Training is of course the lifeblood of any industry.

Firstly to attract new recruits into an industry in the first place an apprenticeship or training structure needs to be in place to reassure those new to the game that they will be guided and helped through their early days. How can any workplace expect young people to be interested in joining them if there’s a lack of support or a means to advance visible to them?

Then once a recruit is established, there needs to be a means to continually learn more and develop new skills - with the aim to take on more responsibilities. If there’s a clear path to bettering oneself and for making progress in an industry, the retention of staff will be so much easier.

Therefore it’s good to hear about schemes such as BIGGA and Jacobsen's Future Turf Managers' Initiative which is returning for 2018.

Since being launched in the UK in 2013, BIGGA and Jacobsen boast that FTMI has grown into a global success story, with initiatives also being launched in Spain, Portugal, Australia and New Zealand.

The scheme has been designed by the Association and manufacturer for greenkeepers who wish to make the step up to head greenkeeper or course manager.

Jack Hetherington is a FTMI graduate who has recently been promoted to course manager at Alnwick GC. In a statement praising the scheme he’s quoted as saying, "I applied for FTMI to gain the tools and understanding to help me become a course manager.

"FTMI is perfectly tailored towards advancing careers. Industry leaders helping to create their future successors is a trait running deep in our profession that we should be proud of. I would highly recommend FTMI to anyone looking to improve both themselves and their skills."

The scheme is a three-day event which takes place in March each year at Jacobsen’s European manufacturing facility in Ipswich. Twenty delegates will be chosen to take part in the initiative.

Over the course of three days, delegates are given presentations and training sessions from industry professionals on topics including: leadership skills, interview techniques, communication skills, crucial conversations, CV writing skills, and creating budgets.

BIGGA Head of Member Development Sami Strutt said: "BIGGA and Jacobsen recognise the importance of preparing the next generation of greenkeepers to take on the role of head greenkeeper or course manager. FTMI has been designed to give practical tools and guidance to help the delegates to pursue their career aspirations through this professional course."

Another quote given by a graduate of the scheme couldn’t sing its praises higher. Ricky James, deputy course manager at Welwyn Garden City GC, said, “FTMI cannot have its value put into words, but here goes . . . It is the single most beneficial opportunity I have experienced.”

The organisers must be delighted to receive praise such as that. And one has to say if that’s how people who have taken the course are reacting to it, the industry should be proud that the scheme is available to those who qualify.

To be eligible for the initiative you must have at least three years' experience working full time as a greenskeeper. An application form must be completed and submitted online. You will be required to submit a copy of your CV with the application. Also a nominator or application supporter will be required to endorse anyone who chooses to go for it.

If you think the scheme sounds like it's for you, you can find more details and how to apply by clicking here.

Sheffield engineering specialist SCX has been selected as the Retractable Pitch Supplier for the ground-breaking new stadium of Tottenham Hotspur.

The company’s expertise is being harnessed to produce a grass pitch that sits directly above an artificial surface, making the Premier League club’s stadium the first of its kind in the UK to have two pitches inside the same bowl in order to create a truly multi-use venue.

The fully retractable grass surface will be used for football matches whilst the artificial pitch underneath will be used for NFL matches, music concerts and a range of other events, in order to protect the integrity of both playing surfaces.

Last week Spurs released the below video showing how the new surface would work.

A selection of the best student greenkeepers in the country are taking part finals of the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards.

The awards are happening at BIGGA House, near York, today (Monday 11th) and tomorrow (Tuesday 12th), with the winners being announced on Tuesday afternoon.


Last year's winners Dan Waring and Jimmy Heritage

You can follow the students’ progress during the finals on Twitter by following @BIGGALtd and using the hashtags #studentgreenkeeperaward and #youngstudentgreenkeeperaward.

Once again there will be two awards up for grabs: the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award and the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award, returning for its second year.

The awards enable BIGGA, sponsors Toro and its distributor Reesink Turfcare, to celebrate those talented student greenkeepers who are dedicating themselves to a career within the industry. Of the 19 previous winners of the award who remain members of BIGGA, 14 are head greenkeepers or course managers at venues around the country.

