING SURFACES FROM HORTICULTURAL SANDS CARPETITION LTD Contact Lynda Jordan Hundreds of uses in: 14 Kaffir Road, Edgerton, • Golf Courses • Civil Buckland Sand & Silica Co. Engineering Reigate Heath, Reigate, Huddersfield HD2 2AN • Farming • Landscape Surrey RH2 9RG Available Gardening • Fish Farms Tel: (0484) 428777 Fax: (0484) 423251 in wood or concrete • Garden Centres Tel: (0737) 240151 ASHWELL MAKE IT EASY TILLERS • Sale, hire or buyback • Choice of new or used Timber Structures Growers of high quality turf supplied • Generous bulk discount • Cutting service • Sale or return • Delivery Screeners/Shredders nationwide in standard and big rolls Tel: 0652 650555 • Fax: 0652 650064 • IMBERMAT GRADE HB Protect your greens from heavy Tel: 0375 892576 Fax: 0375 891736 machines - hire Timbermats. Unit G, Criton Ind. Est., Stanford Rd, Orsett, Essex RM16 3DH GRADEALL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Phone 061 476 6252 Fax 061 476 6253 Manufacturers of the SS 100 NATIONWIDE SERVICE Screener/Shredder Sand/Silica Sand GROWERS AND SUPPLIERS OF HIGH Top Dressings QUALITY CULTIVATED TURF FOR ALL APPLICATIONS AND APPOINTED OFFICIAL TURF PRODUCERS 9 Farlough Road, Dungannon, TO WEMBLEY STADIUM (EBENEZER MEARS) Northern Ireland BT71 4DT V40J Tel: 08687 40484 • Fax: 08687 48823 Please contact Head Office for more information: KINGSLEY FINE WASHED SAND PHOENIX PATHWAYS for Tees • Greens • Bunkers and CONSTRUCTION THE INTURF GROUP Tell the industry of your products Regent Street • Pocklington • York Y04 2QN and drainage sands and shingles SUPPLIES and services, through an Suppliers of superior Top Dressings Telephone 0759 304101 • Fax 0759 305229 Winterseils Road. Byfleet. KT14 7AZ advertisement in greenkeeping's • Rootzones • Soils • Sands top magazine GREENKEEPER 95 Market Street, Dalton-in-Furness, /TX r Cumbria LA15 8DL M C INTERNATIONAL 0932 345616 Tel: 0229 468001 • Fax: 0229 468002 BAILEYS SPORTROSS GROUNS DOLIVE CONSTRUCTIOR N OF AND MAINTENANCE • VERTI-DRAIN for Greens and Sportsgrounds NORFOLK • STONE PICKING • RYAN HOLLOW TYNER • Verti Drain Hire • Hollow Coring • SAND SPREADERS • DIRECT DRILLS • Deep Spiking • Tractor Hire supply Greystones, Trebudannon, Cornwall TR8 4LP. 1& Tel: (0841) 540222 Fax: (0637) 881057 • Full range of Landscape SOVEREIGN Professional Turf Dressings for the Profession Equipment YORKSHIRE'S ONLY AGENT FOR WIEDENMANN TERRA-SPIKE' TURF GOLF TURF DRESSINGS PETER MANNINGTON Growers of consistent quality turf in Approved formulations for use in SPEN6R0UNDCARE SERVICES either big or small rolls for landscapers, Construction and on the finest greens, Unit 7, Valley Road, Liversedge, amenity users and golf courses tees and fairways. West Yorkshire WF15 6JY SAND Tel: 0728 688 984 m 0924 401522 • 0836 722080 Fax: 0728 688 949 All requirements catered for including lime free. Kiln dried sands available. Fir Tree Farm, Blaxhall, Woodbridge, Specialist Verti-Drain Contractor for the South Suffolk IP12 2DX SCREENED TOP SOIL For greens, tees, fairways and sportsgrounds Including the finest Slack Fenland Soil. Experienced operator, competitive prices and reliable service Screened loams to customers' SEWARD Phone Peter on 0580 200205 individual specifications. TURF MAINTENANCE Grasslands We also produce and supply root zone or Mobile 0850 612061 mix and always have vast stocks of Sheepwash Farm, Church Street, Ticehurst, CONTACT