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One-in-three greenkeepers looking for work outside of golf – BIGGA releases results of major survey that details life at the UK’s golf facilities in 2022

The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has issued the results of a major industry survey, with some of the findings representing a stark warning to the golfing industry.

More than 1,300 members of BIGGA, representing golf clubs across the United Kingdom, responded to the survey, which asked them to provide details of working conditions at their facilities, in addition to commenting on their job satisfaction.

With talk of difficulties regarding the recruitment and retention of staff common, BIGGA undertook the survey to gain solid evidence of the challenges at UK golf clubs, and the results have raised a number of concerns.

Although 56% of respondents said they were happy working within the greenkeeping profession, 35% admitted they were currently looking for opportunities outside the industry.

With regard to issues of recruitment, 53% are running with teams at less than full strength, while 83.5% said they struggle to recruit new staff.

The boom in golf that followed the coronavirus lockdowns in the past two years has translated to a general increase in staffing numbers, with golf clubs having on average one extra full time greenkeeper compared to the previous poll in 2019.

However, investment in staff welfare facilities hasn’t materialised, with, for example, only one in five facilities offering single sex changing facilities and toilets for female team members. Despite increased reliance on technology, nearly half of clubs don’t provide internet connectivity within the greenkeeping facility.

Further details and a results breakdown is available on the BIGGA website at: https://www.bigga.org.uk/news-listing/greenkeepers-bigga-workforce-survey.html

BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton said: “I’m pleased to be able to present robust data to the wider golfing industry that lays bare some fairly frightening statistics on the challenges that exist within our profession.

“We know anecdotally that there are major challenges regarding the recruitment and retention of staff and also that pay, conditions and welfare are major contributors, but to see in black and white that nearly 35% of greenkeepers are looking for work outside the industry is truly a concern.

“Equally, finding out that only one in five facilities are equipped for female staff members shows that the sport’s laudable ambitions to improve equality and diversity are not translating into our side of the game.

“But the key question is what does the game of golf does with this information? It is widely known that there is currently a general challenge in recruiting and retaining staff across society. In order to continue functioning, many sectors have responded with significant pay increases and improvement in working conditions. Golf requires an integrated approach by the entire sport to overcome the challenges laid out by this survey. This approach will need to clearly lay out the challenges, create targets and devise plans to achieve our ambitions.”

NewsJul 13th, 20220 comments

New Syngenta Turf App puts essential information in your hand

The new Syngenta Turf App now includes a host of added features to help with everyday turf management decisions and enhance long-term planning.

Features for the new Syngenta Turf App include:

• Disease & Pest ID Guide
• Treatment recommendations
• Product information
• Tank-mix calculator
• Application records
• Support contacts

Launching the new Syngenta Turf App at the Turf Science Live event (8 July), the company’s Commercial Head for UK and Europe North West, Daniel Lightfoot, said: “It’s incredibly valuable to have all the information required to help make key management decisions readily to hand wherever you are.

“From a practical course managers perspective, the Turf App is a hugely beneficial tool for all spray applications and turf management decisions.”

A new Disease & Pest ID Guide provide a clear pictorial view of what to look out for, along with management notes of where and when problems are most likely to occur. It includes an in-depth strategy for the optimum Integrated Turf Management approach to each pest and disease.

Coupled to the ID Guide, users can simply select the target disease or pest for a full list of approved Syngenta control products.

Within each of the product listings, there are full details of statutory labels, safety data sheets and technical guides, to ensure operators are always fully compliant with the latest regulatory information on product use.

“It ensures operators always have access to the most up-to-date information instantly in their hand, wherever they are working,” reported Daniel. “The labels displayed on your phone are always clean and uncontaminated, compared to potentially handling old labels on part-used bottles in the store.”

Application records created in the Turf App enable full spray records to be quickly and simply created. Users can now add any company’s products into the system, including fertilisers and biocontrols, for example. Once any product details have been added, they remain available for future addition or reference.

