BIGGA's Training Programmes Forge Ahead
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WE SAY BIGGA's training programmes forge ahead s I write, our new Education niques. The second will be inde- Conference venue AOfficer, Ken Richardson, is pendently produced and settling in, making contacts and financed by the Education and There has been much debate in hopefully beginning to see the Development Fund and will fea- recent months on the future tim- wood from the trees in terms of ture golf course preparation. ing and location of our National greenkeeper education and train- Our new library at Headquarters Education Conference. The ing. I am sure that with his train- will become accessible for these recent conference at the Univer- ing background he will have and future training videos as well sity of Warwick more than main- much to contribute to both our as books and will represent a tained the standards of previous own training programmes and to valuable training medium. conferences and the enthusiasm the development of education of delegates continues to be most generally within the profession. Ecology debate marked. Over the last year or so Indeed much is happening on the your Board of Management education front. You will read BIGGA in focus Discussions are ongoing with members have been made aware elsewhere in the pages of this BY NEIL THOMAS regard to the production of a of pressures from within the issue of the re-structuring of our practical guide to the ecological membership to hold the Confer- annual management courses. management of the golf course ence during the BTME in Harro- This is an exciting development vision. Whilst the detail remains and a decision will shortly be gate. providing members with the to be finalised this local training taken on the direction in which I am equally aware of the opportunity whilst pursuing a is likely to be both college or cen- this will proceed. Again financ- views of many regular confer- course at Aldwark Manor to tre based and incorporate a trav- ing will be provided through the ence attendees who would prefer move towards a nationally recog- elling roadshow. There is much Education and Development the conference to continue to be nised qualification. As part of our administrative work to be under- Fund. Ecological management is held separately in a university review this year we will be look- taken and there will need to be very much a current topic and location. Having given in depth ing at the Master Greenkeeper substantial financial provision by concern and as an Association we consideration to this matter your Certificate to see if any amend- the GTC. However I am opti- must be at the forefront in lead- Education Sub-Committee has ments are necessary to the certifi- mistic that this initiative will ing the debate on behalf of the recommended that the 1995 cation scheme after four years of commence in September 1995. profession. Conference be held during the operation. The status of the cer- BTME replacing the Workshop tificate continues to be enhanced Field Guide Needs analysis programme over the Monday and I remain impressed by the and Tuesday. This will be on a determination of members to Members will have recently There is concern at the lack of trial basis for 1995 and the situa- obtain the certificate. As in any received an on course field guide knowledge at Headquarters of tion will be reviewed thereafter. examination procedure there are for the major diseases and pests educational developments at The Conference will be held in referrals but a referral only seems of fine turf which can be incorpo- Region and Section level and the Majestic Hotel adjacent to to reinforce the determination of rated within their Training Manu- here I see a key role in future for the Exhibition Halls and this a member to reach his goal and als. This is yet another the regionally based Education hotel will now become the offi- this surely augurs well for his and development emanating from the Conveners. Our Education Offi- cial Headquarters hotel for the the profession's future. Recent Education and Development cer will be seeking an early meet- BTME. Additionally we will of comment indicates that those Fund and offering practical bene- ing with the Conveners course be running the usual Sem- referred are not clearly advised fits to greenkeepers. This fund is essentially to carry out a 'needs inar Programme during the Exhi- on aspects where they need to now in its third year, is firmly analysis' exercise. There must be bition and here the format will show improvement. Ken Richard- established and a vital source in better coordination in future and remain unchanged. We are cur- son is aware of this criticism terms of financing future educa- indeed common standards and rently planning an exciting which will be rectified in future. tional projects. Continued sup- structured programmes imple- speaker programme over the five There will be very real benefits in port of the fund at all levels is mented at Region and Section days and volunteers to present a the years ahead for those recog- extremely important. level. Any observations or com- paper at either the Conference or nised as Master Greenkeepers as This year will see two further ments you have will be wel- Seminar Programme will be indeed there will be for their pro- training videos produced. The comed by Ken Richardson who given every consideration - but fession and Association. first will be made commercially will seek to canvass a broad spec- please hurry up and let us have We will be looking to link the with BIGGA backing and advice trum of opinion on the way your name. Look out for early Management Courses with the and will feature mowing tech- ahead. news of BTME '95 in the BTME Training Manual and to examine Newsline which will be closely followed in September by a new- the feasibility of doing likewise BIGGA Staff Profile with the Master Greenkeeper Cer- look programme and booking SAMANTHA COLLINS (Sami) tificate thereby demonstrating a form. Clerk/typist coherent and logical approach to So there we have it - much is greenkeeper education in broad Maybe it's because she went to school in Colorado for | happening in greenkeeper educa- terms. a year, or maybe it's just because she likes American tion and with the review under- rock music, but Samantha Collins (or Sami as she way future initiatives are already Training initiative prefers to be known) is a big fan of the US of A. being discussed. Members can When she's not handling the subscriptions rest assured that, in accordance In discussion with the GTC we database for Greenkeeper International, answering the telephone or with our founding objectives involved in secretarial duties, you'll find Sami in a pair of Levis dancing to have agreed on the need for a back in 1987, the development of "Sweet home Alabama" in her favourite bar. Sami's also a computer whiz local training initiative and green- greenkeeper education and train- and before joining BIGGA worked for several computer companies. "Have keepers will thereby be presented a positive attitude - it makes life worth living," she says, philosophically. ing will continue to be our first with a choice of educational pro- and foremost consideration. Greenkeeper FLYING DIVOTS dies in mower • Muirfield's course manager, Chris Whittle, is heading back to his roots to take over the accident head greenkeeper's job at Royal Birkdale. Chris hails A part-time greenkeeper has died from nearby Formby and in a horrific accident involving a started his greenkeeping mower. career at Formby GC in the It is believed that 60 year old early 70s after a spell in a Ronnie Mitchell's anorak draw- bank. He is looking forward to string became entangled in the returning to Merseyside after ride-on mower's driveshaft, drag- nearly six years at Muirfield. ging him into the machine. Twelve-handicapper Chris, Although.the blades missed him, who has just turned 40, will his head and chest were crushed take over when Tom O'Brien in the narrow gap between the retires in October. He beat blade arms and the wheels. nearly 60 candidates to the The engine was still running job of keeping 18 new greens when a colleague at the Bradley on the Open Championship Hall Golf Club, Greetland, near course. Halifax, found him. A single man, Mr Mitchell had • Work has started on a new been the head greenkeeper there 18-hole parkland course at for 30 years until he retired two Walton, near Wakefield. years ago. Waterton Park Golf Club, set in 200 acres, is designed by Taking over the Simon Gidman/Chapman Warren partnership with input David Halford, a from Yorkshire's international senior lecturer at touring pro Gordon J Brand. Myerscough It will open for play in College near September '95 with Preston, has membership restricted to taken over the investors. late John Shildrick's job as secretary of the • Barry Neville, a former British Turf and Landscape Student Greenkeeper of the Irrigation Association. David Year, has been appointed says it will be a hard act to deputy head greenkeeper at follow: "John was, to all intents Stanmore Golf Club, and purposes, the heart of the Middlesex. He was previously Association. I will endeavour to first assistant at Whitehall Golf maintain the standards he set Centre. but it will be difficult." He will administer BTLIA • John Houston, 37, has left affairs from an office at Royal Blackheath GC to take Myerscough which has its own over the course manager's golf course equipped with Highest praise for position at Fulwell Golf Club, virtually every example of Hampton Hill, Middlesex.