Jimmy Heritage, 25, won the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award in 2016. Since then he has been appointed deputy head greenkeeper at Maylands Golf Club in Essex, where he previously worked as a greenkeeper.

Jimmy said: “It’s been hectic and the six months after I won the award absolutely flew by. It’s made a big impact on me in terms of the experiences I have had and the confidence and self-belief that I have gained.

“I was definitely nervous in the buildup to the finals. But I wasn’t expecting to win and I just went there to enjoy the experience. I didn’t put any pressure on myself and when I spoke to the judges I was able to relax.

“To this year’s finalists I would say relax and arrange your thoughts in a sensible manner. Everyone wants to win, but even if you don’t it is still a massive achievement to get to the finals and you should all be incredibly proud.”

These 12 student greenkeepers, featured below, will contest the 29th Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year and 2nd Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year awards.

The Toro Student Greenkeeper finalists are:

• Chloe Gallagher, Ramside Hall Hotel & Golf Club, Durham
• Graham Hastie, Stoneham Golf Club, Southampton
• Levi Pethick, Stoneham Golf Club, Southampton
• Matthew Kitson, Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club, Richmond
• Michael Budd, Westerham Golf Club, Kent
• Nick Machin, Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, Kent

The Toro Young Student Greenkeeper finalists are:

• Angus Roberts, Roxburghe Hotel and Golf Course, Scottish Borders
• Joe Spadaccini, Scraptoft Golf Club, Leicester
• Callum Done, Trump International Golf Links Scotland, Aberdeen
• Christopher Clark, Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, Kent
• Craig Woodman, Bramshaw Golf Club, Hampshire
• Matthew Bowles, Kings Hill Golf Club, Kent

The final begins with candidates joining an industry discussion group hosted by BIGGA Chairman Les Howkins.

The finalists of the two awards will then undertake a variety of tasks, culminating in the awards presentation, which will take place tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday 12 September).

The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year winner will receive a seven-week all expenses paid scholarship, including a six-week residential turf management study course at the University of Massachusetts, a trip to the Golf Industry Show and a visit to the Toro factory.

The Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year will receive a two-week all expenses paid work experience placement at Vidauban Golf Club in the South of France. They will also receive a trip to Continue to Learn at the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition in Harrogate next January and enjoy a five-night package that includes hotel, four days of education, travel and £125 expenses, plus a Toro training voucher.

The runners-up of each award will receive a training package for BTME 2018.

"But he has told his MCC bosses that he doesn't want to continue with the major responsibilities that go with the Lord's role for more than another year."

If Mick Hunt does bow out next year as reported it means he will not be in charge at the Home Of Cricket for the next home Ashes series and for the Word Cup which will take place in 2019.

It will no doubt be a very thorough and wide-ranging process for the MCC to find a replacement to step into Mick's shoes.

Nominations are now open for the 2017 Fields in Trust Awards, the charity's annual showcase of the hard work of green space champions across the UK, with nominations invited in nine separate categories.

This year's Awards ceremony will again be held at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, on the evening of Wednesday 29th November.

A new Award for 2017 will celebrate the efforts of 'Friends of' groups to make their local green space an amazing part of their local community. Friends Group of the Year is open to any 'Friends of' Group in the UK who has been inclusive, creative and effective in support and management of their green space.

Recognising the contributions of individuals to their local green spaces are the Fields in Trust Community Champion and Young Champion Awards. 

The youth variant of the award is supported once again this year by environmental charity Groundwork and is open to UK-based volunteers aged 16 to 24. 

Following a successful national Have a Field Day in July, which saw thousands of people across the country come together to celebrate their local green spaces at hundreds of events, Best Have a Field Day will showcase those events that really had the 'wow factor' and highlighted everything that made the green space so special to the community that uses it.

For green spaces protected with Fields in Trust the awards for Most Improved Site and Best Play Initiative return whilst in a change for 2017 there are Getting Active awards recognising projects who have transformed team sports, individual sports and informal activities on Fields in Trust protected sites.

