SPORT IN CRISIS Grassroots is suffering by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR
Sports clubs across the UK have seen a dramatic downturn in income generation during the last year and for some, they may not come out of this crisis unscathed in more ways than one.
There is no doubt that sport has been one of the hardest hit sectors, in terms of lost revenue, throughout this pandemic.
Sports clubs across the UK have seen a dramatic downturn in income generation during the last year and for some, they may not come out of this crisis unscathed in more ways than one.
The Government has tried to help, but they only have limited resources available. It is now down to the clubs to find ways of reinventing themselves and getting back to normal as quickly as possible.
Many of the major sports governing bodies funding streams have also been decimated by the pandemic, with millions of pounds of lost income and many job losses. I fear that this means in the next few years, funding schemes will be at an all-time low, thus leaving many clubs vulnerable and exposed to the threat of closure.
It will be interesting to see how clubs and their sport’s governing bodies cope. Talking to a number of clubs they are all keen to get back to some sort of normality, but not totally sure what the outcomes will be, especially in terms of how many of their members will finally return to active sport. No doubt some will have found other activities and pastimes and may not be able to return to their clubs in the way they did before.
Income decline
Participation for certain sports has been on the wane for a number of years, with many clubs not fielding as many teams as they had done in the past. Also, many members are not spending as much over the bar.
Bowls is a prime example of a sport struggling and experiencing a steady decline in clubs’ membership and participation. This has been largely due to the sport having an older age group of participants who in the main tend be sixty-five plus, who after several years find themselves no longer active enough to compete or indeed help as a volunteer groundsman. This is coupled with the fact that clubs are finding it difficult to recruit younger members.
A decline in members and the fact that many clubs’ membership fees are so low that they can barely raise the money needed to operate, has meant forced closures and greens lost.
However, for me, one of the biggest challenges for sports clubs is what should they be charging for annual membership? Many clubs are still charging a paltry sum. Anything less than £100 year is in my opinion an insult to the club. Take a typical bowling green club with a single green to maintain, the current annual greens maintenance costs are likely to be around £10,000. Therefore a club with 100 members would have to pay at least £100 a year each just to cover the cost of maintaining the green.
Most bowling club members rarely pay anywhere near this figure. Usually it’s something more like between £50-80 a year. For many other grass roots sports clubs, their annual memberships are also generally lower than what they should be.
Regeneration is essential
In general, I have witnessed an overall decline in sports participation across a number of sports, over the last twenty years. Clubs that use to run four plus teams, now rarely field two teams. This has been brought about by the fact that people’s time has been eroded away, with far too many other distractions and expectations of family life. Back in the day, players especially rugby players used to spend two hours playing a game of rugby and ten hours in the bar! However, having said all that, today’s clubs have had to change and are now more inclusive providing a whole family experience. Of which, in my opinion, will be the way clubs need to go to survive.
If there is one thing that has come out of Covid, is the importance of family life and being healthy. So for me these community sports clubs are an essential service for staying healthy and being active.
I would like to see the government put more money into grassroots sports. They are so important in nurturing the next generation of sporting stars. Far too much money is being spent on elite sport with very little filtering down to the lower leagues. Last week’s ill-fated breakaway European Super League, is a fine example of the greed at the top.
We are simply not seeing enough money filtering down to the grassroots.
Our first WEB ONLY story states an Emergency Authorisation for the use of the Syngenta insecticide, Acelepryn, to target chafer grubs has been granted for the 2021 season.
Our next WEB ONLY story says Bayer has launched a new amenity specific ‘Glyphosate Hub’ to empower contractors by providing them with relevant information about this vital active ingredient.
The organisation will be celebrating this milestone with Van den Berk Nurseries, who together are offering every Green Flag Award winning park in the UK and Europe a free Silver Birch tree, to be planted with a special commemorative plaque.
The plaque and tree will showcase the long history of the Award and highlight the thousands of parks' successes in meeting the international standard for parks and green spaces year after year.
Carl McClean, international development manager for the Green Flag Award said, "It's great to have one of Europe's foremost tree suppliers, Van den Berk Nurseries, on board to support our Silver Jubilee celebrations with this offer.
"Once planted, these commemorative trees will represent the longevity of the Green Flag Award program and all of our winners commitment to maintaining their parks to the recognised standard."
