• The Contractor Factor • Royal Birkdale: Open Preview • Pump Stations: Simple Job, Complex Technology £5.00 • Landscaping JULY | 2008 BIGGA President Sir Michael Bonallack, OBE Board of Management July 2008 Chairman – Kenny Mackay Vice Chairman – Peter Todd Past Chairman – Billy McMillan Board Members Regulars Jeff Mills, Gavin Robson, Archie Dunn, Ian Willett, Tony Smith, Elliott Small, Mark Dobell 4–8 News Chief Executive – John Pemberton 9 GTC Email – [email protected] 10–11 Industry Update Communications Manager / Editor – Scott MacCallum 12 Membership [email protected] Email – Tracey Maddison updates us on Membership matters Sales and Membership Manager – Rosie Hancher Email – [email protected] 13 Education Sami Collins updates us on Learning and Development Head of Learning & Development – Sami Collins matters Email – [email protected] 14–15 Learning & Development: Membership Department – Tracey Maddison Seeding a North Cyprus course Email – [email protected] By Arne van Amerongen Contact Us 31 Health & Safety Tip Post – BIGGA House, Aldwark, Alne, York, YO61 1UF Hobbies Email – [email protected] Website – www.bigga.org.uk 43 In the Shed Tel – 01347 833800 | Fax – 01347 833801 Greenkeeper International’s puzzle page 46 New Products 48 News from the Chief Executive The official monthly magazine of the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association 48-56 Around the Green Editorial 57 Letters Communications Manager / Editor – Scott MacCallum Tel – 01347 833800 | Fax – 01347 833801 58 What’s Your Number Email – [email protected] 66 As I See It… Assistant Editor – Melissa Jones National Chairman Kenny Mackay’s monthly column Tel – 01347 833800 | Fax – 01347 833801 Email – [email protected] Design Features Design and Production Editor - Tom Campbell Tel – 01347 833800 | Fax – 01347 833801 Email – [email protected] 16–17 Pump Stations: Simple Job, Complex Technology By Charles De Haan Advertising Sales Executive – Kirstin Smith 19–21 Ride On Mower Units Tel – 01347 833800 | Fax – 01347 833802 By James de Havilland Email – [email protected] 23 Construction Diary: Guildford Golf Club Printing By Peter Jones Warners Midlands Plc, The Maltings, Manor Lane, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH 24–26 A Quiet Open … Please! Tel – 01778 391000 | Fax – 01778 394269 Scott MacCallum travelled to Southport to meet Chris Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without Whittle, a man preparing an Open course for the third written permission. Return postage must accompany all materials time submitted if return is requested. 28-30 The Contractor Factor No responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited materials. The Appointing a contractor, particularly if it is one you right is reserved to edit submissions before publication. haven’t dealt with before, can be a stressful business. Will they deliver what they promise? Will the job be done Although every care will be taken, no responsibility is accepted for to the standard expected? Will the costs be in line with loss of manuscripts, photographs or artwork. the initial quote? GI asked three top Course Managers for their advice on the matter. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Association, and no responsibility is accepted for such content, advertising or product information that may appear. 32-33 Red Diesel By Mike Beardall Circulation is by subscription. Subscription rate: UK £47 per year, Europe and Eire £60. The magazine is also distributed to BIGGA 36-37 Landscaping members, golf clubs, local authorities, the turf industry, libraries By James Lane and central government. 44-45 Syngenta Golden Key ISSN: 0961– 6977 By Scott MacCallum © 2008 British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association Cover photography by Alan Birch, courtesy of Royal Birkdale GC Greenkeeper International 3 Why not drop us an email with any news, press releases or new product updates you have – Send them to Melissa ([email protected]) Welcome Miranda – The Truth Seeking Missile What do, “The state of the planet”; “Boys with status dogs”; “Roadkill” and “Reality TV” have in common? Not an easy one, not for people who don’t read the CELTIC MANOR RESORT UNVEILS Saturday Guardian magazine at any rate. TWENTY TEN COURSE Well, they are four out of the five items which depress actress, Miranda Richardson – she of “Queenie” in Blackadder fame - as quoted in the The only golf course in regular Q&A feature. The other thing that gets Miranda depressed? “Golf history to be purpose built Courses”! for The Ryder Cup was officially opened on the Yes. Miranda has lumped golf courses in with four other items, which, if eve of its first professional a little obscure, could easily be on the short list for Room 101. tournament recently. The new Twenty Ten Given that she has already expressed her concerns about the state of the course and clubhouse planet I think we can safely assume that Miranda thinks