THE PROFESSIONALS Specialist Seed Grown Turf Producers cockle shells for immediate delivery Wadhurst, East Sussex TN5 7DL Ten years experience using only the best COVERING THE SOUTH 2 greens verti-drains Grasslands Turf Farm, Ashford Road, DELIVERIES NATIONWIDE (18 greens in 2 days) New Romney, Kent TN28 8TH BAILEYS OF NORFOLK Half-inch tines at 2x2 spacing Tel/Fax: (0797) 367130 Brick Kiln Road, Hevingham, PARKER HART Fairway verti-drain Norwich, Norfolk NR10 5NL Verti-draining, hollow coring, Coremaster complete with collector Tel: 0603 754607 Fairway overseeder conventional and hydro-seeding TURF GROWN TO Mobile: 0860 661603 throughout the South East Contact Michael Seward YOUR SEED York (0904) 765949 night or day SPECIFICATION Complete range of turfcare FEN TURF DRESSINGS LTD machinery available for hire or from our stock ALL GROWN IN STERILE for Fendress Top Dressing Competitive rates • Fendress Superfine COMPOST Reliable equipment E&S SP0RTSGR0UND • Economy Dressing Supplied nationwide • Rootzone Mixes Experienced operators CONTRACTORS GREENKEEPER LTD, • Screened Fensoil • Screened Peat Call Karen or Anne We're No. 1 for Vertidraining and Shelford Manor, Shelford, • Screened Loam • Kiln Dried Sand 081 337 7791 Hollow Coring on Greens, Tees Nottingham NG12 1ER • Bunker Sands and Fairways. For competitive rates and a Tel: 0949 21144 professional service, contact Fax: 0602 862139 RICHARD VEITCH Tel: (0858) 464346/433003 0734 795454 Tip Top Turf. Fax: (0858) 434734 The Fairways, King Street Lane, Winnersh, Wokingham, Berkshire RG11 5AX Seed grown turf available in one sq yd Fax: 0734 795353 or large 25 sq yd rolls with laying Turf Maintenance machines or service available. VERTIDRAIN MACHINES FOR FAIRWAYS AND GREENS Tel: 0908 270701 • Fax: 0908 374889 AVAILABLE FOR HIRE Weed Killing Contact: Peter Holmes, 10 Carson Road, Gainsborough, Lines DN21 2RE Turf Dressings Tel: 0427 613035 Mobile: 0831 359394 WEED BOUGHTON PROFESSIONAL TURF MAINTENANCE AND RENOVATION PJltrAti rd {pam/iey FREE EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE FOR HIRE (BRACKNELL) ¡LOAM LTD. For vertidraining, hollow Professional Weed Killing & J. WOOD & SON coring, scarifying, and Associated Turf Services For (BILSDALE PLOUGHS) LTD overseeding requirements. TURF DRESSINGS Tel: (0377) 253313 Fax: (0377) 257465 1.5m and 2.5m vertidrains MIKE SEATON F.Inst.G(Dip) Greencare Corers naammia Tel: (0344) 481011 ROOT ZONE MIXES Charterhouse Vertiseed Fax: (0344)300052 Marton Hall Lane, Marton, SCREENED TOP SOILS Mobile: (0850) 300104 Tyres Macclesfield. BUNKER SANDS Tel: 0260 224568 HORTICULTURAL Fax: 0260 224791J COMPOSTS Sam Moreton & Sons You're at the end TURF TYRI of the Buyers' Telford Way, Kettering, HERONFIELD Guide section — if Northants Turf Tyres of all makes to fit 1HIREÍ any machine. Wheels made to you haven't found Tel: 0536 510515 customer requirements. (Solihull) the ads with the Enquiries 0926 632269 Vertidrain, Moore Sportsfield Over-Seeders, Verti 3 symbols in yet, Fax 0926 632023 Over-Seeder for Greens & Tees, Orders 0926 613737 Toro Aerators, Case Trenchers & Sportsfield Slitters etc. Nationwide delivery service Rufford Contact: Doug or Ron Johnson TRY AGAIN: Tel: (0564) 772597 IT COULD BE TOP-DRESS SUPPLIES Vertidraining Hire Fax available