Plaques will be distributed directly by the Green Flag Award team. Green Flag Award winners can claim their free tree right up until the end of 2021.
Fields in Trust is calling on candidates in May’s elections to recognise the importance of our local parks and green spaces and sign a pledge committing to protect them from development if elected.
Green space charity Fields in Trust is calling on candidates in May’s elections to recognise the importance of our local parks and green spaces and sign a pledge committing to protect them from development if elected.
The charity says the Parks Protector Pledge contains six key points which set out how elected policymakers can work to protect, support and champion green spaces for good, both locally and nationally. Candidates standing for election to the Scottish Parliament, Senedd Cymru, London Assembly and elected Mayoralties in England are invited to make a public commitment to the Pledge.
Fields In Turst say following a year in which we have valued our local parks more than ever before, they are calling on candidates to demonstrate support for green spaces by joining 40 members of the UK Parliament, representing five different parties, who signed the Parks Protector Pledge at the 2019 General Election. Fields in Trust is also encouraging electors to ask their candidates how they will support local parks and green spaces if elected.
Chief Executive Helen Griffiths said, “We know from our original research that parks and green spaces contribute to community health and wellbeing. Parks and green spaces can address multiple policy challenges, including health improvement; tackling loneliness; addressing childhood obesity; benefitting the environment and delivering volunteer opportunities yet we also know that that they are not equitably distributed across the UK. So, we urge candidates to protect these vital public services and the positive benefits they deliver.
"Elected representatives can have a major impact on what happens to our green spaces. Comprehensive access to our most universal of public services is not something that is politically contested and by building cross-party support in championing the value of local parks, future legislative reform can protect local green spaces that matter to constituents."
July will see BIGGA members from all over the UK takes responsibility for ensuring the Royal St George’s bunkers are in top condition for the world’s best golfers.
The return of The Open Championship this July will see BIGGA members from all over the UK come together as the BIGGA Volunteer Support Team takes responsibility for ensuring the Royal St George’s bunkers are in top condition for the world’s best golfers.
A place on the BIGGA Volunteer Support Team is an incredible opportunity for BIGGA members to participate in the event
Following the rescheduling of the 149th Open Championship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BIGGA say they are delighted that the R&A has requested the assistance of its members in the staging of the event. Members who were selected for the postponed championship in 2020 have been invited to participate this year and are now looking forward to another incredible week of championship golf.
This will be the fourth time a volunteer team of BIGGA members has assisted at an Open Championship at Royal St George’s, having also taken part in 1993, 2003 and 2011. The Association says the bunkers at Royal St George’s Golf Club are among the most famous in golf, with the giant ‘Himalaya’ on the 4th hole providing an intimidating test, not just for the golfers who land in the hazard, but also the members of the support team who will recreate its condition afterwards.
Every full BIGGA member is eligible to apply for a place on the support team and those who are selected are given unprecedented access to the championship, supporting every match with bunker raking duties.
BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton said, “A place on the Open Support Team is one of the most exciting opportunities we offer our members and I’m delighted that after such a dark year we were able to extend the invite to those members who missed out in 2020 due to the postponement of the championship. The Open remains for me the world’s greatest golf tournament, we’re thrilled to be able to support the R&A in its staging and everyone at BIGGA is looking forward to giving our all and playing our part in ensuring the 149th Open is Royal St George’s best yet.”
The BIGGA Volunteer Open Support Team are provided with accommodation, subsistence and uniform for the event. Members of the support team may also be called upon to assist Course Manager Paul Larsen and his team with early morning preparation work and other duties during the week. Restrictions are expected to be in place as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and any necessary adjustments to working practices will be made clear to BIGGA members ahead of the championship.
The 149th Open tales place from 15 to 18 July 2021. Applications for the BIGGA Volunteer Support Team for the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews will open later this year.
