This week I thought I cover a few issues that are currently prominent in our industry.

I’ll begin with the recent publication of BIGGA's survey that we featured last week in TurfPro.

The results offer some startling facts about the state of golf in terms of the welfare and wellbeing of greenkeeping staff. Especially worrying is the finding that 1-in-3 greenkeepers are looking to leave the industry.

I recently had a conversation with BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton at a Campey open day where he expressed his concerns. He said the golf sector was indeed aware of the current situation and is working hard to rectify and find ways to retain current disgruntled greenkeepers. At the same time they want to find a way of encouraging and recruiting the next generation of greenkeepers into the industry.

He said BIGGA are fully aware of the issues that are driving greenkeepers away from the industry, that are in general, poor pay (especially considering the unsociable and often long hours they work), poor working conditions in respect of messroom facilities, workshop facilities that are lacking and quite often not being treated with the respect they deserve.

I have personally seen this at golf clubs I’ve visited. Some mess rooms and workshop facilities I’ve seen are really not fit for purpose. I often wonder if any of the club members or indeed the greens committee members, are even aware of the poor facilities they expect their staff to work in. Maybe things might change if greens chairpeople and secretaries were expected to work in conditions like these?

However, one of the biggest factors for myself as an ex-greenkeeper, is that the majority of golfing members don’t see or realise the pressures their geenkeeping staff are under to produce the playing surfaces they demand on a daily basis, come rain and shine. They are often only seen as grass cutters with no real understanding of what skills and experiences are required to maintain their beloved golf course - and as usual they are the first to moan if they have a poor game of golf!

Also for me, many golf courses are running well under staffed and expect a team of 3-4 to be able to produce a golf course that resembles a top premier course like Wentworth, The Belfry or Celtic Manor. I have mentioned it before, to obtain those levels you would need a staff of  at least seven or eight, along with the appropriate investment in machinery and materials to achieve and deliver those standards of presentation and performance.

Whilst on recruitment, it is not just golf, it is across our whole sport turf industry that we are seeing a decline in young people coming into the sector. Again, generally due to low pay and the fact that many youngsters are not prepared to work long hours. As we have said on numerous occasions you can earn more money stacking shelves or driving a white van.

Recruitment will be a key issue going forward. Raising pay scales and improving working conditions will be a necessary initiative if we want to encourage the next generation to come and work in our diverse industry. 

We also need a national campaign, with both BIGGA and the GMA working with leading manufacturers and businesses to address this problem. We need to go into schools and talk about the opportunities and experiences that can be gained by coming into this industry. We need to completely change the culture of being classed as low paid workers who only cut grass.

Irrigation

As we all know, we are currently experiencing one of the hottest summers since records began, with air and soil temperatures at an all-time high – topping 40 degrees for the first time last Tuesday.

This prolonged spell of hot weather has certainly affected our natural grass playing surfaces. Increasing the need to irrigate to keep the grass alive, I am not sure how long it will be before we start hearing calls for a ban on watering. A number of water boards are now considering bringing in hosepipe bans to protect the amount of water they have, as many reservoirs are now very low.

A hosepipe ban can be put in place by any organisation responsible for water provision to households across the UK. As different regions are supplied by different providers, this means that one area of the country can have a ban in place, while others are free to continue using their hoses without restrictions.

The ban itself covers ‘non-essential’ water use. This includes using hosepipes to water gardens, wash cars, fill swimming pools, fountains, or ponds, and clean windows, pathways, and outdoor decking. The water provider can extend the ban to all of these activities or limit to a certain few. On announcing the ban, water providers should detail which activities are banned and the precise time at which the ban will come into effect. 

With hosepipe bans, the emphasis is on reducing water consumption to ensure that demand can be met. This means limiting waste and reducing the amount of water used for non-essential purposes. 

Hosepipe bans are legally enforceable, and breach of the ban conditions can carry hefty penalties. Those caught breaking the ban can be fined up to £1000. However, the likelihood of being fined for a breach varies from area to area, depending on the attitude of the local authorities and water providers. 

Green Flag Awards

And finally, I have been invited to attend one of this year’s Green Flag Awards ceremonies at The Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. With over 2000 parks being judged it will be interesting to meet up with many of this year’s winners. I personally have judged several parks and public open spaces in the Midlands and enjoyed meeting all those involved in maintaining these important assets.

We often take for granted these wonderful facilities that are on our doorstep. We should at every opportunity praise and raise the profile of these sites and more importantly push for government to make parks a statutory service.