Britain's No. 1 for WORTH QUALITY • SERVICE • MIDLAND TURF SHEER VALUE FOR MONEY AERATING SERVICE Fairway House, South Stage, Broadway, • Verti-Draining • Hollow Salford Quays, Manchester M5 2UQ Coring with Ryan GA30 Tel: 061 877 8550 Fax: 061 877 8554 • Core Collector • Deep Slitting • Top Dresser VERTIDRAINING and GREENBASE • Over-Seeder HOLLOW CORING HIRE ECOLOGICAL LIMITED • Tractor Hire ^ \ with the RYAN G.A. 30 * Competitive £50 The ProBase range of Products Contact Peter Bloodworth for Turf Dressings and Construction prices * Professional materials. Lightweight. User friendly nationwide service. WORTH DRAINING and economical Tel/Fax 0922 417567 Cornbecks Farm, Irnham, Grantham, TO YOU! Tel: 0427 811738 • Fax: 0427 810405 Charles Frost Lincolnshire Tel/Fax: (0476) 550266 QUALITY REBUILT GROUNDCARE MACHINERY Iseki TU 318 Tractor 21 hp, cab, creep Classifiei gearbox, ex. demo: £5,995 +VAT Machinery For Sale • Gang Mowers * Triple Mowers * Cylinder Mowers • Aeration Izaak Walton Golf Club Equipment * Scarification & Collection ^JlicAwrd {na/mfiey Equipment • Nationwide Delivery, Export by Arrangement Ford 1220, 4WD 16HP 190hrs, ag EFG GARDEN MACHINERY seeks tyres £5,200 Tenterfields Business Park, Ford 335 (3910) 2WD, C Reg on Luddendenfoot, Halifax HX2 6EJ. 14.9 x 24 turf tyres, choice ..£5,750 Tel: 0422 882165 Ford 3910, 4WD, C Reg c/w Tanco Fax: 0422 886014 COURSE MANAGER/ Loader £7,450 Kubota 2850, 2200hrs, turf tyres, G E Adamson Grass Machinery HEAD GREENKEEPER 4WD creep gears £5,750 Ransomes 3 set Magna or Sports trailed Kubota 1750,1100hrs, turf and ag -new cylinders £2200 tyres £5,450 Ransomes 5 set Magna or Sports trailed Toro GM3000, 14HP Kohler engine - new cylinders £3650 This is a newly formed members' club who £5,750 Ransomes 180 Triple floating heads Toro - petrol and grass boxes £2500 216D, 2WD only 440hrs c/w 11 Lloyds 21" Paladin 8 blade £975 blade units £7,500 John Deere 655 Diesel compact tractor complete with have taken over a course which was initially Sisis Hydraulic Veemos, ex demo 50" mid mounted cutter deck, new turf tyres £3250 £3,000 All prices inclusive of transport but subject to VAT. Amazone 135 Hy-lift Flail Mower/ Tel/Fax: 0995 640180 developed in 1992. Collector, ex demo £4,500 Amazone 6ft Tractor Mounted Spiker, c/w Pressure Frame, as Business Opportunity new, ex demo £1250 Applicants must have suitable experience and Other machinery available. Telephone/Fax for further details. FOR SALE or Marton Hall Lane, Marton, PARTNERSHIP recognised qualifications, capable of working Cm Macclesfield Tel: 0260 224568 J^WL 16th century house on own initiative and enthusiastic. Fax: 0260 224791 «„HI with outline planning Purdue Grass Machinery for 9 hole course and Salary negotiable. JACOBSEN DISTRIBUTORS club house, near Largest selection of professional used and reconditioned grass Monmouth, Gwent machinery in the Midlands Tel: 0600 83286 Apply in confidence to: Ransomes Hydr Mtd 5. Ransomes 213 D's and 350 D's. Soil Conditioners Julie Brown, Izaak Walton Golf Club, Trailed gangs. Howard Gem Rotavators. Pedestrian Cold Norton, Stone, Staffordshire ST15 0NS Scarifiers. Auto Certees. Kubota 8200 with set of 3 KELPIE Hayter Wrap Round. Triples. NATURAL COMPOSTED SEAWEED SOIL CONDITIONER CONTACT CHRIS BRYDEN FROM STEWARTS TEL: 031-663 6617 Strathmore Golf Centre Ltd 0777 704275 requires a EVENINGS: 0602 209401 FAX: 031-663 0651 HEAD GREENKEEPER To take charge of an exciting new development near Alyth, Blairgowrie, Perthshire Driving Range opens Autumn 1994 9 hole Course - Spring 1995 18 hole Course-May 1996 The successful applicant will be directly responsible to the Employment sought in Permanent position with Managing Director for controlling and motivating staff to achieve greenkeeping. Golf course responsibility sought by high standards of presentation. 