gmé | issuu 81

GolfManagement Europe

UK £6.00 Eur 7.00US $9.50

Not many individuals within the golf industry have had such a meteoric rise to stardom as

new Jacobsen president David Withers. page 25

what’s good for the gooseRetief Goosen once again chooses Southwest Greens to design and install a synthetic golf green at his new home

issue 81november 2011

ThE EssEnTial ManaGEMEnT publicaTion for EMEa Golf club opEraTors

Synthetic Golf Solutions by Southwest Greens®

Southwest Greens® delivers the most advanced synthetic turf system in the world. It combines the best materials with the most advanced and comprehensive installation techniques. By focusing on the “3 B’s” of our product’s performance - Ball Roll, Ball Acceptance and Ball Bite, we take pride in delivering a solution that performs to an exceptionally high standard on a long term basis.

Collaborating with the world’s best architects and builders, Southwest Greens® has developed a reputation around the world for delivering an end product that exceeds expectations, accomplished through flawless execution by the world’s most experienced installers. The end result compares with what you see on many of Europe’s finest golf courses.

Southwest Greens® provides synthetic solutions for golf courses, practice academies, hotel resorts, and many other commercial venues. These synthetic solutions include putting and chipping greens, tee lines and tee boxes, target greens, and various fun putting courses options. Through Southwest Greens® extensive distribution network across the EMEA region, we also offer many solutions for the residential setting.

+34 616 582 787 | [email protected]

www.southwestgreens.eu

Jiva Hill Golf Club – Crozet, France

NovembeR 2011 GME 3GolfmaNaGemeNtNeWS.com

publisher’s editorial

It’s not fashionable to applaud the Royal & ancient (R&a) for its wisdom. more to the point, the opportunity so to do very seldom presents itself.

but credit where it’s due. the R&a has brought in a rule amendment – which comes into effect on January 1 – which will make it much easier for golf clubs to raise revenue.

at a time when proprietary clubs are still scratching their heads about the unfairness of vat rulings and cursing the almost moribund economy, the ruling – lifting the ceiling on prize values for hole-in-one competitions – affords them a real shot in the arm.

It will make the business of selling soci-ety and corporate days a little easier, for they will be more exciting and attractive. Sam frederick goes into greater detail about the opportunities to clubs in a feature on page 34, but it falls to me to offer the proverbial pat on the back for our governing body.

for too long now elements of the rules have been regarded as anachronistic – and, arguably, none more so than a prize-value limit of £500. In today’s soci-ety that often doesn’t cover the costs of a visit from the local plumber.

the timing, of course, could not be bet-ter. as I write this I hear of the sad news that the Norfolk Golf & country club is scheduled to close just before christmas with the loss of 25 jobs. times are hard everywhere – and leisure industries are

often hit hardest as disposable income becomes harder to come by.

So well done the R&a for giving clubs at least one new avenue of revenue generation. and congratulations too, to the english Golf Union (eGU) and the eng-lish Women’s Golf association (eWGa) which will merge to form england Golf, also with effect from January 1.

the first day of the new year seems to be bringing nothing but good news. GME

rule change set to offer clubs financial lifeline

Michael [email protected]

Retief Goosen once again chooses Southwest Greens at his new home.

7

ewan mcKay is the man behind St andrews International Golf club.

19

one Irish company is taking europe by storm when it comes to smartphone apps.

28

the World of Golf centres are actively trying to change the image of golf.

37

Golf management europe is published six times per annum by PPc Portman.

PPC PortmanDeben House, main Road, martlesham, Woodbridge IP12 4SeUnited Kingdom

T 01394 380800 F 01394 380594E [email protected] www.golfmanagementnews.com

Associate Editor David bowersContributors mark alexander, michael brookers, tim earley, Samuel frederick, Kevin Nash, aidan Patrick, Peter Simm, bruce Weller

Publisher michael lenihanPrint the manson Group

Subscriptionsto ensure your regular copy of Gme, call 01394 380800 or subscribe online at www.golfmanagementnews.com

UK 6 Issues £36; 12 Issues £60Europe 6 Issues £42; 12 Issues £70World 6 Issues £48; 12 Issues £80

all rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Whilst due care to detail is taken to ensure that the content of Gme is accurate, the publisher cannot accept liability for errors and omissions.

© Portman Publishing and communications limited 2011

PPC

“The first day of the new year seems to be bringing nothing but good news.”

the sad passing of our editor, John vinicombe, has left a vacuum at GME which none of us felt inclined to fill or felt even capable of filling. John was with us from the very first edition, and was much respected by all and will be sorely missed.

So in keeping with sporting tradition, we have decided to retire the role of editor, with David bowers – also a veteran from day one – moving to the newly created position of associate editor. Rest assured that we will maintain the high standards that John always espoused.

4 GME NovembeR 2011

GME is mourning the death of editor John vinicombe, who passed away in a Hove nursing home, aged 82, after suffer-ing from skin cancer.

the long-serving former Brighton Argus sports report-er joined the south-coast paper in December 1954 after a stint with the Raf and following spells at the Press association and the Worthing Herald.

He was synonymous with excellent coverage of both the local football and crick-et team and brighton and Hove albion fc presented him with a barometer on his retirement from the paper in february 1994, signifying the hot and cold relationship between reporter and club in an association lasting more than 30 years.

John covered albion in all four divisions of english foot-ball. He was at Wembley for the high point in their history, the fa cup final and replay against manchester United in 1983.

one of his biggest scoops was breaking the news in 1973 that brian clough and Peter taylor were heading to the Goldstone Ground from Derby county.

John was also the Argus cricket correspondent, and reported on the county in Gillette cup and NatWest trophy final appearances at lord’s and captain tony Greig’s shock departure to the World Series with Kerry Packer.

following his retirement from the Argus, John contin-ued to write and took on the freelance role of editor at

PPc Portman, first with Football Management magazine, then Non-League Monthly and finally Golf Management Europe which launched under his auspices in 1997.

GME publisher michael lenihan said: “John was a great man to have around. Not just because of his extensive professional exper-tise and sports knowledge, but also because he was a great raconteur and had a wicked sense of humour.

“He was a great influence on younger members of the team, myself included, who all learned from him and looked up to him.

“His knowledge of sports – especially football, cricket and golf was unrivalled, and his help, guidance and support when launching GME was of immense value.

“His passing will be widely mourned, not just at Golf Management Europe, but at the Argus – where he contin-ued as the paper’s golf correspondent until his death – and at press boxes around the country, where he was always a popular figure.”

a widower, John was a father of three grown-up sons and had eight grand-children and three great grandchildren.

headline news

GME editor John Vinicombe dies after cancer battle

the PGa and the UK Golf course owners association have announced their commitment to work togeth-er in developing descriptors for positions commonly filled by PGa professionals in the golf industry.

as a result employers will be provided with sample role descriptors occupied by PGa members from which to draw up a contextual relevant job description for professionals they are seek-ing to engage.

With an increasing number of different roles filled by

PGa professionals, David colclough, PGa head of member education, sees the collaboration as an important step for the wider golf industry.

He said: “this collabora-tion was borne out of discus-sions with PGa professional and UKGcoa board member John Weir, and the potential to work with UKGcoa in providing a set of descriptors that can help employers, golf clubs and PGa professionals in a number of ways was an exciting opportunity.

“this should lead to golf course owners being further reassured that PGa profes-sionals are fully aware of their responsibilities when applying for a new position.”

the oldest municipal golf course in england is set for a massive 10-year makeover, which will include £1m spent in the first five years.

the huge improvement programme at bowring Golf club, in Huyton, merseyside will be carried out by the investment company mack Golf.

mack Golf director colm mccabe said: “We will improve the quality of the course greatly and make significant changes to the clubhouse... give it a more customer service feel rather than a railway station feel.”

His company, chosen by Knowsley council to work in partnership, has been given a 20-year lease to improve the course, car park and clubhouse.

bowring was built in 1907 and the original nine-hole course was laid out in 1913, but the club has seen membership numbers tumble from about 160 a few years ago to fewer than 70.

pGa and uKGcoa join forces to promote roles

the merger of the english Golf Union (eGU) and the english Women’s Golf association (eWGa) was approved last month at simultaneous general meet-ings of both organisations.

the merger will come into effect on January 1, 2012 and will create england Golf, one national govern-ing body to represent all amateur golfers in england.

the merger proposal was approved by 86 per cent of the voting members of the eGU, meeting at its head-quarters in Woodhall Spa; and by 100 per cent of the voting members of the eWGa, meeting at the National motor cycle museum at Solihull.

both organisations had to approve the proposal by a majority of at least 75 per

cent for it to be successful. In a joint statement, Nigel evans, chairman eGU and Sylvia Perrins, interim chair-man eWGa said: “this merg-er is in the best interests of golf and we are delighted that it has been given over-whelming support by our members.

“We look forward to a new era and to realising our vision for the future.”

EGu merger creates England Golf


news

the perfect finish every time... with our legendary eye for detail

Europe’s leading and largest manufacturer of cylinder mower blades and bottom blades.

Golf clubs from all over Europe — not just in the UK — have benefitted from the quick and accurate service that we provide, not to mention our competitive prices and friendly customer service.

Call NOW +44 (0)1902 826826

www.crocodilegolfproducts.com

6 GME NovembeR 2011

news

A ‘lucky’ Ryder Cup golf car used by european Solheim cup captain alison Nicholas previously played a frontline role at the 2006 Ryder cup, it has been revealed. the vehi-cle was one of 179 club car golf carts supplied to the Solheim cup at Killeen castle by the buggyman, Ireland’s leading golf car specialist.

International Golf Travel market, organized by Reed travel exhibitions, has announced that the algarve region of Portugal, is to host the 15th edition of the world’s premier global event for golf tourism suppliers, buyers and media, from November 12-15, 2012.

Bloxwich Golf Club may take pride in their greens, but now they have taken steps to ‘go green’ after carrying out major upgrading work. the club recently completed phase one of a significant redevelopment of the foot and buggy paths at bloxwich Golf club, which includes the use of 525 recycled car tyres.

A revolutionary electric golf battery charger which can be used in the car has been launched. the unique caddy charger charges any electric golf trolley bat-tery for a full round of golf in the owner´s car in less than one hour without draining the car battery.

John Deere turf dealer the Double a trading company of cupar, fife, has been appointed to take over the aberdeen-shire area from the previ-ous dealership, alpha Plus Groundcare.

in briEf;

St andrews links has become the first open championship venue to achieve the prestigious Geo certified™ ecolabel in recognition of its sustainabili-ty commitment and achievements.

St andrews links trust, which manages the seven courses at the Home of Golf has operated a sustainability programme for many years

and this approach was described by mike Wood, the accredited verifier, as being “close to defining an ideal model for sustainable management.”

a special plaque was presented to euan loudon, chief executive of St andrews links trust, by Jonathan Smith, chief exec-utive of the Golf environment organisation,

with George o’Grady, the chief executive of the european tour, and Peter Dawson, the chief executive of the R&a, in attendance.

euan loudon said, “We take our duty to manage St andrews links sustainably as a golfing resource for future generations extremely seri-ously. over the years we have won awards for the measures we have imple-mented and developed but this is certainly the most rigorous certification process we have gone through.

“We are delighted to achieve the Geo certified™ ecolabel and we are focused on continuing to introduce new sustainable methods and practices across the breadth of oper-ations at the links in the years ahead.”

George o’Grady said, “We congratulate St andrews links trust on their commitment and achieve-ment. this is the kind of lead-ership that the european tour are encouraging across all our venues as part of our own commitment to sustain-ability in golf.”

st andrews links Trust achieves GEo status

Russell Smith has been appointed as director of golf at close House. owner Graham Wylie said: “I am delighted to formally announce the appointment of Russell Smith as director of golf at close House.

“Russell is the former head golf pro and head of golf operations at Gleneagles golf course in Scotland — and this is a major coup for the North of england.

“there is no doubt that his experience in running an extremely high profile, large golf club will perfectly complement general manager John Glendinning’s experience.

“our heavyweight team, combined with the appoint-ment of lee Westwood as our attached tour Professional earlier this year, gives close House a truly unique edge.”

smith leaves Gleneagles to take up top job at close house

luxury hotels and golf clubs in Dubai have slashed their joining fees and membership rates as they look to ramp up numbers amid an economic slow-down.

