• BIGGA National Championship • Course Feature – Askernish Golf Club • Toro Student of the Year • Irrigation Replacement £5.00 • Mini Excavators – A tool for all seasons NOVEMBER | 2007 Picture: Student of the Year THE REPUTATION WAS FORGED FROM A SINGULAR FOCUS AND EMERGED AS A RELIABLE, HIGH PERFORMANCE PRODUCT FAMILY 1996 Design simplicity and functional reliability. ey’re the guiding principles at GreensGroomer WorldWide. We focus on sensible design considerations GreensGroomer® that translate into products that work day-in and day-out. Starting with the original GreensGroomer, we’ve built a product family that carries a reputation for quality workmanship. From steel fabrication and welding to the fi t and fi nish, each piece we create carries this reputation with reliability. Our products give you the right performance at the best possible balance of price and value. Designed as a simple, single-pass solution. e original GreensGroomer is a quick, effi cient topdressing brush. It works with simplicity, protecting your turf while reaching maximum results. 1999 2001 2006 A reliable answer to greens mower transporta- A valuable extension to the original GreensGroomer. e delicate approach to aeration. e Greens- tion. e GreensWagon has all the features you e Spring Tine Rake attachment increases your Slicer is the latest addition to the product family need with all the strength and durability you effi ciency with fast, effi cient de-thatching. It creates and follows the same design standard - simplicity expect. It is the NEW standard for small, utility the perfect scenario for over-seeding and requires and durability. It has the right features for reliable trailers. less time than verti-cutting. performance over the long-run. GreensWagon® Spring Tine Rake GreensSlicer® Copyright © 2007 GreensGroomer WorldWide, Inc. All rights Reserved. For the dealer nearest you call toll-free 1-888-298-8852 or visit us on the web www.greensgroomer.com greensgroomer-fall2007.indd 1 10/22/2007 3:32:39 PM BIGGA President Sir Michael Bonallack, OBE Board of Management November 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, Elliott Small, Mark Dobell 4–9 News Chief Executive – John Pemberton 10 GTC Email – [email protected] 11 Learning & Development Communications Manager / Sami Collins updates us on Learning and Development THE REPUTATION WAS FORGED FROM A SINGULAR Editor – Scott MacCallum matters Email – [email protected] 12 Membership FOCUS AND EMERGED AS A RELIABLE, Sales Manager – Rosie Hancher Email – [email protected] HIGH PERFORMANCE PRODUCT FAMILY 13 Hobbies Head of Learning & Development – Sami Collins Email – [email protected] 14–15 Continue to Learn The Importance of Greens Aeration Membership Department – Vanessa Depré By Bruce Jamieson Email – [email protected] 22 Hobbies 1996 Design simplicity and functional reliability. ey’re the guiding principles at Contact Us Post – BIGGA House, Aldwark, Alne, York, YO61 1UF 31 What’s Your Number? GreensGroomer WorldWide. We focus on sensible design considerations Email – [email protected] GreensGroomer® that translate into products that work day-in and day-out. Website – www.bigga.org.uk 39 In the Shed Tel – 01347 833800 | Fax – 01347 833801 Greenkeeper International’s puzzle page Starting with the original GreensGroomer, we’ve built a product family that 43 Letters carries a reputation for quality workmanship. From steel fabrication and 44 New Products welding to the fi t and fi nish, each piece we create carries this reputation The official monthly magazine of the British with reliability. & International Golf Greenkeepers Association 46 News from the Chief Executive Editorial 48–54 Around the Green Our products give you the right performance at the Communications Manager / Editor – Scott MacCallum best possible balance of price and value. Tel – 01347 833800 | Fax – 01347 833801 62 As I See It… Email – [email protected] National Chairman Billy McMillan’s monthly column Assistant Editor – Melissa Toombs Tel – 01347 833800 | Fax – 01347 833801 Features Email – [email protected] 16 Bunker Maintenance: Sand Savers Design Designed as a simple, single-pass solution. Agency – Stone Soup e original GreensGroomer is a quick, effi cient Web – www.stone-soup.co.uk 19–21 Mini-excavators: A Tool for all Seasons topdressing brush. It works with simplicity, protecting By James de Havilland Advertising your turf while reaching maximum results. Sales Manager – Rosie Hancher 23–26 A Hebridean Task Tel – 01347 833800 | Fax – 01347 833802 Scott MacCallum visits South Uist to see the work Email – [email protected] being carried out on Askernish and talks with Gordon Irvine about progress Advertising Sales Executive – Kirstin Smith Tel – 01347 833800 | Fax – 01347 833802 28–30 School’s Out! Email – [email protected] 1999 2001 2006 Once again the level of entrants for this year’s Toro A reliable answer to greens mower transporta- A valuable extension to the original GreensGroomer. e delicate approach to aeration. e Greens- Printing Student of the Year have surpassed