Here are the BIGGA members who will be assisting the home greenkeepers for the duration of the event:
Robert Acheson, Thonock Park; David Ball, Thetford; James Bonfield, The Hertfordshire; Tom Bromfield, Trentham; Mark Cleverley, Kings Norton; Jason Connaughton, Yeovil; Daryn Curtis, Royal Mid-Surrey; Joe Curtis, Gloucester; James Dawson, Alwoodley; Julian Drake, Neath; Nicholas Edwards, The Wisley; Michael Elderfield, Sandy Lodge; Sam Evans, North Hants; Edoardo Fauro, Walton Heath; Ryan Fiander, Lees Hall; Craig Gibson, Essendon; James Hampson, Llanymynech; Craig Hempseed, Mortonhall; Kevin Hensman, Rowlands Castle; Alastair Hollingsbee, Etchinghill; James Hook, The Bristol; Dale Housden, Drayton Park; Adam King, Radley; Antony Kirwan, Romford; Chris Low, Olton; Matthew Mackenzie, Ellesborough; Jorge Manso Grandio, Royal Wimbledon; Steven Mapes, Coventry; Michael Mead, Littlehampton; Peter Meek, Bath; William Merritt, Blundells Hill; Ashley Millar, Churston; Harry Misselbrook, Harewood Downs; Ryan Neale, Blackwell; Joshua Raper, Golf Club Hösel Ev; Laura Sayer-Hall, Ardfin; Tom Silcock, Macclesfield; Nick Street, Crews Hill; Will Simmonds, Surbiton; Niels Sorensen, Randers Golf Klub; Ollie Tanton, Royal North Devon; Amy Thomas, Barton-on-Sea; Scott Thomson, Wetherby; Gary Tonge, Castle Stuart; Ken Ward, Harrogate; Jeremy Ward, Rotherham; Sam Wood, Lingdale.
The forum say it is intended to be a twice per year publication with articles on aspects of innovation and research. In the first edition, there are articles from Professor Alan Gange from Royal Holloway, University of London, on biological control, from Dr. Ruth Mann from STRI on innovations in sports, lawn and urban green spaces and from Dr. Penny Hundleby from the John Innes Institute on genome editing and what it can offer. Ian Graham, from Complete Weed Control, also considers what innovation can offer in his area of work.
As the independent chairman of the Amenity Forum, John Moverley, says in introducing the publication, "Undoubtedly much is happening in all aspects of amenity space and sports surface management and a publication such as this is seen as giving opportunity for all in the sector to hear of particular projects, innovations and current research ideas."
Currently the government is undertaking a review of all aspects of weed, pest and disease management with a view to producing a new UK National Action Plan, which will set the targets and requirements in future. The Forum is actively engaged in such discussions and, within their recent consultation, innovation is a key topic.
Norman Duppa of Morris Corfiled with James Cox of Major
Founded in 1963, the family-owned business supplies machinery from four dealerships covering Cheshire, Shropshire, Powys, Staffordshire and Herefordshire. The business recently opened a purpose-built site near Hereford along the main A465 to Bromyard.
“We are growing from strength to strength and the Major franchise enhances our existing offering with exceptional, high-value equipment,” said managing director Norman Duppa.
James Cox, sales manager at Major Equipment added, "Morris Corfield is a well-respected family business. There are great synergies between our two companies - from focussing on the customer to putting quality first, this is a winning relationship that will support farmers in the west of England and Welsh borders.”
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From small chores to tough commercial jobs, the L1 Series utility tractors boast an unbeatable price-performance ratio; offering the perfect blend of power, versatility and functionality.
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Kubota Care is provided by Kubota‘s nationwide network of dealers, with all work undertaken by Kubota trained technicians using genuine parts and lubricants.
Situated in the heart of the Irish Midlands, Tullamore Golf Club this year celebrates 125 years in existence and course superintendent, Mark Murphy, along with his team of four full time staff members, are looking forward to welcoming back players.
Tullamore Golf Club is situated in the heart of the Irish Midlands and this year it celebrates one hundred and twenty five years in existence. It was established as a 9-hole course in 1896. To celebrate its one hundred and twenty five years years, Tullamore has been honoured in hosting the 2021 Irish Amature Close Championship in August. Past winners of this event include Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, and Darren Clarke.
When you arrive at Tullamore Golf Club you are greeted with the sight of mighty oak, sycamore, ash and beech trees, many of which were planted as a relief scheme during Irish Famine of 1847. In 1896, however, the club was located at the racetrack in Ballykilmurray. It moved location in 1906 to the Briscoe lands at Screggan where the club existed, rent free, for 20 years. In 1926 it relocated to its present home at Brookfield, part of the beautiful Charleville Estate, but outside of the demesne.
