The Golf Club Manager: April 2020

THE GOLF CLUB

MANAGER ISSUE 35 | APRIL 2020

THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE GOLF CLUB MANAGERS’ ASSOCIATION

THE CLIMATUEE CHANGE ISSD TO DO NEE HOW WE ALLTO HELP OUR BIT

SPECIAL INSIGHT

THE IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS ON OUR MEMBERS HOW CLUBS ARE PULLING TOGETHER DURING THIS UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS THE BIG INTERVIEW

STEADYING THE SHIP AND PUSHING NEW BOUNDARIES A N D R E W M C K I N L AY FA C E D C H A L L E N G E S W H E N TA K I N G C H A R G E AT S C O T T I S H G O L F. H E R E V E A L S H O W H E T U R N E D I T A R O U N D

E D U C AT E | I N F O R M | I N S P I R E ‘

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CONTENTS ISSUE 35 | APRIL 2020

GCMA

CLIMATE CHANGE SPECIAL

08

The captain’s farewell

39 The challenge facing golf clubs and golfers

10

The impact of coronavirus

46 Why you need to make your club more sustainable

NEED TO KNOW

GRASS ROOTS

18

62 How Cleveland Golf Club was reborn

What does the Distance Report mean for clubs?

THE BIG INTERVIEW 27

Andrew McKinlay on his Scottish Golf strategy

39

10

27

WELCOME

THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE GOLF CLUB MANAGERS’ ASSOCIATION GCMA Bristol & Clifton Golf Club, Beggar Bush Lane, Failand, Bristol, BS8 3TH Tel: 01275 391153 | hq@gcma.org.uk CHIEF EXECUTIVE Bob Williams - bob@gcma.org.uk GOLF MANAGEMENT RESEARCHER Jim Cunning - jim@gcma.org.uk FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR Lianne Banks - lianne@gcma.org.uk COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE Marie Taylor - marie@gcma.org.uk MEMBERSHIP SERVICES Julie Knight - julie@gcma.org.uk PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Gavin Robinson- gavin@gcma.org.uk BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER Craig Cotterill - craig@gcma.org.uk PRESIDENT JR (John) Jones 2019/20 CAPTAIN Ian Symington BOARD OF DIRECTORS Phil Grice, Amy Yeates, Andrew Rankin, Judy Barker, Stuart Leech, Brad McLean THE GOLF CLUB MANAGER IS PUBLISHED BY: SPORTS PUBLICATIONS LTD 2 Arena Park, Tarn Lane, Scarcroft, West Yorkshire, LS17 9BF, UK Tel: 0113 289 3979 | info@sportspub.co.uk PUBLISHER Tom Irwin - t.irwin@sportspub.co.uk CONTENT DIRECTOR Dan Murphy - d.murphy@sportspub.co.uk EDITOR Steve Carroll - s.carroll@sportspub.co.uk PRODUCTION EDITOR James Broadhurst - j.broadhurst@sportspub.co.uk CHIEF DESIGNER Andrew Kenworthy - a.kenworthy@sportspub.co.uk DESIGNERS Emmi Parry - e.parry@sportspub.co.uk Becky Clark - b.clark@sportspub.co.uk Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, but the publishers cannot accept responsibility for omissions and errors. All material in this publication is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved.The views expressed in The Golf Club Manager do not necessarily represent the views of the company or the editor. Every care is taken in compiling the contents but the publishers assume no responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from participation in any offer, competition or advertising contained within The Golf Club Manager.

THE GOLF CLUB

MANAGER ISSUE 35 | APRIL 2020

THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE GOLF CLUB MANAGERS’ ASSOCIATION

THE CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUETO DO NEED HOW WE ALLTO HELP OUR BIT

SPECIAL INSIGHT

THE IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS ON OUR MEMBERS HOW CLUBS ARE PULLING TOGETHER DURING THIS UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS THE BIG INTERVIEW

STEADYING THE SHIP AND PUSHING NEW BOUNDARIES A N D R E W M C K I N L AY FA C E D C H A L L E N G E S W H E N TA K I N G C H A R G E AT S C O T T I S H G O L F. H E R E V E A L S H O W H E T U R N E D I T A R O U N D

ED U C AT E | I N FO RM | I N S P I RE ‘

ON THE COVER: Scottish Golf chief executive Andrew McKinlay

ISSUE 35 | APRIL 2020

T

his time last month I was in the throes of welcoming our new members of staff to HQ and confirming my decision to stand down as CEO this summer. It seems like an age ago now – how can the world change so drastically in just one month?

Before I express my views on the Coronavirus situation, I would sincerely like to thank those GCMA members and industry colleagues who have taken the time to send me such kind and thoughtful messages following my decision.

I have been overwhelmed by the number of emails and texts and simply have not had the time to respond to all of them personally.

Please accept this message as an expression of my gratitude to you all – thank you.

As we all know, there have been many consequences of the Covid-19 situation we probably did not envisage. One of those led us to make the decision to produce this magazine in digital format only for the next three issues. We reached this after discussing all of the options with our publishers (Sports Publications) and weighing up a number of issues. The most significant was understanding the majority of you would have to make a special trip to the club to collect the magazine, if indeed you were able to do so at all. So for this month, plus May and June’s issues, we will be delivering a digital version of the magazine only. I realise and appreciate there are many of you who thoroughly

enjoy receiving the hard copy – but these are exceptional circumstances and I would ask for your understanding in these unprecedented times.

We also gave considerable thought about how to use this issue in the circumstances. We felt this ever-changing situation was moving far too rapidly for us to devote an entire edition to the latest Coronavirus situation – because in all likelihood much of the information would have been out of date before it had even been circulated. Instead, we have stuck to the kind of content we know will be of value to you when your clubs re-open. We will, of course, continue to provide the very latest information within the GCMA website’s ‘Coronavirus Hub’ and we urge you to consult this resource frequently in the coming weeks.

Let’s hope some form of normality returns sooner rather than later. In the meantime, let’s continue to support each other as best we can and try to stay safe.

Bob Williams – chief executive

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Captain’s

FAREWELL

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E D U C AT E | I N F O R M | I N S P I R E

Ian Symington is coming towards the end of his term as national captain.

We asked him to look back at the year and pick out his highlights

H

ow have the last 12 months been as national captain?

I’ve enjoyed the whole experience enormously.

What has been really good fun has been meeting many managers from so many different regions and being really well entertained by the regional managers and their members at those regional meetings. I’ve also enjoyed all the international matches against Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France and Sweden. We didn’t have brilliant results but we had tremendous fun in all of them and I hope, possibly, to be allowed to attend one or two matches in the future – even in a non-playing capacity.

I would like to thank John Edgington for organising all of those matches and I’d like to thank all the regional managers, who have been absolutely superb in keeping me informed of dates of meetings and times. Those details that have enabled me to get round the country and see them.

who will take over the commercial side and Lianne Banks, who takes over from Shirley. Later this year, Bob Williams will be stepping down as chief executive after seven years, during which he has moved the association forward massively.

I would like to thank all members of HQ staff and members of the board, all of whom have worked together superbly during the past 12 months.

What have been the particular highlights?

Playing international matches at places like Ballyliffin, Helsingborg, in Sweden, at Paris Saint-Germain and La Boulet, in France, was great as was being at Royal Porthcawl in the Welsh match and entertaining the Scots at Moortown.

I played at some lovely courses and visited a lot of clubs I had not had the pleasure of being at before.

You talked about the honour of representing the association. Has the experience lived up to that?

It undoubtedly has. GCMA members have approached me at regional meetings and introduced themselves and that has been really warming from my point of view.

It has been a great honour and I am delighted to have been allowed to serve as national captain. I have to thank many people who very often had to sacrifice themselves and drive me around the country so I could get to meetings that, otherwise, I would have really struggled to attend. I’d also thank to thank my wife, who has put up with my many extended absences from home. It has been an enormous honour and I hope I have been able to fulfil the role reasonably well and that people have felt they’ve had access to me and, through me, to the board of directors and head office.

You get a real sense of the wider GCMA when you visit the regions. How is the association progressing?

It is a time of great change, and at HQ, we have said goodbye to Niki Hunter, to Mike Hyde and to Shirley Edmondson, who have been wonderful members of staff over a number of years. We are welcoming Gavin Robinson, who takes over from Niki, Craig Cotterill,

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One virus being tackled by

ONE INDUSTRY

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E D U C AT E | I N F O R M | I N S P I R E

These are unprecedented times but in the face of a global pandemic for which no one in the industry could have prepared, golf has united and stood shoulder to shoulder in adversity

W

e are living through a pandemic for which there is no modern precedent – a microscopic enemy that has, temporarily at least, changed the very way we live our lives.

Covid-19 forced most of us into virtual lockdown, closed our clubs and courses and left the industry staring into an uncertain future.

But in the face of all that, the coronavirus also brought a lot of us closer together - even united us.

Golf joined forces from the very start of the crisis, whether that was clubs freely sharing ideas and best practice, or the governing bodies coming to the fore and becoming a central hub for critical advice and guidance as the threat deepened with every passing day.

That willingness to roll up the sleeves, and the shared respect shown between associations, the clubs and the workforce, will see us come through the other side stronger and better equipped to meet the challenges that lie ahead.

As the scale of the pandemic’s

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presence became fully understood in the UK, the GCMA joined forces with association colleagues at the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA), the British and International Golf Greenkeepers’ Association (BIGGA) and The R&A to collectively present the case to the Minister of Sport of the need for an acceptance that greenkeeping teams are classified as ‘essential workers’.

This will ensure that through limited course maintenance, when we eventually get to some form of normality, our golf courses will be in a condition that will allow golf to be enjoyed and deliver the much needed physical and mental well-being for participants.

Over the last month, the trio of professional bodies have endlessly produced an array of informative industry documents, which ranged from initially offering advice to the industry on how to deal with the forthcoming virus threat, to delivering a detailed disaster plan, which included the need for a risk register and how to upskill

and retrain staff if necessary.

The deluge of information continued to be developed from the GCMA, BIGGA and PGA with further best practice guidance on what players should do before, during and after they came to the club.

Within days, this information became outdated, especially when the Government’s stance became to close all outside gyms (golf courses), which then triggered the next wave of information for clubs.

At the time of writing, the Government’s plans to support business and the understanding of the ramifications of furloughing staff is now the top priority.

“For those of us who have been involved in this industry for a length of time, no one could have prepared for what has been thrown at us, but it is in times of adversity that standing shoulder to shoulder and providing togetherness is what will ensure the industry will come through the other side,” said GCMA chief executive Bob Williams.

“The associations have really come together. Those of us that

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employ the staff, look after the main product, provide the service and manage and administer our golf clubs have collaborated to deliver the guidance and advice for everyone to benefit from. This is the time for us all to pull in the same direction.”

And while the GCMA were at the forefront of that, clubs up and down the country also joined together to share their own stories, ideas, hints and tips as the crisis really started to take hold.

At Long Ashton, in Bristol, a “genius”idea about providing a doorstep catering service to vulnerable and self-isolated members was soon being implemented at clubs in the South Wales region thanks to a GCMA

told me about ring rounds they were going to be doing of their vulnerable members. We got one good idea from each other.

“I’m on a little Whatsapp group with other South Wales managers and, as a result of me telling that group about the home delivery service, I think three or four South Wales clubs then did the same thing.

“The golf industry really came together and shared.”

Similar stories abound throughout the GCMA’s 16 regions.

In Yorkshire, Brough general manager Richard Jagger organised Zoom video meetings with half a dozen of his local clubs to talk things through.

“We were all in the same boat,” he explained.“It was best practice

the hole to stop the ball going right down to the bottom.

“There were a lot of things that were more inward facing as well – how we manage situations with staff and financial situations – and although we are competitors we are all still faced with the same challenges so it helps with our decision making and backs some of the decisions.

“Sometimes you think: is that the right decision? But we are all on the same page and it gives you that bit of back up.”

And looking ahead to the day when the pandemic subsides and a semblance of normality returns, Jagger added the bonds that were being made during this period of seismic change were going to be

WhatsApp group that included club manager Gareth Morgan.

“The orders started flying straight away,”he said of the day the service, which allowed members to ring the kitchen directly and order meals, went live.

“Our take doubled on the Thursday and on the Friday it was another 50% on top of that. We maintained the same demand for it on Saturday.

“Martin Stevens, the general manager of Llanishen, who won the GCMA Team of the Year Award last year, was really interested in our home delivery scheme and they made a great start of running one of those.

“During the conversation, he

not to get together and meet up and so that was a good way to employ social distancing as well.

“It might become a regular thing – maybe not every week but, even after the virus, it may be something we use once a month to share ideas and best practice.”

Jagger added that plenty of practical solutions to problems came out of the new way of non face-to-face working.

“We’ve all had slightly different ideas that we have put into place: whether it was what we were doing about handling scorecards or competitions.

“A good one that everyone shared was the ability to put something in

needed more than ever to rebuild the industry on the back of a challenging winter.

He said:“It can be a lonely place as a golf club manager. The board are looking to you for direction and advice and this is where the true value of a good general manager in clubs will be felt. In this region, the guys I speak to are really professional. We work together and appreciate that we need to pull together to help the industry get through this.

