BIGGA survey: An excellent response

As this edition of Greenkeeper as representatives of golf clubs results that will be in the full International goes to press, Mike and greenkeepers who are not report. Williamson of MW Associates is currently BIGGA members. A lot In the meantime, Mike passes busy analysing the responses to of people have applauded BIG- on his thanks to all those who the market research survey we GA for having the survey carried took the time to respond, often The month of July is the highlight for many with reported on in March. out - and are looking forward to very fully, to the questionnaires acting as a magnet for "The response to the survey hearing the outcome!" and interviews. And Mike's com- golf lovers from all over the world. has been excellent," said Mike. As a first step, Mike miserations to the 569 members It is a marvellous event both on and off the course "We have received completed Williamson will be reporting key who did not win the £ 100 vouch- as it's the perfect opportunity to see the world's questionnaires from 570 BIGGA findings from the research to the er in the questionnaire prize finest exponents of the game up close and also meet members, and have conducted BIGGA Board at their June meet- draw. friends you perhaps haven't seen for the entire 12 about 150 telephone interviews ing. The Board will then decide (The lucky winner was Stephen Curtis, months. with companies and organisa- on the best way of considering, Head Greenkeeper of Richmond Park In this regard BIGGA is extremely fortunate. Not tions in the golf industry, as well and responding to, the detailed GC in Norfolk. only does me hard working BIGGA Support Team have the chance to play a key role in one of the biggest events in the sporting calendar but the BIGGA marquee is a superb base for members to Scottish National Championship meet and enjoy a bit of refreshment between watch- ing live golf. Results Having said that, with television sets in the mar- quee some people do tend to settle in for an Scottish Champion. SGGA afternoon in front of the box and the delights of Challenge Cup, Scratch, and Alex Hay rather than seeing the Stuart Raeburn, Tulliallan, 73. action first hand. Friendship Trophy, Best Net, This year, Lytham St Annes plays host to the Stephen Brown, Newmachar, 68. Championship, and the course has been prepared Category One, Ransomes Trophy for a Open for the first time by Paul Smith and his 1. George Thompson, Goswick, 72; 2. James McCormack, Kirriemuir, 73BIH; team. 3. Archie Dunn, Auchterarder, 73. Paul was First Assistant to Jimmy MacDonald Category Two. Pattisson Trophy. MBE last time the Championship was played there 1 .Craig Pennycuick, Winterfield, 72-, in 1996, and that experience, coupled with that 2. Colin Irvine, Muirfield, 74; acquired since he started out in the profession as a 3. Alan Russell, Torphin Hill, 76 BIH. 16 year old apprentice at St Annes Old Links, will Category 3 STRI Trophy. stand him in good stead when the media spotlight 1. Andy Wilson, Brechin, 73; falls on the course. 2. Albert Arnott, Lochore Meadows, 76; You can read about Paul's preparations for The 3. Colin Scott, Glasgow, 80. Open elsewhere in this issue but you can be sure A superb round of 73 around day and posted fine scores. Best Head GK, Dick Aitken Trophy, that the conditions which face the 156 competi- the long and testing Drumoig Although windless, the home Stuart Taylor, Glasgow, 73. tors, who tee it up on Thursday, July 19, to face Hotel Golf Resort in Fife by five of the Scottish Golf Centre test- Best Assistant, M&M Trophy, Lytham's daunting opening par-3, will be as good handicapper Stuart Raeburn ed everyone with its succession Kenneth Mitchell, St Andrews, 74. as the weather in the run up to the Championships clinched the 2001 Scottish of long par fours and fives not Best Apprentice, Souter Trophy, has allowed. National Tournament. to mention an array of par-3 s in Richard Love, Kilmacolm, 74. My first experience of Royal Lytham came in The 22 year-old First Assistant excess of 200 yards. Best Veteran, SIGGA Trophy, 1988 when went head to head to current National Past Beautifully maintained by Ian Duncan Gray, Pines, 75. with Nick Price and produced some miraculous golf Chairman Elliott Small, played Menzies and his team the 10 Team Trophy (Best four net scores) to win. We can all recall the wonderful chip he near the back of the field and year-old course, just a few miles St Mungo Cup, North - Stephen Brown, James McCormack, Andy Wilson and played from the side of the green which all but went overhauled the scores of Stuart inland of St Andrews, required John Urquhart. in. Taylor, from Glasgow Golf Club, proficiency with every club in Trade: Pat Allan, Stewarts. In the midst of such heroics it was easy to forget and Richard Love, of Kilmacolm, the bag to achieve a score any- that Seve held the Claret Jug aloft on the Monday who had been out earlier in the where close to handicap. Guest; Scott MacCallum, BIGGA. afternoon and not the Sunday Horrendous rain caused Saturday's third round to be washed out and we all had to amend our diaries to allow for another day While this was inconvenient for many it was nothing compared to the work Jimmy Stephen Macdonald and his team, with the help of the