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Home , Alfred Dunhill Cup, Andrew Coltart, Old Course at St Andrews, Sam Torrance

Swedes FLYING DIVOTS

• Tim Yardley, Hayter's discover Marketing Manager, tragically died on Snowdonia in October. He was 30 and delights of single. "Although he had only been with us for eight months he had become an integral and indispensible member of A Study Trip taking in some of NEWS our team," said Kim Macfie, Scotland's finest courses was Sales and Marketing Director. completed by 16 Swedish green- "Seldom have I known keepers recently. anyone to settle in so quickly The group combined the educa- and so well to a new job and tional element of the trip with the his tragic death has shocked opportunity of playing some golf us all at Spellbrook." and visiting the Alfred Dunhill • Ocmis Irrigation (Scotland) Cup in . Ltd have moved to new larger Among the clubs they visited premises offering increased were Elie, where Head Green- storage and service facilities. keeper Brian Lawrie gave them a The office, at Broad Meadow, tour of the course and led a dis- Harburn, West Calder, West cussion on all aspects of Lothian, Scotland EH55 8RT maintenance; Gleneagles where will work in conjunction with the format was the same but the other offices throughout the style of course completely differ- ent; Ladybank, where Head • Following the Greenkeeper Ian Menzies played launch of the new host. They also visited Elmwood business College to discuss greenkeeper operation education. Miracle Chairman Barry Heaney and Membership Services Officer Janet They were also welcomed by Professional Adamson man the BIGGA stand at the GCSAI Turf Maintenance Exhi- Scottish Regional Chairman Gor- (formerly ICI bition at the RDS in Dublin. don Moir at St Andrews who gave Professional them a tour of the Old Course and Products) to the Sports a look at the St Andrews sheds Amenity and Landscape and Scottish Regional Administa- industry, management tor Elliott Small, who hosted the changes have been group at Tulliallan. Back on the announced. Roger Mossop. In addition to those courses they previously Marketing also squeezed in a game at Manager, has been Auchterarder, thanks to Head promoted to Business Greenkeeper Archie Dunn and the mats again! Manager assuming Jubilee Course at St Andrews. responsiblity for both The artificial turf mats which impact of using the mats has marketing and sales. He will were tried out for fairway play on been dramatic and the improve- respond directly to Chief German the last ment in the course's condition Executive John Wilson, a winter have proved so successful has been apparent to all golfers." main board member of connections their use is to be repeated. It is estimated that the use of Miracle Garden Care Ltd. BIGGA member Craig Smith has This winter, however, the mats the artificial turf mats saved the • For the fourth year, Atterton used his German con- will only be in use for four Old Course from over 150,000 & Ellis Ltd, main agents for tacts to assist him with organising months - December to March - divots last year. The 10cm x Toro grass machinery in "Golf Tours to the Home of Golf'. compared with five months last 25cm mats are issued to golfers Suffolk and parts of In conjunction with a Scottish year. The decision to re-introduce at the beginning of their round Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire associate he has targeted Glenea- the mats which were originally and handed in at the end for re- and Hertfordshire, has gles, the St Andrews' courses, brought in to protect the course use. Their introduction last win- supported the West Suffolk , Royal Troon and Old for was ter was as a result of seeing the Greenkeepers Challenge. Prestwick. "It could be a valuable taken by the Links Management effects of their use on other The Challenge is played at and exciting experience for a Committee. courses in Scotland. four venues throughout the group of greenkeepers and any "For some time we have been As last year the green fee for a summer with the team's interested parties can contact me evaluating the effects of the exper- round on the Old Course while scores for all in (Tel/fax 06284 1799) iment of last winter," said Robert mats are in play will be dis- matches added together. or Doug Robertson in Scotland Burns, Chairman of the Links counted from the normal winter The winners once again (Tel 01738 623668)," said Craig. Management Committee. "The rate of £40 to £30. were Gog Magog GC comprising Lyndon Upham, Julian Hill and Peter Mallows HMC Pro-Sport launched for the sports market with a score or 371 beating Haverhill GC into second Hepworth Minerals and Chemicals The grading processes produce ucts are formulated for consis- place by just six points. Ltd has launched HMC Pro-Sport new sands for specialised applica- tency, which means the product Newmarket GC finished third onto the Sports market. tions - HMC Pro-Sport sands; will be the same from one month with Bury St Edmunds GC Pro-Sport has been designed for HMC Pro-Sport top dressing and to the next and from one quarry to fourth. Alan Carter of Haverhill use in the construction and main- HMC Pro-Sport root zone. the next. had the highest individual total tenance of golf courses, sports HMC has 17 working quarries up For further information contact of 137. pitches and leisure facilities. and down the country and all prod- 01270 752 700. FLYING DIVOTS