42 year old with two and a half Must therefore be fully experienced in all practical aspects of greenkeeping experience, holder of years experience on 18 and 27 including modern machinery and irrigation and hold the appropriate National Certificate, Sports hole courses. NCH qualifications including PA1 and PA2 Spraying Certificates. Turf Technology and Greenkeeping - Distinction. C&G Phase II - Distinction. Apply in writing with full CV to: Institute of P M S Barron, Strathmore Golf Centre Ltd, C&G Mechanics - Certificate. Leroch, Alyth, Blairgowrie, Perthshire PH11 8NZ Groundsmanship National PA1 and PA2 Spraying Closing date: 21st July 1994 Technical Certificate. City Certificate. Chainsaw training. & Guilds Amenity 12 years previous management experience. Horticulture, FEPA 1, 2 & 6. Previous experience in Would consider anywhere. irrigation, drainage and plant. Box No JS 4/94, BIGGA, Aldwark Box No JS 2/94, BIGGA, Aldwark Harpenden Golf Club Manor, Aldwark, Alne, York Y06 2NF Manor, Aldwark, Alne, York Y06 2NF require a Recently qualified student 19 year old management (29) with HND in Amenity student of Sparsholt QUALIFIED 1st ASSISTANT Horticulture and 13 months College, Hampshire, greenkeeping experience, requires one year GREENKEEPER seeks opportunity to greenkeeping work To join a progressive and committed team working to continue the expand his experience in placement urgently - due development of our first class course. Applicants must be experienced the golf course industry. to last minute withdrawal in modern greenkeeping methods with a good knowledge of Would like to be considered of original offer. machinery and irrigation. for golf course construction References or further No accommodation available. or greenkeeping work. details from Bob Young, For further details and application form, please contact: Holder of full driving licence Sparsholt College or Jody The General Manager, Harpenden Golf Club, Hammonds End, and FEPA pt 1 qualification. Wilson on 0525 853197. Redbourn Lane, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2AX. Box No JS 3/94, BIGGA, Aldwark Box No JS 5/94, BIGGA, Aldwark Telephone: (0582) 712580 Manor, Aldwark, Alne, York Y06 2NF Manor, Aldwark, Alne, York Y06 2NF RECRUITMENT > ^Cjannington The Machrihanish Golf Club Quality our ^Priority require a LECTURER IN GREENKEEPING/ HEAD GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT GREENKEEPER Professional Lecturers Scale Salary £11,661 -£21,135 per annum For an 18 hole championship links course and a 9 hole ladies course situated in Argyll. Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons preferably with teaching experience, to Applicants must be fully experienced in all modern join an established team of horticulturists at a techniques of course and machinery maintenance and quality assured college that is expanding to meet have formal qualifications. the challenges of the 90s. Proven academic and practical ability will be The ideal candidate must have the ability to lead and essential. motivate staff, organise work programmes and maintain Further details and application forms are available health and safety requirements. from the Personnel Section, Cannington College, Salary negotiable. No accommodation. Cannington, Bridgwater, Somerset TA5 2LS. Telephone: 0278 652226. Apply in confidence with full CV to: Closing date: 13 July 1994 The Secretary, The Machrihanish Golf Club, By Campbeltown, Argyll PA28 6PT Interviews scheduled for: 21 July 1994