Several five-star hotels and golf courses in Dubai have scrapped expensive joining fees while others are offering easier payment plans and added incentives to better reflect the financial climate.

Guy Wilkinson, managing partner at hospitality consul-tancy, viability said: “even the wealthy are being care-ful about their money these days. Demand has reduced in line with a general reduc-tion in the population of Dubai, as expatriates have lost their jobs and returned home or relocated.”

Jumeirah Golf estates is currently offering golfers a 15-month membership for

the same price as a year, whilst the montgomerie Dubai, which charges aeD26,500 for a single membership, has scrapped its joining fee and is allowing members to pay fees quar-terly or monthly.

However, demand at two of Dubai’s most popular courses, emirates Golf club and Dubai creek Golf & Yacht club, has remained high.

reduced demand for golf in Dubai


on the cover

facTfilE;

Southwest Greens emeac/Ronda de la Raya 7, Urb.

Raya del Palancar28691 villanueva de la cañada

madridSpain

TEl; (34) 91 899 1735

WEBlInK; SoUtHWeStGReeNS.eU

last month, Southwest Greens designed and installed a state of the art synthetic golf green at the new residence of Retief Goosen, in Surrey, england.

Goosen, a two-time winner of the US open,

moved house at the begin-ning of the year and was unable to export his existing Southwest Green from his old residence.

He’d used the green regu-larly for putting and chip-ping since it was built in 2008 and was keen to replicate the same facilities at his new home.

once Goosen had found the right location he instruct-ed Southwest Greens to design and install a green, giving more emphasis to longer chipping shots as well as putting.

Southwest Greens were able to visualise Goosen’s requirements and designed and shaped a 300m² zone, with 120m² of it being the synthetic golf green.

Using a professional golf course shaper, Southwest

Greens were able to provide Goosen with a challenging golf hole with various options to assist in practicing all types of short game golf shots.

With their trademark prod-uct – the Southwest Greens sand-filled Pro System – the green accepts approach shots from any distance, with the ball bite and ball roll reacting like you would expect to see on a PGa caliber surface.

“I am delighted with my new green, and I really appreciate the effort

Southwest Greens has taken to listen to my requirements, not only designing an excel-lent practice facility for me at home, but the amazing shaping work they did, rede-signing the garden area and incorporating the green perfectly with the surrounds,” said Goosen.

“on behalf of the entire Southwest Greens system, I would like to say what a pleasure it has been to work with Retief turning his vision into reality,” said Warren bailey, managing director of Southwest Greens UK. GME

“I am delighted with my new green, and I really appreciate the effort Southwest Greens has taken”

southwest Greens install new green for retief Goosen

Contact us:

T: 0845 223 2410E: [email protected]: www.crossovertec.co.uk

Crossover Technologies provide over 800 sites with fully integrated, easy to use,Golf specific software.

No longer do you have to struggle with multiple systems across your site. Finallyyou have the ability to unify every aspect of your Golf Club from Membershipto Pro Shop, Bar, Off/Online Tee Time bookings, Handicap and Competitions.With just one system, you will cut down administration, free up time and save money.

Combining the latest technologies with innovative ideas, you will also be able to take advantage of recent advancessuch as the Points 4 Golf system - proven to increase your membership and attract new players to your course.

Contact us to see how we can help your Club, Range, or Shop.

POINTS4GOLF • XBALL • XBAR • XBOOK • XCLUB • XPOS

X_Techno_Ad_July'11 180x127 20/7/11 17:02 Page 1

8 GME NovembeR 2011

news

a Hampshire parish coun-cil chairman horrified golfers when he strode up to a canada goose sitting by the fairway and blasted it dead with a shotgun.

Roger Deadman took the drastic step because he claimed the bird was ‘feral’ and a ‘crapping machine’.

after the incident, at Petersfield Golf club, a witness reported Deadman to the police.

Deadman, who has been a member of the club for 30 years, said he had permis-sion from the club’s general manager for the slaying. He also stated that he’d down-

loaded licences from Natural england.

and aldershot magistrates court cleared him of unlaw-fully killing a wild bird.

according to The Daily Telegraph, the 70-year-old told the court that he’d raised the issue of bird drop-pings on the fairways with the club manager, Peter badger, and also told him that one particular goose was killing other birds.

“I had a meeting with the general manager and mr badger asked me to deal with the problem – he said ‘sort it’.”

badger, however, told the court that he didn’t issue an instruction for the bird to be shot dead.

canada geese are protected in the UK by the Wildlife and countryside act, but can be shot in the interests of public health and safety.

Goose shot dead by parish council chairman

the captain of a Norfolk golf club which will close in December believes the course will be returned to agricultural use.

Speaking to the Eastern Daily Press, alec thornber, captain of the Norfolk Golf and country club (NGcc)

at Reymerston, said that owners Ray and Kate barlow told the club captains the business would be closing on friday, December 23.

thornber added: “Ray stated that he and Kate were retiring and were also no longer willing to support

the losses being made year on year at the club.

“We were aware that the club had been actively marketed for sale since last September.

“It is a sad fact that nearly all golf clubs, under the present economic climate, and who are struggling to attract new members are now worth more as agricul-tural land.

“the NGcc has always been noted for being a friendly place where the members and staff have always been proud to be associated with it.

“It’s a club that has the potential to be the premier golf and leisure facility in Norfolk. It already boasts one of the best courses, leisure facilities and PGa professionals in east anglia.

“We have some 370 golf members and 460 leisure members. Sadly this poten-tial will now never be real-ised.”

the business was put on the market in September with a guide price of £1.6m and thornber said that of 47 initial enquiries, there were eight serious prospective buyers who were interested in running the site as a golf and leisure complex.

after offers were invited in early November none were received, but eventually one was accepted from a local farmer, thornber told the newspaper.

the captain added that they were led to believe the farmer would convert the land back to agricultural use.

estate agent Savills indi-cated the owner would consider retaining the house and holiday home site and selling the golf and country club separately with a guide price of £1.25m.

barlow would not confirm the sale or closure of the club, when asked by the Eastern Daily Press.

norfolk club to return to agricultural use?

PGa catalunya Resort, barcelona, has appoint-ed Julio Delgado as its new chief executive offic-er to spearhead the estate’s next phase of growth.

Delgado brings a wealth of experience running some of europe’s leading golf resorts, the most recent of which was as general manager of Sicily’s sought-after Donnafugata Golf Resort and Spa.

Prior to that, he was managing director of the la manga club Resort and general manager of la cala, Spain’s largest golf resort, situated on the costa del Sol.

“Julio’s track record at world-class resorts speaks for itself,” commented David Plana, PGa catalunya Resort corpo-rate director and cfo at the Spanish resort.

“His business acumen and distinction made him the ideal candidate to help continue to build upon the success, reputa-tion and critical acclaim PGa catalunya Resort has received to date.”

the economic crisis has brought Hungary’s develop-ing golf industry to a halt, reports to Napi Gazdaság newspaper.

Swedish-owned Hungarian Golf Development has stopped construction of a 27-hole golf course near

csákberény after complet-ing 30 per cent of the course, and a Hungarian-Irish investment group stopped the construction of a 12-hole golf course in bicske, near budapest, after completing 60 per cent of the build.

Spain’s Sedesa Group did not even start construction of a planned golf course and resort near lake balaton.

Hungary currently has seven 18-hole, three nine-hole and three six-hole golf courses.

hungary’s development put on ice


news

24 to 26 January 2012

at the Harrogate International CentreNorth Yorkshire, UK

www.harrogateweek.org.ukOrganised by the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association

For free entry and to register, log ontoOver 7000 sports and recreational turf specialists from over 30 countriesOver 150 companies exhibiting across four hallsPlus, Continue to Learn - 22 to 26 January 2012Five days of education workshops and free seminars

exhibition in Europe

The ultimate

at the Harrogate International Centreexhibition in Europe golf course management

FREE Local Park and Ride

and to register, log onto

NEWDirect TrainService from

London

HW12_GCM_FP_1.2.indd 1 14/10/2011 11:02

Harradine Golf have signed a new design contract with terra Incognita for an 18 hole golf course in Shuchinsk, Kazakhstan.

the site is located along the shores of lake Shuchinsk and the slight elevations combined with the existing birch and pine trees will ensure a unique environ-ment.

the 6,705 yard par 72, routing will offer the possibili-ty of holding international tournaments, although Harradine Golf claims that

average players and begin-ners will not find the course difficult as it has been designed to be difficult to score but easy to play.

Special care has been taken to preserve specimen trees and four holes actually play along lake Shuchinsk.

the clubhouse is central and elevated with great views over the lake and dominating the course which includes a spacious driving range and state of the art training facilities.

the project, which will include a 100 bedroom

hotel, two marinas, 15 chalets and two artificial lagoons, has limited real estate designed in clusters

away from the course result-ing in the course being clas-sified as a “stand alone” facility.

officials in vietnam’s transport ministry have been banned from playing golf – after the game was blamed for their sub-par perform-ances in the office.

and golf even remains out of bounds for executives on weekends and holidays.

In a notice laying down the rules for managers in his

department, Dinh la thang, vietnam’s transport minister, blamed golf for their lacklus-tre performance.

the ministry’s website post-ed a statement saying thang had ordered all senior ministry officials and execu-tives of corporations under the ministry not to play the game.

their enthusiasm for golf has led to them ignoring their duties and responsibili-ties, according to the minis-ter. He said officials “have not actively given direction or administered their work, leading to the slow handling of affairs, which affects progress on projects and general operations.”

“one of the causes of this condition comes from staff spending too much time playing golf, including on holidays,” continued the minister.

the notice bars senior offi-cials and managers from playing golf or organising and participating in golf tournaments.

Transport Minister bans workers from playing golf

harradine signs design contract in Kazakhstan

10 GME NovembeR 2011

news

Garia, manufacturer of the first luxury golf car on the market, has entered into a relationship with world-fa-mous golf instructor Hank Haney who will integrate the Garia golf car into his professional and personal life. and with its many luxury features including a refrigerator built into the dashboard and a 45 de-gree golf bag holder, the Garia is perfectly suited as Hank Haney’s four-wheel companion on the green.

ProQuip will be the Preferred Weatherwear Supplier to the european team for the Ryder cup at medinah country club, Illinois, USa, from September 28-30, 2012, the company has announced. ProQuip will design and supply bespoke rain suits featur-ing fabric technology specially developed for captain José maria olazábal and his players.

Colt Mackenzie Mcnair, the specialist executive search firm operating exclusively in the golf market, has opened a new Honk Kong office to serve the day-to-day requirements of the burgeoning far east golf industry. Bernhard and Company, manufacturers of express Dual and anglemaster, have appointed Steven Nixon as sales manager – europe.

Over 100 greenkeepers and course managers, travelled from across the UK and Ireland, to attend the first StRI Research event in September, staged at StRI’s research facilities in bingley, West Yorkshire.

in briEf;

New images showing taymouth castle, Scotland, in spectacular autumnal colours have revealed the tantalising prospect that awaits the golfing world when the restored Highland castle and remodelled

James braid golf course opens next year.

the landmark develop-ment is seeing the historic building elegantly trans-formed into a luxury boutique hotel and spa, together with a collection of

private residences set amid a majestic sporting estate.

Scotland’s number-one home-based professional golfer, Stephen Gallacher, is working closely with course architects Weller Designs on renovating and remodelling the golf course, which opened in 1923.

“It is a great parkland course with some stunning views,” said Gallacher. “It is visually tempting on the eye, keeping the traditional James braid theme.

“I have been putting some fine touches to it, some shaping and bunker-ing. every time I come up, it has changed. It’s a course that will be enjoyed by all standards of players.”

the remodelled golf course includes a significant rerouting and two new holes constructed close to the River tay.

Taymouth castle restoration on course

Gary Johnstone is the links manager at Portmarnock Golf club, situated ten miles northeast of Dublin city centre on the Irish Sea coast, and has been reap-ing the benefits of his latest equipment purchased from local Ransomes Jacobsen dealer, Kevin broderick ltd.

Portmarnock Golf club was established in 1894 on land owned by the renowned distiller John Jameson, and today’s facili-ty is a 27-hole championship golf complex managed by Johnstone with a team of ten full-time staff, supple-mented by a further six in the summer months.