• A Stihl Chainsaw mounted on a portable sawmill has set a world record by producing the longest plank of wood ever to be cut from a log. The plank measured 109 feet long (33.02 metres) and was cut from a five ton log. The record sawing operation was achieved at the Jonkoping Fair for Forestry Products in by Bengt-Olov Bry strom, pictured below, who designed the 'Logosol' portable sawmill which, for the mammoth cut, was fitted with an 85cc Stihl 064 chainsaw. Bengt-Olov said "It wouldn't surprise me if someone in a country with taller trees than Sweden tries to beat our Pebble Beach signs up with Ransomes record." In the meantime the The Pebble Beach Company has man/Ryan product lines. courses in the world, but also one next edition of The Guinness selected Ransomes as its exclusive "The exclusive agreement to of the most beautiful. This agree- Book of Records will feature supplier of turf maintenance supply Pebble Beach is significant ment links two companies which the Stihl cut 109 foot plank. equipment. because it emphasises our com- have leading brand recognition The three-year rolling agree- pany's leadership role in the turf and share a concern for, and give ment with the world famous Peb- maintenance industry," said Peter an industry lead in, environmen- ble Beach resorts states that all Wilson, Group Chief Executive of tal, safety and quality issues. new equipment for their golf Ransomes pic. Pebble Beach considered all the courses and grounds maintenance Pebble Beach is recognised not leading turf machinery companies will come from Ransomes/Cush- only as one of the leading golf before reaching its decision.