The signature 16th hole with a beautiful natural stone wall along the drain. Photo Alan Mahon
When the club acquired the lands at Brookfield, Captain Lionel Hewson, an experienced course designer, laid out 18 holes and work commenced on his plan in the summer of 1925. In 1938 the club invited James Braid, a five time Open winner, to visit Tullamore and inspect the course and recommend what changes should be made to improve the overall standard of Brookfield. This was to be of significant benefit, as Braid suggested four complete new holes, among other changes, which also included a bunkering plan. The bulk of the work on the course was carried out over a three year period. The final part of Braid’s plan, a new 18th green, was not completed until 1945.
In 1968, after lengthy negotiations, a new 50 year lease was agreed. The new rent was £500 a year. The main advantage to the club was that this removed the grazing sheep from the course.
The course was to remain largely unchanged until 1995 when, under the direction of Paddy Merrigan, 7 new sand based greens (sown then with a slender creeping red fescue and brown top bent mix), 11 sand based tees and three lakes were developed. Some unused ground to the right of the 12th hole was brought into play and over 1000 new trees were planted. Extensive drainage was also carried out on holes 5, 6, 7, and 8. The redesigned course was opened in September 1996, the club’s centenary year.
This giant sycamore is one of many mature trees growing around the golf course. Photo Alan Mahon
Back in the early 2000’s, when Ireland was in the middle of the construction boom, many golf clubs decided to turn their clubhouses into modern facilities, each development costing millions of euro. Tullamore had its own plans to create a two-storey clubhouse and was tempted to join the trend of other clubs. They decided against this, putting the money instead into improving the course over several years. On hindsight this turned out to be a wise decision as many clubs paid, and still are paying the price for lavish developments.
The first of these course improvement plans was the redesign, in 2003, of the bunkers. They had been encroaching towards the greens and many of them had different types of sand. In 2006 a new maintenance facility was built. Patrick Merrigan was brought back again in 2007 when the remaining seven soil tees were converted to sand, sown with 70% American Ryegrass (using Roadrunner and Topgun), 20% slender creeping red fescue (Barcrown) and 10% Highland bent. 2008 saw the redesign of the 16th hole, which included new stone walls at the river in front of the green. The fairway was graded back 50 metres sos as to make the wall more visible. New bridges were built at the 15th and 18th holes, with improvements to the river banks at these holes and also to the 10th. In 2009 more drainage and sand slits were added to to holes 10, 12, 15, and 17. All this was money well spent at a fraction of the cost of a new state of the art clubhouse. It is hoped that the remaining 12 greens will be eventually be converted to sand based greens.
In conjunction with the club’s course architect, Ken Kearney, Mark and the greens committee have identifed the soil based greens in most need of upgrading to sand based. Plans have been drawn up and it is hoped to put these to the members later this year for their approval to start some of the upgrades next year.
The course superintendent at Tullamore is Mark Murphy. Mark started his greenkeeping career on a work experience programme in Mullingar Golf Club in 1991, while studying horticulture in Multyfarnham College. He loved working on the course in Mullingar and decided that greenkeeping was the career for him. After finishing his studies in Multyfarnham, Mark got work on the newly built golf course at Luttrellstown Castle in Dublin, working during the grow-in period. He was promoted to Assistant Course Superintendent in 1997 and in 1998 he applied for, and succeeded in filling the vacant position of Course Superintendent at Tullamore Golf Club where he has remained ever since. In his 23 years at the helm at Tullamore,
Course superintendent Mark Murphy. Photo Alan Mahon
Mark and his staff have transformed the course to what it is today. There are four full time staff working with Mark. An extra greenkeeping staff member is hired during the growing season.
Trees
If you take the trees away from Tullamore golf club then you also take away its soul. It boasts some wonderful specimens. In the nearby Charleville Estate stands the famous King Oak. With a girth of 8 metres below its branches it is one of the oldest, largest and best preserved oaks in Ireland. No one knows who planted the tree or whether it sowed itself, but it seems to be a descendent of the great forests of common oak (Quercus Robur) that once straddled the plains od central Ireland. Estimates of the age of this tree begin at 400 years but it could be double that. In 2007 Rev. David Hutton-Bury, who represents the owners of the Charleville Demesne, donated two oak trees to the club which are grafts from the King Oak. One of the trees was planted at the back of the 18th green and the other on the left of the 15th and 18th fairways and are still thriving today.