Links Golf Club GOLF COURSE MANAGER ELMWOOD COLLEGE Newmarket CUPAR, FIFE invite applications for a Elmwood College is constructing a brand new 18 hole course which will be open to the public and also used for training purposes for College students. Construction will start in April FIRST 1995. Applications are invited for the post of Course Manager. Applicants must be experienced in all aspects of golf course ASSISTANT management and modern techniques of course construction and maintenance, including machinery maintenance and irrigation GREENKEEPER systems. From the date of the appointment to the start of construction the successful candidate will undertake educational and training Applicants must be suitably qualified duties at the College. He/she will then oversee the construction of the course and finally move to the role of Course Manager/ and experienced in all aspects of Head Greenkeeper. course management. This is a challenging and exciting position at the major centre for Greenkeeping education in the United Kingdom and in addition to the technical expertise, candidates should have a No accommodation. commitment to training within the industry. If you wish to discuss the post before applying then telephone the College in Please apply in writing with full CV to: working hours and ask for Carol Borthwick or Mike Taylor. Salary will be in accordance with BIGGA recommended rates. The Secretary, Links Golf Club, Closing date for applications is Friday 29th July 1994, and interviews will take place on Friday 19th August 1994. Cambridge Road, Newmarket, Application forms are available from Personnel, Elmwood College, Cupar, Fife, KY15 4JB. Suffolk CB8 OTG Telephone (0334) 652781, Fax (0334) 656795. Professional Grass Machinery Dealership SOUTH HERTS GOLF CLUB John Wilder Ltd requires a require SENIOR SALES ASSISTANT REPRESENTATIVE/ GREENKEEPER SALES MANAGER The Company is looking for a motivated experienced Salesperson to join their rapidly growing professional grasscare The successful applicant will be department. It is expected that the successful applicant would experienced in all aspects of take over the running of the Sales force after a trial period. An attractive remuneration package would be offered to the greenkeeping. Possession of Part II successful applicant. Certificate will be an advantage The Company holds the Ransome Grass Machinery franchise and other leading complementary franchises for Berkshire, South but not essential. Oxfordshire, Surrey and parts of Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, operating from our established branches at Reading and No accommodation Wallingford. Salary according to experience. SERVICE PERSONNEL Apply in writing enclosing a full CV to: The Company requires professional and domestic fitters to operate from our Reading and Wallingford branches. An The Secretary, attractive remuneration package would be offered.

