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Julien takes up key IOG position The IOG has appointed Julien Morris, formerly Head Groundsman at Coventry City Football Club, to the IOG-lead Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme as Regional Pitch Advisor for the East Midlands Region. His appointment extends the number of RPAs to 10, plus two key account managers, for the programme that aims to improve the standard of grassroots pitches and the skills of those who look after them throughout England and Wales. Aged 31, Julien brings to the role an extensive skills set and knowledge base after beginning his groundsmanship career as a 15-year-old volunteer at his local cricket club – Attleborough Sports – and, during the subsequent 16 years, also being club Julien Morris chairman, secretary, treasurer and groundsman. “It is this experience, in particular, that provides me with the ideal platform to understand the needs of the volunteer sector and what GaNTIP can do to improve playing surfaces and the skills and knowledge of those who maintain them,” explained Julien. “Being a volunteer myself, I am also well aware of the roles played within grassroots sports by County FAs and cricket boards.” Commenting on his appointment, GaNTIP Director Jason Booth, said that Julien would be welcomed on board at what is an exciting period for the programme. “Extensive work has been completed which has led to clear aims and objectives from the sponsors. “Julien’s experience will prove a valuable addition to what already is a very skilled and diverse team.”
4 | Turf Matters | May-June 2018
STALWARTS: Bill Mitchell, left, and Brian Owen
Two men, 102 years in the industry Two industry legends have hung up their hole cutters are a combined 102 years in the industry – indeed while Bill Mitchell remarkably spent all his 58 years at the same club, Perranporth GC, in the north coast of Cornwall, Brian Owen has served 25 of his own 44 years at Tadmartin Heath GC in Oxfordshire. Over the years, Bill has quietly and diligently cared for the links course of Perranporth, favouring a traditional approach to links greenkeeping and bringing genuine long-term sustainability to the club’s core. He proved over his career that it’s possible to stick to what you believe in – despite the fact that it goes against the industry norm – and achieve commercial success. He created and maintained fast and smooth surfaces high in fine fescues and kept low in disease-risk on a links course. It was, he says, his greatest achievement. “The fact that I proved it’s possible to maintain a natural links course is my biggest achievement, and the thing I am most proud of. “I hope I showed the next
generation that sustainable, natural links greenkeeping is not only possible but viable, that I took the difficulty out of it and perhaps inspired them to try it should they ever be in the privileged position of working on a links course.” Brian has worked at a variety of courses across the country, beginning at Southerndown Golf Club’s championship links course in Wales and finishing at the Oxfordshire-based, heathland course of Tadmarton. A particular highlight of Brian’s career was driving the recently completed bunker renovations forwards at Tadmarton. “The bunkers hadn’t undergone any big changes since the course was established in 1922, so they needed to be brought up to the same standard as the rest of the course. The renovations began five years ago and, this year, we completed the 64th and final bunker. To see it finished is the perfect sign off to my career!” One common factor is that they have both been loyal Toro users. “It’s possible to get results with dedication, vision and
hard work, just as much as it’s possible from big budgets or greenkeeping teams. As soon as it was no longer possible to support all British in my machinery choices, it was Toro I turned to. They’re the finest products and treat the ground with respect,” said Bill. For Brian, he recalled the 80s, when working on a remote Cornish links when they had to be self-sufficient. “Nowadays you can rely on your distributor or dealer for all your maintenance needs, just as we have at Tadmarton with Reesink Turfcare and Toro for many years.” When Brian joined as Course Manager in 1992, the club was buying one machine a year. “I convinced the board to lease hire instead of owning machines, meaning service came fully included, and gradually turned the fleet completely Toro to keep the course in the best possible condition. When it comes to machinery, quality over quantity is key, as is reliability.” Both men were presented with glass decanters by Reesink to commemorate their illustrious careers.