• Best of British – A Special Report Celebrating 75 years of British Innovation • Disturbance Theory – One Step Back • The Build up to a Major – Preparation for the US Open • The Economic Value of ‘Green’ Compost utilised as Turf Topdressing £3.80 • New Look for Greenkeeper International JUNE | 2007 Picture: Best of British Special Report Move Faster Than Deadlines Pick up the pace on productivity by getting behind the wheel of a John Deere Gator Utility Vehicle. Be the first to finish with the 40 km/h top speed, true four wheel drive and impressive 590 kg towing capacity of the heavy duty HPX 4X4 Diesel. Or, if you’re looking to tread lightly and finish fast, the turf-friendly six wheel designed, Gator TH 6X4 Diesel model features a 454 kg cargo box capacity. And like the TX and TS models, the TH also boasts an extremely low centre of gravity for superior stability. Visit your John Deere dealer and see why a John Deere Gator is the only way to go. www.johndeere.co.uk John Deere Ltd., Harby Road, Langar, Nottingham NG13 9HT, Telephone 01949 860491 Nothing Runs Like A Deere C 733.1 E C_733_1_E_210x297.indd 1 07.05.2007 11:32:01 Uhr BIGGA President Sir Michael Bonallack, OBE Board of Management June 2007 Chairman – Billy McMillan Vice Chairman – Kenny Mackay Past Chairman – Richard Whyman Board Members Regulars Lee Strutt, Jeff Mills, Gavin Robson, Archie Dunn, Tony Smith, Elliot Small, Mark Dobell 4–9 News Chief Executive – John Pemberton 10 GTC Email – [email protected] 11 Education Deputy Chief Executive Ken Richardson discusses the department’s latest Education & Training Manager – Ken Richardson projects Email – [email protected] Communications Manager / 12 Membership Editor – Scott MacCallum Email – [email protected] 13 Greenkeepers’ Hobbies Sales Manager – Rosie Hancher 16 Continue to Learn Email – [email protected] Consultants in Golf Course Management: Getting the best from your consultant agronomist Membership Department – Vanessa Depré By Stewart Brown Email – [email protected] 33 In the Shed Contact Us Greenkeeper International’s puzzle page Post – BIGGA House, Aldwark, Alne, York, YO61 1UF Email – [email protected] 46 What’s Your Number? Website – www.bigga.org.uk Tel – 01347 833800 | Fax – 01347 833801 47 Letters 48 New Products 50 News from the Chief Executive The official monthly magazine of the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association 50–58 Around the Green Editorial Communications Manager / 66 As I See It… Editor – Scott MacCallum National Chairman Billy McMillan’s monthly column Tel – 01347 833800 | Fax – 01347 833801 Email – [email protected] Assistant Editor – Melissa Toombs Tel – 01347 833800 | Fax – 01347 833801 Email – [email protected] Features Design 14 Disturbance Theory: One Step Back Agency – Stone Soup By Henry Bechelet Web – www.stone-soup.co.uk 20–23 The Build up to a Major… Advertising Cadell’s Neuk 28 Intern, David McCaffrey, takes you through the Sales Manager – Rosie Hancher meticulous preparations and work that has gone on Tel – 01347 833800 Yards| Fax 3195 – 310 01347 Par 4 Yards 833802 303 Par 4 Yards 288 Par 4 at Oakmont in preparation for the US Open Email – [email protected] hitters might cut the corner of this dog-leg left 242 to reach the two tiered green. Accuracy and length RUN OUT DISTANCE 233 are required off the tee to avoid a tough second 227 24 Pump Stations Advertising Sales Executiveshot. –Miss Kirstin to the left andSmith face a bunker, trees and 65 212 82 An irrigation system is only as good as its pump heavy rough, miss to the right to leave a fearsome Tel – 01347 833800 | Fax – 01347 833802 214 chip from an almost vertical slope. 94 205 station so making sure it is working is incredibly Email – [email protected] 199 184 important 150 Printing 150 +28 151 Warners Midlands Plc, The Maltings, Manor Lane, 142 26–28 The Economic Value of ‘Green’ Compost Utilised as 153 136 Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH 120 a Turf Topdressing Tel – 01778 391000 | Fax – 01778 394269 By Ron Alexander Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced0 without 04 30 Surveying: Information is Power written permission. Return postage 08must accompany all Scott MacCallum learns how one golf club has materials submitted if return is requested. purchased a full course survey package and is about 22 to reap the benefits of what it has produced No responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited materials. The 288 303 right is reserved to edit submissions before publication. 