all expectations. tion. e GreensWagon has all the features you e Spring Tine Rake attachment increases your Slicer is the latest addition to the product family Warners Midlands Plc, The Maltings, Manor Lane, Melissa Toombs witnessed a fierce final at BIGGA need with all the strength and durability you effi ciency with fast, effi cient de-thatching. It creates and follows the same design standard - simplicity Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH HOUSE expect. It is the NEW standard for small, utility the perfect scenario for over-seeding and requires and durability. It has the right features for reliable Tel – 01778 391000 | Fax – 01778 394269 32–34 Natural Area Establishment and Management on trailers. less time than verti-cutting. performance over the long-run. Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without the Golf Course written permission. Return postage must accompany all By Tim Butler materials submitted if return is requested. 35–37 A Championship of which to be Proud No responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited materials. The Dundonald and Kilmarnock Barassie hosted the BIGGA GreensWagon® Spring Tine Rake GreensSlicer® right is reserved to edit submissions before publication. National Championship, sponsored by Kubota and produced one of the finest events ever Although every care will be taken, no responsibility is accepted for loss of manuscripts, photographs or artwork. 40 When should I upgrade or replace my irrigation Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the system? Association, and no responsibility is accepted for such content, By Giles Wardle advertising or product information that may appear. Circulation is by subscription. Subscription rate: UK £47 per year, Europe and Eire £60. The magazine is also distributed to BIGGA members, golf clubs, local authorities, the turf industry, libraries and central government. Cover photograph by Steve Anstey of Lamplight Photography [email protected] ISSN: 0961– 6977 © 2007 British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association Copyright © 2007 GreensGroomer WorldWide, Inc. All rights Reserved. For the dealer nearest you call toll-free 1-888-298-8852 or visit us on the web Greenkeeper International 3 www.greensgroomer.com greensgroomer-fall2007.indd 1 10/22/2007 3:32:39 PM Why not drop us an email with any news, press releases or new product updates you have – Send them to Melissa ([email protected]) Welcome Not a Bad Life Really I’ve said it before but it bears saying again. There are times when I’d have just loved to have been a greenkeeper. NEW FOR THE UK Just last month the programme for Harrogate Week was circulated and the buzz that is created by that one week in January is almost Aquatrols and Farmura Environmental have formed, new for the UK palpable. It would be great to have something similar in my walk distribution, Aquatrols water management products including market of life – a week in the year when you can just immerse yourself leading brands such as Revolution®, Primer®, Dispatch®, Aqueduct® in your job, meet friends and colleagues, attend workshops and and Fifty/90™. seminars and do some business for the up-coming season. Sure there are journalistic equivalents but they are far more expensive “These two product ranges ideally complement each other and suit and the chances of my meeting people I knew would be remote. the growing environmental approach to greenkeeping,” said Jonathan The fine turf industry is just the right size and because so much of Harmer, Managing Director of Farmura, Harrogate Week’s education is subsidised, costs are kept down and affordable and more people can justify attending every year Aquatrols products are well researched and their benefits are proven by – that, and the time of year, means a few days in North Yorkshire greenkeepers in many countries with differing climates. With increasing can be built into a timetable without the worry of too many traumas concerns over the availability and cost of water Aquatrols Water back home. Management products can make a major contribution to turf quality both on the greens, approaches and fairways. With the Aquatrols range of So you have Harrogate Week to enjoy but there is also so much products, water management programmes can be preventative, curative more. I’m just back from the National Championship, sponsored or problem specific with application via sprayer, hand applicators or by Kubota, when around 85 of our members had the opportunity to injected into irrigation systems. play two of the finest courses to be found anywhere, in Dundonald Links and Kilmarnock Barassie, and enjoy yet another sociable few “We are very pleased about the partnership with Farmura Environmental. days. The great thing for the guys was that if they weren’t playing After more than 25 years of working in the UK, our goal continues to be with someone they already knew, they would have some new friends provision of excellent service and support for our distributor and end by the end of the round.