South Herts Golf Club, Links Drive, Apply marking the envelope Private & Confidential to: Totteridge, London N20 8QU Mr John Wilder, Managing Director, John Wilder Ltd, Hithercroft Industrial Estate, Wallingford, Oxon OXIO 9AP

O ARDALE GOLF CLUB G V

require an • J89* ' Woking Golf Club ASSISTANT invite applications for the vacant position of FIRST ASSISTANT GREENKEEPER GREENKEEPER Technical and Practical Qualifications For an 18 hole golf course situated in heather and Pesticides Certificates pine surroundings west of London. Applicants should have at least eight years experience Wage negotiable - dependent upon age and in all aspects of modern course management and experience. maintenance techniques. The ability to manage, control and motivate staff Apply in writing enclosing a full CV to: is important. The Secretary/Manager The salary and benefits are commensurate with this responsible position. Oakdale Golf Club, Accommodation is not provided. Oakdale, Harrogate HG1 2LN Please reply in writing with full CV to: The Secretary, Woking Golf Club, Pond Road, Telephone: 0423 567162 Hook Heath, Woking, Surrey GU22 OJZ Coussell Associates Ltd " Clyne Golf Club Ltd. have the following vacancies suitable for the right applicants: HEAD GREENKEEPER GREENKEEPER required Must have at least five years experience in the construction of golf Applicants must possess a recognised qualification up to City & Guilds courses, to undertake remedial work on existing courses, and also Phase 3 and be experienced in all aspects of course management. the construction of tees and greens on new developments. Responsible to the Secretary/Manager, the ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the ability to lead and motivate staff, organise work Also programmes and maintain health and safety requirements. A practical knowledge of modern techniques of course maintenance and EXPERIENCED PLANT OPERATOR construction, including machinery maintenance and care of irrigation With knowledge of golf course construction. systems is essential. Closing date: 31 July 1994. Salary negotiable. No accommodation. CV in writing to: Reply in confidence with full CV to Secretary/Manager, Clyne Golf Mr D. Coussell, Coussell Associated Ltd., 13 Swinfens Yard, Club Ltd, 118,120 Owls Lodge Lane, Mayals, Swansea SA3 5DP Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes MK111SY

Newton Stewart Golf Club AVONCROP AMENITY PRODUCTS Wigtownshire requires a require a TECHNICAL SALES HEAD GREENKEEPER REGIONAL MANAGER Due to continued expansion into the London area, we require a This is a challenging position for a fully qualified and experienced BASIS registered salesperson to call on Local Authorities, Golf person who wishes to grow with an ambitious club. Courses and Sports Clubs in an area north of the Thames. The successful applicant will advise and sell a wide range of The course has 9 holes opened 10 years and 9 holes opened this Amenity Turf Products. year and has a good range of modern machinery. Salary according to experience together with bonus, pension Please apply in confidence with full CV and salary required to: scheme and company car. Apply in strictest confidence to: The Secretary, Newton Stewart Golf Club, Mr R E Feltham, Avoncrop Amenity Products, Northfield, Kirroughtree Avenue, Minnigaff, Newton Stewart DG8 6PF Station Road, Sandford, near Bristol BS19 5RB

AMERICAN GOLF (UK) LTD t The Ridge are seeking a number of ¡teftS Golf Club require a HEAD GREENKEEPERS COURSE MANAGER to suit their expansion programme in the UK and Europe. Applicants require both practical and technical ability with proven for this 18 hole country course opened in June 1993. track record of cost effective management. Applicants must have a proven track record and the ability to act This is an ideal opportunity to be part of a progressive, on their own initiative. Salary in excess of BIGGA rates. expanding company. No accommodation.

