BTME review

Protect greenkeepers is message sent home after BTME 2022

BTME the annual education conference and exhibition for greenkeepers opened its doors once again in late March, after having to postpone its usual January dates due to the Omicron variant of Covid. The Harrogate conference organised by the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) saw 2,577 unique visitors attend the trade show. Although this represented a drop of around 40% on the 2020 event, the organisers says that over 70% of the visitors to the show were senior ‘decision makers’, such as course managers and head greenkeepers.

Even thought numbers were down, the event was enjoyed by those in attendance with many exhibitors reporting valuable business done, as echoed by Jimmy Sandison Regional Golf Sales Manager at Rainbird who was there to introduce CIRRUSPRO, Rain Bird’s new Central Control platform.

“Whilst the visitor numbers were perhaps lower than what we would usually expect for BTME the quality and value of your visits were high,” he said soon after the event.

A common topic of discussion in the conference halls was the challenges currently facing the industry, as noted by BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton.

“When the pandemic hit, the industry came together to form a ‘wartime cabinet’ that supported the game through extremis,” he says. “With fewer high-profile crises facing the sport, the emergency footing has abated. However, there remain a number of serious challenges, such as the supply chain issues for machinery and equipment and the cost and availability of water, fuel and raw materials such as fertilisers and sands. The labour crisis is another major issue that we simply must address to keep the sport healthy.

“For many years the main focus of the game has been growing the number of people playing golf. The pandemic effectively gave us 2 million extra golfers in the UK and that has brought significant additional revenue into the game. It’s now time for clubs to focus on the importance of their workforce, without whom the sport would wither on the vine.

And now as the UK golfing industry prepares itself for another bumper summer, Jim issued a rallying cry at BTME for the game to reinvest in golf club staff who make the game possible.

“The success of this year’s Continue to Learn education programme at BTME has proved once again that BIGGA members continue to rise to the challenge that managing a golf course in the 21st Century brings. Today’s greenkeepers are better educated than ever before, overcoming the challenges they face each day to present stunning golf courses for their members to enjoy. Greenkeepers have held up their end of the bargain and now it is time for the golf industry to do the same,” he says.

Among key areas of concern for Jim and the BIGGA team are the conditions that greenkeepers are expected

to work in. While some forward-thinking clubs now provided modern, clean and comfortable facilities for their greenkeeping teams, many still force their team to use outdated facilities that are no longer fit for purpose.

Other significant areas of concern are salaries, particularly for entry level staff and those making their way through the ranks. Additionally, the incredibly high expectations placed upon greenkeepers to present golf courses despite the often limited resources made available to them, which can cause significant stress and mental health problems.

“Greenkeeping is a wonderful profession with many physical and mental health benefits and a wide range of career opportunities. It’s time for golf clubs to put their staff first, invest in their wellbeing and for a framework to be put in place that ensures every facility in the country treats their staff in a respectful and appropriate manner,” concludes Jim.

BIGGA awards 2022

The BIGGA and Campey Turf Care Systems Excellence in Communications Awards BTME 2022 recognise greenkeepers who have embraced communication as a vital tool available to the modern turf professional, helping to improve understanding and appreciation of the greenkeeping industry among the public or sharing ideas and best practice for the turf management community.

Three award categories were up for grabs at this year’s BTME as follows:

The Innovation and Thought Leadership Award

for the most thought-provoking article for BIGGA’s membership journal, Greenkeeper International. Prestonfield Golf Club’s course manager Shaun Cunningham took home the award for his feature on outof-play areas and whether a golfer’s enjoyment of a golf course depended as much upon the wider environment and landscape as it did the playing surfaces.

The New Media Award is given to a BIGGA member who has embraced the possibilities of digital media to raise understanding of what goes on behind-thescenes at a golf course. This year John Rowbottom, greenkeeper at Woolley Park Golf Club in Barnsley, was awarded for keeping his followers amused with his entertaining look at life at this West Yorkshire golf club. One video of the greens team preparing a bunker was viewed over 23 million times.

The Outreach Award which recognises those BIGGA members who have taken their message beyond the normal work boundaries. This can be to the local community, schools or environmental groups. This year’s winner is John Milne, head greenkeeper at Garmouth & Kingston Golf Club. John has presented in schools and at careers events to raise awareness of life at the golf club. He also invites students to the golf course to show how golf facilities can be beneficial for the natural environment.