Unsung Heroes at Harrogate
Brian and Ronnie pick up Terrain Aeration’s annual awards
Brian Firmin Groundsman at Halstead Cricket Club, Essex and Ronnie Bunting, Head Greenkeeper/Course Manager at Ballochmyle Golf Club in Mauchline have been crowned Terrain Aeration’s Unsung Heroes for 2006/2007. Brian, who was nominated
by Halstead CCs Chairman Phil Toogood, was praised by the judges for decades of un- paid dedication, setting standards, which prompted Essex CCC to host a second eleven Championship, game at Halstead’s Star Stile ground. Nicknamed Bubbles, for his sense of fun and a laugh, which is instantly recognised, Brian, who
recently celebrated his 75th birthday, is deemed “irreplaceable” and a “priceless asset” to his club. Ronnie, nominated by Ballochmyle’s Greens Convenor James McMurdo, was applauded for the way in which he has brought new ideas and methods to tackle drainage, compaction and thatch problems, restoring the course in just two years to its former glory.
fellow judges, Gordon Child (former BIGGA Chairman) and Derek Walder (former IOG Chairman), Steve Gingell, senior agronomist and Southern Area Manager for the STRI said that
Speaking on behalf of his (L-R) Brian Firmin, Lynda Green of Terrain Aeration and Ronnie Bunting
Ballochmyle is Ronnie’s home town, and he accepted the position with full knowledge of the problems he would inherit. “Ronnie has proved himself exceptionally skilled, both on the parkland course here and the moor land course of Kilmacolm where he rose to Head Greenkeeper. Although he
vouchers towards the holiday of their choice and cheques to the tune of £200 from the awards’ sponsors Pitchcare and Greenkeeping magazine.
Dubai and Middle East top the Leaderboard
Courses in the United Arab Emirates busier and more profitable than those in Europe say KPMG
GOLF courses in the United Arab Emirates are busier and more profitable than those in established European golfing nations such as the UK, Ireland, Spain and Portugal, underlining an ongoing international golf boom. According to the inaugural KPMG Golf Benchmark Survey Summary Report, average revenues at golf courses in Dubai and the UAE are four times greater than those in Portugal, the highest performing country in Europe. While the UAE has just 13 golf
courses, growing demand from increasing numbers of expatriates and tourists, particularly in Dubai, is fuelling rapid growth with at least 10 new courses planned or under construction. Elsewhere, the Golf Benchmark Survey
reveals the number of golf courses and players in Eastern Europe has tripled since 2000, with 68 courses and 23,000 affiliated golfers in the Czech Republic alone.
In Northern Europe, lower prices have
boosted participation rates. More than 6% of the total population in Sweden and 5% in Iceland now play golf, resulting in a regional participation rate five times greater than the rest of Europe.
6
Meanwhile Spain tops the league for the most expensive country to be a member of a golf club with average annual subscriptions of just under EUR 3,000.
But the Middle East is proving to be golf’s international hot spot, with courses in the region averaging 45,000 rounds per year, compared to the 26,000 rounds played on courses in Great Britain and Ireland, and profitability levels (average: 45% gross operating profit) far beyond other courses in the seven regions surveyed.
Andrea Sartori, head of KPMG’s Travel Leisure and Tourism Practice and initiator of the Golf Benchmark Survey, said: “Golf development in the Middle East, especially in Dubai, has received significant media exposure in recent years. However, the results of our survey demonstrate that the hype has been justified and that the region is fast becoming a major destination for golf.” “There are now more than 7,000 golf
courses and 4.2 million registered golfers across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. With increased life expectancy, improved and cheaper air transport, health and fitness awareness as well as growth in disposable income
and media coverage in emerging economies, golf is expected to further develop both in terms of demand and supply.”
Andrea Sartori added: “The Golf Benchmark Survey provides essential performance indicators for golf course owners, operators and financiers, enabling them to compare their own business against high, average and low performers in their geographical market. What’s more, I believe the benchmark indicators we have introduced will become standard measures in the international golf business.”
has ‘worked like a Trojan’ at Ballochmyle, he has still found time to persevere with NVQ level 4 so that now he is qualified to assess his staff on their own course.” The winners received
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96