The sustainable treatment of turf using integrated pest and disease management is high on the agenda at this year’s STRI research event in Yorkshire on 21 and 22 September. And underlining its commitment to environmental best practice, is Bayer, who will showcase two new solutions that promise to ensure more responsible use of chemicals. The…

The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association has announced the launch of a new scholarship in conjunction with BIGGA Partner, ICL. The ICL Continue to Learn Scholarship will offer five BIGGA members the opportunity to attend the Continue to Learn education programme that will be held at BTME 2017. Sami Strutt, BIGGA’s Head of Member…

Doug McGeoch, owner of McGeoch’s Gardening Services, is the proud and first new owner of a range of Pellenc battery powered tools on the Isle of Wight. Over the past two years Etesia UK, the exclusive UK distributor of Pellenc, has reported a dramatic increase in Pellenc sales with over 50 dealers now stocking the…

Elliot Wilson is this year’s recipient of the Ransomes Jacobsen-sponsored Higher Education Sportsturf Award after completing a degree in BSc (Hons) Sportsturf Science and Management at Myerscough College in Preston. After three years of study and a seasonal position at St Andrews Links, Elliot graduated this summer with a first-class degree, leading course tutors to…

The Bridge Trust Society owns a rather unusual 7½ acre triangular sports ground bound by live railway lines on each of the three sides! The society was created in 1878 for former pupils of the now Handsworth Grammar School and Honorary Secretary, and former pupil, Philip Swann (70) is responsible for the maintenance. He is…

EcoBunker, in partnership with IVI Golf, is proud to be involved with the restoration at Greenbrier, supplying the material and expertise for phase one which will help make 40 of the most seriously affected bunkers far more resilient. Work starts this month. “The recent tragedy earlier this year at The Greenbrier Resort, West Virginia, where…

SALTEX 2016’s all-encompassing and free-to-attend LEARNING LIVE programme is set to explore what impact leaving the European Union will have on the industry, when the exhibition opens its doors at the NEC, Birmingham on November 2-3. Designed to cater to all greenkeepers, LEARNING LIVE will play a major role at SALTEX and will offer an…

The education director of the Greenkeepers Training Committee (GTC), David Golding, has retired from his role after 50 years in the industry. Leading the tributes to him was GTC chair Donald Steel (pictured left, with Golding right), who said: “Sad that David has saddled up his horse ready to ride off into the sunset even…

The turfcare activities of one of the biggest companies in the UK golf club industry, Lely, have been sold to major Dutch company Royal Reesink. Royal Reesink has completed the acquisition of Lely’s turfcare activities of Lely for Ireland and Denmark as well as the UK, which mainly comprise the distribution of Toro machines for…

Britain’s two biggest golf course management organisations have said the UK’s decision to vote for ‘Brexit’ will impact the trade. The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), which has around 5,700 greenkeepers and turf professionals as members, has said the decision for the UK to leave the European Union means there will be a…

Swan Golf Designs (SGD), a leading golf course architecture firm with more than 25 years’ experience, is returning to the ‘Home of Golf’ to begin long-term renovations at both Dunfermline and Moray golf clubs. Following extensive and comprehensive audits of the courses at both historic Scottish venues, SGD has reviewed the analysis and recommendations given…

Hard on the heels of Branston Golf Club’s £100,000 investment in new high performance golf course maintenance machinery comes the recruitment of three young greenkeepers joining Gavin Robson’s talented team of professionals who are set to develop two new short game practice greens and a putting green alongside the attractive wooded entrance to the club.…

Outdoor working demonstrations will return to the major turf management event, the SALTEX exhibition, later this year. SALTEX used to be hosted outside but last year, for the first time, it was held inside at the NEC in Birmingham It will be located there again this year, on November 2-3, and the decision to bring…

One of the world’s oldest golf clubs has undertaken an unprecedented project to return its famous layout to the original specifications in time for its 200th anniversary. Scotscraig Golf Club, which was founded in 1817, is the world’s 13th oldest golf club and boasts an 18-hole championship course originally laid out by James Braid. The…

Organisers of SALTEX 2016, which is being held on November 2 and 3 at the NEC, Birmingham, have launched a new photo competition in which one winner will receive two VIP tickets to SALTEX and the IOG Industry Awards, plus overnight accommodation. The competition is open to any greenkeeper. It might be a photo of…

Two golf clubs in Dundee have made a plea to local dog owners to do more to stop their animals causing damage to their greens. Caird Park and Camperdown golf clubs are both run by Leisure and Culture Dundee, and its golf manager, Philip Harrison, has said the problem has been getting worse. Local dog…

Jonathan Henry has been appointed the new managing director of John Deere in the UK and Ireland. He takes over the role next month from Antony Scott, who has elected to retire after 40 years of distinguished service with the company. Jonathan Henry joined John Deere as a management trainee in July 1993, following an HND…

A golf course owner has said he nearly had to spend thousands of pounds redesigning his course to make it safer – but discovered that nearby ‘wayward balls’ had actually been dropped by birds. Neil Sjoberg from Epping GC said that birds’ confusion between golf balls and eggs may have resulted in some venues spending…

Wentworth Club has appointed Gary Player Design to carry out the renovation of its Edinburgh Course as part of the multi-million pound investment programme being undertaken by the club. Player’s involvement will mark a continuation of his long association with the club, dating back to his 1965 World Match Play victory at Wentworth, and his…

The Oaks Mollington in Chester, which was host to the PGA EuroPro Tour in 2005 and 2006, has closed down. The club, which was a popular wedding venue, was established in 1999, but struggled financially in recent years and in 2013 was rescued from receivers. Its local newspaper, The Chester Chronicle, stated: ‘while the club…