“the Jacobsen GP400 is an excellent triple mower,” he said. “We have three of them, all with the three-wheel drive option and they

cope really well with the slopes around the course.

“We use them for greens surrounds and tees and I believe they cut tighter and collect better than any other mower in this class.

“our lightweight fairway mower, the Jacobsen Slf

1880, has 18” cutting cylin-ders; quite small by fairway standards but that allows the units to closely follow the undulations on our links.

“Its smaller footprint makes it very manoeuvrable and less abrasive to the grass,” added Johnstone.

portmarnock reaping the benefits

a Staffordshire golf complex has entered into a corporate voluntary arrangement (cva) with its creditors as its debts rose to almost £200,000.

the deal will enable tamworth Golf centre to pay its debts over an agreed period of time.

However, a club spokes-man said although the

debts were caused by poor weather in the second half of 2010, the club still has a bright future, which will include the opening of a new driving range, as well as course improvements in 2012.

Ron maydon, director of tamworth Gc, said: “We got in arrears with the HmRc, PaYe and vat, but we

came to an arrangement with them to pay over a period of time.

“I would not work as hard at sustaining the course if I did not think there was a bright future for the club in tamworth.”

the club also owes its local authority, tamworth borough council, around £20,000 in rent.

Tamworth enter into cVa agreement


news

TRENCHERSAFT45 for compacttractors from 20hp

With chain or slitting wheel, augers orconveyor to quickly install drainage

systems, pipes or cables as and whenneeded. Ideal for sports turf, agricultural,

domestic and industrial markets.

01787 [email protected] • www.trenchers.co.uk

AFT45>Golf Manag Eur 11311:. 11/3/11 09:11 Page 1

a major project has just been completed by Sundridge Park Golf club, in Kent.

With over 1,200 members, a demand had been creat-ed to supply a more up-to-date storage facility for hundreds of golf bags and electric trolleys with battery charging services.

the club decided to erect a brand new building tailored to their needs by making the most efficient use of its space, and

carousel Golfing was select-ed to provide 200 ‘armadillo’ security lockers.

carousel Golfing manag-ing director, mike Waldren said: “the last 30 years have seen a dramatic change in the equipment used to play the game, and as a result many clubs have had to re-think the services they provide for members – none more successfully than Sundridge Park, who are one of the leading clubs in the london area.”

bray Golf club has purchased a new high-tech fleet of golf cars, each fitted with a state-of-the-art Guardian system, from club car – the first club in Ireland to take advantage of the cutting-edge technology.

With the lease of bray’s current fleet of petrol cars up for renewal, the members’ club – established in the 19th century – opted

to invest in a new collection of zero emission golf cars.

the club particularly required robust and well-built vehicles with reliable brakes that could comforta-bly handle its undulating and tiered fairways and greens.

“the specific nature of our course meant that we need-ed to test the golf cars on site before making an

appropriate purchasing decision – buying off-spec was not an option,” explained alan threadgold, general manager of bray Golf club.

“following these rigorous tests and assessing perform-ance against our specific scoring matrix, club car came out ahead of those market competitors we also evaluated.”

because of Ireland’s vary-ing weather conditions, the club has been unable to use golf cars on the course as much as they’d like.

However, with the intro-duction of the Guardian Svc-integrated fleet, the club has been able to create designated areas and paths over which the golf cars can run freely with-out damaging the course.

bray impressed with Guardian system from club car

sundridge park respond to carousel demand

A REVOLUTION IN GOLF BAG LOCKERS

Tel: +44 (0)1242 702967Email: [email protected]

The Carousel Golf Bag Storage System is easy to install, safe to use, and allows your club to increase, and often treble your golf bag storage capacity. Make more money for your golf operation by providing a top level of service to more and more of your customers.

Installations include:

Dun Laoghaire,R&A St Andrews, Penha Longa,The K Club, Portmarnock,Aphrodite Hills and Sundridge Park.

View a demo video online at

www.carouselgolfing.com


news

the PGa centenary course at Gleneagles is staging the 2014 Ryder cup and as part of an upgrading of course care facilities 600 sprinkler heads have been replaced.

the work was carried out by Souters Irrigation Services, a specialist arm of sports turf contractor Souters Sports set up specifically to handle irri-gation refurbishment and installation projects.

the course’s irrigation heads had been in use since its construction in 1990 and as Gleneagles Golf courses and estates manager Scott fenwick put it there was growing concern over their long term reliability.

“the aim of the upgrade was to see that irrigation on the PGa centenary course was always 100 per cent efficient at all times,” said fenwick.

“Rainfall levels here have actually been steadily rising over the past five years and £800,000 has been recently spent on new drainage.”

Now in place for the length of the centenary course are toro’s dual trajectory full and part circle Dt34b and Dt35b sprinklers with 15 or 25 degree setting option simply by turning the main nozzle.

souters finish irrigation upgrade at Gleneagles

the PGa of Switzerland has become the first nation-al golf association partner formally to support madrid-based biotee® and to adopt the Spanish-made degrada-ble product as its official tee.

While it’s true to say that Switzerland is invariably

more closely linked with sports like skiing and moun-tain-climbing, golf nonethe-less occupies a significant position in the country’s league tables of revenue-generation, land asset ownership and public partic-ipation.

the association is the first eco-partnership of this type the Swiss PGa has entered into and quietly underscores the governing body’s commitment to the national golfing and land manage-ment infrastructure.

biotee is produced by biotech Solutions in madrid using renewable energy. all packaging and dyes are also 100 per cent biode-gradable.

the performance of the tees is as one would expect. they are not intended to enhance ball flight or distance but it is the creden-tials of the product and the manufacturing process that sets biotee above other ‘green’ products that claim legitimacy.

Swiss-based distributor caligari Golf equipment aG in bad Ragaz is managing the biotee distribution to eU territories. “We are appeal-ing to golfers to adopt a green approach to buying

tees,” explains caligari director olivier Widrig.

“there’s no distance advantage or anything like that so if we’re appealing to their environment-consciences, it’s only reasonable for them to expect that their choice of biotee is really making an effective contribution to the environment, and not just a change of brand.”

biotee, claims to be the only organic tee made from plant cellulose that (when discarded) completely degrades within a year.

Naturally, the tees can be used multiple times in rain and wet conditions without losing their functionality.

“Without any sacrifice of performance you actually have a tee that endures more strikes than a conven-tional tee anyway,” added olivier Widrig.

“there really is no reason for golfers not to switch to biotee.”

swiss pGa moves to safeguard environment

the future of three aberdeen golf clubs is unclear after merger plans were rejected by the members of just one of the clubs.

Northern, bon accord and caledonian golf clubs all rely on income from supporters of aberdeen football club on matchdays, but the Scottish Premier league team is moving from nearby Pittodrie to loirston loch in 2013, which could lead to all three clubs going bank-rupt.

members of the three clubs voted on a proposed merger – supported by Scottish Golf Union chief execu-tive Hamish Grey and aberdeen city council – to become Kings links Golf club.

While Northern support-ed the motion unani-mously and bon accord members also voted in favour, caledonian members voted against the amalgamation.

the decision leaves the future of all three clubs in the balance.

Head greenkeeper colin Pringle of Heworth Golf club has just purchased a second aft 45 machine to help maintain his 18 hole course which was built on clay soil.

He said: “our biggest issue has always been drainage and we installed a complete main drainage system using

an aft 45 trencher, 12 years ago,” said Pringle.

“We have recently purchased a second aft 45 to operate alongside the original and we use it all year round to maintain the extensive drainage lines.”

the aft Sandbander has revolutionised the way sand

slits are installed on sport surfaces. the unique blade design and oscillating move-ment installs drainage slits with well consolidated sand.

In this instance the Sandbander has been used to successfully divert surface water on the greens to the existing lateral drains.

repeat business for afT at heworth


news

turnberry Resort, Scotland, recently became the second open championship venue to trial envirobunker an innovative bunker face and edge solu-tion that requires no mainte-nance, has a design life in excess of 20 years, resists all forms of erosion and is also environmentally friendly.

built entirely from re-cycled materials envirobunker looks and performs like a traditional turf bunker but with none of the associated problems.

turnberry followed in the footsteps of St andrews who commissioned envirobunker in July. euan Grant, course manager at turnberry said: “a lot of our regular golfers and staff have already commented on how natural envirobunker looks.

“We are delighted with the outcome of the job and will consider building more envirobunkers on our prac-tice area in the future.”

envirosports, designers and owners of the IP rights to envirobunker have recently built at golf clubs such as Goswick, Northampton county, Sand moor and Yelverton.

clive millar, club manager at Goswick said: “Having completed envirobunker on our ninth hole we have built a further bunker under licence and will build more in the near future.

“Greens staff and members alike have been nothing but positive in their reaction to envirobunker.”

Initially designed for revet-ted faces envirobunker has evolved over the past three years and has now been installed at many inland courses with great success.

Royston Golf club, a heathland course as well as a SSSI site, was the first club to agree a full licence with envirosports ltd. Ian coote, head greenkeeper at Royston said: “So impressed

were we with the results of the bunker built on our 15th hole we immediately decid-ed to pursue a licence agreement to build more.

“We have now begun a full re-construction project that will see all our bunkers re-built using envirobunker.”

a director of envirosports commented: “everyone who has seen envirobunker first hand has been unani-mous in their praise.

“Just recently representa-tives from Seaton carew Golf club attended a demo event we hosted and as a result immediately suspend-ed their bunker building program for this off season

and entered discussion with us regarding commissioning envirobunker.

“We have since built envirobunker there and are discussing building 20 to 30 bunkers next year.

“from steep revetted faces to shallow edges and sand splash faces, envirobunker is a solution that represents huge main-tenance and cost savings over it’s lifetime.

“It eradicates all the prob-lems associated with bunker face erosion and damage and guarantees that bunkers look fantastic and remain that way for decades rather than years.”

Turnberry latest club to trial Envirobunker


company profile WEBlInK; INteRNatIoNalGolfDeveloPmeNt.com

Golf has always had a problem with its image.

Traditionally viewed as an elite sport with ageing memberships, the game is seemingly facing a constant battle to attract new people from all walks of life to clubs.

This is, if anything, harder than ever these days as courses strive to fight the effects of the on-going recession, falling memberships and competition from other sports and leisure activities.

But one UK-based company is helping lead the fightback as it tries to break down barriers and bring golf participation to the masses at a grass roots level.

International Golf Development (IGD) is dedicated to increasing the numbers playing the game by creating an environ-ment that provides easy access for all. IGD provides a pathway and structure that enables players to learn and have fun so they can enjoy a lifetime in golf.

Offering a unique approach to the game that is poised to revolutionise the sport for a whole new generation of golf-ers, the company, which provides access to a variety of different products, offers a complete and comprehensive system of coaching programmes that enables anyone to take up the game and acquire a golfing education.

Guy Higton, director of IGD, said: “We are a sports development group trying to provide value for its members and communities by increasing participation in golf and improving the infrastructure.

“IGD is a unique blend of companies which focuses on promoting and growing golf on the grass roots level.

“Other than apparel and external golf courses, we are self encompassing. What we are not trying to do, though, is inter-fere with any work that the Golf Foundation is doing.

“They do some tremendous things and we are seeking to compliment their work and work alongside them in encouraging people to play golf.

“The great thing about golf is that it’s a life sport,” explained Higton. “You can pick up a club aged four and still be play-ing until you die, and there aren’t many sports like that.”

Through its forward-thinking set-up, the likes of synthetic surfaces specialist European Golf, SNAG (Starting New at Golf) – the revolutionary new way to attract beginners to golf – Tenngolf, Duchell UK and i-KAN GC Golf Components all fall under the IGD umbrella.

European Golf is renowned as one of the leading industry suppliers of synthetic greens, driving ranges and short courses and only last month launched two new signature greens designed and endorsed by Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke, while Tenngolf has been designed to help increase practice facilities for beginners by converting a tennis court into a golf academy.

Duchell UK, in association with i-KAN GC, was founded last year to service and provide premier products to the golf driv-ing range industry while i-KAN, to help raise awareness of its new retail brand, signed an agreement with Sheffield Football Club in August to be their shirt sponsors this season.