BIGGA Greenkeeping Support Team had to do to boxes clever make the course playable for the Sunday and the Monday In such occasions people can show their at John true qualities and it was not just Seve who deserved all the acco- O'Gaunt lades that year, behind the scenes there were a great many more. Stephen Thompson, of John Hopefully Paul and his O'Gaunt Golf Club who has pre- team will not have to pull the viously reported on the success stops out to such an extent this of the bird boxes installed on the year and will have a suc- course has further good news to cessful, and quiet Open report. Championship. "So far 11 our of 14 tit boxes have been accepted and we have 84 young blue tits ranging in age from half a day to 14 days. 31 blue tits were ringed and we also had a nest containing three young great tits," said Stephen. "Out of six open fronted box- cessful," said Stephen who The majority of the boxes were es one was used and a complete works closely with Peter put up in February and March nest found, presumably used by Wilkinson of Bird life this year to give the birds time a wren," said Stephen. International, who was able to to get used to them and possi- "This was the first year for ring some of the birds. bly to roost in them. these boxes and it was very suc- PGA team: A real credit to their Association ^ THE NEWS iNtHtf

Greenkeepers came from Denmark, Scotland, Wales and England to vol- unteer their services for the Volvo PGA Championship held at The % Wentworth Club at the end of May. A" SM3N3H1^X Their work are much appreciated by the European Tour as by relieving You may have heard their caddies of the bunker raking consid- erable time is saved on a round, names mentioned in speeding up play to the advantage of conversation, or even seen all concerned. them in print, but have you ever They are also a great comfort to wondered who the individuals Course Manager, Chris Kennedy, who are who help BIGGA to run so apart from all the worries that he has smoothly as the leading during a Championship such as this Association in the fine turf knows that in the event of heavy rain industry? Read on... he can call on tremendous support from this team to get the squeegees out and keep play moving by keep- ing the greens playable. The Championship in the past has been plagued by such weather and Above: The 2001 Volvo PGA Championship Support Team relaxes with was one of the reasons that the Tour Below: The team poses with new Volvo PGA Champion Andrew Oldcorn asked the Association if Greenkeeper Support could be made available for all four days this year. Thankfully that was not the case this year and the event was blessed with four days of almost continual sunshine. More volunteers would have been useful over the first two days as there were 52 matches to provide for and it was a great effort by those Greenkeepers who covered two rounds in tempera- Jim Patón tures around the eighties. There was a great atmosphere in our BIGGA Board Member little office, nobody being unkind to the Regional Administrator when he for Scotland gave exhibitions of controlled panic Name: Jim Paton and an even better one, especially on Golf Club: West Kilbride GC the last day in the hospitality suite overlooking the 18th green gener- Association Position: Board Member for Scotland ously provided for our use by the Tour, for apart from the Support How long have you been a Team we seemed to 'pick up' lots of member of BIGGA? Since its inception in 1987. Greenkeepers there just for the golf (including Jack and Rita McMillan!) Where do you hope the and who managed to talk their way Association will be in 10 years time? past security drink afterwards but I reckon the two Finally, the following conversation Having a greater regional identity On a serious side eventual winner shots that he would have incurred was overheard between a greenkeep- with full time Regional Administrators Andrew Oldcorn must feel eternally without Rob's help were worth thou- er inside the ropes, who was and their own regional offices. grateful to Rob Boyce, Newmarket, sands. accompanying the Lady Official mark- For what would you most who was the only person to see his The week seemed to run rather er during one of the days play ... like to be remembered? ball catch a brancn while he was play- smoothly especially with Andrew Being on the board at a very ing out of trees and land near him, Oldcorn and Nick Faldo posing for GK: What Club are you from? important time in the Association's development - moving into our own still in the trees and finishing up cov- the cameras with the Team. I'm sure Lady Official: Wentworth GK: Do you live on the Estate offices and taking giant leaps forward ered in leaves. As Andrew and his that all of the Greenkeepers, includ- Lady Official: Yes generally. caddie walked towards the green Rob ing Willy Harder who had made the GK: You don't live in one of these £3 For what would you least called out "Where are you going? The trip from Denmark to work all four million houses do you? like to be remembered? balls here." days, will want to return next year, Lady Official: No darling. I live in one of Some of the pictures Scott has taken Oldcorn then played a great shot hopefully with a few more volunteers these £10 million pound