SEPTEMBER '87 GREENKEEPING MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE FOR THE GOLF COURSE INDUSTRY Turf Rollers Sod Cutters (Mk II) • Hydrostatic Drive • Forward and • Simple Lawn Replacement + Reverse Transmission • Ease of Renovation • Lightweight and Operation • Two Models • Versatile Compact • Ease of Operation Two for One Conversion • Minimum Service • Easy Transport and Storage • Adjustable Handles • Interchangeable Blades for Edging De-thatching + Shredding Complete Turf Technology Dutton, Warrington, Cheshire WA4 4LL. Turf Machinery Turf Nurseries Tel: 09286-272 or 261 Tel: 09286-340 or 336 The Brouwer Vac The Brouwer Reel Mower • Economy • Fast and Reliable • Self 3.5, and 7 Gang Unloading • Easy Access in Difficult • Fixed or Floating Head • Lightweight Areas • Efficient • Optional Extension High Stress Steel Frame • Hydraulic or Hose • 335 Cu. Ft. capacity Manual Lift for ease of Operation • Transportable • 4, 5, 6 or 7 Bladed Reels • Easy Hook Up • Versatile System 4» SNKE GREENKEEPINMANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE FOR 1>€ GOLF COURSE rOUSTRGY Editor & Publisher: JOHN LELEAN Regular Editorial Contributors: F. W. Hawtree Martyn Jones National Advertising What's done, Executive: Mike Massey 'Fieldside', Grange Road, Bowdon, Cheshire Tel: 061-928 2997 needIn January thiss yea tr thoe newl by enationwid seee are naskin gt -o WHEN b, eT odon bring togetheer thre e distinct, formed Association of British & and so they might. separate bodies, each with its Graphics & Design: International Golf Greenkeepers' own administration, varying Last month the National Green- Stephen Spellman came into being, formed by the keepers' Tournament held at philosophies and regional amalgamation of the long estab- Verulam Golf Club, St. Albans, differences requires delicate Production Manager: lished British Golf Greenkeepers' was organised by the Mid Anglia negotiation and a degree of Association, the southern based Section of the now defunct diplomacy. Ian Donoghue English & International Golf BGGA. It was a highly successful What has now been created is Greenkeepers' Association and tournament, patronised by many a vacuum. The old groupings Golf Greenkeeping is a the Scottish Greenkeepers. of the active participants of have gone and the new, as far as combined subscription and This coming together, following previous years, in fact the greenkeepers are concerned, is controlled circulation years of acrimony among certain majority of competitors were the not functioning. publication for the golf members of the greenkeeping 'Old Faithfuls'. This could have been avoided course management industry. profession, was precipitated by Current distribution 2,500 This year there was no Annual if the BIGGA had been set up as the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of copies per month. General Meeting for the new an umbrella association with St. Andrews in the interest of Published ten times per year. Association and greenkeeping three individual associations Copies are available on furthering the future and recog- business was confined to informal continuing to operate until the subscription postage paid, nition of those men who maintain discussions in the 19th hole. time was ripe for a smooth £12.00 per year. Overseas our golf courses, without whom transfer. surface. £14.00 per year. there would not be a game to The Chairman Mr. Walter Air mail rates on application play. Woods did attend and said a few Finance has never been a to the publishers. Such a move was welcomed words at the conclusion of the problem. As reported last month by all sections of the golf prize giving, but the newly the R&A in a massive grant payment to various golf bodies The Editor and Publishers do no necessarily industry, the greenkeepers appointed Executive Director Mr. agree with the comments and views expressed themselves, the controlling bodies Neil Thomas did not. He was said around the world allocated in this publication and do not accept any £37,500 to form the new responsibility for any personal opinions in golf and those who come under to be moving house to Bingley stated therein. ©Copyright 1987 Golf where his office will be incorp- Association. Greenkeeping. Permission for the reproduction the general heading of - Trade. of features and articles will be favourably All accepted the work involved orated within the headquarters Greenkeepers are expecting considered for non commercial purposes in organising an Association of the Sports Turf Research positive action from their on application to the publisher. could no longer be left to honorary Institute. management committee, with officers regardless of their Cautionary words of advice the priorities of improved status, Published by: dedication and must be the from many quarters warned of better working conditions, an Wharfedale Publications responsibility of a full-time the dangers of rushing