But it is with its role in promoting SNAG to the European market that IGD has had most influence on attracting newcomers of all ages.

Designed to make golf easier, less expensive and more fun to learn, the Hull-based company has developed a golf educational programme that requires little in the way of space, is affordable by all and, most of all, is hugely enjoyable take part in.

Featuring a range of brightly coloured equipment, SNAG is an innovative “first touch” product that is easy to use, can be used by anyone from the age of four upwards in a space of around 50 yards and is a fabulous teaching and learning aid.

Why snaG is the future

as Peter Simm discovers, a british company is helping european clubs introduce the game of golf to kids from all backgrounds.


The SNAG® Coaching Kit – The New Tools of the Trade

The easiest and quickest way to learn how to play golf and have fun, that’s what SNAG® is all about – Starting New At Golf.

The SNAG® method combines a radical product range with proven teaching tools,

delivering real results.

The kit includes over 200 products, enabling you to effectively deliver your business and community programmes.

What’s on your SNAG® list?

Join the revolution in golf development today at

www.snageurope.com

Call 01482 333 123

Higton explained: “SNAG is the best first-touch golf system in the world and it should be the first starting point for people in golf.

“Golf can sometimes be very compli-cated when you are starting out but this is the opposite. It’s very straightforward and simple.

“Golf can also sometimes take the fun element out of the game and it’s very

important that is retained. All too often, a person has a few lessons then goes to the course and hits a bad first tee shot with lots of members watching.

“Their confidence levels go right down as a result so when it comes to going back next week they often find something else to do.

“With SNAG, we promote the funda-mentals of the game in a fun way and encourage participation.

“Each club is cavity backed and has been designed with the correct loft, align-ment and balance. It is great for educating people about the game’s basics and will open up the sport to the masses.”

Developed in America and already a huge success across the Atlantic and in Japan, SNAG has made an equally big impact since it was launched in Europe by IGD two years ago.

Higton estimates that thousands of new players have been introduced to the game

across the continent since 2009, while the company recently became an approved supplier for Foremost Golf, offering them access to more than 1,000 club profes-sionals in the UK.

SNAG is ideal for helping local authori-ties and community organisations promote and improve activity, especially in inner city areas where open space is at a premium, while leading European Tour

coach Scott Cranfield is IGD’s head of training and uses the product with his clients, and even with professionals.

“The take up in Austria and Germany has been fantastic, the Czech Republic has taken to it very well while I know the Benelux countries are looking to do something as well,” added Higton.

“People are using the programmes all the time and we would like to expand. The logical step in the future would be to set up league and competition networks both nationally and internationally.

“Having Scott Cranfield endorse SNAG has had a big impact for us. He is well recognised in the industry, he physi-cally uses the product when he is teaching which is great and he has access to promoting change in the game.”

With such a ringing endorsement, expect IGD to be at the forefront of promoting the game to all parts of Europe in the years to come. GME

“With SnAG, we promote the fundamentals of the game in a fun way and encourage participation.”


synthetic surfaces WEBlInK; SoUtHWeStGReeNS.eU

When teenage prodigy Matteo Manassero was looking for an all-weather practice facility on which to work at his chipping and putting, he called in the experts.

And the young Italian is far from being the only top professional to enlist the services of Southwest Greens... South African ace Retief Goosen is another satisfied client, plus there have been ring-ing endorsements from stars such as Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose and Jim Furyk.

Following the company’s formation 16 years ago, it quickly built up a solid repu-tation for quality products and service, chiefly the construction of putting greens in private gardens... including those of the men on the illustrious roll of honour above – oh, and let’s not forget the great Annika Sorenstam.

But more recently there has been another crucial string to the company’s bow, with a steady increase in the construction of golf courses (mainly, but not exclusively nine-hole or “compact” courses), academies and training facilities.

Kevin Holinaty, president of Southwest Greens EMEA and Asia, says the compa-ny continues to do what is it has always done very well, but is also increasingly enlisting the services of specialists in areas

such as golf course shaping.“Our philosophy has

always been to source the best materials at any cost.

“Then it’s a case of using the right type, and the right amounts of those materials. Location and climate are absolutely vital too... an installation in northern Europe, where the temperature can often drop below freezing, for example, will be approached in a different way to a similar facility in southern Spain.

“But there is another important point to consider... and that’s the craftsman-ship.”

Holinaty says experienced and highly-trained installers are key: “There is much

more to what we do than simply looking at it as like laying a carpet.

“A team of installers will typically number between six and 12 people, but we’re under no illusions that we can do absolutely everything, which is why we’ll work so closely with shapers to ensure a seamless transition from groundwork, through base work to the finished prod-uct... and that is something we do, and have been doing all over Europe – it is unique in our industry.

“Basically, if it is put in well, then it will function. And that is defined by its high level of performance.”

He adds: “Over the years we’ve found that the best in class materials we use account for about 30 per cent of our success, while the remaining 70 per cent is down to the installation process and the skill of the people that work for us.

“There is a great deal of thought and skill – as well as effort – that goes into what we do.”

Following the custom design process, work is carried out using top-of-the-range longer-bladed turf fibres from top suppli-ers, on a compacted sub-base, which gives the surface a bent grass-like “bounce-back” quality.

sWG shaping a new 3G future

“Our synthetic greens react in exactly the same way as more conventional surfaces. You can hit approach shots from any distance and stop the

ball on the greens.”

as fIfa approves the use of third generation synthetic football pitches, Kevin nash speaks to Southwest Greens about the use of synthetic 3G technology in golf.


Throughout the whole process, from design onwards, there are maintenance issues to consider.

“It’s not true to say that synthetic surfaces are maintenance-free,” says Holinaty. “There is always a degree of maintenance involved, although much less than would be the case for a traditional grass surface.

“And when designing and installing a synthetic green it’s absolutely vital to consider how much use it is likely to get.”

One of Southwest Greens’ landmark projects – a nine-hole course at a luxury hotel, Jiva Hill, in Crozet, France – is located in the Jura Mountains, where it gets very cold in winter, and where it simply wasn’t viable to employ a sizeable maintenance team.

“They’re very pleased with it, three years on, and it’s always playable, apart from when it’s under snow, of course,” says Holinaty.

The company has been making big strides since Jiva Hill, though, with major projects in Mauritius, Morocco and even Moscow, where they’ve completed a nine-hole course. One of the big success stories has been in Holland, at Golf Centrum Amsteldijk, just outside Amsterdam.

Here Southwest Greens was contracted to install all synthetics at the facility. The project included a 1,000 square metre putting green (in the World of Putting) with Golden Bear Turf, a 4,000 square metre World of Chipping/Pitching area, which included a putting surface featur-ing a shock pad system and tailor-made

1,500 square metre second cut; plus 2,000 square metre range area... even the bunkers are synthetic!

Southwest Greens have been market leaders for the best part of 20 years, with breakthroughs such as the shock-pad system, a layer beneath the synthetic surface that helps to keep the green soft, along with the Southwest Greens Cup System 2.0 – a revolutionary system that allows for the correct dimensions of the golf hole.

And advances in technology continue to see improvements in the product, so that the difference between grass and synthetic is almost indiscernible.

“Of course, we all want to play classic courses in classic conditions,” says Holinaty, a keen and very capable golfer himself. “But it’s not always possible.

“Our synthetic greens react in exactly the same way as more conventional surfaces. You can hit approach shots from any distance and stop the ball on the greens. You can make the ball bite and spin.”

As well as mainland Europe, Southwest Greens is looking to expand into Asia, with the focus on course and practice facility construction as well as the more traditional domestic and business market.

Just as the performance of “third gener-ation” soccer pitches have achieved FIFA’s approval, and synthetic surfaces are an accepted factor in top-class tennis, the rise of synthetic turf systems is trans-forming the game of golf all over the world. GME

Wor

ld o

f chi

ppin

g/Pi

tchi

ng, G

olfc

entru

m, a

mst

eld

ijk, t

he N

ethe

rland

s


New name,same people,same products

Scotts Professional is now Everris.

Driven by innovation Inspired by nature

Tel: +31 418 655700 | Email: [email protected] | www.everris.com


club focus

For many golfers, the idea of walking the hallowed links of St Andrews is little more than a pipe dream. For those who succumb to the magnetism of the Home of Golf, experiencing the special aura that surrounds it can be awe-inspiring. It is, after all, a place that resonates with histo-ry and fires every possible golfing sensa-tion. St Andrews is special.

For those fortunate enough to play there, the view from inside the ropes is equally beguiling, although getting to know the place can be a task in itself.

Few then have had the chance to get under the skin of the town; even less have had the opportunity to shape the look and feel of the place. Those who have, belong to an exclusive club that has a strict entrance policy.

Ewan McKay, (pictured above) a Scottish entrepreneur, is attempting to join that elite group. “It is a special place, which is great for us,” says the project director of the first private golf club with its own course to be considered at the Home of Golf.

The plans for St Andrews International Golf Club include an 18-hole golf course, practice range, putting green and a high-end boutique clubhouse with 41 luxuri-ous suites and spa facilities for members and their guests.

The club is scheduled to open during the summer of 2014 although progress has been slow. Indeed, work was only expected to begin on site towards the end of 2011.

After all, the idea of creating a private members’ club is hardly earth-shattering. Indeed, if a similar scheme had been proposed close to a well-to-do commuter village on the outskirts of Edinburgh, few eyebrows would have been raised.

But as the proposed site overlooks St Andrews, the idea has been met with hoisted heckles. Needless to say, Fife Council has been busy preparing various planning criteria, including a financial bond, designed to placate local disquiet.

While the idea of a private club has sent local alarm bells ringing, McKay sees it as an opportunity too good to miss.

Is there really room for another course at St andrews? Mark Alexander plots the progress of the latest offering

at the Home of Golf.

home Truths


“The fact that St Andrews didn’t have a private club with its own course was an opportunity. Look at Edinburgh. There are lots of private clubs down there so there’s obviously demand for it.”

Although his theory is yet to be tested, what is palpable is the waft of opposition to the project. “There was a prolonged debate with Fife Council over our request to make it a private facility – they didn’t want that at all,” McKay admits.

“But we explained that we wouldn’t displace golfers from other facilities - quite the opposite in fact. We would bring golfers in who clearly wouldn’t want to play just at their own club for a week. More likely, they would play all around Fife.”

As importantly, he argues, the new course would not compete with what is already in St Andrews, although there will be limited public play. “I wouldn’t be involved in another pay-and-play course,” he explains.

“There is plenty of competition for that in St Andrews already, and I think you would struggle if you went down that route. I wouldn’t want to compete against the seven courses run by the Links Trust.”

Instead, McKay is up against local mutterings that whisper of a blighted venture riddled with planning irregulari-ties. While the latter may be up for debate, the initial allegation does hold water.

The idea of an 11th course at St Andrews was first floated when an initial bid came to the attention of the local press seven years ago.

At that time McKay had identified a site just south of St Andrews over-looking the picturesque town.

The Feddinch plan caught the eye of California-based developer Tim Blixseth who was introduced to McKay through golf course architect Tom Weiskopf, who in turn had been commissioned by the American to design a course at his ultra-exclusive Yellowstone Club in Montana.

A deal was struck and although McKay was retained as a consultant, the project was now under Blixseth’s control.

The idea was to expand the principle of a private destination club so that Yellowstone’s jetset members could enjoy some of the world’s most desirable desti-nations – including St Andrews.

Although planning for the project, which included accommodation and a Weiskopf-designed course, had been approved, it failed to materialise due to the demise of Blixseth’s marriage.

As part of the divorce, Blixseth handed over Yellowstone Club and the St Andrews development to his ex-wife Edra, with both properties falling into bankruptcy soon after. Feddinch was now in the hands of the receivers.

As the lawyers fought over the paper-work, McKay could do little to rescue the flailing project. But then, in 2010, he made a timely bid and got his land back.

“It was genuinely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I was delighted when I got it back because I wanted to see the project fulfilled. Now I have an element of control, I can keep things going.”


So what will an 11th course at St Andrews look like? Well, we know it will be played over 7,373 yards from the back pegs, which is a subtle reference to Weiskopf’s 1973 victory at the Open Championship at Royal Troon, and it will have an extra 19th hole for settling tied matches.

More importantly, it will be laid out over farmland rather than through a sand-laden dunescape.