“After the winter we’ve had, and now this, it’s going to be really challenging for us and we need to work together. There are no two ways about it.”

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How to successfully

WO RK FRO M HO M E W e a re a ll b e in g a sk e d to b e p r o d u c t iv e w it h o u t o u r u s u a l r e s o u r c e s , ro u tin e s o r su rro u n d in g s. M a rie Ta y lo r d isc u sse s th e w a y s w e c a n s t ill a c h ie v e w h ile fi n d in g o u r n e w ‘n o r m a l’

R

e a d e rs o f th is jo u rn a l a lre a d y u n d e rsta n d th e p iv o ta l ro le g o lf c lu b m a n a g e rs a re p la y in g a s g o lf (a n d th e e n tire w o rld ) tra n sitio n s to a n e w w ay o f b e in g .

Pro d u c tiv ity, e sp e c ia lly in th e first tw o (m o re p u b lic ) w e e ks o f th e p a n d e m ic , w a s c ritic a l.

U n d e rp in n in g th a t, th e c o m m u n ity sp irit b e tw e e n m a n a g e rs n a tio n a lly, a n d e sp e c ia lly in th e sm a lle r re g io n a l g ro u p s, h a s sh o w n h o w im p o rta n t a w e ll o rg a n ise d c o m m u n ity o f stra te g ic c o n n e c tio n s re a lly is in tim e s o f g re a t c h a n g e su c h a s th e se .

A s tim e p a sse s it ’s im p o rta n t y o u fin d th e n e w n o rm a l w h ic h a llo w s y o u to o p e ra te in a p e rso n a lly su sta in a b le w a y – lik e th e o ld sa y in g , se rv e fro m th e o v e rflo w in y o u r sa u c e r, n o t fro m y o u r c u p – so w h ile y o u a re iso la tin g a n d sta y in g sa fe , y o u n e e d to re m e m b e r th a t th e m o re re so u rc e d w e a re a s in d iv id u a ls, th e b e tte r w e a re a b le to se rv e th o se a ro u n d u s in th e w e e ks a n d m o n th s a h e a d .

So w h ile w o rkin g fro m h o m e so u n d s g re at to so m e , it c an b e d iffi c u lt to avo id th e d istrac tio n s

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o f h o m e life . T h e am o u n t yo u ’re ab le to ac h ie ve w ill d iffe r b e tw e e n ro le s b u t, as so m e o n e w h o is e xp e rie n c e d at w o rkin g fro m h o m e , w h e n it c o m e s to g e ttin g yo u r tasks d o n e e ffi c ie n tly I’ve c o m p ile d so m e to p tip s to h e lp yo u .

1 . S t ic k w it h y o u r r o u t in e Ju st b e c a u se y o u ’re n o t c o m m u tin g a n d g o in g in to a n o ffi c e d o e sn ’t m e a n yo u sh o u ld sk ip y o u r w e e k d a y m o rn in g ro u tin e . W a k e u p a t y o u r n o rm a l tim e , sh o w e r, a n d g e t d re sse d in re a l c lo th e s (n o t yo u r p a ja m a s!). It m a y b e o b v io u s, b u t th is w ill se t y o u u p m e n ta lly a n d p h y sic a lly fo r th e d a y a h e a d .

It’s a lso u se fu l to k e e p a se t

sc h e d u le . If yo u a re a b le to stic k to yo u r ty p ic a l w o rk h o u rs, th e n d o th a t a t h o m e . It’s m u c h e a sie r to lo se tra c k o f tim e a n d , b e fo re yo u k n o w it, yo u ’re w o rk in g la te in to th e e v e n in g . E v e n tu a lly th is w ill se n d yo u r w o rk-life b a la n c e o u t o f w h a c k , w h ic h w ill e v e n tu a lly im p a c t o n yo u r a b ility to re sp o n d w e ll (a n d n o t re a c t); o n e o f th e fu n d a m e n ta l sk ills o f th e m o st su c c e ssfu l g o lf c lu b m a n a g e rs a m o n g y o u .

2 . C r e a t e a n in s p ir in g w o r k s p a c e It’s te m p tin g to w o rk stra ig h t fro m yo u r la p to p fro m yo u r b e d b u t is th a t th e p la c e yo u ’re g o in g to b e m o st p ro d u c tiv e ? W o rk in g fro m a d e sk , lik e yo u w o u ld d o if yo u w e re in th e o ffi c e , w ill h e lp yo u g e t in th e m in d se t o f w o rk a n d m a in ta in g o o d p o stu re . In tra n sitio n in g tim e s, w e a re c a lle d o n to b e in n o v a tiv e . D istra c tio n s o r th e flip sid e , sta rin g a t a w a ll, im p e d e s th e in n o v a tio n th a t’s p a rt o f o u r tru e n a tu re . If yo u c a n , fin d a sp a c e th a t’s p le a sa n t to b e in , p re fe ra b ly w ith o u t a te le v isio n , c lu tte r a n d c h ild re n w h e re p o ssib le . T h is w ill h e lp yo u g e t m o re d o n e e ffi c ie n tly.

3 . S t r e t c h a n d g e t s o m e f r e s h a ir O p e n th e w in d o w s to le t in a s

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m u c h n a tu ra l d a y lig h t a n d fre sh a ir a s p o ssib le , a n d ta ke w a lks if yo u c a n - m a k in g su re to w a sh yo u r h a n d s a s so o n a s yo u re tu rn h o m e .

C irc u la tio n is ke y to p ro d u c tiv ity so if yo u c a n ’t ta ke a w a lk , b u t yo u ’re n o tic in g yo u r m o tiv a tio n fo r a c e rta in ta sk is b e g in n in g to w a n e , sta n d u p fro m yo u r d e sk a n d stre tc h . D e e p b re a th in g in to yo u r a b d o m e n h e lp s th e c irc u la tio n to o .

4 . If y o u h a v e k id s , p r e p a r e f o r d is r u p t io n s .

It ’s h a rd e n o u g h to g e t w o rk d o n e if y o u h a v e c h ild re n a t h o m e , b u t e v e n h a rd e r w ith y o u n g e r k id s lik e b a b ie s a n d to d d le rs. H o w e v e r, it is p o ssib le if y o u p la n a h e a d a n d h a v e so m e fle x ib ility. In a d v a n c e ,

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p re p a re th in g s th a t w ill k e e p th e m o c c u p ie d , e sp e c ia lly a ll th e sn a c ks a n d d rin ks th e y ’ll n e e d .

5 . S ta y co n n e c te d If y o u w o rk o n a te a m , m a k e su re to c h e c k in re g u la rly w ith e a c h o th e r. C re a te to -d o lists to k e e p y o u rse lf o n tra c k a n d o rg a n ise d .

G e t th e se lists fro m yo u r sta ff to o so yo u c a n se e h o w th e sta tu s o f e v e ry th in g is c h a n g in g d e sp ite a ll w o rk in g se p a ra te fro m e a c h o th e r. A p p s lik e Fa c e tim e , W h a tsA p p , Z o o m a n d S k y p e h a v e b e c o m e th e m a in sta y in th e p a st m o n th . It’s a g o o d p ra c tic e to se t u p re g u la r c h e c k-in s v ia p h o n e o r v id e o c o n fe re n c in g w ith yo u r in n e r c irc le a n d a lso th o se o u tsid e

it to o . C re a tin g a re g u la r Z o o m c a ll fo r M e m b e rs m ig h t h e lp yo u b a tc h c u sto m e r se rv ic e ta sks to g e th e r a n d d e a l w ith th e m m o re e ffi c ie n tly w h ile stre n g th e n in g th e c o m m u n ity fe e l o f th e c lu b .

6 . R e m e m b e r p a t ie n c e T h is situ a tio n still h a s a lo n g w a y to g o so ta k e tim e o u t w h e n yo u n e e d to , p a c e yo u rse lf, a n d re m e m b e r to b e k in d to e a c h o th e r a n d p ra c tise p a tie n c e a s b e st yo u c a n .

Marie creates and manages community communications for the GCMA and is also an Executive Coach and Master Practitioner of NLP.

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What might the R&A’s distance report

MEAN FOR CLUBS? The conclusions of the R&A-USGA distance insights project brought predictable headlines, but there was plenty in the report relating to the rest of us. Steve Carroll tries to pick through the pages

I

n the hullabaloo about the pros and elite amateurs hitting the ball too far, what the R&A-USGA Distance Insights Report said about the rest of us was actually just as interesting.

The concept of relative distance – that how far a golfer strikes the ball should be comparable both

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to hole length and the distance of those the player competes against – might seem abstract at first, but it actually hits home hardest at club level. I read it as this: as distances increase and course get longer so, naturally, does the length required from the tees.

The escalation of power in the elite game has been able to

overcome the stretching out of layouts. But for recreational men and women, where the average distances from the tee range from 185-240 yards and 145-160 yards respectively, the experience has been much more fragmented.

That led the report authors to say this:“We believe that many recreational golfers are playing

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from longer tees than is necessary, which in turn increases the time it takes to play. We have a particular concern that the forward tees at many courses are very long for the hitting distances of many of the golfers who play from them.”

For some of us, that’s going to be difficult to hear. Not only are the tips too difficult, so are the forward tees – the ones that many of us never, ever, play.

The report goes on:“At many courses, the most forward tees are very long relative to the hitting distances of many golfers who typically use them.

“For example, the average and median lengths of the forward tees at US courses are in the range of 5,200 to 5,300 yards.

“As a result, many golfers using these tees may have little chance to reach various greens in regulation even with their longest and best drives and approach shots, and therefore are not offered the same type of playing experience as others on the same hole.”

That, naturally, leads into choice.

For many of us, there isn’t one. We sign up to play a competition, for example, and the tees from which we compete are set down in the event terms. Whether they are appropriate for our ability is moot.

And anyway, you might say, isn’t that the purpose of handicaps?

“More generally, we believe that many other golfers are playing from tees that are longer than necessary relative to their hitting distances, either because they choose to do so or because courses specify or recommend use of those tees,”the report adds.

“The result is that such golfers may repeatedly need to hit their longer clubs on approach shots, making it harder to get a good score and taking a longer time to

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play a round.”

So what might the USGA and R&A do? It will come out following a review of both forward tees and choice. They’re also planning to provide information and guidance on “appropriate playing length for golfers of all hitting distances and skill levels”. This information, though, will be delayed until the effects of the coronavirus

of taking on the course at its toughest, so clubs may also need to react accordingly.

Could we play the monthly medal from the forward tees? Will we see different tees for golfers playing in the same competition?

That’s all without even considering the implications of what something like bifurcation – clubs and balls that are different

pandemic have subsided.

But whenever we return to the course, convincing golfers to play from tees suited to their ability, especially if those prove the most forward, will require a culture shift.

For not only are we being asked to put our egos aside, to spurn the almost intoxicating challenge

for elite and amateur golfers – could mean if ever implemented.

What we can say is that whatever changes occur won’t just be about reining in the distance that Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka launch the ball off the tee. It will drip down through the game and affect all of us.

GCMA.ORG.UK | 19

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INDUSTRY The latest news, insightful opinions and in-depth features from the golf industry

In the

LOOP

The news you need to know from the last month in the golf industry…

Club’s honoured at 59club’s 10th industry Oscars Stoke Park and The Belfry Hotel & Resort were the big winners when the industry’s best clubs, resorts and individuals descended on Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club hoping to claim an industry ‘Oscar’ at 59club’s 10th Annual Service Excellence Awards.

Stoke Park were named The Ultimate Members’ Club, having last claimed the accolade in 2015, while The Belfry scooped The Ultimate Golf Resort prize for the second consecutive year.

be awarded the prize of Ultimate Members’ Club at this year’s 59club annual awards dinner. We have worked very closely with 59club since 2011 and this has enabled us to review, develop and improve the overall member and visitor experience at the club.”

The Belfry’s Chris Reeve retained his Golf Manager of the Year title (>£75 category), with Jacques Hobson also crowned Food and Beverage Manager of the Year (>£75 category).

Welcome to our newest GCMA members Barbara Royston, at Coventry, in Midland region Joanne Tomey, at Paultons Golf Centre, in Southern region John Waudby, at Elsham, in East Midlands region James Webber, at Three Rivers G&CC, in East Anglia region Stephen Williamson, at Royal Epping Forest, in East Anglia region Mark Wood, at Shortlands, in South East region Paul Archer, at Tylney Park, in Southern region Katie Bouchier, at Buckingham, in Chiltern & Home Counties region Roy Bushby, at Royal Guernsey, in Southern region

The awards are determined by scores collected from 59club’s impartial mystery shopping audits, which evaluate the experience afforded to visiting golfers and prospective members, in accordance with the firm’s objective benchmarking criteria.

They handed out 64 awards, across 27 categories, recognising ‘service excellence’ across all areas of the business - sales, service, operations, retail, F&B, golf course and management.

Stuart Collier, Stoke Park director of golf, said:“It’s a huge honour for the entire team at Stoke Park to

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Reeve said:“Having received crowning glory from 59club once is truly an honour, to maintain the highest prized accolade two years in a row across our entire operation amplifies the team’s solidarity for delivering the greatest experiences in golf, cementing our reputation as Europe’s Ultimate Golf Resort.”

