March 2022 A welcome back to Harrogate
The Grove, Hertfordshire’s ultimate country escape, has been awarded GEO Certified status, for commitment and efforts to achieve the credible international standard for sustainable golf course operation.
Celebrate achievements of BIGGA members on opening night of BTME 2022 The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) is proud to reveal that AMS Robotics has become lead sponsor of the BIGGA Welcome Celebration, taking place on the opening night of BTME 2022. The BI GGA W e l c o me Celebration takes place on Tuesday 22 March at 5.30pm. At the event BIGGA will announce:
• The winners of the BIGGA Awards 2022 • The winner of the Innovation and Thought Leadership Award sponsored by Campey Turf Care Solutions. BIGGA will also recognise the: BIGGA Annual Photographic Competition winner; BIGGA’s latest Life Members; CPD achievers; and Master
Greenkeepers. BIGGA will introduce the BIGGA president and BIGGA Vice President for 2022. BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton said: “The BIGGA Welcome Celebration is the one event of the year where every BIGGA member can join us to recognise all the hard work that has been done across the association. It’s free to attend so you don’t need an invitation and there’ll also
be all necessary COVID safety measures in place. “All we ask is that you come along and celebrate everything we have overcome since the last time we were together in January 2020. The world has changed, but let’s use this as an opportunity to announce that we are back and better than ever.” BIGGA
Enquiry 47
GEO Certification is assured by GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf– the not-forprofit organisation dedicated to delivering programmes that help people on the ground to evaluate, improve and credibly communicate their sustainability work. GEO Certified is the symbol of a great golf environment, confirming that the Troonmanaged facility satisfies all the certification criteria; meeting a credible standard in the areas of nature, resources, climate and community, and is committed to continual improvement.
BTME 2022 Preview The return of BIGGA’s flagship event Pages 18-21
The Grove’s certification process was led by Golf Course and Estate Manager, Phillip Chiverton, Head Greenkeeper, Sam Reid, and Head Gardener, Natasha Geldenhuys.
Football Foundation signs up new Official Fans The Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation has announced that John Ledwidge, Head of Sports Turf and Grounds at Leicester City Football Club, and Karl Standley, Wembley Stadium Grounds Manager, have joined the team as Official Fans. John and Karl are responsible for the maintenance of two of the highest profile grass pitches in England.
They join the UK’s biggest sport’s charity to support its mission to revolutionise the quality of grass pitches across the country, helping the Foundation to deliver 20,000 ‘good’ quality grass pitches in the next 10 years. To help make this ambition a reality, the Football Foundation has developed ‘PitchPower’; a game-changing web app that gives every community football club and organisation
in the country the ability to carry out their own grass pitch inspections and open up funding opportunities and free resources to help improve their grass pitch. Football Foundation CEO Robert Sullivan comments: “Around 87% of affiliated football is played on grass pitches, yet the quality of grass football pitches is a huge issue for community football in England with over 150,000 matches being called
off in the last full season due to unplayable pitches. “With John and Karl on board, and the expertise they each bring, more clubs and organisations will be encouraged to improve the quality of their grass pitches and thanks to PitchPower, they will have the tools they need to do so.” Football Foundation Enquiry 48
READER ENQUIRY 49
Ride-on Mowers Jane Carley looks at how technology is driving the market Pages 25-29