310 319 34–45 Best of British Although every care will be taken, no responsibility is accepted Melissa Toombs and James de Havilland prove that for loss of manuscripts, photographs or artwork. Britain is still an innovative nation Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Association, and no responsibility is accepted for such content, advertising or product information that may appear. Circulation is by subscription. Subscription rate: UK £42 per 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 © 2007 British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association Greenkeeper International 3 Why not drop us an email with any news, press releases or new product updates you have – Welcome Send them to Melissa ([email protected]) News that a Heads of Agreement has been signed between BIGGA and the IOG has resulted in a few negative responses on the BIGGA website from some quarters within the BIGGA membership. Such reactions are to be expected and I’d be very surprised if similar sentiments are not being expressed by elements within the IOG as well. But it really is a case of standing back and looking at what has happened, what is happening and what is likely to happen in the future. What has happened? Well, the golf industry is not getting any larger. Indeed, in some areas it has shrunk and everyone is beginning to feel the pinch. Golf clubs no longer have the comfort blanket of long waiting lists – more golfers now stay “unattached” and pick and choose the best golfing deal of the week. This has led to reduced revenue for clubs and smaller budgets devoted to maintaining the Ron Christie, Course Manager at Addington Palace GC, winner of The Raymond course, which, in turn, means machinery manufacturers don’t sell Day Memorial Trophy as much - a consequence of which being their decision to alternate their attendance at Harrogate and Saltex. This has affected BIGGA’s ANNUAL GENTLEMEN’S DINNER income, which means a knock on for the benefits and services we can offer members. It’s a genuine vicious circle. Over 100 members and guests sat down for dinner and an evenings What is happening? Well, BIGGA could cut its cloth to suit and entertainment recently, after a days golf on a Course superbly presented reduce benefits and services, or it could look at other ways of by Ian McMillan and his team at Walton Heath GC. moving forward and protecting, and perhaps, enhancing those benefits and services. One way to achieve this may be to merge with The Board for the South East Region of BIGGA would like to thank the the body which, while not exactly the same, has sufficient overlap Club for their hospitality, as always, and the following companies for their - maintaining fine turf – to make a coming together an option, thus most generous support of this event and many others in the south east giving genuine economies of scale and more industry clout. throughout the year: Avoncrop Amenity Products Ltd, The Art of Grass BSP Landscapes Ltd, CMW Equipment Ltd, Complete Weed Control, Both organisations are currently investigating whether such a merger Ernest Doe and Sons Ltd, ESD Waste2WaterEurope Ltd, Grass Roots is viable. I can tell you that there are some highly qualified and Trading Co Ltd, Harper & Eede, Headland Amenity Products, John Shaw talented people from both sides involved in these talks - including (Machinery) Ltd, R & K Kensett Ltd, Rigby Taylor Ltd, The Scotts Co representatives from the All England Tennis and Croquet Club and (UK) Ltd, Sisis Equipment Ltd, Symbio, Seol Nassau, Tower Chemicals the R&A - and they are looking at all the implications of a merger Ltd, Tacit Golf Equipment Ltd. as thoroughly and objectively as they can. What is likely to happen? It may be that the working party’s findings ANDY COLE RETURNS will result in a recommendation to continue as we are - that a merger is unworkable, or not of sufficient benefit to either organisation. In Andy Cole has returned to STRI after six years absence. He will join the which case there would be no point in going any further. Southern Agronomy Team and develop the Midland Region. However if the talks do highlight potential benefits and the logistics Andy left STRI in 2001 following 14 years service. He joined PSD Agronomy of it all are manageable, more work will be done with a view to where he continued to advise golf clubs and also worked with Northern putting a proposal to both memberships. It will be then down to Racing and football clubs including Aston Villa and Birmingham City. the respective boards to put the facts forward to their individual members, who can then take a view based on what is placed As a founder member of RIPTA, Andy is a popular presenter and a regular before them. contributor at events for the English Golf Union, The Land Drainage Contractors Association, BIGGA and the Golf Club Secretaries. So why the negative comment? Turn it around.