Other big winners included Forest of Arden’s Fraser Liston, who was named Golf Manager of the Year in the <£75 green fee category, while the Aylesford course team were named Golf Operations Team of the Year.

Kelly Hutcherson, at Welwyn Garden City, in Chiltern & Home Counties region Ben Ludwell, at Buckinghamshire, in Chiltern & Home Counties region Thomas McCoy, at Hurlston Hall G&CC, in North West region Edward Nutt, at The Oaks, in Yorkshire region Sophie Potter, at Ilkley, in Yorkshire Danielle Williams, at Long Ashton, in South West region

We want to hear from you!

Sendwant your correspondence, any We to hear from on you! subject, to letters@gcma.org.uk

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G C M A | N E E D T O K N O W | | C A R E E R S | G O O D P R A C T IC E | G R A S S R O O T S

f y o u th in k o f it, th is c a n d o it: b o o k a te e tim e , b o o k a le sso n , b o o k tim e o n th e sim u la to r, c h e c k in to a c o m p e titio n , p a y fo r it, v ie w a h a n d ic a p , to p u p a n a c c o u n t, e n te r sc o re s in to a d ig ita l c a rd a n d v irtu a lly sig n fo r th e m , sh o w y a rd a g e s fro m o n b o a rd G P S , v ie w a liv e le a d e rb o a rd , o rd e r o f m e rit o r w in te r le a g u e , p a y fo r a p in t a n d lu n c h , fo rk o u t fo r a sle e v e o f b a lls in th e p ro sh o p a n d b o o k a n o p e n c o m p e titio n a n y w h e re in th e c o u n try.

It â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a ll d o n e fro m y o u r p h o n e a n d w ith n o th in g m o re th a n a se rie s o f c lic ks.

If th a t e x te n siv e list, w h ic h is b y n o m e a n s e x h a u stiv e , d o e sn â&#x20AC;&#x2122;t se rv e to sh o w y o u th e re v o lu tio n th a t â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s c o m in g to S c o ttish g o lf c lu b s w h e n th e W o rld H a n d ic a p S y ste m a rriv e s in N o v e m b e r, th e n o n e a d d itio n a l fa c t m ig h t ju st tip th e b a la n c e .

O u tsid e o f th e e x istin g a ffi lia tio n fe e th a t e v e ry c lu b m e m b e r p a y s S c o ttish G o lf e a c h y e a r, th e re is n o e x tra c h a rg e to g o lf c lu b s.

It â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s p ro b a b ly n o su rp rise th e n th a t th is a p p , p ro v id e d a s p a rt o f th e ir n e w Ve n u e M a n a g e m e n t S y ste m , h a s ru ffl e d so m e fe a th e rs in th e g o lf in d u stry.

T h e g o v e rn in g b o d y h a s p a rtn e re d w ith O C S S p o rt to p ro v id e th e d ig ita l se rv ic e , w h ic h is d e sig n e d to g iv e c lu b s e v e ry th in g fro m a c u sto m isa b le w e b site to fu ll c o n tro l o v e r th e ir g re e n fe e s, te e sh e e ts a n d b o o k in g stru c tu re s.

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S c o t t is h G o lf ’s n e w V e n u e M a n a g e m e n t S y s t e m g iv e s g o lfe rs a n a p p th a t p u ts e v e ry th in g in th e p a lm o f th e ir h a n d s. C o u ld it c a t c h o n a t y o u r c lu b ?

A n d a s it p re p a re s to ro ll o u t o ffi c ia lly o v e r th e n e x t fe w m o n th s, its su b se q u e n t p e rfo rm a n c e w ill b e g th e o b v io u s q u e stio n : w ill o th e r g o v e rn in g b o d ie s fo llo w su it?

S c o ttish G o lf h a v e 1 0 3 c lu b s c o n fig u re d a t p re se n t (a ro u n d 2 0 p e r c e n t o f th e to ta l n u m b e r in th e c o u n try ) a n d a fu rth e r 1 2 4 tra n sitio n in g to ta k e o n VM S , w h ic h a lso c o m p rise s a w id e ra n g in g so ftw a re so lu tio n b e h in d th e sc e n e s in th e o ffi c e .

B u t w h e re it w ill se e m re a lly a ttra c tiv e to b o th c lu b s a n d g o lfe rs is in th e w a y it g iv e s th e m th e p o w e r to u se th e ir o w n d a ta .

P la y e rs w a n tin g to m a k e a b o o k in g , fo r e x a m p le , w ill g e t th e p ric e s th a t a p p ly to th e m – w h e th e r th a t ’s a m e m b e rs’ g u e st ra te , o r a v isito r g re e n fe e .

It w o rks b e c a u se VM S , th ro u g h a lo g -in p ro v id e d b y S c o ttish G o lf, k n o w s w h e th e r a p ro sp e c tiv e b o o k in g is b e in g m a d e b y a m e m b e r, a p la y e r a t a n o th e r g o lf c lu b o r a n in d e p e n d e n t g o lfe r.

O n th e c o u rse , if th e re ’s a ja m , a p a c e o f p la y tra ffi c lig h t sy ste m o n th e a p p te lls e a c h g ro u p w h e th e r th e y a re o n tim e o r n o t.

T h e tim e a llo c a te d fo r e a c h h o le is c o n tro lle d b y th e c lu b , so th e p a c e o f p la y o ff e n d e rs w ill k n o w w h o th e y a re .

M e ssa g in g se rv ic e s c re a te W h a tsA p p -sty le g ro u p s w h e re m e m b e rs c a n lin k to g e th e r a n d c h a t o r a rra n g e tie s, a n d a n e w s fu n c tio n m e a n s c lu b s

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c a n c o m m u n ic a te d ire c tly w ith m e m b e rs.

T h e a p p w ill h a v e p ra c tic a l b e n e fits in th e o ffi c e , to o . W ith p la y e rs e n c o u ra g e d to su b m it sc o re s d ig ita lly, b y m a rk in g a n d sig n in g v irtu a l sc o re c a rd s, a P D F v e rsio n is su b se q u e n tly p ro d u c e d th a t is sto re d in th e c lo u d .

Pa rtic ip a tin g c lu b s w ill n o lo n g e r h a v e to fin d sp a c e fo r d ra w e rs fu ll o f o ld c a rd s g o in g b a c k tw o ye a rs a s p a p e r c o p ie s g ra d u a lly b e c o m e re d u n d a n t.

“ B u t w h e r e it w ill s e e m r e a lly a t t r a c t iv e t o b o t h c lu b s a n d g o lf e r s is in th e w a y it g iv e s th e m th e p o w e r to u se th e ir o w n d a ta .”

E v e n th o u g h it’s still se v e ra l m o n th s b e fo re th e a p p re a lly flo w e rs, it h a s a lre a d y b e e n sh o w in g its b e n e fits to th o se p a rtic ip a tin g in a tria l p e rio d .

W h e n c lu b s w e re a b le to sta y o p e n d u rin g th e c o ro n a v iru s o u tb re a k , a n d m e m b e rs e n c o u ra g e d to ta k e p a rt in so c ia l d ista n c in g a n d a v o id in g p in c h p o in ts a ro u n d th e c lu b h o u se , p la y e rs a t G o u ro c k , o n th e b a n ks o f th e C ly d e , w e re a b le to ta k e c a re o f m u c h o f th e ir b u sin e ss w ith th e ir m o b ile s.

T h e y w e re a sk e d to e n te r c o m p e titio n s o n lin e , c h e c k in to th o se e v e n ts w ith th e ir p h o n e a s w e ll a s e n te rin g th e ir sc o re s o n th e ir h a n d se ts.

T h e y w e re a b le se e re su lts o n a liv e le a d e rb o a rd a n d to sig n fo r b o th th e ir m a rk e r’s sig n a tu re a n d th e ir o w n in th e sa m e w a y.

T h is se t u p a llo w e d g o lfe rs to c h a n g e th e ir sh o e s in th e c a r p a rk , a n d a v o id c o n g re g a tin g p rio r to te e -tim e s, th e a p p a ssiste d th e c lu b in m a ssiv e ly re d u c in g th e n u m b e r o f p la c e s w h e re a n yo n e c o u ld p o te n tia lly c o m e w ith in tw o m e tre s o f a n o th e r p la ye r o r m e m b e r o f sta ff.

It w a s a n o v e l so lu tio n to w h a t w a s a n u n p re c e d e n te d p ro b le m a n d , w h e n th e p a n d e m ic fin a lly c o m e s to a n e n d a n d a se m b la n c e o f n o rm a lity sta rts to re su m e , S c o ttish G o lf w ill h o p e th e a p p ’s fle x ib ility – a n d th e so ftw a re m u sc le th a t sits b e h in d it – w ill h e lp c lu b s a s th e y b e g in to re b u ild a n d lo o k a h e a d to th e fu tu re .

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The interview...

AND REW M C K IN L AY

W h e n th e c h ie f e x e c u t iv e o f S c o t t is h G o lf to o k th e re in s ju st u n d e r tw o y e a rs a g o , c lu b s w e r e a t w a r w it h t h e g o v e r n in g b o d y a n d r a n c o u r r u le d . In th e first o f a tw o -p a rt in te rv ie w , h e te lls S te v e C a rro ll h o w th a t w a s tu rn e d a ro u n d

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G C M A | N E E D T O K N O W | I N D U S T R Y | C A R E E R S | G O O D P R A C T IC E | G R A S S R O O T S

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W

hen you a r r iv e d a t S c o t t is h G o lf t h e r e w e re so m e c h a lle n g e s , s o w h a t a t t r a c t e d y o u t o t h e jo b ?

T h e re a re a c o u p le o f sid e s to it.

I’m a m b itio u s a n d I w a n te d to b e a c h ie f e xe c u tiv e . T h a t w a s th e n e x t sta g e in th e c a re e r tra v e l.

I h a d ta k e n a d e c isio n , a b o u t a y e a r o r so b e fo re I le ft, th a t, a t th a t tim e , I d id n ’t w a n t to b e c h ie f e xe c u tiv e o f th e S c o ttish FA a n d th a t th e re fo re it w a s tim e to m o v e o n . T h a t w a s la rg e ly d o w n to w h a t g o e s w ith th a t jo b . T h e re is a lo t d isc u sse d a b o u t so c ia l m e d ia a n d its n e g a tiv e p o w e r a n d w h ile S c o ttish fo o tb a ll is w o n d e rfu l in m a n y w a y s, it a lso h a s a re a l d a rk sid e to it.

I w a s b ro u g h t u p in th e w e st o f S c o tla n d a n d , a g a in st th a t b a c k g ro u n d , it’s v e ry d iffi c u lt to d o th a t jo b w ith th e p u b lic ity th a t su rro u n d s th a t.

T im in g is e v e ry th in g . T h is jo b b e c a m e a v a ila b le a n d g o lf w a s o b v io u s g iv e n I p la y th e sp o rt. S o w h a t a ttra c te d m e g iv e n a ll th e n e g a tiv e s th a t w e re g o in g o n a t th e tim e ?

I w e n t to th e n a tio n a l c o n fe re n c e in D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 7 . I h a d ju st sta rte d th e in te rv ie w p ro c e ss fo r th e ro le a n d g o t a tic k e t, e ff e c tiv e ly to sit a t th e b a c k o f th e ro o m a n d w a tc h , liste n a n d h e a r w h a t th e issu e s w e re a n d re a lly g e t a fe e l fo r th e o rg a n isa tio n a n d w h a t it w a s fa c in g .

T h a t w a s a b it o f a d o o m a n d g lo o m d a y – b u t a re a listic a n d re q u ire d o n e . T h e re w a s little sa id th a t d a y th a t p e o p le d id n ’t a lre a d y k n o w b u t it n e e d e d to b e sa id in a re a lly sta rk w a y fo r p e o p le to a c tu a lly g e t th e m e ssa g e . A ll th e sta ts w e re d isp la ye d , in c lu d in g th e d e c lin e in tra d itio n a l m e m b e rsh ip ,

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a ro u n d g re e n fe e s g o in g d o w n a n d m e m b e rsh ip fe e s g o in g u p , th e a g e in g d e m o g ra p h ic , n o t e n o u g h w o m e n p la y in g a n d th e sq u e e ze d m id d le th a t d o n ’t h a v e th e tim e to p la y.

I c o u ld h av e le ft th a t d ay w ith tw o p o ssib le fra m e s o f m in d . O n e c o u ld h av e b e e n ‘I’m n o t to u c h in g th a t w ith a b a rg e p o le ’. O r th e a lte rn a tiv e , w h ic h w a s th e o n e I to o k aw ay, w a s ‘it’s in a d iffi c u lt sp a c e a t th e m o m e n t b u t th e re is m a ssiv e o p p o rtu n ity ’. W e ’ll stru g g le to re v e rse th e d e c lin e in tra d itio n a l m e m b e rsh ip b u t th e re a re a lo t o f p e o p le still p lay in g g o lf a n d a lo t w e c a n still d o to m o d e rn ise g o lf a n d h e lp c o u rse s re c la im so m e o f th e th in g s th e y h av e lo st o v e r th e la st 2 0 ye a rs’ o r so .

I sa w h u g e o p p o rtu n ity a n d k n e w o n e o f th e first th in g s I’d h a v e to g e t in v o lv e d in w a s a ro u n d e n g a g in g w ith th e sta k e h o ld e rs.