The UK's Best Park, as voted by YOU! award will open for nominations later this month.

Nominations in each of the nine award categories run until Sunday 22nd October. Those "early birds" who submit their nominations before Friday 29th September will be entered into a draw to win one of three £100 cheques towards travel expenses to Lord's, should their nomination be shortlisted.

For more information download the Nomination Pack.

The Shire London has announced a £250,000 series of upgrades to its facilities over the next two years.

The UK’s only golf course fully designed by Seve Ballesteros will see a series of bunker refurbishments and course remodelling works starting this winter, with additional tee boxes on some of its par 3 holes a priority.


The Shire London

The club’s driving range and extensive short game area will both be improved, and the club’s spectacular putting green - which overlooks the S-shaped lake on the final hole - will be extended.

Elsewhere the experience for both members and visitors to The Shire London will be enhanced with a series of updates to clubhouse, function and player facilities for the 2018 season.

Work will also start soon on refurbishments for the club’s changing rooms.

“Our loyal members have shown enormous faith in us since we opened in summer 2007,” said director Ceri Menai-Davis. “Our responsibility to them is to continuously improve the experience of membership at The Shire London, and this new programme of works will be visible proof of that.

“Seve’s spectacular original course design will always be the main attraction for golfers of course, but we have enjoyed great success with our social events too and our upgraded clubhouse facilities will make them even more special in the future.”

Reesink Turfcare has announced four new Toro finance schemes offering six ways to pay.

Toro Triple Finance and the Buy Now Pay Later scheme offer customers six ways to finance their Toro machinery.


TriFlex 3420

Toro Triple Finance is a firm favourite for Reesink Turfcare customers, offering three different payment options to suit individual budgets and circumstances. Option one involves an interest-free payment in full within year one. Option two offers customers the chance to spread the cost over five annual payments, concluding with a final payment in month 60 equivalent to 15% of the original cost. Option three is another five-year scheme, but with monthly repayments instead of annual, again with a final payment in month 60 equivalent to 15% of the original cost.

Buy Now Pay Later is back, bringing with it three options for interest free payment. Whether you buy in September, October or November, payment is required in full by 7 May 2018.

Jeff Anguige, national sales manager at Reesink Turfcare, says: “The ever-increasing importance of the role of finance in the acquisition of turf machinery is reflected strongly in these finance schemes offering customers six options on how to fill or top-up their shed with new Toro machinery.

“These six options give golf clubs and grounds customers the ability to purchase equipment now and make affordable payments over periods which suit most clubs.”

All deals are available now until 18 November 2017, available to customers in the UK only and subject to acceptance. Those interested in taking up one of the four finance schemes should get in touch with Reesink on 01480 226800 or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk for more details.

The STRI (Sports Turf Research Institute), has recently completed extensive trials of the SISIS Javelin Aer-Aid tractor mounted aerator.

Over a four month period, the trials led by Dr Christian Spring were carried out at the sports turf consultancy’s headquarters in Bingley, West Yorkshire. The research saw three trial plots set-up in which one area examined the effects of the SISIS Javelin Aer-Aid with air injection, one with the Aer-Aid without air injection, while the other plot was left un-treated. In particular, Christian and his team of researchers were looking at how and if the Javelin Aer-Aid had an effect on the hardness of the turf, root depth, water infiltration and disease.

“The SISIS Javelin Aer-Aid was really effective in reducing compaction,” reported Christian. “In measuring the penetration depth, we ran the Aer-Aid over the surface and found that the probe was able to penetrate further into the soil profile, indicating that compaction throughout the entire trial site was significantly less than areas that were left un-treated.

“It became obvious that the Aer-Aid improved maximum root and depth within the soil profile and also had the benefit of increasing the depth of the average rooting mass. The reason or the rationale for this improvement was likely to be a result of the increased air space in the soil profile created by the air injection and the fracturing that resulted from that.”

