From tomorrow, I along with my colleagues from TurfPro and Service Dealer magazines will be attending the popular BTME show in Harrogate.
I always really enjoy BTME. It comes at the start of the new year and provides the perfect opportunity to meet up with fellow professionals, friends and colleagues that I have known for many years.
The show itself features a mix of exhibition, Continue to Learn education, conferences and networking opportunities. The last edition saw nearly 9,000 turf managers, golf club owners, managers and industry decision-makers visit the Harrogate Convention Centre.
The exhibition covers everything from artificial grass to course furniture, irrigation to fertilisers and, of course, a plethora of machinery products.
The golf industry is changing faster than ever with new rules, new technology and new challenges posed by the economy and our changing climate. BTME provides BIGGA members and the entire golf and sportsturf industries with the tools and information they might need to overcome challenges faced in 2026.
One highlight this year will be Campey Turf Care celebrating 40 years of trading. Founded by Richard Campey in 1986 with a focus on practical, innovative turf care machinery, many of the products he has brought to market have revolutionised the way we renovate and maintain sports pitches. I am looking forward to catching up with Richard and the Campey team on their stand at the show.
Harrogate is without doubt one of the best conference and exhibition centres in the UK. I personally enjoy the after-show socialising in all the fine restaurants and pubs around the town. Let’s hope the weather is kind and not to bleak for travelling to the show.
Regarding weather, we finally had some severe weather warnings recently that resulted in heavy, rain, and snow in many parts of the country.
Many lower-level sports fixtures were affected by the weather, with cancellations and postponements - even though most professional football stadiums have all the appropriate facilities, such as undersoil heating, sub air, lighting rigs, covers etc. The chances of a modern grass pitch being affected by the weather is minimal. It is more likely that the fixture will be cancelled due to the conditions of the road and travel networks that bring the supporters to the ground.
Heavy snow on golf courses is a different matter. Snow bound golf courses are generally closed until the frost and snow has disappeared. Which in recent years has not really lasted more than a couple of weeks.
I have written an article regarding getting the game on in a recent edition of TurfPro, along with another one on frost and snow management.
There also a good article on Brian Sandal's Turfcare Blog talking about frost on sports pitches.
Finally Mark Hunt’s Weather Blog is always a good read.
As always, the weather is major driving factor in how we manage and maintain our sports facilities at all times of the year. It’s one of the many variables that makes our sports turf industry such a challenging one in which to work.