O n e o f m y m a in jo b s, e a rly o n , w a s b u ild in g a lo t o f b rid g e s.

A s a n o u t s id e r lo o k in g in , t h e s it u a t io n o n y o u r a r r iv a l s e e m e d b le a k . T h e r e w a s a r o w o v e r a ffi lia t io n fe e s a n d o t h e r a lle g a t io n s . S o h o w d id y o u g o a b o u t c h a n g in g t h a t ?

T h e s it u a t io n n o w fe e ls v e r y d iff e r e n t ...

A s w ith so m a n y th in g s, I d o n ’t th in k it w a s a s b a d a s it w a s p a in te d a n d lo o k e d . B u t a s I k n o w fro m m y tim e in m y p re v io u s ro le , p e rc e p tio n is re a lity a n d th a t w a s th e p e rc e p tio n a n d h a d b e c o m e th e re a lity.

I h a v e re sp e c t fo r m y p re d e c e sso r w h o w a s in a re a lly d iffi c u lt p la c e try in g to g e t so m e th in g s th ro u g h th a t ju st d id n ’t fly.

I d o n ’t try a n d p re te n d th a t I c a m e in w ith a m a g ic w a n d . A ll I d id w a s g e t o u t th e re a n d sp o k e to p e o p le , liste n e d to th e m , b u ilt so m e b rid g e s.

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G C M A | N E E D T O K N O W | I N D U S T R Y | C A R E E R S | G O O D P R A C T IC E | G R A S S R O O T S It w a s ju st try in g to c a lm th in g s d o w n a b it. M y first six m o n th s w a s re a lly in te re stin g b e c a u se w e la u n c h e d a n e w stra te g y, a n d p e o p le lik e d it, a n d th e n th e re w a s a re q u isitio n fro m a g ro u p o f m e m b e rs to ra ise th e a ffi lia tio n fe e .

W e h a d to w o rk in a d v a n c e o f th e G e n e ra l M e e tin g to e x p la in c le a rly to th e m e m b e rsh ip re g a rd in g w h a t w e w o u ld sp e n d th a t in c re a se o n .

T h a t m a d e a b ig d iff e re n c e a n d , o b v io u sly, o n e o f th e th in g s w e u n d e rto o k to sp e n d m o n e y o n w a s a ro u n d te c h n o lo g y. W e h a d a sto ry to te ll. F ro m th a t, w e h a d th e c o n fe re n c e o f D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 8 w h e re w e first ta lk e d a b o u t th e Ve n u e M a n a g e m e n t S y ste m a n d h a n d ic a p s fo r n o n -m e m b e r g o lfe rs, a n d th a t w a s a n in te re stin g d a y.

T h e fe e lin g in th e ro o m , fro m w h a t it h a d b e e n th e y e a r b e fo re , w a s lik e n ig h t a n d d a y. It fe lt lik e w e w e re in a re a lly g o o d p la c e , lik e p e o p le w e re w ith u s a n d th e re w a s a re a l b u zz.

Pe o p le a sk e d ‘a t th e e n d o f y o u r first y e a r, w h a t d id y o u fe e l?’ I fe lt lik e I h a d tu rn e d a n o il ta n k e r ro u n d – b y g e ttin g o u t th e re , e n g a g in g w ith a n d sp e a k in g to p e o p le lo o k in g to u n d e rsta n d th e issu e s a n d sta rt to e v o lv e a p o sitiv e w a y fo rw a rd .

Yo u w e r e s t ill a s k in g s o m e d iffi c u lt q u e s t io n s . T h e d e b a t e o v e r in d e p e n d e n t g o lf e r s , f o r e x a m p le , is n o t a n e a s y o n e ...

It ’s a n in te re stin g o n e a n d th e o n e n e g a tiv e p u t fo rw a rd b y so m e fo r n o t d o in g th a t is th a t it w ill ‘e m p ty o u r g o lf c lu b s’. A s w e ’v e in tro d u c e d th e c o n c e p t w e ’v e g iv e n a n u m b e r o f re a so n s w h y w e th in k w e sh o u ld d o it a n d w h y it n e e d s to b e d o n e . W e k e e p re ite ra tin g th o se a n d b e lie v e th e y a re stro n g a n d c o m p e llin g

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a rg u m e n ts. I stru g g le w ith th e n e g a tiv e a rg u m e n t a s I h a v e y e t to m e e t a m e m b e r o f a g o lf c lu b w h o ’s th e re p u re ly to h a v e a h a n d ic a p . I’m a m e m b e r o f tw o c lu b s in S c o tla n d a n d I w a n t to re m a in a m e m b e r b e c a u se I se e th e v a lu e o f b e in g a m e m b e r o f a g o lf c lu b .

B u t lo ts o f p e o p le d o n ’t a n d , if y o u d o n ’t liste n to th e c o n su m e r, th e n y o u a re g o in g to fin d it h a rd a n d a la rg e n u m b e r o f th e c o n su m in g g o lf p u b lic d o n ’t w a n t th a t tra d itio n a l m e m b e rsh ip . T h a t’s n o t w h a t in te re sts th e m . T h e y w a n t to p la y g o lf w h e re v e r th e y c a n p la y a n d th e y ’v e b e e n a b le to e a sily d o th a t th ro u g h th e u se o f th e c o m m e rc ia l a p p s th a t w e a ll k n o w a b o u t.

T h a t w a s so m e th in g th a t w a sn ’t a v a ila b le in th e m id 8 0 s w h e n I sta rte d . T h e o n ly w a y yo u c o u ld re a lly p la y w a s a t m u n ic ip a l c o u rse s o r y o u w o u ld b e c o m e a m e m b e r o f a c lu b . M y fa th e r w a sn ’t a m e m b e r so to b e c o m e o n e , w h e re I liv e d a t th e tim e , w a s g o in g to ta k e m o re th a n fiv e ye a rs.

It ju st fe e ls lik e th a t m o d e l th a t

“Pe o p le a s k e d ‘a t t h e e n d o f y o u r fi r s t y e a r, w h a t d id y o u fe e l? ’ I fe lt like I h a d tu rn e d a n o il ta n ke r ro u n d – b y g e ttin g o u t th e re , e n g a g in g w ith a n d sp e a k in g to p e o p le lo o k in g to u n d e r s t a n d t h e is s u e s a n d sta rt to e v o lv e a p o sitiv e w ay fo rw a rd .”

w a s th e re in th e 8 0 ’s d id n ’t re a lly c h a n g e o v e r th e n e x t 2 0 ye a rs.

It w a s tin k e re d w ith b u t, fu n d a m e n ta lly, th a t m o d e l sta ye d th e sa m e w h ile c o m m e rc ia l o rg a n isa tio n s sa w a n o p p o rtu n ity to c o m e in - re a lisin g c lu b s n o w h a d sp a c e a n d e m p ty te e tim e s, d id n ’t h a v e w a itin g lists, a n d th e y to o k th a t b it o f th e m a rk e t.

W h a t h a s b e e n a c h ie v e d o v e r t h e la s t c o u p le o f y e a r s s in c e y o u r a p p o in t m e n t a n d h o w w ill t h a t p u s h t h e o r g a n is a t io n fo r w a r d ?

W e d id g e t a n in c re a se in th e a ffi lia tio n fe e a n d w ith o u t th a t it w o u ld h a v e b e e n d iffi c u lt to d o w h a t w e w a n te d . W e g a v e a c o m m itm e n t th a t w e w o u ld n ’t lo o k to in c re a se th e fe e a g a in u n til a t le a st 2 0 2 2 a n d I g e n u in e ly h o p e I d o n ’t h a v e to d o it e v e n th e n .

W h a t th a t h a s a llo w e d u s to d o is c o n c e n tra te o n th o se k e y stra te g ic p rio ritie s.

T h e m a in o n e , w h e re w e h a v e in v e ste d h e a v ily a n d is so im p o rta n t to th e fu tu re , h a s b e e n a ro u n d th e Ve n u e M a n a g e m e n t S y ste m (VM S ).

W e ’v e p u t o u rse lv e s in a re a lly g o o d p o sitio n w ith th e W o rld H a n d ic a p S y ste m c o m in g in .

T h a t’s a h u g e c h a n g e a n d I d o n ’t th in k p e o p le q u ite re a lise w h a t th a t c h a n g e is lik e ly to b rin g th is ye a r w h ic h is w h y w e w ill c o n tin u e to b e o u t a n d a b o u t to e d u c a te . W e ’re w e ll p re p a re d fo r it b u t w e ’v e n o t lo st sig h t o f th e o b lig a tio n s w e h a v e to o u r m e m b e r c lu b s to p ro v id e h e lp to th e m .

VM S is a n im p o rta n t p a rt o f th a t h e lp b u t th e re a re o th e r se rv ic e s w e p ro v id e to o u r c lu b s. W e ’v e trie d to im p ro v e in th is re g a rd b u t w h a t I th in k w e still n e e d to im p ro v e is c o m m u n ic a tin g to o u r c lu b s a b o u t th o se se rv ic e s a n d

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Andrew McKinlay A qualified lawyer by background, Andrew McKinlay served eight years in private practice before spending a further eight years at Clydesdale/ Yorkshire Bank. He moved to the Scottish FA as director of governance and rose to become chief operating officer/deputy chief executive. He was there for six years before joining Scottish Golf as chief executive in May 2018.

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G C M A | N E E D T O K N O W | I N D U S T R Y | C A R E E R S | G O O D P R A C T IC E | G R A S S R O O T S g e ttin g th e m to re a lly u n d e rsta n d w h a t is a v a ila b le to th e m a n d w h e re w e c a n a d d v a lu e .

W h e re I h a v e se e n th a t in a c tio n , I’v e se e n th e v a lu e c lu b s c a n g e t b u t th e re a re still to o m a n y th a t d o n ’t k n o w w h a t w e c a n d o fo r th e m .

W e w ill b e la u n c h in g , v e ry so o n , a n e w ju n io r fra m e w o rk . A lo t o f w o rk h a s b e e n d o n e o v e r th e la st y e a r g o in g o u t a n d c o n su ltin g , rig h t th ro u g h o u t th e c o u n try, to se e w h a t ’s re q u ire d th e re .

W e ’v e b u ilt so m e re a lly stro n g re la tio n sh ip s w ith m a n y in c lu d in g Pa u l L a w rie , S te p h e n G a lla c h e r a n d th e ir Fo u n d a tio n s .

T h e re a re a n u m b e r o f stra n d s to th e ju n io r fra m e w o rk , w h ic h g o rig h t fro m w o rk in g w ith in th e sc h o o l n e tw o rk , h e lp in g c lu b s w ith ju n io r m e m b e rsh ip to th e v e ry im p o rta n t su b je c t o f sa fe g u a rd in g a n d th e w e lfa re o f y o u n g p e o p le .

D id V M S c o m e o u t o f t h e o p p o r t u n it y o f W H S o r w e r e y o u a lr e a d y lo o k in g a t it ? T h e r e is n o t h in g e ls e lik e it in U K g o lf...

W e w e re lo o k in g a t it a n y w a y.

W e k n e w W H S w a s c o m in g b u t, a rg u a b ly, it w o u ld p ro b a b ly b e h e lp fu l fo r u s if th e tw o w e re n ’t h a p p e n in g a t th e sa m e tim e a s it’s a lo t o f c h a n g e a t o n e tim e .

B u t th e o th e r w a y to lo o k a t th a t is h a v in g th e m b o th a t th e sa m e tim e is a fa n ta stic o p p o rtu n ity. It ju st so m e tim e s c re a te s a little b it o f c o n fu sio n w ith p e o p le th in k in g VM S is W H S a n d v ic e v e rsa .

It w a s a n in d e p e n d e n t e xe rc ise .

Ia in (Fo rsy th , c h ie f c o m m e rc ia l o ffi c e r) c a m e in a t th e sa m e tim e a s I d id a n d o n e o f th e m a in th in g s w e w e re lo o k in g a t w a s ‘h o w d o w e c h a n g e o u r fin a n c ia l m o d e l?’

W e ’re in a situ a tio n w h e re w e re ly o n m e m b e rsh ip a n d g o v e rn m e n t fo r a ro u n d 7 5 -8 0 % o f o u r fu n d in g .

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I w a n t th a t o th e r 2 0 % to b e c o m e th e m u c h b ig g e r c h u n k .

T h a t ’s m a in ly b e e n a ro u n d w h a t y o u ’d c a ll tra d itio n a l sp o rts sp o n so rsh ip a n d e v e n t e n trie s e tc a n d a n y o n e w h o w o rks in th e sp o rts b u sin e ss k n o w s th a t w h o le m a rk e tp la c e o f sp o rts sp o n so rsh ip is fu n d a m e n ta lly c h a n g in g .

It ’s v e ry d iffi c u lt to g e t th o se title sp o n so rs a n y m o re . W ith S c o ttish G o lf, w e d o n ’t re a lly o w n a n y p ro p e rtie s th a t p e o p le w a n t to a tta c h to . T h e re a re tw o a re a s w h e re I g e n e ra lly se e c o m m e rc ia l p a rtn e rs k e e n to in v e st b e in g d iv e rsity – a n d th a t’s so m e th in g w h e re g o lf h a s a b it o f w o rk to d o a n d , a v e ry b ig o p p o rtu n ity a ro u n d d a ta . T h a t ’s w h a t th ird p a rtie s a re in te re ste d in – d a ta th a t

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The national governing body for golf in Scotland, Scottish Golf supports around 580 affiliated clubs and some 180,000 golf club members.