“It’s not going to be a links golf course,” says McKay. “It will be open but the ground has great movement, so it will represent an exciting and interesting chal-lenge. There won’t be much water, but there will be plenty of gorse and heather – it will be pretty.”

To date, Weiskopf’s only Scottish design has been the striking Loch Lomond Golf Club which he laid-out with Jay Morrish. If this idyllic track is anything to go by, St Andrews International should be a stunner.

Add to that a 14-day annual accommo-dation entitlement and playing privileges for the member’s spouse or partner and children up to the age of 30, and the pros-pect of St Andrews International Golf Club membership becomes appealing.

Unfortunately, membership is by invita-tion only, and if you get the call, you will be expected to shell out £100,000 for the

privilege – 20 per cent of that will cover the entry fee while the rest will go into the equity of the club.

Annual fees are projected at £5,000 which includes the costs associated with the 14 days of accommodation.

By anyone’s standards, these are hefty figures, especially in today’s climate of economic uncertainty. Surely now isn’t the time to bring such a lofty offering to the market?

“I understand the constraints of the recession, but there are a considerable number of people out there with deep pockets looking for somewhere to invest,” McKay says confidentially.

“Putting your money in the bank at the moment isn’t very clever, putting your money in the stock market isn’t very clev-er, however as long as you accept the principle that people will come to St Andrews and buy membership of a private club with accommodation, then I believe your investment will make a return. If you don’t believe it, don’t do it.”

With 500 founder members expected to own 75 per cent of the issued share capital, St Andrews International Golf Club could be a shrewd investment for mega-wealthy golfers with money to burn.

It could also languish in these challeng-ing times.

We will have to wait and see. GME

“there are a considerable number of people out there with deep pockets”

10837_GXi8 GKI AD AW.indd 1 09/08/2011 13:26

sEpTEMbEr 2012

3

4567

8

9

29

30

31

11

12

13

14151617

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

23

242526272829

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

yearplanner 2012

24-26BTME/Clubhouse [Harrogate]25-28PGA Merchandise Show [orlando]

mon

tue

Wed

thu

fri

Sat

Sun 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

30

31

The right choice.visit www.toro.com

January 2012

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

29-March 1Golf Industry Show [las vegas]

mon

tue

Wed

thu

fri

Sat

Sun

1

2

3

4

5

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

27

28

29

fEbruary 2012

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

mon

tue

Wed

thu

fri

Sat

Sun

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

28

29

30

31

May 2012

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

14-17US Open [the olympic club]

mon

tue

Wed

thu

fri

Sat

Sun

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

25

26

27

28

29

30

JunE 2012

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

4-6IOG SAlTEX [Windsor]28-29Ryder Cup [medinah country club]

mon

tue

Wed

thu

fri

Sat

Sun

1

2

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

24

25

26

27

282930

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

9-11TGI Golf Show [Harrogate]

mon

tue

Wed

thu

fri

Sat

Sun

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9101112

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

ocTobEr 2012

Turf Equipment &Irrigation Solutions

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

13

14

15

16171819

July 2012

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

26

27

28

293031

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

12

3

4

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

6

7

8

9101112

yearplanner 2012

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

The right choice.visit www.toro.com

1Golf Industry Show [las vegas]29-30Golf BIC [birmingham]

mon

tue

Wed

thu

fri

Sat

Sun

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

March 2012

16171819

20

21

22

5-8The Masters [augusta National]16-18China Golf Show [beijing]

mon

tue

Wed

thu

fri

Sat

Sun 1

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

april 2012

16

17

18

19202122

19-22The Open [Royal lytham & St annes]

mon

tue

Wed

thu

fri

Sat

Sun 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

9-12US PGA [Kiawah Island]16-19Golf Europe [augsburg]

mon

tue

Wed

thu

fri

Sat

Sun

1

2

3

4

5

27

28

29

30

31

auGusT 2012

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

12-15International Golf Travel Market [vilamoura]

mon

tue

Wed

thu

fri

Sat

Sun

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

1213141516

17

18

26

27

28

29

30

noVEMbEr 2012

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

mon

tue

Wed

thu

fri

Sat

Sun

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

DEcEMbEr 2012

Turf Equipment &Irrigation Solutions


We want to sell your Golf Course in 2012!Buyers waiting in the UK and across Europe...We have buyers and investors wishing to purchase golf courses throughout the UK, Ireland and across Europe, so if you are serious about selling your golf club in 2012, then register your interest at ppcgolf.com

[email protected]+44 (0)1394 380800

GolfPPCInternational Golf CourseProperty Brokers

PPC

Code: GME/09/11/GEO

Ransomes Jacobsen are proud to be a premier partner of GEO

Ransomes Jacobsen LtdWest Road, Ipswich, IP3 9TT UK+44 (0)1473 270000www.ransomesjacobsen.co.uk

working together for a sustainable futureLooking to change your approach to commercial mowing? Then contact Ransomes Jacobsen for further information

When Performance Matters®

GME GEO halfpage ad REV4_Layout 1 26/08/2011 13:56 Page 1


in personWEBlInK; RaNSomeSJacobSeN.com

Not much moves quickly in the golf industry – even golf professionals carry on playing into their 50s and have a length of career of which other sportspeo-ple can only dream.

But one career which has moved rather swiftly is that of David Withers, a former product demonstrator, who has gone from regional sales manager to president of turf maintenance equipment manufac-turer Jacobsen in just 19 years.

Now 46, Withers joined Jacobsen in 1992, as a regional sales manager cover-ing the south-west of England after three years as a demonstrator with Charterhouse Turf Machinery.

It is a rise and rise which has taken even the man himself a little by surprise.

He smiled: “It’s amazing really; I can’t get past the surprise myself. For the last five or six years I’ve been doing the MD’s job here in Ipswich, so the next logical step was this one.”

It is a step which will mean a move to North Carolina, for the banking city of Charlotte is where Jacobsen – and subse-quently Withers – is based.

“I will move to America and will be an American employee. Initially, at least, I need to immerse myself in the US market. It’s a market I have some experience of, but don’t know it well. I’ve been over there a lot but it’s not the same as living there.

“I know the European market pretty well after 20-odd years and we will carry on with the direction I’ve been setting for the last few years over at Ipswich. I want to make sure we are totally focused on the customer side of the business.

“I’m a great believer that we won’t delight our shareholders until we delight our customers. I think we’ve done that over here and in the US but I think, maybe, there’s more we can learn from each other.”

Withers career path at Jacobsen and later at Ransomes Jacobsen has given a real insight into the European golf and grounds care markets. He joined Jacobsen, who at that time were based in Kettering, as a regional sales manager in 1992, and just three years later he was promoted to national accounts manager, a

Withers elected new president of Jacobsen

last month, David Withers completed a meteoric rise from product demonstrator to president of Jacobsen in under 20 years. Publisher, Michael lenihan met up with him at his Ipswich hq.


new position that Withers looks back upon with fond memories:

“In 1995, the company gave me the opportunity to create a new role as national accounts manager, a position that although big in the US, had never been tried in the UK.

“The role was created around the same time that we took on the distribution of Iseki, so we were restructuring Jacobsen anyway to accommodate the Iseki guys coming in and decided to setup the new role of national accounts manager.

“It was a great position, as no one else in the industry was doing the same thing as we were – up until now it was the best job I ever had.”

Following the merger of Jacobsen and Ransomes in 1998 – after the acquisition by Textron – Withers relocated from his home in Kettering to Suffolk, and took over the role of UK sales manager at Ransomes Jacobsen (pictured opposite page, top right.)

“Following the merger, I was tasked with the role of overseeing turf products for both Ransomes and Jacobsen brands, and for the first time I had a team of regional sales managers working for me.

“Initially at that time we had a Jacobsen team and a Ransomes team, with separate distribution, separate products, separate everything… it was an interesting and challenging time bringing it all together under one company, but we did it.”

In 2002, Withers took on the role as sales and marketing director, a role which the former demonstrator clearly revelled in: “I’ve always quite enjoyed marketing, as I’ve always enjoyed talking to people and spending time with people.

“The product part of marketing is an element I have always been very, very interested in.”

But after only two years in sales and marketing, Withers rise from regional manager to head man was complete, after he was appointed as the company’s managing director in 2004, eventually reporting directly to the president of Jacobsen in the United States.

But Withers doesn’t dwell on his past – he’s focussed on, and very upbeat about, the future of the company, which is clearly inextricably entwined with his own. He said: “My expertise is in sales and custom-er facing areas so I’ve split the strategic parts of the business – engineering, HR, IT, finance – and the directors of these business departments in Ipswich will report to a vice-president in Charlotte.

“A lot of that already existed anyway. While they’re all part of the management team in Ipswich we did have a matrixed structure, so we’ll continue with that.

“The customer-facing guys in sales, marketing and product management will continue to report directly to me. In my role as managing director of Ransomes Jacobsen, I was given a lot of licence to do what I felt was best over here and the customer-facing departments ran sepa-rately from Charlotte.

“That’s because the market in the UK, Europe and MEA is significantly different from that in the Americas. I’m going to spend my time on the customer-facing areas globally, so I’ll be spending three weeks a month in Charlotte, one week a month here and then one week per quar-ter in Asia.

“When we have a management meeting over here and I’m in Charlotte I just dial in on a conference call; and when I’m over here and the management meeting is happening in Charlotte I dial in from here.

“We’re going to try it like that for a year and if it needs reviewing, we’ll look at it then. I want to see us work more closely together and I know we can do that.

“One of the things that has always struck me is that we take a lot of custom-ers from the UK to America – to the GIS Show, for product focus groups, for our recently introduced round table tours – and that’s always sat well with us.

“We’ve never done it the other way round though and I don’t know why. It’s an area I want to explore, because I know our customers find this type of activity educational, informative and enjoyable.

“From an overall business perspective our main opportunity has to be market share. I don’t think the market will expand massively – certainly not in the next four or five years.”


“I believe we can do more of that kind of activity. It’s amazing talking to clients over there how many people they know over here and vice versa, and maybe I can bring some of these groups together and be part of that relationship-building exer-cise. And hopefully make us stronger overall.”

In a feature in GME in June 2003, Withers – then sales and marketing direc-tor – made some interesting and forth-right prediction how he saw the typical golf course operating in 2015.

That may be only three years away, but he’s no less forthright when looking forward again.

“From a product point of view we may see a real divergence in that the top-end clubs still have plenty of purchasing power; they love and are excited by the new technology being introduced.

“You’ve then got the middle guys who’ve had quite a hard time and they’ll split – they’ll either move upmarket with increased budgets or move downmarket.

“From a product perspective we have to make sure we can serve both types of market. I think some of the more sophisti-cated equipment will be very well received at the top end. But at the lower end I think there is a demand for a more back-to-basics approach.

“From an overall business perspective our main opportunity has to be market share. I don’t think the market will expand massively – certainly not in the next four or five years.

Longer term, the next 20-25 years, I think the prognosis for golf is positive. There could be a significant growth of courses in places like China, India and Brazil, but it’s further out than the next four or five years.

“Longer term there is some good growth in the industry; but shorter term, for all of us, it’s more about how much of the pie can you get. To achieve that bigger slice of the pie we have to make sure we look after our customers.

“I believe the business is fundamentally about three things. You need to build a relationship with your customers, because people buy off people; and if they don’t know you and trust you they won’t buy off you. You then need to build a good machine that meets the customer’s un-met needs – and that will be different for different customers.

“And then you have to back it up for the whole life of the machine.

“And if you do those three things right, you’re in the game and you should be moving in the right direction. If you miss any one of the three I think you’re going to struggle.”