With 10mm diameter ‘tipped’ tines working at 75mm (3ins) spacing, air is introduced from the Aer-Aid at a rate of 88 litres (3cu.ft.) per minute at 120 PSI. These air injection tines are specially designed to use the maximum air available from the compressor and produces clean, fresh air, while also ensuring that surface disturbance is kept to a minimum. The cam trigger mechanism ensures that the air is always expelled at the bottom of the tine penetration, enabling treatment to be targeted precisely and consistently at desired depth

Well-aerated turf with good drainage and air circulation will experience fewer moisture problems, and during the trials, Christian reported that the plot which had been treated with the Javelin Aer-Aid had been extremely successful in keeping an all too common disease at bay.

“The use of the SISIS Javelin Air-Aid proved beneficial in helping to reduce the conditions in which Microdochium Patch occurred on the trial plots. Plots that were treated with the Aer-Aid, with the air injection switched on, appear to have significantly less disease than the un-treated plots during a period of disease pressure throughout autumn.”

The Aer-Aid can be used all year round on both fine and outfield turf, with its unique feature of moving air uniformly throughout the root zone - not just where the tines have penetrated.

“Overall, the SISIS Javelin Aer-Aid, from the research work we carried out, proved to be a very effective tool in helping to manage the soil profile, creating better rooting, allowing water and air movement through the profile, keeping disease at bay and helping to reduce compaction.

“My personal thoughts on the SISIS Javelin Air Aid, is that it is a very useful tool in any greenkeeper’s or groundsman’s arsenal, to help control and address key agronomic issues.”

Loxston Groundcare is a family firm, run by Peter Loxston and employing ten people. The company is based over two acres just east of Ilminster, at Seavington St Mary, where they enjoy an excellent reputation within the groundcare industry and also offer machine service and repair.

Peter Loxston said, “After extensive research in this market sector, we can confirm that, among other attributes the 30-degree bank capability and shaft driven cutter deck, ensures this machine can safely outperform its competitors”.

Loxston Groundcare specialises in remote mowers and bank mowers, and are also dealers for other commercial mowers, such as John Deere, Kioti, Stiga, AEBI and Reform.

ICB Plant and Machinery Ltd say they are very excited to have them on-board for this new venture.

The countdown to Europe’s largest annual turf management event has officially begun, marked by the opening of online visitor registration.



SALTEX 2017 takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, from 1-2 November, and has already attracted over 250 exhibitors - a number that’s set to grow further in the weeks leading up to the event. Confirmed to return are a number of leading brand names spanning the whole turf management industry including manufacturers and suppliers of world-class products and services for the maintenance of pitches, grounds, landscaping, parks and estates.

SALTEX will also once again boast unique show features such as:

• Learning LIVE - an all-encompassing free-to-attend education programme offering grounds and open space practitioners across all disciplines, volunteer as well as professional, the chance to increase their CPD points.
• Outdoor demonstrations - providing an opportunity to see a number of products in action directly outside the SALTEX halls 6, 7 and 8.
• The SALTEX College Cup - a national student-led sports-turf challenge sponsored by Ransomes.
• Pathology & Soil Science LIVE - allowing visitors to look in detail at the symptoms of some common turfgrass fungal disease problems.
• The Young Groundsmen’s Conference, sponsored by Rigby Taylor and Top Green - an ideal opportunity for young people looking to advance their career in the groundscare industry
• Ask the Expert – free pitchcare advice from the IOG’s team of regional pitch advisors based on the IOG Hub
• The IOG Industry Awards - the UK’s biggest celebration in groundsmanship held on the evening of the first day (1 November) at the National Motorcycle Museum.
• NEW for 2017! The Job Clinic – the chance to receive one-to-one advice from industry expert Frank Newberry on how to progress your career, write a compelling CV and perform well in an interview situation.

Located in the centre of the UK, whether you are travelling from overseas or within the UK, the NEC is incredibly easy to get to by car, rail or air.

SALTEX 2017 is free to attend. To register your attendance and beat the queues visit www.iogsaltex.com

Follow SALTEX on Twitter @IOG_SALTEX and Facebook - www.facebook.com/IOGSALTEX