houses! of me for the magazine. on to the green and holed the putt. to make those first two days a little Derek Farrington Why did you take on a more At least the caddie bought him a easier. A great effort by all concerned. involved role in the running of the Association? Being more involved has enabled me to assist in bettering the lot of the Royal Iriverdivot GC*t* StripCartoonistoftheYear www.tonyhusband.co.uk greenkeeper. Name one thing which would improve the Association? If every greenkeeper joined the Association. What is your claim to fame (None, not acceptable)? Former Open Champion Mark Calcavecchia giving me his clubs after a round in the '91 Open at Royal Birkdale. Any offers? Describe BIGGA in 15 words. (15ish!) Better greenkeepers through education, Improved golf courses, Gains for members, Great social opportunities, Advances in standards throughout. Simon and Jim LOOKBACK TO Gleneagles to host new get expanded _ Back r* Turf Care Conference roles at Advanta Lapping i o p* The first ever Turf Care Conference Among the speakers confirmed are will be held at The Gleneagles Hotel Fred Green, Developer of Queenwood this November Golf Club, England, Nantucket Golf Take a time-honoured to The Conference, the brainchild of Club, USA; David McLay Kidd, ok Jimmy Kidd, Director of Turfgrass Designer of Queenwood GC and Management at Gleneagles, is Bandon Dunes GC in the USA; back through the pages of designed to appeal to and address Project Manager/Membership Greenkeeper International issues facing both the business entre- Structures, Melvin Thomas, of from a decade ago preneur who wishes to build a golf Barrelfield GC; Dr Albert Kausch, course as well as those already involved Rhode Island University; George in the industry who can turn the devel- Shiels, Consultant Agronomist; oper's ambition into reality. Melodee Fraser, Director of Research "There are a lot of different individ- - Pure Seed Testing Inc; Paul Latshaw, uals required to build and maintain a US Open and Masters Course pre- golf course each with their own area of sentation and Jan Beukema, Rain Bird expertise and all with an important role Irrigation Design and Operation. to play in the development process," The main sponsor of the Conference said Jimmy. is Textron Golf, Turf and Specialty "The Conference is the ideal spring- Products. board for representatives from each "I am delighted on behalf of Textron part of that process to meet and expand to offer our full support for the their knowledge and understanding of Conference. It's a phenomenal idea. one another's role. I am confident that the speakers from "Experts in the field of golf course the UK and USA will inspire dele- JULY 1991 design, construction, turf care and golf gates and undoubtedly nurture management will provide professional examples of good practice from day advice on each aspect of the develop- one which will benefit their golf Award for Walter Woods. ment process, taking them from the course venture and the industry in Advanta Seeds has handed Simon It was reported with great pleasure initial idea to the first tee shot," he the long term," said Peter Bell, Harrison and Jim Fulton expanded that the Association had learnt of the award of the British Empire Medal to explained. Marketing Director. roles within the company. Walter Woods in the Queen's Birthday Based in Leeds Simon is now respon- Honours List. The award had been sible for after sales in the north as well made to recognise his services both as as managing Advanta's advertising Links Supervisor at St Andrews and to and PR spend, attendance at shows the greenkeeping profession. Walter New man for Eammon Wall had played a leading part in the including BTME and SALTEX and all establishment of BIGGA in 1987 and Eamonn Wall and Co has appoint- promotional activities. had been the first Chairman of the ed Antony Strawson to its new Jim, who lives near Grantham, will Association. The magazine commented English office in the Midlands, where look after his customers in the east but on his forthright views, warmth of the company has now concentrated also manage sales on a nationwide personality and his determination to enhance the greenkeeping profession its English based consultants. basis. and the well-being of greenkeepers. It The company now has two offices, was hoped that the Association would at Dollar in Scotland and Retford in continue to enjoy his practical support Nottinghamshire. Section Event? and be able to call on his technical Antony, 30, is an experienced wood- www.bigga.org.uk/events.html expertise for many years to come. Although 'retired', Walter remains very land design and management active today both in a consultancy role consultant having worked for anoth- and as one of BIGGAs Guardians on the er company in the East Midlands for Apologies Board of Management. the last five years. He is a graduate Last month we inadvertently of Reading and Oxford Universities described the AEA as the ABE. This The Open Championship. Greenkeeper International previewed and is a native of Lincolnshire. He is was as a result of a scanning error not the Open Championship to be held at a keen mountaineer and a member picked up at a later date and we apol- Royal Birkdale with the golf course in of the Institute of Chartered