That ranges from staging national championships to maintaining the handicap system and promoting the sport across generations. is w o rth w h ile to th e m .

W h e re a lo t o f th e m a re stru g g lin g w ith in g o lf fo r d a ta is p a rtic u la rly a ro u n d n o n -m e m b e r g o lfe rs.

W e sa w a n o p p o rtu n ity b u t w e k n e w w h a t w e re a lly n e e d e d to d o first w a s to w o rk w ith c lu b s

a n d g iv e th e m so m e th in g th a t w a s re a lly im p o rta n t to h e lp th o se c lu b s re g a in c o n tro l o v e r so m e o f th e th in g s th e y m a y h a v e lo st c o n tro l o f a n d , p a rtic u la rly, a ro u n d te e sh e e ts.

N o w m a n y c lu b s h a v e e n te re d in to re la tio n sh ip s w ith c o m m e rc ia l th ird p a rtie s w h e re th a t h a s w o rk e d fo r th e m a n d I g e t th a t.

S o m e c lu b s w ill b e h a p p y w ith th e a rra n g e m e n ts th e y h a v e a n d th a t’s a b so lu te ly fin e b u t, fo r m a n y c lu b s, th e y n e e d h e lp in th is a re a .

T h a t’s w h e re w e sa w a n o p p o rtu n ity. S o fro m m id 2 0 1 8 , th e re a l fo c u s w a s ‘c o u ld w e h a v e so m e th in g fo r th e c o n fe re n c e a t th e e n d o f th e ye a r?’

W e k n e w W H S w a s c o m in g b u t d id n ’t re a lly tu rn o u r m in d to th a t

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WE ARE IN THIS

TO G E T HE R 59club will offer FREE use of customer and employee Survey Tools and a Business Metrics Platform amid the current COVID-19 emergency.

Golf, leisure and other hospitality operators may use the specif ic COVID-19 Survey Templates to communicate directly with their club members, pupils, retail customers, and employees amid the current crisis.

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u n til la st y e a r a n d th e n it w a s q u ite c le a r th e tw o w o rk e d v e ry c lo se ly in ta n d e m .

D id y o u in it ia lly s e e V M S a s a ll e n c o m p a s s in g a s it h a s t u r n e d o u t to b e ?

It h a s b e e n a c la ssic c a se o f a g ile d e v e lo p m e n t. W e in itia lly th o u g h t if w e w e re g iv in g c lu b s so m e th in g th a t m ig h t sa v e th e m m o n e y in re tu rn fo r p a y in g a n in c re a se d a ffi lia tio n fe e it w o u ld lik e ly b e a m in im u m v ia b le p ro d u c t.

H o w e v e r, it b e c a m e a p p a re n t v e ry q u ic k ly th a t g o lf c lu b s w e re n o t p re p a re d to m o v e a w a y fro m th e ir c u rre n t p ro v id e rs u n le ss w e w e re a b le to g iv e th e m w h a t th e y a lre a d y h a d – if n o t b e tte r.

W e ’v e n o w g o t to a sta g e w h e re w e ’v e g o t a sig n ific a n t n u m b e r o f c lu b s o n th e jo u rn e y w ith u s.

W h e r e d id t h a t in it ia l m o t iv a t io n c o m e f r o m t o t a k e it t h a t f a r ? U lt im a t e ly , w h a t e v e r h a p p e n s w it h V M S , S c o t t is h G o lf is g o in g t o b e lin k e d ir r e v o c a b ly w it h it ...

D id w e e v e r e n v isa g e w e c o u ld g e t q u ite a s fa r a s th is? I’m n o t su re . B u t g o lf n e e d e d , in m y m in d , so m e th in g d ra m a tic . It w a sn ’t a tim e fo r sm a ll c h a n g e s.

It w a s a tim e fo r so m e th in g th a t c h a n g e d th e d ia l a n d to o k u s in a v e ry d iff e re n t d ire c tio n . A s it h a s e v o lv e d , w e ’v e b e c o m e m o re e xc ite d a b o u t w h a t it h a s b e c o m e .

T h e w h o le th o u g h t o f ‘w h a t if it fa ils?’ d o e sn ’t k e e p m e u p a t n ig h t.

I g e n u in e ly d o n ’t se e it h a p p e n in g .

W e a lre a d y k n o w th e n u m b e r o f c lu b s th a t a re in te re ste d in it. It’s g ro w in g a n d w e ’v e b e e n v e ry fo rtu n a te w ith so m e o f th e c lu b s w e ’v e w o rk e d w ith in th e e a rly sta g e s, w h o h a v e c o m e o n th e jo u rn e y w ith u s. W e a lw a y s th o u g h t, in th e e a rly d a y s, it w a s a lo t to a sk c lu b s to ta k e le a p s o f

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fa ith a n d w e b e lie v e d o n c e w e h a d a fe w c lu b s u p a n d ru n n in g , a n d o th e rs sa w h o w g o o d it w a s, w e w o u ld sta rt to g a in so m e re a l m o m e n tu m a n d th a t’s w h e re I fe e l w e a re .

W h e n y o u b e c o m e e ff e c t iv e ly a n IS V a n d t o u r n a m e n t s u p p lie r t h a t w ill n a t u r a lly b r in g y o u in t o c o n fl ic t w it h p e o p le o p e r a t in g in t h a t s p a c e . H o w h a v e y o u w o r k e d w it h t h e m ?

It’s a c o m p e titiv e m a rk e t a n d , fo r a ll th a t w e ’re p ro v id in g so m e th in g to c lu b s a s p a rt o f th e ir a ffi lia tio n fe e , th e re a re still a n u m b e r th a t h a v e lo n g -e sta b lish e d re la tio n sh ip s w ith IS Vs a n d w ill w a n t to m a in ta in th o se . I to ta lly re sp e c t th a t.

O n e th in g w e w o u ld n e v e r h a v e d o n e is sa y th a t c lu b s h a v e to ta k e th is. It’s e n tire ly a n o p tio n a l sy ste m a n d I d o n ’t e v e r e x p e c t u s to h a v e e v e ry c lu b in S c o tla n d d o in g it.

H a n d ic a p s a re in a slig h tly d iff e re n t p la c e , b e c a u se th e h a n d ic a p w o rld is c h a n g in g u n d e r W H S a n d th e IS Vs d o u n d e rsta n d th a t. I’m n o t sa y in g th e y lik e it b u t th e y u n d e rsta n d th e re ’s a c h a n g e in th e re la tio n sh ip th e re .

Fo r e v e ry th in g e lse o ff e re d , th e IS Vs still h a v e th e ir p ro d u c ts a n d I th in k a lo t o f th e m w ill still th riv e in th a t m a rk e tp la c e .

It d o e s fe e l lik e s o m e t h in g t h a t ’s p u s h in g b o u n d a r ie s ...

It’s in c re d ib ly e xc itin g . A lo t o f th e o th e r stu ff w e ’re d o in g is n e w a n d re a lly in te re stin g b u t a lo t o f it h a s b e e n d o n e b e fo re in o th e r g u ise s.

T h is is n e w , d iff e re n t a n d it is g e n u in e ly th e g a m e c h a n g e r fro m o u r p e rsp e c tiv e .

Next month, Andrew will discuss the state of golf in Scotland and what can be done to arrest participation decline.

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‘We need golfers’expectations to be

REASONABLE’

Our weather is changing and it’s having an impact on golf. Alistair Beggs, The R&A’s Head of Agronomy, talks to Steve Carroll about the threat of climate change and what we’re all going to need to do to get through it

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Y

ou may not have seen so much as a frost but it’s still been a winter where clubs have been counting the cost.

Storms Ciara and Dennis wreaked havoc across Great Britain & Ireland in successive weekends earlier in the year and, as rivers burst their banks and flooded homes, our already saturated courses also bore the brunt.

It’s become the norm to put up the course closed signs over the last few months as the heavens open yet again and extreme

40 | GCMA.ORG.UK

weather events have become ever more familiar in recent years.

Whether that’s been the Beast from the East or the hottest summer for 40 years, the pattern of intensity is becoming ever more severe.

Those volatile cycles are clearly having an effect on the way a golf course can be prepared and the experience golfers receive.

Alistair Beggs, Head of Agronomy at The R&A, heads the team that works with host clubs to ensure the playing surfaces for the governing body’s championships are the best they can be.

A former stalwart at the STRI, he is at the sharp end in assessing the effect climate change is having on courses. So we asked him about the challenges and the future for golf…

How big a threat is climate change to golf?

It is a significant challenge for golf to address. We are told by climatologists that sea levels are going to rise over the next decades and this may become a significant threat to some links and seaside golf courses.

I hope you have heard of Golf

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Course 2030. This initiative was established by The R&A in 2018 to consider the impacts, both positive and negative, of the changing climate, resource constraints and regulation on course condition and playability. Its aims are to produce a roadmap and programmes for research, education and communication that will steer the sport to mitigate for the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities that these issues present. It is important that clubs and club administrators are aware of this initiative, the issues it addresses,

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the challenges it highlights and the outcomes it delivers, and that these outcomes are communicated to golfers at every opportunity. It has identified a number of challenges which include: Firstly the aforementioned rise in sea levels threatening the integrity and viability of some courses close to the coast.

Secondly, more regular storm events and periods of prolonged rainfall are making clubs with heavier soils, or clubs located in flood plain or valleys, vulnerable to flooding and erosion. The recent

February deluges (wettest February on record in some parts of the UK) and flooding we have seen all over the country are suggestive of a more volatile climate and more regular extremes of weather.

Thirdly, more regular periods of prolonged drought are affecting the presentation and playability of courses and creating periods of disruption and renovation expense.

Sand based courses and those without irrigation or with aged and inefficient systems are likely to be most at risk. A lack of water may not be the prevalent issue in

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GCMA | NEED TO KNOW | INDUSTRY | CAREERS | GOOD PRACTICE | GRASS ROOTS

the UK at the moment with all the flooding we are having to endure but go to other parts of the world and the availability of water for golf is a huge issue. That will become more of an issue in the UK as well.

If you talk to people in the south of England, it already is and it will become more pressing as time goes by. We all suffered in 2018 with the drought and 2019 in the south of England was very dry until

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September. So, recovering golf courses from drought, under those circumstances and when there is a limited amount of water available, is becoming incredibly challenging.

Fourthly, we are seeing huge increases in insect populations on golf courses. Prior to 2014/15, we had insecticides we could spray that would eliminate insect pests without any problem and would probably do so for quite a

protracted period. Now we don’t have very much at all – chemicalwise – we can control insect grubs with. We are getting more and more reports of direct insect damage on turf. We then get birds and badgers foraging for insect grubs, which cause further damage. This is a scenario that’s likely to become more common over the next few years as the chemicals we have relied on in the

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courses will be more vulnerable than others with some grass types, being more susceptible to attack.

A more integrated approach to control using a combination of cultural, forecasting and stress relief tactics will be needed and greenkeepers will need to be technically aware and very competent to maintain standards.

Finally, mined aggregates such as sand and gravel are becoming ever more expensive and more difficult to source at the specification level we require.

We use huge amounts of sand to dress our golf courses to get them in the right condition and to fill our bunkers but it’s likely that, over the next few years, sand is going to be more difficult to obtain.

So, there are some major challenges for golf out there and we need to be aware of them and need to change our practices in the light of what’s happening. And its no use resting on our laurels, because the process is happening now!

past are no longer accessible. We have to change the ways in which we tackle these problems.

Fifthly, we are seeing more damaging and more regular outbreaks of turf disease on greens which are likely to affect the quality of surfaces. Control of these diseases is now more difficult given that the most of the curative fungicide products have been removed from the market. Some

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It will need a massive culture shift from golfers…

We have a certain expectation of what a golf course will look like and what it will play like in 2020.

Those expectations, year on year, continue to increase. The analogy is the 100M world record. It just gets lower and lower. The human expectation is that it will continue to do so. In golf, courses get better and better and the expectation is that they will continue to do so.

Golfers want faster greens, perfect tees and perfect fairways.

There is still the perception out there – although we are trying to change it – that green is great.

Anything that’s off colour or likely to show bare ground, or a weakness of some description, is seen as unsatisfactory and so greenkeepers are being put under

more and more pressure to deliver on the expectation of golfers that are set at a certain level.

That’s becoming more difficult for them to do, because they don’t have the resources or the pesticides they have had in the past to deliver on those expectations and standards, and they are battling the climate.

There are lots of clever people out there trying to develop alternative methods to control pests and diseases and to develop resources but this is all going to take time and, in the interim, it’s perfectly possible we may see some minor dips in standards.

What we need is for golfers’ expectations to be reasonable. It’s understandable from a human perspective for them to demand value for money and high standards but an appreciation of the difficulties greenkeepers are facing in a climate of less and less would be helpful.

It’s hard for the average player to get a handle on. We’re being told there’s not enough water, for example, and then a storm arrives and floods everything…

It’s the volatility of the weather that causes trouble for greenkeeping teams. Climate change is all about that volatility.

