BIGGA Survey: an Excellent Response Scottish National Championship
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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 The Open Championship 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, Peter Alliss 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 Seve Ballesteros 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 Nick Faldo 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.