Apply in writing with a current CV to: Please apply in writing with full CV to: American Golf (UK) Ltd The General Manager, The Ridge Golf Club, do Pyrford Golf Club, Pyrford, Woking, Surrey GU22 8XR Chartway Street, East Sutton, Maidstone ME17 3DL

Gatton Manor Golf Club m Boughton require a CONFIDENT Golf Club GREENKEEPER require a Applicants must be experienced in all aspects of greenkeeping and have QUALIFIED GREENKEEPER a practical knowledge of modem machinery. To join their young and enthusiastic team, on this new Kent course. Opportunities for promotion. Applicants must be fully experienced in all aspects of modern green- Salary negotiable, single accommodation keeping and have a thorough knowledge of machine maintenance. may be available. Also holding Phase I and Phase II greenkeeping qualifications. Apply in writing, enclosing CV with full particulars including present salary. Apply in confidence with full CV to: to D G Heath, Gatton Manor Golf Head Greenkeeper, Boughton Golf Club, Brickfield Lane, Club, Ockley, Surrey RH5 5PQ — Boughton, Faversham, Kent ME13 9AJ Golfclub Mannheim-Viernheim A GREENKEEPER'S DREAM... Baden-Württemberg, Germany to be responsible for the wellbeing of a magnificent new 18 hole is looking for an experienced course in South Devon. TEIGN VALLEY GOLF CLUB opens later this year and the owners want to recruit greenstaff to work during the growing in HEAD period of the course. At this stage we are looking for candidates who will have: • experience in all aspects of modern course management GREENKEEPER • practical knowledge of all appropriate machinery and its as soon as possible. maintenance • an understanding (at a minimum) of the game of golf. Please send your detailed application to: We would expect that one of these appointments will develop into The President of the Golfclub Mannheim- the role of course manager in due course. Viernheim, Alte Mannheimer Straße 3, D-68519 There is no accommodation available. Please apply in writing with full CV to: Viernheim (Tel. 06204/78737, Fax 06204/740181). The Secretary, Teign Valley Golf Club, Christow, Exeter, Devon

Ulverston Golf Club Ltd We require for our clients Applications are invited from qualified greenkeepers for the position of: A QUALITY HEAD GREENKEEPER COURSE MANAGER This is an excellent opportunity for a fully qualified greenkeeper for this busy parkland course south of London, with experience in At this very popular 18 hole parkland golf course situated on the Furness all aspects of course management. The ability to motivate and lead Peninsular in south Cumbria, some 10 miles from the Lake District National Park. an established team and organise work programmes is regarded Applicants must be experienced in all aspects of greenkeeping with appropriate as essential. qualifications and have a practical knowledge of modern machinery and irrigation systems with good organisational and management skills and a sound knowledge A practical knowledge of modern greenkeeping machinery of the current Health & Safety regulations is also required. and current Health and Safety regulations is also required. Accommodation is not available. Salary is negotiable. Please apply with full CV in your own handwriting Apply in writing with full CV to: and state your present salary. P Wedgwood, Hon Secretary, Ulverston Golf Club Ltd, Salary negotiable to qualifications and experience. The Club House, Bardsea Park, Ulverston, Cumbria LA12 9QJ Box No. R/l/94, Closing date: 2 August 1994 BIGGA, Aldwark Manor, Aldwark, Alne, York Y06 2NF

The Manor House Golf Club Stirling Golf Club at Castle Combe invites applications for the position of requires a HEAD GREENKEEPER HEAD GREENKEEPER One of the most spectacular and challenging courses in the South of Applicants must be fully qualified greenkeepers having a England, bordering the beautiful Cotswold village of Castle Combe. sound knowledge of and experience in all aspects of course Applicants must be fully experienced in all aspects of course management and maintenance techniques. The successful applicant management and machinery maintenance. The ability to must have the skills to lead and motivate a team and will be lead and motivate staff, organise work programmes is expected to demonstrate abilities to maintain a quality course to a essential. high standard, exercising firm budgeting controls. Apply in confidence with CV to: An attractive salary, in line with ability will be offered. Application in The Honorary Secretary, writing with full CV to: Mr Michael Craig, General Manager, The Manor House Golf Stirling Golf Club, Queens Road, Stirling FK8 3AA Club, Castle Combe, Wiltshire SN14 7PL. Tel: 0249 782982