ogise to the Association for any the excellent hands of Tom O'Brien Foresters. embarrassment caused. B.E.M. It is interesting to note 'Royal Birkdale's Working Calendar' at the time. Aeration: Throughout the year Tom aerates Latest news? the greens weekly, stepped up at the back Rolawn website is a real hit www.bigga.org.uk/news.html end of the year to 2/3 times a week. Top dressing: He dresses the greens once a Rolawn opened its web site just over helping us to both recruit and pro- month before The Open with a Buxton Sand Management buy of a consistent grade and particle size, a year ago and has steadily built up vide ongoing support for stockists" specified by the STRI. awareness of the site to the extent said Terry Ryan. out at AF Trenchers Verticuts: Every two weeks until two weeks that in recent months their site has "It's all too easy to dismiss tech- before the tournament. received record numbers of visits ris- nology but we believe that in the A.F. Trenchers has been the subject Turf grooming: He uses Turf Groomers all ing to 16000 page requests in May future there will be only two kinds of of a management take-over from its the time. The height is adjusted according to grass growth. alone. business. Those that develop tech- co-founders Bruce and Rodney Grass growth: Greens are cut every day. In Recent developments have includ- nology as their servant and those that Fulford. The 35 year old company January, February and March there isn't ed using the site as a means of are going out of business." will be continued to run by Harry much growth because the turf is links grass recruiting stockists for both turf and Jurgens and will be renamed A.F.T. and east winds retard development. It is the recently launched loam products, Trenchers and will continue to oper- more a case of trimming than cutting - he ate in both the domestic and exports calls it 'topping'. which are sold in to the topsoil mar- WHO USES ROLAWN 1 markets. Grass cuts: He cuts in two directions at 90 ket. Potential stockists register their BMP degrees. During The Open weeks he cuts interest via e-mail. TOPSOIL YOU BRITAIN'RolawS FINEST TU«nF The company has also appointed the greens three times a day - once early "We are delighted with progress and Look no further ...you've just Angus Macdonald, who will be morning, twice at night. the variety of ways we are able to use found the world's finest turf responsible for marketing in UK and Length of cut: Before The Open - three- sixteenths, during The Open - one-eighth of the web site. It is such a flexible medi- Ireland and to service the company's an inch. um and it is particularly interesting existing customer base and with Watering: Yes, he uses water, but only if to use it to support the development developing the plant and agricultur- absolutely necessary. of a product as basic as topsoil. We al sectors for all A.F.T. Trenchers' see the web as an invaluable aid in attachments. Rothley trespasser turned medal winner MVfrlLBAG MAlLeAn

A dog walk which took in land own- ing to Rothley Park Golf Club resulted Letters in the trespasser being offered a job at the club. Six years later that trespass- er, Sue Antcliffe, now Deputy Course Manager at the club has been award- Address your letters to The Editor, ed a Medal of Excellence for her Greenkeeper International, BIGGA outstanding NVQ Level 3 work under- HOUSE, Aldwark, Alne, York Y061 taken through Brooksby College. 1UF, or email them to The medal is not just for green- [email protected] keepers but is open to everyone undertaking NVQs to Level 3 in out- door work with only a select few out Safety in the sun of the 18,000 in the category being awarded medals. If anybody else has suffered the "I finished the course last year and problems of trying to keep a fair skin, the college entered me for the award. or any other skin, protected on a long I didn't hear anything for quite a while summer day outdoors, then check and thought not more about it until out an excellent product which only the letter arrived," said Sue, 33. needs to be applied once and is effec- Her unusual entry in the green- Left to right. The Rothley Team. Jordan Roman, David Holling Paul Falk, Stav Wooding, tive for the whole day. keeping profession- she had just been Sue Antcliffe, Dave Doherty and Nick Smith. Despite covering up with hats, it made redundant from a garden centre takes the worry out of all that out- and was looking for work - says much and as Sue was doing so well, every sails at a national level. door exposure to dangerous rays. An for Course Manager Stav Woodings good at ever task and very thorough, "I like the variety of this job, no two added bonus is that it isn't sticky and ability to spot potential. she became Deputy From trespasser days are ever the same. Each day is a all that lovely bunker sand stuck to "We were stretched at the time and to Deputy in three years," said Stav. challenge and you never stop learning. your skin with normal sun products talking with Sue I thought she could "Now she is a key member of the I also like the environmental side of won't be a problem! It's a Danish sun do a good job for me. We gave her two team and I don't know how we would the job and I write articles on this in filter called P20 and it works! ... days a