golf courses are were launched by the Rt a haven for chemical abuse. Hon Rhodri Morgan AM, First Minister for Wales, on Wednesday May 28 in the company of Sir Terry What we do learn is that her opinion must be formed from some sound Matthews, Chairman of The Celtic Manor Resort, and George O’Grady, Chief investigation on her part because under the question “What is your most Executive of The European Tour. unappealing habit?” she told us that, “I am a truth-seeking missile. A lot The Twenty Ten course, clubhouse and surrounding infrastructure have of people find that unappealing.” been built at a total cost of £16 million to meet commitments made by The Celtic Manor Resort as part of its successful bid to stage The Ryder So I don’t know which courses Miranda must have visited to come to the Cup in 2010. conclusion that golf courses make her depressed but I’m fairly sure they At a press conference prior to the plaque unveiling, Sir Terry Matthews said: wouldn’t have included many of our top ones. For example had she popped “This is a very significant day in the history of The Celtic Manor Resort as we into Hollinwell, current holder of the BIGGA Golf Environment Competition, officially open this new golf course and clubhouse. sponsored by Ransomes Jacobsen, Scotts, Syngenta and Golf Monthly, “We pledged to make the developments necessary to ensure we have the she would have been elated, not depressed, to see some of the wonderful very best facilities for hosting The Ryder Cup in 2010 and we’re proud of environmental work that has been, and is being, carried out. what we have achieved with the Twenty Ten.” The course has also been built with spectators in mind and the steep hillside The vision of golf courses as chemical dumps is one still accepted by a which rises above the three closing holes offers unparalleled viewing of not great many people, perhaps seduced by an ill informed and biased green only the decisive action at the end of the round, but also over many more lobby, without actually looking at the facts. holes in the valley below. The truth is that the vast majority of golf courses are maintained by highly skilled professionals who genuinely care for the land in their custodianship. GOLDEN AND SILVER KEY SPONSORS Also, who could possibly deny that some of the most beautiful spots in this country are found on golf courses? In itself that’s great, but the added bonus is that often the green belt created by golf courses is keeping A recent meeting at BIGGA HOUSE gave BIGGA the opportunity to inform developers away from building more flats and factory outlets. members of the Golden and Silver Key Supporters Programme what the Fund has enabled the Association to produce, on behalf of its membership. I don’t doubt that, along with The Stage, Miranda is an avid reader of Chief Executive, John Pemberton was also able to thank all the companies Greenkeeper International, so I would encourage her, as a genuine “truth and present them with their annual badges for their Golden and Silver Key seeking missile” to pop into her local golf club, with an open mind, take plaques and, in the case of newest Golden Key company, Syngenta, the time to learn what goes on and witness the high level of responsible plaque itself which John presented to Simon Elsworth, Head of Professional stewardship first hand. She was born in Southport so she could do worse Products for UK and Ireland. than visit Royal Birkdale, which Chris Whittle and his team have in stunning condition for this month’s Open, Seeing how the golf course meanders though the dunes, and the flora and fauna it sustains, would gladden the heart of any blue thespian. Before I finish I’ll tell you what depresses me. It’s all that bright light and neon in London’s theatre land, which leaves a much larger carbon footprint than you’ll find on any golf course. But were it removed how would Miranda Richardson’s name stay up in lights? Scott MacCallum Editor 4 Greenkeeper International Why not drop us an email with any news, press releases or new product updates you have – Send them to Melissa ([email protected]) News SUSTAINABLE GOLF SPRING TOURNAMENT NEW WEATHER STATION COURSE MANAGEMENT On May 14, the North Wales Section played their Notts (Hollinwell) Golf Club, winners of last year’s Spring Tournament and National Qualifiers at BIGGA Environment Competition – which provides High Post Golf Club near Salisbury in Wiltshire, Llanymynech Golf Club. During a glorious day at the opportunity for the golfing community to show, has made a long-term commitment to sustainable NEWS the Welsh/English border course, the eventual and indeed be recognised for, its commitment to golf course management and consequently the qualifiers where Paul Roberts of Baron Hill GC promoting a sustainable environment - have had Environment Agency has put the club forward for with 70 gross, and Andy Peel of Bull Bay GC with their prize of a Scotts weather station installed.