We grew up and the UK was a fairly moderate and mild climate and we didn’t really get extremes of anything. You see these flooding events occurring on a regular basis now and golf courses are getting flooded as well.

We are also getting prolonged dry events periodically, which cause different problems.

A lot of golf courses in the UK, particularly those inland, were built between 1900 and 1930 and relied on old land drainage that had been in place for a long time.

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Alistair Beggs Educated at Calday Grange Grammar School and JMU Liverpool (BSc Hons Applied Biology), Alistair Beggs joined the STRI as an Agronomist in 1988. He became Head of Agronomy and Ecology of the STRI Group in May 2013 and managed a team of 15 agronomists before joining The R&A as Head of Agronomy in January last year. He is a low handicap golfer and a Past Captain of Royal Liverpool GC. He leads an experienced team that aims to “deliver sustainable excellence at host venues and potential host venues for R&A Championships”.

In many cases these systems no longer work having been blocked up by roots either from trees planted erroneously by memberships in the 60s and 70s who were trying to improve their courses, or by ecological neglect.

Clubs are seeing increasing drainage problems on heavier soils and don’t have the capital to correct them because it’s such a vast problem.

Draining a 150 acre site, with pipe drainage, is hugely expensive.

Not many clubs can afford that.

However, ignoring the problem and pretending it will pass is no good either because these flooding events are becoming more common and are having an impact on club’s commercial activity and their income. Many are trapped.

At the other end of the scale, we get these dry spells of weather.

When its dry we need irrigation to keep the turf alive. Many irrigation systems were installed 35 – 40 years ago and now don’t work very

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well and require investment and often complete replacement When we get these extreme dry spells, clubs are exposed for their inefficient systems.

Like drainage, investment in new irrigation systems is a huge capital cost which many clubs cannot afford.

So, we have a lot of clubs with aged irrigation systems, and dysfunctional drainage systems that don’t work, so when we get wet weather and dry weather many clubs aren’t able to cope with those extremes very well. Consequently, the conditioning and presentation of courses is affected How are we going to get to grips with this?

Firstly, there needs to be a recognition of the scale and extent of the problems we face. Once this is understood, we must focus on communicating this message to golfers, and then, those responsible for club management must take up the challenge of protecting clubs

and courses as best they can. At the top of the game, there is some level of protection from money and resources which help to make the TV venues look perfect. This creates a perception that everything is fine.

At tour level, the impacts perhaps aren’t quite visible at the moment but in time the problems we are facing at the grass roots end of the game could affect championship golf as well, but it is hoped that increasing agronomic expertise, together with new technologies and methodologies will help us to maintain the standards we expect to see.

There must be a major effort, in terms of communication, to get to golfers and explain what the implications of climate change and legislative and resource restrictions will be.

At The R&A we are here to make golf more accessible, appealing and inclusive, and to ensure it’s thriving 50 years from now. The challenges we face are real but we are committed to this purpose.

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Why you need to make your club more

SUSTAINABLE

Whether it’s ditching single use plastics, or establishing new habitats on the course, OnCourse Enagement Manager at GEO Foundation John Kemp explains why getting on board is crucial in the fight against climate change

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f climate change truly is a battle to save the planet then the fight seems a huge one.

In a war on fossil fuels, and the quest to keep sea levels from rising, then the actions of one person – or one club – seem futile, don’t they?

But while the focus falls, naturally so to speak, on the environment around us, making a difference – and making our own patch of earth a more pleasant place to be – can still have a massive impact.

And it’s vitally needed.

“I spoke to a meteorologist and his outline for the changes in the golf industry is actually quite scary,”said John Kemp, OnCourse Engagement Manager at GEO Foundation – the non-profit dedicated to supporting golf’s sustainability efforts.

“If we don’t do something about it, golfers won’t have a good course to play on. We’re already feeling the pressure and we’ve seen it in the last few years.

Droughts, floods, too much rain, courses being closed, greens that are damaged by pests and animals digging them up.

“It has a knock on effect for golfers and it also has a knock on effect in terms of the cost for clubs going through the roof.. We are

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seeing that around the country.

“One of the most important things to recognise is that actually, with the right approach a golf club can make a difference and improve their bottom line at the same time. Being more sustainable is also about being more resilient, more efficient and more popular – helping to cut costs, increase revenue and enhance your golf course.”

How many of you recycle at home? Perhaps you’ve cut down on the amount of meat you eat, or have limited your use of plastic bottles.

Do you do the same at your club? Do you have a reusable water bottle? Has your club replaced plastic tees with sustainable bamboo – as the likes of Royal North Devon and Prince’s have done?

GEO believes that golf clubs can make a real difference when staff come together around a common set of sustainability goals and a workplan.

“From a golfer’s perspective, most are already doing good things at home. It’s just a case of them asking those same questions at the club,”added Kemp.

“It’s asking ‘how sustainable are we?’ When they consider

sustainability, everyone thinks about the natural environment, wildlife and birds, and there are some great examples of golf courses that are restoring and increasing the amount of habitat out there.

“Royal Porthcawl have been really pro-active in looking after protected species and there is a course in Finland where they want to get more birds on the course.

They are starting to use bird boxes as yardage markers – nice touches appreciated by the golfers and sending positive messages out into the community.

“But it’s not just about wildlife.

Another aspect is use of resources.

Royal Birkdale went through a big audit of their irrigation system – the sprinkler system – and they reduced the amount of water used by 35 per cent.

“That’s a big saving for them but, importantly, in revising their irrigation system they were able to target the fairways and greens.

“So those areas were getting watered and the rough wasn’t. It was more playable, thinner, more recoverable and more enjoyable for the golfers as well.

“There are countless examples of clubs making big savings and improvements to their product by

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being more sustainable. It’s a nicer natural environment to play in, it is more efficient, and there are better playing conditions.”

Think back to last summer and those lucky enough to attend the Open at Royal Portrush would have noticed something new at The R&A’s pre-eminent championship.

Spectators were encouraged to use refillable bottles, with various water stations dotted around the course to galvanise fans to consider an alternative to disposals.

The result, reckoned Kemp, has travelled far beyond the confines of the course.

He explained:“A lot of people were asking ‘do all golf courses use reusable bottles? We didn’t think of that before’.

“People are curious and are quite surprised when they do see the good work the golf industry does. They just don’t know about it. Our role is helping golf clubs themselves to organise their work and messages, and then really promote that externally.”

So what can clubs do?

“Greenkeepers, professionals and committees can speak to golfers and help them understand what they are doing on the course and golfers have a duty in that. That is to say ‘I’m really proud of that fact we’re restoring habitat on our golf course’ and ‘I’m really proud that we are removing single use plastics from our golf course’.”

The future without change is not a positive one – “I don’t want to think about that,”said Kemp – but where he does believe there is a shining light is in the progress that’s already been made and the commitment from clubs all over the UK and Europe.

“We see the industry changing – more examples, more participation

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in programmes, more sharing of ideas, stronger sense of urgency and more recognition of the business value. This includes growing uptake of the OnCourse® programme we provide to clubs.

This all shows the industry wants to improve, shows that golfers actually do care and that golfers and committees are already being proactive in doing good work.

“There are outstanding examples

out there. We’d now like to see an acceleration in the number of clubs taking sustainability to heart, making it a plan of action, tracking and promoting their progress – taking it out to golfers and the community with pride. Golf offers so much to the challenges we all face in biodiversity, climate, resource constraints and community engagement. Let’s champion it.

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Royal St David’s,Harlech,Wales Old turf and soils are taken to a composting area and decompose naturally before once again being used on the golf course – this includes all grass clippings.

More than 300 tonnes of composting material, alongside a two-acre turf nursery, mean the club is completely sustainable for re-turfing areas.

to help connect habitats across the course.

Royal Porthcawl,Gwynedd,Wales With a protected species, the Great Crested Newt, on the links, Royal Porthcawl have created and resorted habitats – improving conditions on existing ponds on the golf course.

They removed huge quantities of encroached willows and reeds and two other ponds were built in areas not in play

Royal Birkdale,Lancashire An irrigation audit showed this Open venue was wasting large amounts of water on roughs and surrounding areas, with the result that the grasses were both coarser and harder to play from.They installed a new system that only irrigates intensively managed parts of the course and as well as seeing rough revert to bent

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Elmwood,Scotland In a bid to eliminate single-use plastics, Elmwood introduced paper drinking straws, brought in squeezy bottles for condiments and started using small reusable jars for butter and jam. Sugar pourers replaced sachets.

and fescues, Birkdale reduced their water use by 35%.

Rothes,Scotland With a series of bunkers that required a lot of work, the team at Rothes made some basic changes to the bunker outlines, yet were still able to enhance their presentation.They were able to move from constant cutting to once-ayear maintenance, saving the club fuel and man-hours while also producing an increase in miner bees. No herbicides were applied in the past year.

To find out more about the GEOFoundation, the OnCourse® programme and how your clubcan get involved,visit www.sustainable. golf and www.getoncourse.golf

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ADVERTORIAL

Now is the time to make your website

STAND OUT

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olfWorking collaborate with some of the most prestigious golf clubs in the UK, including Royal Porthcawl, Burnham & Berrow, Notts and Queenwood, as well as the GCMA. Using a tailored approach, GolfWorking can help make your golf club more successful.

This could be by attracting new members, driving more green fees or increasing enquiries for venue hire bookings.

A working website Below is a genuine message received by a GolfWorking client,

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which emphasises the importance of an effective website.

“Dear Sirs/Madams, I have just spent the evening scouring the internet looking for courses to visit.

Yours is one of the finest websites I have come across.

“Uncluttered clean visuals, easy to navigate, wonderful photos conveying a real sense of the course, informally presented and interestingly stated information and an aesthetically pleasing modern feel.

“Congratulations to your website designers. I look forward to visiting what looks to be a fine links course, in the near future.”

Note the word ‘scouring’. People

are researching online where next to play, join or host their event.

Therefore, the website needs to rank high on a Google search.

Once they find your site, you have to immediately grab their attention – a badly designed website reflects badly on the golf club.

GolfWorking’s approach is to create an instant WOW factor, using stunning course imagery, slick graphics and video.

This grabs attention, drawing them into the site. With easy-touse navigation and clearly laid out pages, people can quickly and easily find the information they are looking for.

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GolfWorking are the UK specialists in designing and creating outstanding bespoke websites for golf clubs Course photography and video Great course photography is absolutely key in marketing a golf club. It’s the role of the imagery to paint the picture that makes people want to get out there and play the course. The pictures need to scream “look at that…we must play there!"

GolfWorking are specialists in golf photography and their photographs are often featured in national golf magazines.

Following an on-site photoshoot, GolfWorking can supply all the high-resolution images for clubs to use across any other marketing activities they may have, such as social media.

GolfWorking also offer drone and video services to take the website experience to the next level.

Keeping the website up-todate (CMS) Behind the site is a sophisticated and secure CMS that makes updating the site quick and easy, allowing clubs to keep visitors and members informed of the latest news, events and offers.

Support and seamless integration If you ever get stuck, GolfWorking are on hand to help. All training is included and GolfWorking take care of backups and hosting requirements. They can also integrate all major club database providers and BRS.

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Get in touch If you want your club’s website to have vastly higher visitor traffic, engaging member and visitor communication and to increase the number of website enquiries, please call Geoff Ellis on 0117 3255 755 to discuss your exact needs.

Please check out some of GolfWorking’s recent websites: kingtongolf.co.uk nottsgolfclub.co.uk royalporthcawl.com hallamshiregolfclub.co.uk burnhamandberrowgolfclub.co.uk

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A D V E R T O R IA L

Game-changing renovations at

W O O D H A LL SPA H o w T o r o h e lp e d w ith th e r e s t o r a t io n o f a n a t io n a l t r e a s u r e

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t’s a re latio n sh ip o v e r tw o d e c a d e s stro n g , th e re fo re it’s n o su rp rise th at w h e n it c a m e to re n e w in g its m a c h in e ry fle e t a s it c o n c lu d e d w h at is w id e ly re c o g n ise d a s th e b ig g e st in -h o u se g o lf re n o v atio n p ro je c t in th e U K , th at W o o d h a ll Sp a c h o se To ro a g a in .

A s th e c lu b ’s th re e -ye a r, th re e sta g e re sto ratio n p ro je c t d e sig n e d to g iv e th e L in c o ln sh ire c o u rse b a c k its rig h tfu l h e ath la n d la n d sc a p e a n d o rig in a l c h a ra c te r c o n c lu d e s, th e fo c u s is n o w o n th e q u a lity o f th e p layin g su rfa c e s. H e n c e th e late st, sig n ific a n t in v e stm e n t in To ro a n d R e e sin k Tu rfc a re .

C o u rse m a n a g e r S a m R h o d e s sa y s: “W e h a v e so m u c h c o n fid e n c e in To ro . H a v in g To ro o n b o a rd d u rin g th e re n o v a tio n s m e a n t th e re w a s o n e le ss b ig th in g to w o rry a b o u t. T h e re w a s to o m u c h to d o a s it w a s, so k n o w in g th e m a in te n a n c e , a n d irrig a tio n , o f th e c o u rse s w a s in sa fe h a n d s w a s in v a lu a b le .”