“Course managers or agronomists can create spray recommendations using the Turf App that can be emailed to sprayer operators or contractors. That eliminates the chance of error from misreading hand-written sheets or instructions,” he advised.

Operators can also access information and update details of any application direct, if they are logged into the course account.

One-time registration enables users to input all their facility details, spray areas, equipment and operators – which can be instantly imported into spray records – making them quick and accurate to complete.

The app’s innovative Tank-mix Calculator will help operators complete the applications efficiently and accurately, by providing the amount of any products required to spray a given area and the appropriate water volume, along with advice on nozzle selection and sprayer set up.

“The fact that the spray records retained in the Turf App are allied to the label and product information within the system, alleviates the need to keep paper copies of labels in the office and ensures they are legally compliant.

“Digital tools have made a huge advance in supporting the skills and experience of turf managers,” highlighted Daniel. “Once you start to couple together the Turf App, with tools such as WeatherPro forecasting and the Primo Maxx II Growing Degree Day Calculator, for example, it creates a really powerful and practical integrated decision support package,” he added.

The new Syngenta Turf App is available free to download from the iStore or GooglePlay for Apple or android phone and tablet devices.

For more information visit www.syngentaturf.co.uk

NewsJul 13th, 20220 comments

St Andrews- The Greenkeeper’s Tale

In his first book, Gordon Moir, the author and former Director of Greenkeeping of St Andrews Links, tells the inside story of managing the Home of Golf and shares the story of the day-to-day workings on the huge complex, noting the highs and lows, challenges, and ultimately the rewards of being in charge.

He touches on his biggest and recurring challenge, which was preparing the Links for three Open Championships. Offering a glimpse behind the scenes during these Opens, St Andrews – The Greenkeeper’s Tale while being factual, is a light- hearted read with colourful anecdotes involving the game’s great legends and many others in the world of golf. As public courses, owned by the citizens, local golfing politics were never dull, and there are many memorable moments on and off the courses.

NewsJul 8th, 20220 comments

Forward-thinking Golf Architects Sign Historic Pledge

NewsJul 8th, 20220 comments

Rain Bird Rotors for Community Putting Green at Marlay Park

Rain Bird has donated a number of Rain Bird 950 Series rotors, suitable nozzles and adaptors for irrigating the new Marlay Park Putting Green in Dublin, Ireland, opening later this summer.

This brand-new community facility is located in a suburban public park five miles from the centre of Dublin, close to where Pádraig Harrington grew up and lives today. Inspired by his lifelong desire to introduce the game to people of all ages and backgrounds, the new 3,000 square metre green provides a setting where children and families can meet.

The project is being funded by the Pádraig Harrington Charitable Foundation with a golf development grant from the R&A and a grant from Golf Ireland, supported by Sport Ireland’s special projects scheme. Constructed by Atlantic Golf Construction in an ecologically sustainable way in partnership with Turfgrass and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, many other organisations and businesses in the industry have also supported the project.

“We are delighted that Rain Bird has supported Pádraig’s Marlay Park project,” said Julian Mooney, Director of Agronomy at Turfgrass. “It is important to us to work with partners who not only share our commitment to water conservation and the environment but also support our mission to consistently deliver best-in-class playing conditions”.

Pádraig assisted in the design of the putting green, making numerous site visits during construction. Born in Dublin, the three-time major champion is one of the world’s top golfers with a career total of 31 victories around the world. He continues to compete at the elite level and achieved the great distinction of been appointed Captain of the European team for the 2020 Ryder Cup, which took place at Whistling Straits last year.

Pádraig established the Pádraig Harrington Charitable Foundation in 2004 to provide financial assistance to deserving beneficiaries throughout Ireland and the rest of the world.

NewsJul 8th, 20220 comments

Campey Celebrates Official Opening of New Bosley Branch

NewsJul 6th, 20220 comments