So what about his own future? Where does the quick-rising, high-flyer go from here? Seldom stuck for words, Withers responds to the question with a wry smile: “The next step? I’m very happy where I am. I don’t think I’d be disappointed if I retired in this job…”

Not before he’s made a huge impact though, you can be sure of that. GME

HAWTREEGOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS

Since 1912

5 OxFORd STREET, WOOdSTOCk,OxFORd Ox20 1TQ

TEL: (01993) 811976 FAx: (01993) 812448

WWW.HAWTREE.CO.Uk

the old packing shed | 66 backgate | cowbit | spalding | lincolnshire | pe12 6ap | tel 01406 380620 | fax 01406 380908 | email [email protected]

statusdesign.co.uk

Artwork127mm deep x 88mm wide

GOLF MANAGEMENT EUROPE - EMAIL - [email protected]

JOB NO: 7460

A/W PREPARED 23-06-11 MARK

Single piece HI - RES 4 COLOUR FINAL OUTPUT PDF

stat

usde

sign

.co.

uk 7

460

C L O C K S , W E A T H E R V A N E S A N D C L O C K T O W E R S

www.hawkinsclocks.co.uk

CALL TODAY

FOR A FREE

BROCHURE

01733 330222

7460 HAWKINS CLOCKS ADVERT GM_7460 HAWKINS CLOCKS ADVERT GM 30/06/2011 11:16 Page 1


digital marketing WEBlInK; GolfGRaffIx.com

As another year draws to a close, it’s fair to say that many golf operators and suppliers will look back on 2011 with mixed emotions.

The worldwide economic gloom and continued market fears concerning the Euro appear to still be with us – despite governments best efforts – and the future for countries such as Greece, Portugal, Spain and Ireland still remain uncertain.

Yet one Irish company, which was setup in the wake of the financial crash in 2009, appears to be bucking the trend.

After what was a difficult first half to 2011, Dublin-based Golfgraffix appear to have turned a corner and are now actively pursuing new opportunities on mainland Europe.

With the appointment of two new distributors covering The Netherlands, UK, Spain and Portugal sales have already increased and Golfgraffix claims to now be the largest supplier of 3D visu-alisation and interactive marketing prod-ucts in Europe.

“The snow of last December and January had a huge effect on us,” said John Aherne, managing director of Golfgraffix. “Courses that had committed to using us no longer had available resources available and we had to go into survival mode until early April 2011.

“In hindsight it worked out well for us as with very little work it gave us time to further develop the product, especially on the Smart Phone app side of things.

“The three months gave us a window to produce what we think is the most comprehensive golf course promotion app on the market – the BurgGolf App had over 3,000 users in less than two weeks following its launch.”

The big break for Golfgraffix came in April with the signing of a five-year contract with Caddytronic, a golf cart management system manufacture based in Arizona, US. The deal, which is worth an estimated $1,250,000, will see Golfgraffix produce 3D visualisations for over 200 courses.

Golfgraffix gears up for Growth in 2012

a young Irish entrepreneur has shown that even in a global down-turn, it’s possible to turn a profit in golf. article by Aidan Patrick.

Joe

Keog

h Ph

otog

raph

y


“This contract, combined with a large order form BurgGolf in Holland, allowed us to start hiring new developers and increase our production capacity a bit more,” added Aherne.

“Importantly it also allowed us to reduce our cost to the end user, so much so that compared to our nearest competi-tor, we are now 38 per cent cheaper. I also believe that our product is far superior.”

More good news for Golfgraffix arrived in September with the news that the Fingal Enterprise Board had approved grant aid for the company, which has furthered its expansion plans.

Oisin Geoghegan, CEO of Fingal Enterprise Board, said: “I am delighted that we are in a position to approve Golfgraffix for grant aid which will enable the company’s expansion and create addi-tional employment.

“We need to ensure that these small businesses are nurtured and supported because they are going to create employ-ment and lift our country out of this recession.”

With new staff, new offices and an Enterprise Grant in place, the next step for Golfgraffix was to bring in channel partners to provide routes to market in the key golf European territories.

To this end, a rolling contact has been agreed with 3D Eagle View for exclusive distribution rights in the UK, Spain and Portugal: “We saw this as the perfect part-nership for both companies, as a young startup it was always our intention to find

a channel partner that was already supplying to golf courses but to have partnered with such a high end and estab-lished brand as 3D Eagleview was really more than we could have hoped for,” said Aherne.

Commenting on the partnership, Declan Hayes of 3D Eagleview said: “It has always been our philosophy to offer our customers the best available products for promoting their golf course, and wanted to add digital products to our portfolio.

“Our problem was finding a product with high enough quality, but with Golfgraffix’s cutting edge 3D graphics and video we have found that product.”

A similar arrangement has been set up with Golf Baan Animatie in Holland.

“This three year distribution deal will enable Golfgraffix to continue its reach into Europe, capturing a bigger share of the golf marketing services sector,” said Aherne.

“Golf courses in Holland will now be able to offer prospective members an opportunity to play the 3D version of their course or to download useful iPhone apps to encourage membership.”

With Golfgraffix having already provided digital products to some of Ireland’s best-known courses including the host venue for the 2011 Solheim Cup, Killeen Castle, Carton House and Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links, it looks like 2012 may not be filled with doom and gloom after all. GME

The Netherlands

www.golfbaananimatie.nl

www.golfgraffix.com

www.3deagleview.com

UK, Spain & Portugal

Joe

Keog

h Ph

otog

raph

y


online teetimes

It’s been a great couple of years for European golf fans, with European Tour members victorious in six of the last eight major championships, including three players from the UK.

So why is it that participation in our sport continues to decline? Most people blame the economy – claiming that it has become too expensive. Undoubtedly, people have become more cost-sensitive and one of the things sacrificed by many has been their leisure expenses.

Golf Club memberships continue to decline and it has become more impor-tant for clubs to find alternative ways of generating additional income. Some have removed joining fees for example, while others have focussed on improving the revenue they generate from visiting golf-ers.

From a golfer’s point of view, products like the GreenFree 2-for-1 voucher and rewards4golf make the sport more afforda-ble during this difficult period. Of course, the best case scenario for both parties is an initiative that gets golfers spending money at golf clubs that they ordinarily wouldn’t, but at a reasonable price.

One new initiative is claiming to do exactly that following a successful trial at over twenty courses this summer.

TeeTimeMarket.co.uk (TTM) is market-ing itself as the most complete tee-time booking service available on the web by offering exclusive rates at golf courses throughout the UK and essentially filling

empty slots on the tee-sheet that would

otherwise go unused.

Golf clubs have hailed it a great success, with golfers

jumping at the opportunity

to take advantage of cheaper green fees.

As a result, clubs have supplemented their existing incomes by welcoming visi-

tors that not only pay a green free but may spend money in the pro shop or clubhouse too.

Offering greater flexibility which has so far been unseen in online booking initia-tives, TTM doesn’t tie golfers down to a specific tee-time; rather, they are issued with a voucher that is valid for up to 60 days.

After purchasing the voucher online the user simply calls the golf club to book a time that is convenient for both them-selves and the golf club. This enables golf-ers to take advantage of great prices, but not necessarily require them to pick their date and time immediately.

Other online booking services may also offer significantly reduced rates, but only when they book a specific tee-time. With TTM the golfer gets the great price but with added flexibility as they can choose a time and date that suits them at a later date.

“QHotels trialled TeeTimeMarket.co.uk at the Forest Pines Hotel and Golf Resort and after just one month it has proved to be a great success,” commented Andrew Cook, group golf manager, QHotels.

“The flexibility and ease of the system are plus points but the biggest bonus is the increased traffic and revenue, which has to be the ultimate goal. We are so pleased with the results we are introduc-ing all our other courses into the scheme.”

Importantly for golf clubs there is no need for an existing online booking system or to purchase expensive software and hardware; it is completely free of charge, which enables golf clubs to join immediately and start taking bookings.

In fact, unlike any other online booking service TTM can work alongside other booking facilities to fill available tee-times, leaving the club to sell as many tee-times as possible via all other routes.

Despite being a new and unique prod-uct in the golf industry, a host of leading golf courses are already on-board such as Heythrop Park Hotel and Golf Resort in Oxfordshire, and Formby Hall Golf Resort in Southport.

new tee booking system takes new approach

Golfers and golf clubs can now benefit from a new online booking service as Michael Brookers reports.

WEBlInK; teetImemaRKet.co.UK


It is a system that can be used by every golf club in the country and is free to sign-up to.

From a financial standpoint TTM has separated itself from its competitors with its unique ‘no cost, no risk’ element. Unlike any other online tee time booking services TTM only takes commission based on sales results. TTM vouchers expire after 60 days, and if the golfer fails to redeem it within that time the golf club still receives the green fee revenue.

“Signing up to TeeTimeMarket.co.uk has provided us with a successful method of selling extra tee times,” noted Mark Williams, head professional at Formby Hall.

“Operationally they’ve got it right; we can generate additional revenue via their customers and most importantly the golf-ers who are using their voucher system are happy with the product.”

All administration is handled by TTM with just one monthly payment into the golf club bank account, so there is no over-the-counter cash exchanged.

Another benefit is the full back end reporting that enables the golf course to maintain its own course profile, ensuring that all details remain up to date and 100 per cent accurate.

Interestingly, the flexibility of the prod-uct allows golf clubs only to be involved with TTM when it suits them, which will vary depending on the time of the year.

Any restrictions as to when vouchers can be redeemed are also determined by

the golf club, meaning they can restrict voucher users to pre-determined days, in order to avoid upsetting the playing habits of members.

For example if a club knows they are busy on a Tuesday because of a weekly stableford, TTM would suggest the club simply adds ‘No play Tuesday’s’ as a restriction.

However, it’s beneficial for clubs to keep the vouchers as flexible and as open as possible because the customer still has to call to book their tee-time, which gives the club the option whether to make a requested tee-time available or not at this later stage.

This flexibility allows clubs to benefit from the added revenue created through the sale of unwanted or ‘empty’ tee-times.

Ultimately though TTM brings visiting golfers to the doors of golf clubs, who can then roll out the welcome mat in order to showcase their facilities.

The scheme is now being rolled out nationally and clubs are invited to sign up, enticing them with a host of additional benefits.

For example in 2012 TeeTimeMarket.co.uk will be backed by a £500,000 marketing budget, as well as being marketed via its 500,000 strong golf data-base each week – one of the largest specif-ic golf email databases in the UK.

Considering there are approximately 1.4 million core golfers in the UK, golf clubs would be missing a trick by not signing up for free. GME

Topturf Irrigation is one of the leading irrigation companies in the UK.

Working to the highest standards we design, install and service irrigation systems for golf coursesboth in the UK and across Europe.

Topturf has recently launched an online shop where you can purchase spare parts and accessories to be delivered on-site at heavily discounted prices.

If you require further information on any of our services please feel free to contact us on 01903 278240, [email protected] or visit our website at www.ttirrigation.co.uk


environmental protection WEBlInK; WaSte2WateR.com

Have you been a victim of an attempted or successful fuel theft? If so, you are not alone. With the stratospher-ic price of fuel it is no surprise thieves are targeting golf course maintenance facilities for their ‘liquid gold’.

These are often “soft targets” hidden away, signifi-cantly reducing the risk of being caught. Thieving the diesel is bad enough, but in addition to the financial cost the thieves’ cavalier approach is creating a

potential environmental nightmare for golf courses.

A common theme emerging is for the thieves to siphon the tank or merely ‘cut’ the discharge hose and fill the containers they have brought with them, leaving the remaining contents of the tank to spew out.

Depending upon the position of the diesel tank and the amount of diesel in the tank, this is a potential environmental catastrophe!

With the increased risk of attempted theft, ensuring spilled diesel does not pollute the ground water has got to be a top priority. The environmental impact is potentially huge and the clean-up costs

With fuel so costly, diesel storage areas at golf clubs are at risk from attracting thieves as

Tim Earley of Waste 2 Water europe explains.

Guard against fuel theft say

Waste 2 Water


resulting from a large diesel spillage into the environment will be very costly.

Even if your facility is nowhere near a water course routine clean-up and ground reparation can typically require removal of the soil to a depth of one metre in the affected area. This soil has to be removed from site for remedial cleaning, which is very expensive.

If the diesel has entered the ground water the clean up costs can leap into another league!

What can be done? The first action is to review the security of your maintenance area. Can the area be enclosed? If not, can the diesel tank be protected by installing it inside, for instance, a cage or building?

However, having taken steps to make the diesel tank as secure as possible this still leaves the risk of an environmental disaster, should the thieves be successful in gaining access.

A solution is to install your diesel tank on the Waste2Water Wash Pad, or, if installed inside a building, connect the drainage to the Wash Pad.

Should the worst then happen and the diesel tank contents spew from the stor-age tank by accident or deliberate action you can be confident the spillage will be dealt with.

