Award-winning magazine of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association November 2002 - £3.50 St Andrews Bay Profile | Drainage | Toro Student of the Year | National Championship | See us fjVJXNAGEM£/Vf SEMINA*** Now in its 15th year Europe's largest indoor turf exhibition 8629 visitors in 2002 • Moves from NEC in Birmingham to Harrogate Continue International Centre to learn • A permanent home and set to grow • Supported by Association BIGGA's comprehensive of Golf Club Secretaries education programme and Association of Golf Informative and practical Course owners education opportunities National Education Conference, Workshops and Seminar Sessions The BIGGA Golf Experience 21-22-23 JANUARY 2003 HARROGATE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE Kings Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, HG1 5LA Tuesday 21 January 2003 9.00am to 6.00pm Wednesday 22 January 2003 9.00am to 5.00pm Thursday 23 January 2003 9.00am to 5.00pm New products, innovations, top class education and debate - the golfing world will gather So whether yours is the longest drive or the shortest drive, hit the road for Harrogate where the BIGGA Golf Experience will be a sure fire winner. To EXHIBIT call Pauline Thompson now on 01347 833830 or e-mail: [email protected] To VISIT call Sami Collins now on 01347 833833 or e-mail: [email protected] www.bigga.org.uk BUSINESS REPLY SERVICE Licence No. YO 331 Membership BIGGA HOUSE Aldwark Aine York Y061 1UF A guide to Advertisers' Index who's who ADVERTISER PAGE at BIGGA November 2002 AFT TRENCHERS 25 President Your next issue of Greenkeeper International Sir Michael ALLETT MOWERS 29 will be with you by December 5, 2002 Bonallack, OBE BERNHARD & CO LTD 19 BIGGA Board of Management Chairman - Richard Barker BTME/CLUBHOUSE ADVERT 2 Vice Chairman - George Brown Past Chairman - Clive Osgood GRASSFORM LTD 25 REGULARS Board Members GREENKEEPING SUPPLY CO INSERT News Ian Semple Paul Jenkins GREENSWARD 23 Ian Holoran Pages 4, 5, 6 & 8 David Waiden KUBOTA 51 10 lain Madeod Education MJT CONTRACTS 27 Executive Director Education and Training Manager, Ken Richardson, lists the Neil Thomas TEXTRON 7 Email: [email protected] available Regional Training, gives updates on Continue to Learn and the refund of fees scheme as well as information on the GTC's Administration Manager WASTE 2 WATER 17 John Pemberton new wall chart and the Ransomes/Jacobsen Scholarship. Email: [email protected] 11 Letters Editorial/Media Scott MacCallum 12 Email: [email protected] Membership Education & Training Manager 39-43 Ken Richardson Around the Green Email: [email protected] 50 Features Listing Membership Services Officer Rachael Palmer Helping you track down some of Greenkeeper International's Email: [email protected] past articles. 50 As I see it ... Contact us (U) You can contact The British and International BIGGA National Chairman, Richard Barker, has four weeks without Golf Greenkeepers Association in any rain and wonders what is happening. number of ways: Post: BIGGA HOUSE, Aldwark, Alne, York, Y061 1UF Email: [email protected] Internet: www.bigga.org.uk Tel: 01347 833800 Fax: 01347 833801 INVESTOR IN PEOPLE FEATURES 14 Bay Watch Scott MacCallum visits the new St Andrews Bay Resort and finds Course Superintendent, Neil Ballingall, on top of the job. The official monthly magazine Pinpointing Drainage Needs of the British & International 19 In the Firing Line Golf Greenkeepers Association Neil Thomas reports on the employment problems which are Editorial blighting the industry. Editor: Scott MacCallum Tel: 01347 833800 Fax: 01347 833801 Email: [email protected] Advertising Sales & Marketing Department: Jennifer Whichello, [email protected] Cheryl Broomhead, [email protected] Tel: 01347 833800 Fax: 01347 833802 Email: [email protected] Design 20 Design and Production Editor: Marie Whyld The Long Road to Success Tel: 01347 833800 Fax: 01347 833802 Murray Long, the 2002 Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year, Autumn problems! ISDN: 01347 830020 explains to Scott MacCallum what it means to win. Email: [email protected] Printing 22 Appliance of Science pinpoints Upton by Warners Midlands Pic, The Maltings, Manor Lane, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH Chester GC Drainage Needs Tel: 01778 391000 Fax: 01778 394269 Mike Saull looks at a new drainage scheme which was inspired by the January issue of this magazine. The advertising copy deadline A SUPERB QUILTED, for inclusion in the Deadline 2002 'DUCK-DOWN' WINTER JACKET edition of Greenkeeper International 26 Take a Leaf out of the Old Book This is your chance to beat the winter chills is Monday, November 11, 2002 by winning a quality, water proof jacket Roland Taylor looks at the perennial problem brought about featuring a duck quilted filling in our exciting Greenkeeper International: by the autumn. Buyers' Guide competition, in association Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced with GreenLink International & Rigby Taylor without written permission. Return postage must accompany 30 So Simple for Mr Semple all materials submitted if return is requested. No responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited materials. Ian Semple produced some wonderful golf to become BIGGA The right is reserved to edit submissions before publication. Champion Golfer for 2002. Although every care will be taken, no responsibility is Integrate accepted for loss of manuscripts, photographs or artwork. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the 36 Hell is a Wet Place Association, and no responsibility is accepted for such 9 content, advertising or product information that may appear. 'THE TURFTIME TEASER Steve Isaac looks at the conditions many greenkeepers have had Circulation is by subscription. Subscription rate: UK £42 per ^f DETAILS ON PAGE 44 to suffer over the last year and examines coping mechanisms. year, Europe and Eire £55. The magazine is also distributed to BIGGA members, golf clubs, local authorities, the turf industry, libraries and central government. ISSN: 0961-6977 © 2002 British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association MESSAGE OF THE MONTH To coincide with the launch of the new look BIGGA Bulletin Board we are announcing a brand new competition. To celebrate the new board which, has been redesigned in an easily used format, we are sending one of these fantastic desktop FM scan radios Welcome to the member who has written the best message on the board each month. The Bulletin Board enables greenkeeper members quick and direct communication amongst themselves and with the Association. It can YOU'VE ALL DONE be found in the greenkeeper members area of the BIGGA website at www.bigga.org.uk. Why not log in, VERY WELL! see what's topical and make your contribution. It's a month for congratulations. Message of the Month winners will be announced on Top of the list must be Bevan Tattersall, Courses the Membership page of Greenkeeper International magazine each month. Manager at the De Vere Belfry, and his team for preparing the Brabazon course for what must rank as one of the best Ryder Cup matches, not to say sporting occasions full stop, in quite some time. Bevan set up the course exactly how home team Captain, Sam Torrance, wanted it, and to that end can take some credit for the magnificent European victory. And the SHEFFIELD SECTION icing on the cake was that I didn't hear any criticism of the conditions from Curtis Strange's American team, which is even more of a tribute to Bevan. Second on the list is Murray Long, Head Greenkeeper, at Coombe Hill GC, and the 2002 Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year winner. Murray, whose smiling face you see on the front of this issue, is a deserving winner of the Award. It is very refreshing to see 01623 someone so open in his desire to do well. He set his msfmfd San62244d 1 mind on winning the competition and made every effort to ensure he gave himself the best possible chance. He was the 14th winner of the Toro Student The Sheffield Section pictured at Hickleton Golf Club where the recent Annual Competition, sponsored by Greenkeeper of the Year Award and each year the Mansfield Sand, was held. competition demonstrates why it is the longest standing competition on the BIGGA calendar. The quality of young people coming through the ranks is growing all the time and the bar, for any potential TWO NEW FACES TED WEST winner, is being raised every year. That can only be Charterhouse Turf Machinery has made two new good for the profession and the industry. appointments. Next in line for a fanfare is Ian Semple, Course Paul Gregory, 23, becomes Southern Area Sales Manager of Old Folds Manor GC, and BIGGA's new Manager with responsibility for sales of all National Golf Champion. Charterhouse turf equipment and Antonio Carraro Ian, who also represents the South East Region on tractors in the south of England. Paul, who holds a the Association's Board of Management, clinched the degree in Landscape Architecture from Birmingham University, was previously a sales demonstrator for title at Hillside and Hesketh Golf Clubs. It was a Charterhouse, and has been with the company two particularly fine achievement bearing in mind that Ian years. won the Gross prize last year at Royal Birkdale and The second new appointment is Ashleigh Harpur, Southport and Ainsdale. To win any Nett prize off a who has joined as Marketing Assistant and will work handicap of 1, playing golf courses for the first time is closely with Charterhouse Director, Philip Threadgold. some going. He is now looking forward to defending Ashleigh, 24, hails from Zimbabwe and has lived in the his title at Hollinwell and Coxmoor Golf Clubs next UK for three years. She is a graduate in Office Practice year. from Cambridge Tutorial College, and has strong Finally I'd like to congratulate Neil Ballingall, Golf computer skills.