R ic h ard Lath am , g e n e ral m an ag e r, e xp lain s th e re aso n fo r th e re n o v atio n : “It’s ac c e p te d th at th e c o u rse fo u n d itse lf in th is p o sitio n b e c au se o f o ve r 50 ye ars o f w o o d lan d m ism an ag e m e n t an d n e g le c t. W o o d h all Sp a w as fast fallin g d o w n in th e w o rld ran kin g s an d it w as g e ttin g h ard e r to m ain tain th e c o u rse s w ith e ve ry ye ar th at w e n t b y. To o m an y tre e s

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The Home of English Golf has gone back to its roots in a three-year, three-stage restoration project

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w e re affe c tin g th e p layin g q u ality o f th e c o u rse an d th e sh ad e w as affe c tin g g ro w th , p lu s w e h ad c o llap sin g b u n ke r b an ks. O u r m e m b e rs w e re lo yal an d th e c o u rse w as still p o p u lar, b u t it w as tim e to ac t an d safe g u ard th e fu tu re o f th e c o u rse .”

A p h o n e c a ll fro m R ic h a rd w a s a ll it to o k to se c u re th e se rv ic e s o f To m D o a k , o n e o f th e tru e g re a ts

o f m o d e rn g o lf c o u rse a rc h ite c tu re , fo r th e re d e sig n o f th e h o m e o f th e g o v e rn in g b o d y o f E n g la n d G o lf.

R ic h a rd say s: “S a m a n d I h a d a w ish list o f e v e ry th in g w e w a n te d to a c h ie v e a n d w e w e re in a g re e m e n t th a t To m w o u ld b e th e u ltim a te c h o ic e fo r re d e sig n in g th e c o u rse . I’m a h u g e fa n o f To m ’s w o rk , h e g o e s to g re a t le n g th s to u n d e rsta n d w h y so m e c o u rse s p lay b e tte r th a n o th e rs a n d is a sk ille d a n d se n sitiv e c o u rse a rc h ite c t.”

It’s b e e n a c o lla b o ra tiv e p ro je c t.

S ix h o le s a y e a r w e re ta c k le d a n d o n c e To m h a d c re a te d th e v isio n a n d d e sig n a n d h is sk ille d la n d sc a p in g te a m h a d sc u lp te d a n d h o n e d th e la n d , th e n S a m a n d th e g re e n k e e p in g te a m to o k o v e r.

A s S a m c o n firm s: “W e k n o w a n d u n d e rsta n d th e c o u rse a n d th e

m a k e su re w e w e re b e n e fittin g fro m th e la te st te c h n o lo g ic a l a d v a n c e m e n ts a n d to e n su re w e a re re a d y fo r th e n e x t a ll-im p o rta n t p h a se in th e c o u rse ’s fu tu re .”

T h e n e w fle e t is c o m p re h e n sive in c lu d in g g re e n s, te e s an d fairw ays m o w e rs, ae rato rs, to p d re sse rs an d b u n ke r rake s. Sam h as in c lu d e d h yb rid te c h n o lo g y in th e fo rm o f th re e R e e lm aste r 5010-H fairw ay m o w e rs an d tw o all-e le c tric W o rkm an G T X e u tility ve h ic le s, an d d u rin g th e re n o v atio n s th e To ro Lyn x c e n tral c o n tro l irrig atio n syste m an d 170 In fin ity sp rin kle rs o n th e g re e n s, te e s an d su rro u n d s w as e x te n d e d to th e fairw ays c o ve rin g th e H o tc h kin an d B rac ke n c o u rse s.

B o th R ic h a rd a n d S a m a g re e th is p ro je c t h a s b e e n g a m e -c h a n g in g .

R ic h a rd sa y s: “O u r m e m b e rs a re

The Toro SandPro 3040 in action

re q u ire m e n ts p la c e d o n it a s a S ite o f S p e c ia l S c ie n tific In te re st, so it w a s fa r b e tte r w e d o th e w o rk in h o u se th a n b rin g c o n tra c to rs in .”

O n e o f th e b ig g e st c h a n g e s w a s th e in tro d u c tio n o f b ig g e r g re e n s, n o w 4 ,0 0 0 sq m la rg e r, w h ic h ta k e s th e g re e n k e e p in g te a m a n e x tra tw o h o u rs to m o w e v e ry m o rn in g , a b ly a ssiste d b y To ro .

S a m sa y s: “W e ’v e lo n g b e e n a To ro To ta l S o lu tio n s c u sto m e r a n d w e w a n te d a fu ll fle e t re fre sh to

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p la y in g a fa r m o re stra te g ic g a m e , re m in isc e n t o f h o w it u se d to b e w h e n g o lf w a s first p la ye d h e re in 1 9 0 5 . W e ’re m o v in g u p in th e ra n k in g s. W e ’v e a c h ie v e d w h a t w e se t o u t to d o .”

Fo r fu rth e r in fo rm a tio n a b o u t To ro a n d R e e sin k Tu rfc a re , v isit re e sin ktu rfc a re .c o .u k .

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Howinefficientirrigationimpacts

SUSTAINABILITY

© MJ Abbott

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hat is ‘sustainable’ irrigation?

How easily we forget that water is a precious resource, especially in the UK when we’ve just had the wettest February ever recorded and the fifth wettest of any calendar month since 1862, with close to twice as much rain as the long-term average. But even if water is relatively inexpensive, usable water is still a limited, natural resource.

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Search Google and the word ‘sustainable’ has two aspects. We use ‘sustainable’ to mean having little or no environmental impact or eco-damage. But something is also ‘sustainable’ if it has the ability to continue over a period of time.

The way a golf course is designed, redesigned, the choice of grass cultivars and environmental management practices can all lead to increased habitat variety, enhanced biodiversity, and offer protection for delicate and rare dune and heathland habitats.

But a sustainable irrigation system first and foremost must be one you can rely on, offering control and resilience, especially against extreme weather conditions. Clubs are businesses and so to thrive and prosper, must maintain courses in the best condition and keep them open for play for as long as possible during the year. Reliability has to be the number one priority.

But many systems are not reliable enough. With hydraulics, PVC pipe networks and electrics well over 30 years old, many are deteriorating,

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Sustainability is high on the 2020 agenda. But what do we actually mean by ‘sustainable’ when it comes to golf course irrigation? Alastair Higgs, Golf District Manager UK at Rain Bird Europe outlines why sustainable irrigation is more important than ever.

leaking and failing. The last two hot, dry summers piled the pressure on already stretched resources. Clubs had to find funds they hadn’t budgeted for, often at short notice, and playing surfaces suffered devastating effects caused by long periods of drought.

Relying on mains water and seasonal rainfall could put a club’s future at serious risk and it’s time for a rethink.

Alternative water sources and water stocks Phil Langdon is Projects Director

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at 2ic, specialist consultants in irrigation and water resourcing that engineer and manage bespoke water systems throughout the UK and across the world.

“Clubs do appear to be paying much more attention to two key aspects of course irrigation – where water is coming from and the volume of water being applied.

Cost is the primary driver because mains water is expensive and to keep going, clubs are simply going to have to find ways to reduce overheads, reduce reliance on mains water and use recycled and

untreated water.

Boreholes are a viable alternative source of natural water and because they release treated water drawn from the town mains for use elsewhere and are supported by both agencies, the Environment Agency and SEPA who grant licences for abstraction from sustainable water sources, along with Natural England.

Unlicensed smaller-scale abstraction is also a possibility that many clubs may not be aware of.

A limited supply may be sufficient for irrigating areas such as greens

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and tees. Whether a borehole is viable depends on where the site is located but by carrying out a geological site study, we find out available water volumes and depths to drill and we then look at other options, such as winter storage reservoirs which could, over time, increase the total water volume available for irrigation.

Many of the top clubs in Scotland, for example, have always had boreholes for irrigating greens and tees because they’re in a remote location where mains aren’t as extensive and there’s not sufficient flow in the area.

Now they’re investigating new boreholes to increase water flows for irrigating larger areas including fairways.”

Woburn’s holistic water management and irrigation strategy John Clarke is Courses Manager at Woburn Golf Club which began addressing the sustainability of its water resources several years ago. Woburn had always relied on mains water but had the foresight to realise that using it for golf course irrigation would only become more limited in the future. Being sustainable would mean having full control of the resource, help reduce costs and release potable water back to the network in an area where growth and housing development were moving apace.

While undertaking hydrology for a possible borehole in 2010 it became obvious that the maximum allowable abstraction wouldn’t cover daily usage during summer months, leading to a strategic investment in a storage reservoir, which became operational in 2013. With low, year-round borehole abstraction and rainfall, the club built up a

56 | GCMA.ORG.UK

sufficient water stock to sustain its irrigation for two seasons, crucial for Woburn as host of the 2015 British Masters and the 2016 and 2019 Women’s British Open.

“Taking a sustainable approach to irrigation is in the best interests of everyone in the sports turf industry and, when significant savings can be made and projects have a considerable return on investment, it is easier for businesses to undertake improvements to infrastructure.

However, having a reservoir or borehole is not enough. Every golf club needs a holistic approach to sustainable water management and irrigation.

We’ve learned from adversity how to reduce our irrigation output when our mains water tariff spiralled mid-way through our infrastructure project, with a forecast of a six-fold increase in costs! This led us to work really hard on our usage, irrigation system accuracy, measurement of requirements, weather monitoring and to use sound, practical agronomy to produce a healthy surface.

This work also went hand-inhand with our GEO sustainability goals, with the club recently being re-certified for a third time.

Our greenkeeping teams no longer make subjective judgements, they closely monitor what we’re doing, measure profiles daily and are always looking to reduce usage and gain more control.

No greenkeeper ever wants to overwater so having a strategy that encourages the least amount of irrigation input actually produces a stronger, healthier, more resilient plant.“ How sustainable is your club’s irrigation?

In terms of water volume,

sustainable irrigation systems and good practice will reduce overwatering and improve efficiencies so that water, energy, technology and labour resources are used in the most efficient way. Modern irrigation systems and technology are designed to cleverly limit volume so that water is only applied when its needed, using efficient nozzles that deliver water evenly.

Using moisture measurement tools impact the agronomy of the course in terms of reducing turf stress and diseases, improving growing in and reducing the

E D U C AT E | I N F O R M | I N S P I R E

application of chemicals and nutrient leaching. Staff must be trained how to use all their system features and technologies such as Rain Bird’s Cycle & Soak and Rain Watch that help clubs minimise unnecessary water consumption and reduce hand-watering by as much as 40%.

It’s also important that your club’s irrigation system has longevity designed in. Being able to keep your system current by adding new hardware components to what you have already or simply updating the control

E D U C AT E | I N F O R M | I N S P I R E

system software alone will save money over the lifetime of the system and use far less resource in manufacture than wholesale system replacement or upgrade.

Sustainable irrigation is all about efficiency and payback. Focussing on efficiency and moving towards zero water wastage is good news across the board – for golfers, for the club’s bottom line and for the environment.

Full UK GCMA members considering improvements to their water infrastructure can benefit from an irrigation evaluation from

Strategic Partner Rain Bird. Find out more at https://www.gcma.org.uk/ rainbird/ Alastair Higgs Qualified in sportsturf and club management, with over 16 years’ experience, Alastair Higgs joined Rain Bird in 2016. He manages and promotes the distribution of Rain Bird Golf products and services through trusted partners, providing support and guidance from specification through to installation and best practice.

GCMA.ORG.UK | 57

GCMA | NEED TO KNOW | INDUSTRY | CAREERS | GOOD PRACTICE | GRASS ROOTS

From the

HELPDESK This month: Can an AGM be deferred if the accounts aren’t ready... and starting times Do you have any guidelines for disabled people using buggies on the course when conditions are so poor that they need to stay on paths?

The best place to go for this is to the policy drawn up by England Golf and NGCAA, which can be found on England Golf’s website.

There is a lot of good stuff there on the use of buggies by the disabled and it is also up to date with the current legislation.

Can an AGM be deferred, rather than cancelled, because the auditors are not in the position to sign off the accounts?

(Nothing nefarious just a technicality) Cancelling would obviously have an effect regarding the election of officers...

Essentially, under company law, you can defer parts of any general meeting to a later date as long as you follow normal procedures for calling that ‘part’ meeting.

It would be unreasonable to prevent the club’s normal business from taking place, and to what end?

Therefore, we see no reason not to defer as this is a reasonable and relatively normal practice.

What happens when a small golf club, an incorporated

58 | GCMA.ORG.UK

limited company, with no assets whatsoever, goes bust and a claim is made by the single employee for redundancy payment from the National Insurance Fund?

Would the National Insurance Fund seek to recover and, if so, from whom? Or would they write it off as no club assets exist?

As I understand it, if the fund pays out then the Government (or more correctly all taxpayers) will just pick up the tab. You can find out more about the fund here: gov. uk/your-rights-if-your-employer-isinsolvent I have a query regarding ‘social membership’ at golf clubs.

We have a number of such members, who simply have use of the clubhouse facilities and members’ discount on food and drink purchases.

Is there a limit or restriction in terms of the numbers, or proportion of social members we can have for us to maintain our ‘club’ status?

There are no restrictions on private members’ clubs regarding the make-up of the membership, unless the club is a CASC, which I presume you are not, when 50 per cent of the total membership must play at least 12 times per

year. This would obviously prove difficult for those CASCs who have a high percentage of social/nonplaying members.