In addition to providing a superb equipment wash facility the Waste2Water Wash Pad System will retain and quickly eat large spillages of diesel and other contaminants, converting them into harmless water.

A superb example of an installation is at Heswall Golf Club, situated on the Wirral Peninsula.

Heswall’s recently upgraded wash area is a superb example of incorporating precautionary security for the diesel stor-age tank on the wash pad, whilst at the same time ensuring compliance with the new environmental legislation.

Alan Speechly, greens chairman of Heswall Golf Club, commented: “We are delighted with the Waste2Water Wash Pad with the diesel tank incorporated to deal with any spillages, which brings our main-tenance facilities right up to date with environmental legislation.

“As the maintenance facility is “tucked away” we took the opportunity of increas-ing site security at the same time by installing the tank in a security cage to deter potential thieves and are delighted with the result.”

It’s important for all golf clubs to act now – don’t just sit back and hope for the best! GME

“Should the worst happen and the diesel tank contents spew from the storage tank... you can

be confident the spillage will be dealt with.”

Illegal Wash Area The Berkshire Golf Club


rule changes

The rules of golf are many and varied. Even those who play the game for a – not insubstantial – living often have to ask for clarification. But major rule amendments, when they come, are few and far between, and tend not to affect the casual player too much, whether, for example, it is wedge grooves or clubhead size.

But one rule change, which comes into effect on January 1, 2012, will have a

major impact on some club golfers and offer a major benefit to club

owners, managers, golf sales staff and corporate and society day

organisers.The R&A’s ruling on hole-

in-one prizes brings the governing body in line with the USGA and gives the

green light to golf clubs to offer additional, exciting, Tour-style pressure elements to club

competitions, society or corporate days.

Previously, prizes for holing a tee shot in amateur golf have been subject to the same restrictions as other competitions, but the rule change acknowledges the special nature of a hole-in-one and, consequently, restrictions on prizes which can be won during a round of golf have been lifted.

This means an amateur golfer could turn up for a competition at his club – or at a corporate day – and walk away at the end £1,000,000 richer. Yes, that’s right: £1,000,000.

Hole-in-one prizes are won regularly in golf days and the size of the prize is now limited only by the organiser.

Hertfordshire-based company WorldWide Hole ‘N One is one of the world leaders in prize insurance – the insurance which enables shows such as Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and Million Pound Drop. And WorldWide Hole ‘N One’s managing director Brian Luckhurst believes the new rule offers an enormous

rule change opens up a ‘hole’ new opportunity

the new year will mark a major rule change that will benefit each and every golf club in europe, as Samuel Frederick reports.

WEBlInK; Hole-IN-oNe.co.UK


opportunity for those golf clubs quick to realise the potential.

He said: “Golf is no different to any other sport in that it’s looking to increase participation to increase revenues – and there’s never been a better opportunity to do so. Amateur golf events can now be enlivened with a hole-in-one competition to win a car or a holiday – whereas previ-ously prizes for amateurs were limited to the value of just £500.

“We’ve all seen those exciting moments on the various tours when a professional holes out and earns a car courtesy of the sponsor. Now, that pressure shot is availa-ble to all of us.

“All it costs is a few pounds per player – that covers the insurance and you can sit back and watch while the amateurs enjoy their moment in the spotlight.

“And if you really want to put on some-thing that will have golfers beating the door down to compete in, why not up your hole-in-one prize to £1,000,000 cash! And maybe, just maybe, you’ll witness a life-changing moment for one individual.”

It all adds up to a much more exciting day out for those taking part and it is quite a big step for a staid – some might even say anachronistic – organisation such as the R&A to take.

But it’s not difficult to see why – such competitions have proved immensely popular Stateside and there are few clubs out there which wouldn’t welcome more golfers on the fairways, particularly at a time when the world economy is falling quicker than Steve Williams’ reputation.

Anything which makes golf days more popular – and, for the golf club, easier to sell – has to be a good thing.

The R&A’s golf ambassador and women’s world number two, Suzann Pettersen, from Norway, is a massive supporter of the change in the rules.

She said: “I think this is a really good change. Anyone who makes a hole-in-one knows there is a degree of luck. Most professional tournaments offer hole-in-one prizes and it adds some real interest for the players and the fans.

“It is great to think that club golfers can now experience that same excitement,” added Pettersen.

The mechanics of it are simple; the costs not as much as you might imagine. It all comes down to probability – for both the competitor and the insurer.

Working on a figure of 125 ‘average’ golfers, playing four par-three holes in a single golf day, probability suggests you’d have a hole-in-one once in every 25 golf days – quite an achievable and exciting proposition.

Winning will take not just skill, but luck. Even a professional like Pettersen acknowledges that. And it’s that probabili-ty – and other elements which affect that probability – which help to shape the insurance cost. The premium is based on the type of contest, the chance of having a winner, the number of participants and the value of the prize.

For peace of mind, you should always use a respected company to ensure your winner – should you be lucky enough to get one – is guaranteed to receive the prize. Worldwide Hole ‘N One, for exam-ple, is a Lloyd’s Coverholder providing insurance on behalf of Underwriters at Lloyd’s, the world’s largest insurance market – and other leading suppliers will have similar credentials.

But those clubs which already have close ties with local businesses may not even have to stump up the money for the insurance.

If, for example, you have a relationship with a local main dealer who had previ-ously stuck a few pop-up banners on a hole in return for small prize, why not encourage them to put up the car and cover the insurance in return for branding of the hole?

It also makes for a good PR and marketing opportunity for both the club and the main dealer ahead of the event and a superb picture opportunity should one of the golfers be lucky enough to take home the keys of the new motor at the conclusion of the day.

It may all sound too good to be true; but, for once, it isn’t. Just one rule change from the R&A has opened up enormous marketing and revenue-generating oppor-tunities for golf clubs. Now it’s up to them to take that opportunity and use it to maximum advantage.

Just don’t get left behind. GME

Get a Quote now at www.hole-in-one.co.uk

Hole in one insuranceInsuring you’re covered in any event. For a tailored insurance quote, call:01727 843 686

In addition to the most advanced cutting performance ever offered, the new Greensmaster TriFlex riding greensmowers have also been engineered to deliver innovative, game-changing features to save you time and money.

Unmatched versatility. The new TriFlex lets you switch from mowing greens to tees or surrounds in just a few minutes, thanks to the Tool-Free, Quick-Change Cutting Units combined with the exclusive Lift Gate Footrest which provides easy access to the center cutting unit.

Precision cutting redefined. Imagine a highly efficient riding greensmower that cuts with the precision of a walker. The TriFlex takes contour following to a whole new level by combining industry-leading Flex™ technology with a Double A-Arm Suspension System that keeps the cutting units floating freely. It prevents step cuts on the cleanup pass with a unique “Lift-in-Turn” feature. Hybrid models also help eliminate unsightly clip marks with an Energy Storage System that delivers power the instant you engage the reels.

Turning up productivity. Everything about the new TriFlex is engineered to give you more bang for your greensmower buck. It can travel faster from green to green. It has no

daily maintenance requirements. Its highly efficient engine

and drive system help minimize fuel costs. And it saves maintenance time with faster cutting unit change-out, fluid tank level “windows” and easy access to routine service areas.

EnergySmart™What’s good for your greens is even better for the environment. The new Greensmaster TriFlex Hybrid riding mower is one of first EnergySmart labeled products offered by The Toro Company. EnergySmart is about efficiency with balanced environmental and financial sustainability, a visible sign of Toro’s ongoing commitment to customer valued innovation.

The right choice. Experience the future of greensmowers today. To arrange for a demonstration of the new Greensmaster TriFlex mower, contact your local distributor or visit toro.com/triflex for more information.

In the time it takes you to read this ad, you could change the cutting units on the new Greensmaster® TriFlex™ Hybrid riding mower.

Three times.

©2011 The Toro Company. All rights reserved.

www.toro.com/triflex

1

3

2

golf_triflex_editrl_1pb_gme_6-23-11.indd 1 6/23/11 3:36 PM


world of golf

Golf is a sport that has been hit more than most by the economic recession and the number of people playing our great game continues to fall across the world.

At the end of last year, a report by KPMG revealed that numbers in the UK and Ireland had decreased by four per cent in the last 12 months while even in America, the numbers of golfers is esti-mated to have fallen by 3.6 per cent in 2010.

The figures are certainly worrying for the industry, especially with the average age of golfers seemingly rising on an annual basis.

But rather than sit around and do noth-ing, one golfing group has taken major steps to attract a new, wider audience to the game by introducing some exciting new initiatives – with outstanding initial results.

World of Golf centres are traditionally associated with driving ranges but the company now offers so much more after undergoing a multi-million pound rede-

velopment of its centres to transform them into state-of-the-art facilities to cater for all the family.

Extensive work totalling £4 million has taken place on the group’s four UK sites over the last three years to bring them into line with World of Golf ’s aim to introduce the game to a wider audience whilst retaining its reputation for golfing excellence.

The final phase of the redevelopment is set to be completed by the end of the year and the company has already received national recognition for its work in promoting the game to children after receiving an award from the Golf Foundation for its innovative ‘Schools Go Free’ programme for seven to 11-year-olds in May.

Grant Wright, CEO for World of Golf, said: “A lot of it is all about taking away the barriers and making the game as much fun as possible.

“We make it easier for children to grab hold of a golf club without any fear and

World of Golf driving change

Golf is too often perceived as a stuffy sport, played by the blazer brigade, but as Peter Simm discovered, there is a company that is actively trying to smash that illusion.

WEBlInK; WoRlDofGolf.co.UK


the philosophy has worked extremely well for us.

“It is World of Golf ’s stated ambition to make golf available to a broad base of the population, as well as maintaining the high standards we have set for golfing excellence, and we believe the new facili-ties can help us do that.

“All our centres are premier practice facilities, and the quality of shot-making that is now possible cannot be found anywhere else in the region, and probably in the UK.

“Particular emphasis has been placed on attracting the next generation of golf-ers, whether to aspire to the tour or simply as a fantastic hobby.

“Each facility will operate as a golf leisure complex, with golf the fundamen-tal product but conducted within an oper-ation that caters for a broader range of occasions, providing something to do as a golfer and/or as a family.”

World of Golf ’s new philosophy came as a result of some detailed customer research and a family holiday Wright had to America.

As part of the redevelopment, the centres – in New Malden and Croydon in Surrey, Sidcup in Kent and Glasgow – now offer 18-hole adventure golf courses and extensive refreshment facilities, as well as range facilities that provides all range of shot and shot-making with a backdrop equal to most golf courses, new balls and Powertees in the driving bays and the latest in teaching aids for its team of professionals.

Customers can also video their own swings and then download them to watch

repeatedly at home and, in the case of Sidcup, you can even take the opportuni-ty to use three fishing lakes and two other family attractions when they open later this year.

Wright explained: “Traditionally, our centres were golf driving ranges and that was it. Our research found that most people coming along were men and the reason for them attending was that they felt guilty.

“They were rushing home from work and trying to hit a bucket of balls before going home.

“The idea for the new approach came about after I went to Florida with my own children on holiday. I asked them which theme parks they enjoyed the most and they said the adventure golf.

“Now we find that people are tending to share cars and they are coming for lots of different reasons as well as golf. We have good cafes and our centres have moved from golf facilities to offering an all-round experience.

“The feedback we have had since we introduced the new facilities has been excellent and it spreads across the whole family. For instance, if a family comes along, mum will go and sit and have a coffee, the two children will go and play adventure golf and dad will go to the range to practice.”

Having spent 20 years in the leisure industry, Wright realises the importance of fresh ideas in attracting a new, wider and younger audience if golf participation numbers are to start growing again.

Wright estimates that around 10,000 children have taken part in World of


Golf‘s ‘Free for Schools’ programme while the company is also approaching that number with the people learning to play at its centres.

And, while he was initially frustrated at the attitude of some golf clubs in response to his forward-thinking plans, he has been encouraged by the reaction he has received from them recently.

“It’s a tough time for golf clubs and we work very closely with them because, at

the end of the day, we are all working towards the same end and that is the good of the game,” said Wright.

“On average, we have 500 to 1,000 people a month learning to play in our centres and this covers all age groups. There is no dress code or rules, they come along and we make sure it’s fun for them so they want to come back.

“We have also partnered with several local clubs with our initiative ‘The Fairways Club’.