A sapling from the original King Oak of the Charleville Estate. Photo Alan Mahon
However there is a price to be paid for having so many wonderful trees growing around the course. Leaves cause a huge headache for Mark and his staff. From the end of October until Christmas they are mainly preoccupied with blowing and collecting leaves and branches.
Course maintenance
An agressive seeding programme was introduced 3 years ago which includes overseeding the greens with 75% browntop and 25% creeping bent in May and August. Height of cut of the greens has been increased to 3.5mm in summer and 5mm in winter to encourage the establishment of these bent grasses.
Pencil tinning takes place every 5 - 6 weeks and greens are verti drained in late October. They receive at least 150 tonnes of sand per annum. The sand greens get between 80 & 90 kgs of nitrogen and the soil greens around 70 - 75 kgs per annum. A plant growth regulator (PGR) is used at regular intervals during the growing season. Soil moisture is measured twice weekly during the summer months in conjuction with wetting agents to determine irrigation use.
The 18th green. Photo Alan Mahon
To minimise the use of fungicides, a programme of dew suppressant and penetrant wetting agents are used during the winter months.
Being a midland course, the land at Tullamore is very heavy. Drains and sand slits were installed over a number of years. Sanding of the fairways is done each September. The fairways are mown at 13mm during the summer, increasing to 19mm in winter. They are fed every 4-5 weeks in summer using a high nitrogen soluble feed (46:0:0) at 1-2 bags (25kg) with three quarters of a bag of iron per hectare, along with a PGR being added to the tank. In winter some sulphate of ammonia and sulphate of iron is applied. The fairways are verti drained each spring and autumn using 25mm tines.
The water feature on the 5th hole. Photo Alan Mahon
Tees are sanded twice a year and fed with a high nitrogen feed such as 22:5:6 every 8 weeks. They also get a light liquid feed with iron and PGR in between feeds The height of cut of the tees is 13mm in summer and 15mm in winter.
In 2018 remedial work was carried out on some of the bunkers that had fallen into disrepair. They were built using capillary concrete and edged with eco bunker edge.
Wildlife
Wildlife is abundant in Tullamore. Deer can be seen early in the mornings, a pleasant sight for the staff and early golfer. The deer retreat back into the woods during the day. There are over 100 in the herd.
The lake on the 8th hole. Photo courtesy Mark Murphy
Suprisingly, red squirrel populations are on the increase, despite them sharing the same territory as the dreaded grey squirrel. One theory for the rise in red squirrel population is that pine martins have taken up residence and, as the grey squirrel spends most of its time on the ground, they can fall victim to the lurking pine martin. Other animals habiting the course include hares, badgers and rabbits. Carp and rudd were introduced to the lakes and are thriving. Recently a woodpecker has been heard on the course.
Some areas of the rough have been allowed to grow unmown, encouraging wild flora to colonise.
Some areas of rough are left uncut to encourage wild flora to colonise. Photo Alan Mahon
Some interesting facts
In the early years, the landlord had the right to graze sheep on the course. As fertiliser was not always easily available, the sheep droppings were gathered up, mixed with water, and the resulting solution spread on the greens.
The first tractor for the club was bought in 1937 for £210 but with the difficulties of kerosene supplies during World War II, the tractor had to be sold in 1943 when horses were again used with the course machinery.
While playing the 7th hole, a member’s ball went crashing through the trees, killing a heron in the process.
Iron stakes were installed around the course during Worl War II to prevent German aircraft using the golf course as a landing strip.
Tullamore golf club has hosted many championships including: All Ireland cups and shields; Irish inter provincial; Boys inter provincial; Irish boys championships; Irish girls championships; Irish senior ladies close championships; All Ireland Ladies fourball finals; and numerous provincial and district finals
Staff busy with their machines around the 16th green as they get ready for the long awaited opening up of the course on April 26th. Photo courtesy Mark Murphy
Tullamore is a challenging parkland course. The club is looking forward to opening its gates, once again, to golfers, albeit on a restrictive level. The sound of balls crashing through trees, shouts of FORE!!! and cheers of long putts being holed out will soon be heard throughout the course.