We use time intervals of 10 minutes for fourballs and eight minutes for threeballs.

Are there official times or recommendations?

The R&A, in their Pace of Play guide, published the following with regard to starting intervals...

Allow eight minute starting intervals for twoballs, 10 or 11 minutes for threeballs and 12 minutes for fourballs.

Ensure players start on time to help the flow of groups around the course.

Incorporate additional gaps between starting times to allow any delays to clear.

For example, give an additional five minutes between tee times once every hour or so.

Consider implementing a pace of play policy.

Do not overload the course by using short starting intervals - this simply results in players being on the course longer.

An online helpdesk offers an advisory service to members. Visit gcma.org.uk/members to find out more.

E D U C AT E | I N F O R M | I N S P I R E

‘

Partner Network

The GCMA’s Partner Network supports the association’s work to professionalise the industry and promote a culture of excellence in golf club management.

Thank you to all our partners who continue to support the association.

strategic partners

business partners

official suppliers

P r e m i e r A l l - We a t h e r S u r f a c e s f o r G o l f

gcma.org.uk/partners

GCMA RECRUITMENT

FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE VACANCIES BELOW, VISIT GCMA.ORG.UK/JOBS

MELTHAM GC ::: CLUB MANAGER

Meltham Golf Club Limited is a long established private members Club founded in 1908, we are situated on the Pennine Hills in West Yorkshire and we are renowned as a fine parkland course with challenging greens.

We are seeking a creative and committed Manager (our first paid manager in 112 years) who is able to demonstrate clear leadership skills and be responsible for the efficient and profitable management of the Club whilst providing a friendly and positive experience for members and visitors alike. Someone to grow the Club and develop with the club.

For more details visit: www.gcma.org.uk/jobs Region: Yorkshire | Salary: Competitive | Closing date: April 17, 2020

60 | GCMA.ORG.UK

E D U C AT E | I N F O R M | I N S P I R E

Grass

ROOTS All the latest news, views and interviews from across the GCMAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s various regions in the UK

G C M A | N E E D T O K N O W | IN D U S T R Y | C A R E E R S | G O O D P R A C T IC E | G R A S S R O O T S

My success story...

FRAN K SPEN CELEY T h e c lo s u r e o f t h e R e d c a r s t e e lw o r k s in 2 0 1 5 w a s a tra g e d y fo r th e se a sid e to w n a n d th e re g io n b u t, o u t o f th a t m ise ry, C le v e la n d G o lf C lu b w a s r e b o r n a s se c re ta ry F ra n k S p e n c e le y te lls S te v e C a rro ll

O

n th e b a d d a y s, y o u w o u ld b e c o v e re d .

Le g s, a n k le s, c lo th e s – th e y w o u ld a ll b e b la c k .

“T h e g ra ss w a s b la c k ,” re m e m b e rs F ra n k S p e n c e le y. “I’ll n e v e r fo rg e t th e d a y w e h a d a m id -a m a te u r h e re .

Pe o p le c a m e in lo o k in g lik e p a n d a s. I re m e m b e r th e ir e y e s.

“T h e y w e re c o m in g o ff lik e th e y ’d b e e n d o w n a c o a l m in e . A ll y o u c o u ld se e w e re th e w h ite s o f th e ir e ye s.”

B u t th a t w a sn ’t e v e n th e w o rst o f it. T h a t w a s c a lle d ‘p o n d in g ’.

“It w a s th e b ig g e st b la st fu rn a c e in E u ro p e ,” S p e n c e le y sa y s o f th e fo rm e r R e d c a r ste e lw o rks th a t still d o m in a te th e sk y lin e a t C le v e la n d G o lf C lu b – e v e n th o u g h th e p la n t h a s b e e n sh u t fo r m o re th a n fo u r y e a rs.

“It p u m p e d o u t a b o u t 1 0 ,0 0 0 to n n e s o f m o lte n iro n a d a y.

W h e n th in g s w e re b a d a t th e ste e lm a k in g a n d th e y c o u ld n ’t ta k e it, th e re w e re th e se p o n d s a t th e fro n t o f th e fu rn a c e – b e tw e e n it a n d th e e n d o f th e c o u rse .

“T h e y u se d to g o a n d tu rn th e to rp e d o o v e r a n d p o n d th e iro n .

T h a t w a s u sin g a 3 0 0 to n n e la d le in to w h a t’s n o rm a lly a n a re a th a t’s d ry a n d d u sty.

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“W h e n th e y h a lf tu rn e d it o v e r, it b le w in a n d th e m u c k ...

“W e ’v e g o t p ic tu re s o f w h e n it w a s b lo w in g o u t o f th e re a t 4 0 m p h . Yo u c o u ld n ’t b re a th e a n d it w a s re d h o t – a c lo u d o f o ra n g e m a te ria l th a t ju st d e p o site d itse lf o n th e g o lf c o u rse .”

It w a s a b ra v e p la ye r th a t w o re w h ite in th e fa c e o f a ll th a t. Yo u ’d h a v e stru g g le d to fin d a h in t o f it a t C le v e la n d a n y w a y. T h e y d id n ’t se ll it in th e p ro sh o p .

S p e n c e le y fin d s h im se lf c o n flic te d w h e n ta lk in g a b o u t th e m o n u m e n t to in d u stry th a t re m a in s a s a g h o stly, b u t a tm o sp h e ric , p re se n c e w h e n yo u w a lk ro u n d th e O ld To m M o rris a n d H a rry C o lt-d e sig n e d lin ks.

T h e y m a d e iro n a n d ste e l in R e d c a r fo r ju st u n d e r a c e n tu ry a n d its le g a c y w a s im m e n se . T h e m e ta l m a d e h e re h e lp e d b u ild th e

“ P e o p le c a m e in lo o k in g lik e p a n d a s. I re m e m b e r t h e ir e y e s . T h e y w e re c o m in g o ff lik e th e y ’d b e e n d o w n a c o a l m in e .”

S yd n e y H a rb o u r B rid g e .

S p e n c e le y w a s p a rt o f th a t fo r 3 4 ye a rs. W h e n h e sta rte d , in 1 9 7 6 , 1 3 ,0 0 0 la d s to ile d in th e te m p e ra tu re s.

W h e n th e o ffi c ia l re c e iv e r b o lte d th e g a te s fo r th e fin a l tim e in O c to b e r 2 0 1 5 , th e w o rks b lig h te d b y p ric e slu m p s, 3 ,0 0 0 w o rk e rs w e re p itc h e d in to u n e m p lo y m e n t.

T h e c lo su re h a d a c a ta stro p h ic e ff e c t o n th e se a sid e to w n .

To rc h lig h t v ig ils w e re h e ld to try a n d re lig h t th e fire s. A ll to n o a v a il.

B u t w h ile th e tra g e d y ro c k e d re sid e n ts, it b ro u g h t a p a ra d o x ic a l – if slig h tly u n c o m fo rta b le – e ff e c t

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fo r th e c lu b w h e re S p e n c e le y h a s b e e n se c re ta ry fo r a d e c a d e . â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yo u c a n â&#x20AC;&#x2122;t h a v e e v e ry th in g ,â&#x20AC;? h e e x p la in s. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yo u c a n h a v e th e w o rks a n d d irt, a n d fe w e r m e m b e rs a n d p e o p le c o m in g to p la y th e g o lf c o u rse . It h a s n e v e r lo o k e d b a c k sin c e th e p la c e c lo se d . â&#x20AC;&#x153;It w a s stra ig h t a w a y. Pe o p le sta rte d to c o m e a n d p la y. If y o u â&#x20AC;&#x2122;re n o t in v o lv e d w ith th a t w o rk , w h y sh o u ld y o u g e t d irty ? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I w a s e a rn in g a liv in g o u t o f it. T h e y p a id m e . I c o u ld n â&#x20AC;&#x2122;t b e sc re a m in g a n d c ry in g a b o u t it. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s o n ly w h e n y o u liv e in th is a re a th a t y o u u n d e rsta n d .â&#x20AC;?

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H e â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rig h t. I g re w u p in n e a rb y B illin g h a m in th e sh a d o w o f IC I, a m id m ile a fte r m ile o f p ip e s, c o o lin g to w e rs, n e a r c o n sta n t p lu m e s o f sm o k e , a n d je ts o f fl a m e th a t w o u ld o c c a sio n a lly sh o o t in to th e a ir.

Pe o p le c a lle d u s S m o g g ie s b u t th e in su lt w a s tu rn e d o n its h e a d â&#x20AC;&#x201C; d e p lo y e d a s a te rm o f e n d e a rm e n t b y a p o p u la tio n th a t w a s, a n d re m a in s, fi e rc e ly p ro u d o f its in d u stria l h e rita g e .

Its a b se n c e in R e d c a r, th o u g h , h a s tra n sfo rm e d C le v e la n d G o lf C lu b a s a p ro p o sitio n . If yo u w a n t a te e tim e h e re in w in te r, b o o k e a rly.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ja m m e d fu ll fro m d a w n u n til d u sk .

Visito r fe e s a re m a ssiv e ly u p a n d m e m b e rsh ip is fu ll. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so m e th in g S p e n c e le y a n d th e c o m m itte e n e v e r d re a m e d th e y â&#x20AC;&#x2122;d se e w h e n th e fu rn a c e w a s in fu ll fl o w . â&#x20AC;&#x153;D id w e e v e r th in k g e ttin g fu ll w o u ld c a u se a n issu e ? N e v e r in th is w o rld ,â&#x20AC;? h e in sists. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I n e v e r c o n te m p la te d w h a t th e d iff e re n c e w a s. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I try a n d ju g g le a ll th e b a lls â&#x20AC;&#x201C; v isito rs, m e m b e rs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a n d k e e p e v e ryo n e h a p p y. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a b o u t g e ttin g th e rig h t a m o u n t o f v isito rs, b e c a u se yo u n e e d tu rn o v e r, a n d

G C M A .O R G .U K

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G C M A | N E E D T O K N O W | IN D U S T R Y | C A R E E R S | G O O D P R A C T IC E | G R A S S R O O T S

m e m b e rs. I ju st th o u g h t ‘w e ’re so rte d , w e ’v e g o t e n o u g h m o n e y ’.

“It w a s so m e th in g y o u n e v e r th o u g h t a b o u t. Yo u w a n te d to g ro w b u t y o u d o n ’t re a lise it c a n g e t to th e e x te n t w e h a v e .

“It’s a g o o d p o sitio n a n d o u r re p u ta tio n n o w is g ro w in g . In

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th is a re a , I d o n ’t th in k a n yo n e c a n to u c h u s fo r th e g o lf c o u rse a n d th e w h o le p a c k a g e – c lu b h o u se , b a r a n d c a te rin g .”

T h a t’s b e c a u se w h e n th e d u st c le a re d w h a t it re v e a le d to th o se n e v e r b e fo re te m p te d to b e a t a p a th to its d o o r w a s a c o u rse o f

q u a lity.

It’s a la yo u t o f stro n g p a r 3 s, m in im a l b u t c o n siste n t b u n k e rin g , a n d a stiff e n o u g h c h a lle n g e fro m th e tip s th a t it c a u se d e v e ryo n e b a r A le x F itzp a tric k a h e a d a c h e in th e 2 0 1 7 Yo rksh ire A m a te u r.

B u t n o w th e o ra n g e c lo u d s h a v e

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p a rte d , a n d th e g lo rio u s lin ksla n d h a s b e e n re v e a le d , C le v e la n d a m b itio n s a re so a rin g e v e r h ig h e r.

“In m y 1 0 y e a rs, I’v e g o t to so m e w h e re I d id n ’t b e lie v e w e c o u ld g e t to . N o w w e ’re h e re , I k n o w w h a t w e ’d lik e to se e . W e ’d lik e O p e n re g io n a l q u a lify in g b u t

E D U C A T E

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y o u n e e d e v e ry th in g to b e rig h t.

“Yo u ’v e g o t to g e t yo u r fo o t in th e d o o r a n d b e b a n g in g yo u r d ru m . T h a t w o u ld b e th e p in n a c le , to se e p ro fe ssio n a ls try in g to q u a lify fo r th e O p e n c o m in g to p la y h e re .

“W e ’re o n th e to p o f th e w a v e

a n d lo n g m a y it c o n tin u e b u t w e c a n ’t sit b a c k n o w . W e ’v e g o t to k e e p p u sh in g .

“I d o n ’t w a n t it to sta y a ‘h id d e n g e m ’. I w a n t a w id e r a u d ie n c e a n d , w h e n p e o p le c o m e , it b rin g s m o n e y.”

G C M A .O R G .U K

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GCMA | NEED TO KNOW | INDUSTRY | CAREERS | GOOD PRACTICE | GRASS ROOTS

February 2020

STATISTICS UK&I 6,140

Holes-in-one made during February competitions

Total competitions recorded

46

159,773

Total rounds of golf recorded

Total holes-in-one (all time)

15,533 250,454 Total downloads of HowDidiDo app

1,307

eagles or better

66 | GCMA.ORG.UK

55,494 birdies

479,480

Stats provided by HowdidIdo.com

pars

E D U C AT E | I N F O R M | I N S P I R E

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