WELCOME TO pitchcare
The ‘WHY’ factor?
HAVING pondered for a while as to whether I should have published my ‘X Factor’ editorial comment in the last issue, I have been both amazed and delighted at the response I have received from many key people within the industry.
Calling for a united body for this industry is not something new and, as we all know, the IOG and BIGGA dabbled with the idea in recent years. My feelings back then were that, in principle, it was a good idea. My reservations were that here were two traditional, some would say rather dated, organisations who would find it difficult to give up their own patch to find the common ground - and so it has proved.
So, what next? Well, the honest answer is that there are many more questions to be asked, the first being “why do we need a united body?”
If the recent poll on our website is anything to go by, 60% of turfcare professionals want to see a united body. 13.5% said they were happy with things as they are (possibly wearing blazers as they voted) and, rather sadly, 26.5% said they were “not bothered either way”.
Okay, to the 60% I will say this, Pitchcare will continue to champion for a united body, not necessarily to replace the two existing associations, but to help them to understand that, in unity, there is strength.
To the 13.5%, I say fine, if you are getting benefit from your membership then good on you. To the 26.5% who are not bothered, I say “why are you not bothered?”
Are you not bothered about the ever- changing legislation in our industry? Are you not bothered by health and safety regulations? Are you not bothered by personal or staff training and development? About working with your management, the bad press the industry receives, or the real risk of losing your job in the current economic climate? Are you really “not bothered”?
There is clearly a groundswell of support for a united body - our online poll and the number of messages and phone calls I receive show that to be the case.
On publication of the ‘X Factor’ I received a very polite and considered response from the BIGGA Chief Executive, John Pemberton who, on the
whole, agreed with much of what I said. John, I know, has been a strong advocate of the united approach and has worked very hard towards this aim.
From the IOG I heard nothing, but why should I be surprised?
The IOG appear to be spending much of their time honing their ‘Challenging Perceptions’ document and championing the cause of their high profile members.
Wembley’s Steve Welch is a prime example, and I quote from an IOG statement “Steve is one of our high profile members and the last few weeks have been a difficult and pressurised period in his career. It was entirely appropriate to provide Steve with our support during this time.”
Now, I’m not sure that we will ever know the ‘facts’ about the ‘Welch - Wembley’ saga. Historically, I defended Steve and his team through the media, as I have done for everyone involved in our great industry. But, why was it “appropriate” for the IOG to support just Steve and not others up and down the country who have also had the misfortune to lose their jobs?
However, let’s be clear here. Wembley is not the issue. It is one of them, as it has, up until recently, given our industry some bad press - but it is not THE issue.
The issues are:
- EU legislation on pesticide use - Health and Safety regulations - Training and Education
- An industry that is not seen as a good career opportunity
- Wage scales - Redundancy and unemployment - Waste and water management legislation - Legal and legislative issues - We are all ‘just grass cutters’
And they affect every one of us, from the lads and lasses currently taking their NVQs to the Master Greenkeepers and Stadium Managers at high profile venues.
And that is ‘why’ we need a united body.
Over the coming weeks and months Pitchcare will be doing whatever we can to move this forward.
Cheers,
Dave Saltman Managing Director
“To become a good course manager it helps to play golf to a reasonable standard”
Bill Payne, Course Manager, Goodwood Golf Club
“The recession may make people nervous on committing to weed control, but the weeds don’t care and will carry on regardless”
Paul Cawood, Business Development Manager, Languard Ltd
Say that again!
“A good groundsman will instinctively know when he has done enough rolling, based on his experience of the square and weather conditions”
Phil Frost, Head Groundsman Somerset County Cricket Club
“It is of no use to approach the Club Manager or Director with a request to replace a machine “because it is knackered” Andrew Turnbull, All Turf
“It is rather sobering to see the number of organisations that let the internet deliver their bad news for them”
Frank Newberry, Trainer and Conference Speaker
“Greenkeepers are not just grass cutters, they are so much more”
Paul Worster, Courses Manager, Minchinhampton Golf Club
“Don’t treat it as ‘just work’, make it personal and aim for the best results”
Dave Hinkley, Head Groundsman, Parramatta Stadium, Sydney
“Guidance on noise emission levels is designed with “the neighbour” in mind, not the operator”
Harry Handkammer, Managing Director, Countax Ltd
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 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140