“With this, we have agreements in place where we hold people’s hands when they go out on the course for the first time, then pass them on to the pro at the local club.

“That way, they see that clubs are not intimidating and this can lead to them taking a further interest in the game, either as a member or as a green fee payer.

“A few clubs worked with us out of desperation at first but they now see that they can get as much out of the initiatives as we can.”

With Wright at the helm, World of Golf can look forward to an exciting and pros-

perous future, and further new innova-tions are set to be introduced in the near future. Plans include the chance for golf-ers to be able to rent individual holes on its academy courses for just £7.50 and further initiatives to get youngsters more interested in the game.

Wright concluded: “The analogy that I give to people is that golf is like sailing was 20 years ago.

“It was an elitist sport then but it has re-invented itself, has become a key part of our success in the Olympics and is now thriving. Golf is changing but only slowly.

“It’s all about removing the barriers that are stopping people getting involved and making the game fun. GME

“On average, we have 500 to 1,000 people a month learning to play in our centres and this

covers all age groups. There is no dress code or rules, they come along and we make sure it’s fun

for them so they want to come back.”

Call: +44 (0)1260 224568email: [email protected]: www.campeyturfcare.com

Leading innovation • Leaves a perfect vertical hole • Vast selection of tines available• Cores to 8” / Solid tines to 9” • See us at BTME stand B41

Campey Turf Care Systems – Specialist suppliers of groundcare equipment

New Coremaster XtremeSee us atBTMEstandB41


my view WEBlInK; WelleRDeSIGNS.co.UK

Golf course architects and identical twin brothers Bruce and David Weller are keeping it in the family in more ways than one.

The practice is going from strength to strength at present with the recent completion of Taymouth Castle Golf Club and ongoing remodelling of the prestigious Club De Campo in Madrid to mention but two of a number of exciting

new projects currently underway. However it is the develop-

ment of new short course family orientated golf facili-ties that the twin brothers have excelled in recently.

Investing in new golf developments in the current economic climate would appear, at first glance, to be a

risky commitment, however Bruce believes that even in a

“mature” golfing market with the right design and business model, there is still an opportunity to

ensure a new golf development is profitable so long as three fundamen-

tal angles of approach are taken.Short course family orientated golfing

facilities with ideally other leisure pursuits

“bolted” on; up front capital expenditure kept to a minimum and concentrating the new golf facility around teaching, prac-tice, fun and family participation whilst symbiotically taking advantage of other leisure pursuits that work well with golf.

The Wellers close association with developing family focussed golf facilities started in earnest four years ago after teaming up with Scott Cranfield (PGA master professional) of Cranfield Golf Academies, as it was clear to both compa-nies that building another 18 hole facility was not what the market needed.

Cranfield’s in depth knowledge of tuition, junior development, practice tech-niques and modern practice facilities coupled with the Wellers experience in golf course design lead to a business model that is proving to be tremendously successful at Scott’s flagship development at Chadwell Heath, North London.

The high quality nine hole par three course has just been completed to compli-ment the practice range, short game area, nine hole course, adventure golf and foot-ball pitches.

Cranfield, along with his business part-ner Simon Preston (also a PGA profes-sional) were keen that their development

family ValuesDespite the downturn in the economy, identical twins

bruce and David Weller appear to be busier than ever, which is a point that Bruce Weller is pleased to point out.


Weller Designs Limited Golf Course ArchitectsBishops Mead House, West Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7DU

E I G C AEUROPEAN INSTITUTE OFGOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS

Email [email protected] www.wellerdesigns.co.uk Telephone 01252 712 127

Directors: David Weller Bruce Weller

Passion and Flair . . . is Excellence From concept to completion, Weller Designs, specialist golf course architects

• Course appraisals & surveying • Concept & detailed design • Full planning application • Environmental impact assessment

• New Builds • Remodelling • Construction specification • Site supervision

Untitled-1.indd 1 18/9/09 13:08:20

Promoting excellence inGolf Course Construction

throughout EuropeFor further information about the

British Association of Golf Course Constructorsplease contact the chairman, Brian D. Pierson on

01425 475584 or email [email protected]

New Courses • Renovation • BunkersIrrigation • Drainage

FRANCE – GERMANY – SPAIN – PORTUGAL

BRITISH ASSOCIATION OFGOLF COURSE CONSTRUCTORS

BAGCC

at Chadwell Heath would cater for every member of the family and also provide other leisure activities that could cross over with the golf.

Bruce Weller remarked that in the present economic climate the key to a successful golfing development now lays in ensuring that it is not only of a high standard to remain competitive but affordable and offering a choice of leisure activities at the one complex.

Indeed the creation of exciting par three courses of high quality has been repeated around the UK by the Wellers for other clients also including Crown Golf (Chesfield Lakes), UK Sports Parks (Liverpool Sports Park), Ensign Golf (Slinfold G&CC) and Nine of Herts in Rickmansworth.

Finally the third element to creating a successful new golf facility lies in keeping capital costs to a minimum and it is in the field of generating revenue from the import of soil from nearby construction sites to build new (or remodel) golfing facilities that the Wellers have been partic-ularly adept, having gained planning permission for over forty such schemes.

Gaining planning permission for importation is a specialist area where golf clubs or land owners can quickly become unstuck if it is not approached or managed in the right way.

New golf developments can potentially either be fully or substantially funded by the revenue gained from importing soils to model the course, in return for a royal-

ty for every cubic meter of soil brought in. To date the Wellers have a 97 per cent success rate with regards to gaining approval for such schemes and this is a result of gaining vast experience in under-standing what is required to get permis-sion.

This includes knowing how to approach and write the Environmental Impact Assessment, the Environmental Statements and the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments which invariably accompanies such a planning request.

Indeed so successful was the soil import scheme at Chadwell Heath that Cranfield and Preston recently won the ‘Green’ Award at the prestigious Havering Business Awards for their golf course development.

Havering is London’s third largest borough and this award is a true testa-ment to how a modern facility can not only be good for the environment (through recycling soil that would other-wise go to landfill) but can be good for the community, look good and be profita-ble.

The Wellers realistic and sustainable approach to golf design and the business of running a golf complex profitably for specifically young people and families whilst ensuring that it is achieved very often at little or zero cost, is a success story of that there is no doubt.

To be recently given the Green Award for Chadwell Heath Par three course is the icing on the cake. GME


associations and governing bodies eh... Where would we be without them? In a better place some might argue.

certainly the governing bodies and associations in many sports leave themselves open to ridicule on far too many occasions by the way they regu-late themselves or the decisions they make.

the football association, for exam-ple, is a constant irritant to those who follow the game in england.

and as for the world governing body, fIfa, well, we could dedicate an entire magazine to that particular outfit’s shortcomings and the lunatic in charge of that asylum.

In golf recently we saw both the good and the bad as far as news stories were concerned. the english Golf Union (eGU) and the english Women’s Golf association (eWGa) agreed to merge to become england Golf with effect from January 1.

about time too, you might say. but we came to praise them not to chas-tise them for their tardiness.

Incidentally, only 86 per cent of eGU members voted in favour of the move, with 100 per cent at the eWGa. So it seems there are still some luddites out there.

a unified association can only be a good thing as far as english golf is concerned. and, as an english golfer, I approve. I would actually consider myself a british golfer if the opportunity arose, but it hasn’t. and if only 86 per cent of eGU members were in favour of england Golf, Gb Golf isn’t going to arrive any time soon.

but to redress the good news/bad news life balance, we were able to rely on the european tour and the US PGa and their pathetic response to the widely reported comments of adam Scott’s caddy Steve Williams, in respect of – or lack of respect of, would be more appropriate – his former employ-er, one eldrick ‘tiger’ Woods.

a joint statement read: “[We feel] strongly there is no place for any form

of racism in ours or any other sport. We consider the remarks of Steve Williams, as reported, entirely unacceptable in whatever context.

“We are aware that he has apolo-gised and we trust we will not hear such remarks again. based on this, we consider the matter closed.”

You may not have heard this read out anywhere, as it was drowned out by the sound of something unsavoury being brushed under a particularly large carpet.

bear in mind the US PGa is the same organisation which fined Woods for expectorating on a green and banned John Daly for six months for teeing up with a beer can during a pro-am, where people, whisper it quietly, expect to be entertained.

meanwhile, the game’s governing bodies, the R&a and the USGa, decid-ed on this occasion to keep their powder dry. Presumably, they chose to adhere to the old adage that it’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

and Williams, for one, should take that on board. GME

the last word

The Good, bad and ugly side of the golf industry

“only 86 per cent of EGU members voted in favour of the move, with 100 per cent at the EWGA. So it seems there are still some luddites out there.”

David [email protected]

Look for Golf Management Europe on Facebook and Twitter...

facebook.com/GMENewstwitter.com/GMENews

Code: GME/12/11/RXVtest2

Contact us for a free demonstration orvisit www.e-z-go.co.uk for details of

your nearest dealer. You won't be disappointed.

The E-Z-GO RXV.Don’t just take OUR word

for how good it is...

“The downhill breaking and automatic brakeapplication on hills is a superb safety featureand I believe the RXV is a must for hilly coursessuch as ours.”

David Jobey, Course Manager,

Consett and District Golf Club

“As part of our drive for quality we invested in a newfleet of golf cars, 80 in total, which are the very latestelectric RXV models from E-Z-GO. The carts aresuperb, especially the automatic battery filling, whichreduces daily maintenance checks.”

Jose Luis Gomez, Club Manager, La Quinta Golf & Country Club, Spain

“The buggies are very unobtrusive on the courseand they go out at least twice a day without theneed to recharge.”

Mike Harrison, club professional, Chobham Golf Club

“We like the innovations in this golf car and the buildquality is excellent.”

Bernat Llobera, Director of Golf, Mallorca Marriott Son Antem Golf Resort & Spa, Spain

“This was, by far and away, the best golf car for ourneeds. We originally ordered 10, but they were sopopular we had to order a further two more to meetdemand. We are delighted with them.”

William Weaver, Managing Director, Worfield Golf Club

Ransomes Jacobsen LtdWest Road, Ipswich, IP3 9TT UK+44 (0) 1473 270000www.ransomesjacobsen.co.uk

PremierPartner

GME RXV Testimonial 2 08/11/2011 11:51 Page 1

Advanced cutting performance.Patented Flex suspension, DPA cutting units, improved clippings capture and a built-in clip adjustment combine to deliver an exceptional quality of cut for a superior putting surface. The

flexible cutting unit maintains a full range of motion to easily master undulations and uneven terrain. Each new Flex Series walk mower includes easy-to-configure clip

rate options to accommodate specific cutting heights and playability requirements for every event or desired playing condition.

Game-changing Lithium-Ion innovation.Lithium-Ion Battery Power for mowing is an industry first. Quietly mow up to 5110 m2 (55,000 ft2) [9 average greens] on a single charge! The battery is designed to last five years with ample power to not only cut greens, but also accommodate key accessories such as groomers and light kits. Virtually maintenance-free with no emissions.

Easy on greens. A simple and reliable poly v-belt drive transmission transfers power to both the reel and traction drum for a consistent cut on every pass and on every green, regardless of who operates the equipment. In addition, Toro’s exclusive EZ-Turn™ feature improves control in turns and helps reduce damage to turf without sacrificing productivity.

EnergySmart™What’s good for your greens is even better for the environment. The new Greensmaster eFlex walk mower is the first EnergySmart labeled walk mower offered by The Toro Company. EnergySmart is about efficiency balanced with environmental and financial sustainability, a visible sign of Toro’s ongoing commitment to customer-

valued innovation.

The right choice.Experience the precision and easy operation of the

Greensmaster Flex Series for yourself. For more information, visit toro.com/eflex

or contact your Toro distributor to arrange for a demo on your course.

Superior putting starts with superior cutting.Introducing the all-new Toro® Greensmaster® eFlex™.Setting a new standard by which all other walk greensmowers will be measured.

©2011 The Toro Company. All rights reserved. toro.com/eflex

golf_eflex_editrl_1p_gme_11-9-11.indd 1 11/9/11 8:14 AM

gmé | issuu 81

Documents

golf clubs

synthetic golf green

golf industry

synthetic solutions

target greens

chipping greens

norfolk golf country

hill golf club crozet