week and then added another manage without her," he added. the club magazine." although it needs to be applied well day and before we knew it she was Stav works a rotation system at In future Sue would like to contin- before exposure to allow it to bond working full time. Rothley Park in which every one of ue her education perhaps undertaking with your skin. "Sue then asked if she could attend the seven man team does every job. more specialist courses covering irri- college and she actually reached the "I don't look on myself as a female. gation. James Hall, currently on student regional finals of the Toro Student of I'm must one of the lads and can lift She will be presented with her medal placement in a very hot Italy. the Year Award, then my Deputy left as well as they can," said Sue, who also later this summer. PGA thanks I was privileged to be part of the Happy Birthday Pest and Disease Audit Support Team at Wentworth for the undertaken by the STRI PGA Championship and I would like Banks Amenity Products is to congratulate Derek Farrington for celebrating 40 years in the golf course and landscape industries. The number of outbreaks and the severity of pest his efforts in making the team work Founded in 1961 by Reginald and diseases on sports turf throughout the UK is for the entire four days of the Banks, the company has been currently an unknown factor so the advisory team Championship as opposed to the owned and managed by Tim Banks and research staff at the STRI have vowed to final two for which it had operated since 1981. rectify the situation. in previous years. He was ably assist- "Banks Amenity Products has Part of a surplus from the STRI's advisory work is ed by all and sundry who couldn't do been providing high quality bulk being used to fund an internal research programme materials for four decades," said into the spread and severity of pests and diseases enough for the cause. Tim. on sports turf throughout the UK and Ireland. The I personally had a great day and feel Banks Amenity Products was one programme is being co-ordinated by Dr Ruth Mann, certain that everyone else did so as of the founder members of the the STRI Turf Pathologist. well. A few more volunteers next year BAGCC (British Association of Initially the research will centre on a Golf Course Constructors) and comprehensive questionnaire which will determine I'm sure would be greatly appreciat- the newly formed BRTMA (British the major pests and diseases across the country ed. Rootzone & Top Dressing and any hot spots of certain problems. Thanks also to our standby pho- Manufacturers Association). Questionnaires have been sent to all clubs in the tographer in the shape of Mrs Today the company enjoys the UK and Ireland. Farrington. benefits of having an excellent Once the replies have been collated on a database the Research Staff reputation for supplying quality will be able to determine if there are any correlations between disease Peter Biscoe, Kent materials to some of the most occurrence and management practices or weather conditions. prestigious golf courses Initial results, showing the spread of pests and diseases will be throughout the UK. published on the STRI's website www.stri.org.uk and in the Turfgrass Bulletin early next year. BIGGA keep up the good work I want to take time to congratulate Runner-up showing for East Section National Championship all of the staff at BIGGA for excel- October 1-2, 2001 lent service, prompt action to my Royal Birkdale and Congratulations and well done to finals en route to the final where they Southport and Ainsdale GCs membership enquiry and for putting the BIGGA East Section team who were narrowly beaten 6 & 5 in the together a magazine that is informa- All greenkeepers should have received tive, up-to-date and has retained its were competing for only their second final by the Barnton Hotel who them- the brochure including application form time in the Dispatch Trophy which is selves were playing in only their for the National Championship with English feel over the 12 years I have played over the Braid Hills Golf second time in the competition. So the May copy of Greenkeeper enjoyed it. Course in Edinburgh for over 100 well done to the team. International magazine. If any member The fact that I'm in Hong Kong and years at the Braids. Last year, their first, The team consisted of four section has mislaid the brochure please can still find out what is happening contact Sarah at BIGGA HOUSE for in the UK in this industry and keep they were beaten in the 1st round but members and they were Tom Murray, an additional one. The response to put up a very good performance Ratho Park; David Drummond, date is such that early booking is a little finger on the pulse makes against one of the former winners so Muirfield; Stevie Nicol, Winterfield, essential to guarantee a place in the England feel at little closer. they did not disgrace themselves. This and Iain Laing, Kingsknowe. Championship. I take my hat off to you all. year they did even better, beating for- Well done lads and we hope you mer winners and tournament can go one better and lift the trophy Tel: 01347 833800 Ian Bruton, Skek O Country Club, Email: [email protected] favourites Silverknowes in the semi next year. Chris Yeaman Hong Kong