FEGGA Take Development Roadshow to Bulgaria

n 11th of November 2016 the FEGGA Development Roadshow was held at Black Sea Rama Golf & Villas Resort in Bulgaria. This event was organised in partnership with R&A. The golf course is a Gary Player design and was opened in 2010.

The Bulgarian Golf Greenkeepers Association is engaging and showing very good progress in offering a variety of educational seminars throughout the year. The support by FEGGA proves in no doubt that the BGGA is going in the right direction.

There was significant interest in this event. The members were having very high expectations. The hospitality of the golf club and the staff was remarkable and everybody enjoyed the one day event.

The lecturers were very well chosen in consultation with the BGGA, with excellent feedback coming from the members, saying “this is what we needed to hear today” and “great gathering of information” which only confirms the success of the Roadshow.

We had Wendy Cole (R&A) talking about their Scholarship Programs. This was very well accepted among the members as finding these opportunities and cost is not only a problem in Bulgaria. Some of our members have already asked and made the first approach for such programs.
We had Dean Cleaver (FEGGA) talking about Personal Development. An area of management that is vital for all greenkeepers if they are looking to become the managers of the future

Kate Entwistle (Turf Disease Centre) presented a lecture on fungus and nematodes which was very valuable and full of illustrative information. The topic for the nematodes was more than interesting as there is almost no information in Bulgaria on this subject.

The chairman of BGGA has shared his experience of visiting the Swedish Greenkeepers Association seminar in June 2016 and the Nordea Master Tournament at the same time at the Bro Hof Slott Golf Club.

The FEGGA international Greenkeeper Experience program has started this year with the assistant superintendent of Pravets Golf Club and BGGA member – Hristo Hristov participating. Hristo spent 3 weeks at Minchinhampton Golf Club and had a variety of other visits, meetings and gathered a lot of work experience. That was very inspirable for all the members who showed a great interest and willingness to be the next ones.

The interaction in the breaks of the presentations made the conference very successful. The members were more than happy with what they saw, heard and took back home. The different topics and possibilities in front of everyone in term of education, individual development and opportunities changed the common thinking among the members. The more knowledge gained from Kate Entwistle was just enormous benefit for everyone in the turf industry.

Dean Cleaver, Executive Officer said, “it’s a great pleasure for us to be working with and providing assistance to the BGGA in their future development. They are totally committed to the development of greenkeeping as a profession, and truly realise the benefits this brings to golf and the golfers that enjoy this great game”.

The Bulgarian Golf Greenkeepers Association can easily mark the passing of 2016, as a year of greatness in terms of the offered education seminars. BGGA showed progress by declaring to be the teaching body for the turf industry in Bulgaria. The support of FEGGA (not only for this Roadshow) and the partnership with other Associations and golf clubs prove how things will go forward for the BGGA. As the chairman of this small Association I am looking forward to 2017 and making it remarkable for everyone in terms of education in what will be our 10th year anniversary.

Yavor Atanasov – Chairman – BGGA

NewsDec 1st, 20160 comments