into the enhanced training scheme and Limited official. new venture. Advice largely an agreed salary scale reflecting their contribution to the game of P.O. Box 12, Wetherby, The decisions made twelve ignored by its architects, for West Yorkshire LS22 4SR months ago should now be reasons best known to them- golf. So far, all they have received bearing fruit, but greenkeepers selves. are promises. Telephone: (0937) 63181 mm GOLF IN IRELAND, 4 NEWS ROUND-UP_ .4,5,7,11,13 ECHOES FROM THE LONG, NOT SO HOT SUMMER By Fred Hawtree _____ _8,9 WINDSOR SHOW SUPPLEMENT & SHOW GUIDE MAKING COMPOST _15 TRADE DIRECTORY __ _18 SITUATIONS VACANT _19 PREPARING A JOB DESCRIPTION _20 'KEW' READER OFFER _21 TEST FOR 'DACIA DUSTER' 22 'Why is it that all the news Unfortunately the answer was that comes out of Northern not far from the truth, but one Ireland is bad?' cannot do more than express sorrow that so much of the better This was the question put to facets of life in the province does f writing colleagues over not receive the publicity it should NEWS ROUND-UP linner in the magnificent club and that certainly goes for golf. house at Royal Portrush. The reception and hospitality PEOPLE, PRODUCTS AND DEVELOPMENTS 'Because that is what the enjoyed over a long weekend at English want to read', was Royal Portrush and the nearby IN THE GOLF COURSE INDUSTRY the reply. Portstewart Golf Clubs could not be faulted and although we were in somewhat of a priviledged position, playing a team match between the golfing scribes of Northern Ireland - A Golfing Paradise Yorkshire and our counterparts from the Belfast press the reaction of others from the mainland to the golfing delights of County Antrim confirmed similar feelings. The Northern Ireland Tourist Board have what must be one of the hardest jobs in the world to convince people that Ireland is the place to go for a golfing holiday. What must be even more frustrating, is the fact, they have a product that is quite superb. Royal Portrush, regarded as one of the top courses in the British Isles hosted the Open Championship in 1951. It is the only course in Ireland to have done so and fittingly, was won by Max Faulkner. If ever a links The pictures of Royal Portrush Golf Club was worthy of staging the event (front cove' and this page) have been provided by courtesy of the Northern again.it must be here, but sadly, Ireland Tourist Board. Continued page 5 Do you think of Watermation as Europe's leading TURF IRRIGATION CONTRACTOR the one with systems in all the best places? Quite right — WE ARE Did you also know we are now Europe's leading MANUFACTURER OF TURF IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT? Right again — WE ARE No need to look any further, we can provide you with everything you need for your turf irrigation. See our new quality equipment on Stand G23-25 at the I.O.G. Show at Windsor, or telephone us on Woking (04862) 70303 or 21009 for our catalogue WATERMATION LTD., Monument Way E, Woking, Surrey GU21 5LY. Telex 859224 FLEXON G. Telephone Woking (04862) 70303/21009 or Stirling (0786) 70252, or Dublin (0001) 760964 or Paris (010 331) 47 06 0419 the ugly side of politics must One of the leading members, forbid any such consideration in Bill Hawthorn of Watermation Ltd. most of our lifetimes. has commented. Laid out by Harry Colt in its present form it was described by The horrific accident to Eric Bernard Darwin a golf writer who Green, Head Green keeper at stands tall even in the company of Woodcote Park Golf Club men such as Henry Longhurst, resulting in facial injury 'as a monument to Mr. H. S. Colt, occurred because of a more enduring than brass'. failure of the plastic nipple Every hole is a challenge, underneath the manual even those that seem reachable hydrant. Failures of this with no more than a good drive nature are not uncommon if and a pitching wedge to the this method of installation is putting surface. The famous used. For this reason many 5th-hole is a case in point. years ago Watermation It was here the ravages of the devised a different method Atlantic Ocean undermined the of mounting valve assem- cliff face and the green almost blies at the greens having fell into the sea. Members and the hydrant supported on a golf lovers the world over metal nipple attached to a rallied round and raised sufficient robust metal tee, in order to money to build a retaining wall withstand the mechanical to hold the green in place. loads which inevitably are The Dunluce Course, better placed upon the hydrant known of the two at Portrush when hoses are attached. (the other is the Valley) is the Toro, whose General Manager favourite of Fred Daly, the only Peter Roberts is Chairman of other Open Champion from the Association, has recently Ireland. He was born at Portrush published a guide entitled and though now in his seventies The Thinking Man's Guide to is still a far better than average Golf Course Watering', a player.