Monty wins our • Preparations are well under way for the 1996 Grounds & Greens seminars organised by Sisis vote to scoop Equipment (Macclesfield) Ltd. Following two very successful events at Newmarket Race Course and Lancashire top golfing title Country Cricket Club, Old The Johnnie Walker Golfer of the of the year. Trafford, next year's event will Month for October was chosen by Scotland's take place on June 11 and 12 a panel of five golf writers includ- team which in addition to Mont- at Murrayfield Stadium in East Midlands section ing your Editor Scott MacCallum. gomerie included , Edinburgh. Speakers will is the first in the Scott joined John Hopkins, golf whose heroic final round in the include Eddie Adams, Head country to make a correspondent of The Times; , two better than Greenkeeper of the Old contribution to the BIGGA Colin Callander, Editor of Golf anyone else in the field, took him Course at St Andrews,Steve Building Fund, set up to Monthly; broadcaster, John Fen- to within one shot of a first Volvo Isaac, STRI, Duncan facilitate a move of ton, and Chairman Renton Laid- Order of Merit title in 24 years on McGilvray, Letchworth GC, Headquarters to a larger law, golf correspondent of the Tour and , who David Lucas, building. London Evening Standard at the became the first player to make a Consultant, Jay Dobson and Tim Allard, the newly Halcyon Hotel in London to select hole-in-one in the Alfred Dunhill David Rhodes. Myerscough elected Chairman of the the player most deserving of the Cup at the Old Course's 8th in the College and Terry Robinson section, is pictured award. final. He now boasts an Alfred Haydock Park Race Course. presenting a cheque for There were several candidates Dunhill Cup record of played • Fine Agrochemicals Ltd £300 to Barry Heaney in contention. eight won seven. has appointed Steven Wilson which, added to the who helped Scotland to their first After each of the panel had out- as Technical Manager. assocation's initial transfer Alfred Dunhill Cup victory and lined his thoughts to the others Steven, who was formerly of £5000 out of the general finished runner-up in the Volvo and the representatives of John- Technical Service Manager of fund, is an excellent boast Masters at Valderrama, playing nie Walker and the PGA Euro- Herbicides with Zeneca Crop on the way to the target the tough back nine in one under pean Tour who were also present Protection, will take figure of £250,000. to snatch the Volvo Order of a vote was held and Colin Mont- responsibility for product The section also made a Merit title from Sam Torrance by gomerie, carrying Scott's vote, development, technical donation to the Matthew one shot. emerged the winner. service and quality Fell Appeal, which was Alexander Cejka, the young He wins a trophy while the Golf management of Fine highlighted in November's German, who birdie five of the Foundation and the PGA Euro- Agrochemicals' range of magazine. final eight holes at the Volvo Mas- pean Tour Benevolent Fund each products. ters to win his third tournament receive £1000. Robert takes top FLYING DIVOTS Service helps take it easy job at St Mellion As of January 1 BIGGA will be providing members with a Roy Battishill, Head Greenkeeper stress counselling helpline at St Mellion for the last 18 which will provide a range of years, has retired and handed practical help and advice for over the reins to Robert Brewer, relieving stress related the former Assistant Course Man- sympotoms, as well as ager of Sunningdale's Old offering a friendly ear. Course. There is no such thing as a Roy, a former agricultural con- "pressure free job", every job tractor in the Tamar Valley area has its demands and some of Cornwall was offered a green- pressures can be beneficial - keeping job by St Mellion's own- the challenges which keep us ers, Hermon and Martin Bond, motivated - but when prior to the opening of the Old demands become excessive Course at St Mellion. this can have a potential for "It has been tremendous being causing stress related part of the Bond brothers' dream problems. These may take to make St Mellion International the form of physical and one of the world's top golf com- emotional symptoms affecting plexes and I feel very proud of work and home life, for Roy Battishill, left, welcomes Robert Brewer to St Mellion their achievements," said Roy. example, an increase in Roy began his association with He went on to look after the spent a year in the alcohol consumption and the course by landscaping Nicklaus Course which hosted with the Nicklaus Organisation. smoking or feeling more bunkers, greens and and the Benson and Hedges Interna- Robert also has extensive tour- irritable or tense. took over as Head Greenkeeper tional Open until earlier this nament experience having pre- The stress counselling when Jim Rowland retired. year. As part of his training he pared Sunningdale for two helpline will help clarify and European Opens and two PGA define areas of stress and Austin Davies has been newly created post of Market European Tour Seniors Champi- advise on ways on ways of appointed to the post of Development Manager for Envi- onships. dealing with these problems. Rhône-Poulenc Environmental ronmental Products within the He is a keen golfer playing off The service is available 24 Products Business Manager. Rhône-Poulenc Agriculture Ltd a 12 and holds a pri- hours a day, 365 days of the Austin moves to the position from organisation. vate pilot's licence. year and is staffed by Product Stewardship, he previ- The network of Regional Man- General Manager Ken Hunt qualified nurses offering a ously had worked in Environmen- agers and office staff remain said, "Robert is one of the coun- caring professional service. tal Products as Account Manager unchanged and continue Rhône- try's top course managers with a The number - which will be and as a Product Manager. Poulenc's commitment to high wealth of experience and we're open from January 1 - is Jonathan Hill has taken up the standards of customer service. delighted he has agreed to come 01206 871614. to St Mellion International."

Test your knowledge in our fun competition! You all work on golf courses but how much do you know about the Masters? great game of golf? Like some of the greatest golf events in the 9. Colin Montgomery's father is the secretary of which Open world - the , , the Walker Championship course? and Curtis Cups - there is nothing to win but pride and the satis- 10. What is the name of the cup played for every other year by faction of competing to the best of your ability! the lady professionals of Europe and the United States? Who was the last man to win back to back Open Champi- 11. In which US city is next year's GCSAA Trade Show and onships? Conference being held? MAD LANK ROAR - A famous building near York! 12. At which course will the 1997 Ryder Cup be held? Who designed the famous St Mellion course which has 13. Where was this year's played and who played host to the Benson and Hedges International won. Open for several years? 14. Who will become the new Chairman of BIGGA at 4. Name the greenkeeper who produced his fourth next year's AGM? Open Championship course this year. 15. Who did defeat in a play-off to win the 5. Who was the Irishman whose winning point 1994 US Open? sealed Europe's famous Ryder Cup victory in 16. Over which course was it played? September? 17. Which golf course was the most recent to be Name the two players who had holes-in-one added to the Open Championship rota? in the Ryder Cup this year. 18. Who is Course Manager at that course? How many bunkers did the BIGGA Green- 19. From which county does BIGGA Chairman keeping Support Team rake at St Andrews Barry Heaney come? this year? To the nearest 50. 20. Where is next year's Open Championship Who was the first British player to win the US to be played? Answers on Page 50