Reddish Vale Golf Club AREA SALES MANAGER Cheshire Risboro' Turf are looking for an area sales manager to market a range of professional turf machinery in the Surrey, South London HEAD GREENKEEPER and South Berkshire area. The likely candidate will have strong motivation and perseverance Only experienced greenkeepers need apply, who have combined with mechanical engineering experience to break into this suitable qualifications in all aspects of greenkeeping and new area for the company. A good salary with commission and have the ability to motivate and direct staff. subsidised BUPA scheme are offered with telephone expenses and Course designed by Dr A Mackenzie. 20 days holiday. A company vehicle will also be provided. Knowledge of computer systems would be an advantage. Salary above BIGGA recommended minimum. If you think you have the necessary capabilities to fill the above position write in strictest confidence to: Apply in writing with full CV to: Mark Barthelmie, Risboro' Turf, The Administrator, Reddish Vale Golf Club, Chinnor Road, Bledlow, Bucks HP27 9PH Southcliffe Road, Reddish, Stockport, Cheshire SK5 7EE IS Please enclose a full CV GRASS NOTES No 1 : George Brown

Age: 55 Appearance: Cuddly comedian, like Terry Scott. Not the late Labour MP then? No, this George Brown is course manager at Turn- berry. What's a course manager? It's like a green- keeper only you tell someone else to cut the grass, you sit in on meetings with bigwigs from the R&A and BBC, and you're allowed in the clubhouse. So why's he in the news? The Open Champi- onship is at Turnberry July 14-17. Is it an important event? It's the Wimbledon of golf but, more importantly, it can break a greenkeeper. One bad word from Peter Alliss and his life can be shattered. Tom O'Brien, head greenkeeper at Royal Birkdale, never recovered from criticism of his course during the '91 Open. It devastated him, then they dug up the greens and found no-one could have grown grass on the plasticine-like soil below the turf. How's George's course looking? Great, but someone will soon find something to com- plain about, especially if things aren't going well for them. Last time the Open was at Turnberry, in 1986, the pros said the fairways were too narrow and the rough too rough! Isn't it supposed to be rough? Yes, but the pros don't like looking stupid on TV. If they're in the rough they still like to be able to reach the green, not chip out sideways with a sandwedge. The course was too tough for them? The winning total was level par 280. What's that mean? The winner had as many birdies as bogeys. Oh! It also means Greg Norman's '86 winning score was way behind Tom Watson's winning total at Turnberry in '77 - 268. Was the course easier in '77? It was for It doesn't sound like that pretty course I What's that mean? He's allowed four bogeys. saw on TV recently? That was probably Watson and runner-up Jack Nicklaus - every- And is that good? Pretty good, but the idea Augusta National in America. No, it's nothing one else was closer to Norman's score that is not to have any bogeys because it messes like that. George Brown likes it when his fair- year. Hubert Green, who came third on 279, up the card. said: "I won the tournament I played in". No, ways are brown. His Japanese bosses don't, the course was pretty much the same, the dif- but he says they're learning that links courses Not to be confused with: George Brown, the ference was the weather. In '77 it was hot and are different, that green is not necessarily late MP; George Brown, the author; Charlie dry with little wind, in '86 it was blowing a beautiful. Brown; Walter Woods; Jimmy Kidd; Jim hooley. If there's no wind, it's a relatively easy Arthur. course for top players. George Brown reckons But does he know what he's talking about? some pros could shoot 59, but 63s and 64s He's one of the most respected greenkeepers Least likely to say: "Peter Alliss, you don't are definitely on the cards. If the wind blows, in the country. He's been doing it for 40 know what you're talking about." years, in fact since he was 15. And he's been however, it's easier to get 75s and 76s, and Even less likely to say: "Let's plant some at Turnberry since January 1986. breaking 80 can be hard. That's the beauty of rhododendrons." a links course. Do you have to know about golf to manage Most likely to say: "Augusta is like a blow-up a course? No, but it helps. George was once A what course? A links course - near the sea, doll - not as good as the real thing." built on sandy soil, lots of mounds and bumpy the head greenkeeper and pro at the same fairways. No trees, only gorse bushes and wild nine-hole course in Hampshire. He plays off (With apologies to The Guardian's excellent flowers. Small, strategically-placed bunkers. four now. Pass Notes) GOLF MAINTENANCE LIMITED (a member of the golf leisure group) 0277 373720 The Golf Course Maintenance People Free Colour Brochure Supplied on Request

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