Comment
The St Mary’s stadium pitch
Aerial view of Radley College’s 9- hole golf course
pitch would find them of benefit. Somewhere for them to find and attend one day courses, forums and make contacts with people in similar positions to themselves. At the top end of the industry, everyone knows everyone anyway, so there is an endless list of very knowledgeable and experienced groundsmen for each to call.”
Adam believes that the industry would like to see one association and one show. “But, saying that, what we have now works in very different ways, BIGGA now seem to do the best education programme - set around Harrogate and aimed at all levels - whereas the IOG seem to aim most of their education and courses at the volunteer side with very little education at Saltex.”
“As far as raising the profile of groundsmaship and greenkeeping, both could do better. The IOG just seem to promote Premier League football pitches, whilst BIGGA don’t seem worried about how people look at the industry from the outside.”
“The IOG needs to lobby the Government more,” reckons James, “to show them how we, as groundsmen, can assist in the fitness of the nation at school and grassroots level by providing quality grass surfaces for all. Then we might keep obesity at lower levels across all age groups.”
How have your budgets changed in the past ten years?
James continues; “Due to strong marketing and having a quality brand, Rugby School has always weathered any storm in testing times, which has enabled our budgets to stay healthy.”
Similarly, the recent rise through the leagues for Southampton FC means that Andy Gray’s budget has grown year on year. “At the stadium, each time we have been promoted, the budgets have followed suit. We strive to have the best pitch in whichever division we may be in. In today’s world, the standard in the Premier League is so high that this a
It is no longer enough to simply multiply last year’s budget by inflation and hope that will be sufficient for the discerning financial director, because it probably won’t. Budgets need to be justified and credible against expectations in the modern day
” PAUL WORSTER
massive challenge, but I am happy with the budget I have to try and achieve our goals.”
“It is at the training ground where I have seen the biggest change. Five years ago, we had five natural soil pitches. We now have nine sand based pitches and again the budgets have changed to suit this. Having more pitches obviously ups the amount of money needed, but the construction of them also plays a huge part in what is required to maintain them properly and efficiently. Being sand-based, the fertiliser and water bills are much higher alone.”
“Over this time though, the club has always backed my needs and recommendations. This has included the training ground budget more than doubling a couple of years ago.”
“In my sector, realism in budgeting is a key attribute,” states Paul. “It is no longer enough to simply multiply last year’s budget by inflation and hope that will be sufficient for the discerning financial
director, because it probably won’t!”
“Budgets need to be justified and credible against expectations in the modern day. For example, my club operates three golf courses with a staff of twelve. With that resource, we can triplex-mow greens, triplex-mow tees, and black and white cut fairways. We cannot walk-mow greens, walk mow tees or stripe fairways in multiple directions. In order to accomplish that, we have calculated that we would require £140K of additional investment in year one, reducing to £90K in subsequent years on staff, resources and infrastructure. This would add significantly to the cost of playing golf - and our mission statement is to supply good quality golf to local people at affordable prices. It is not to provide championship standard golf whatever the weather.”
Andy Mackay, meanwhile, comments that 2009 was his first full year as Head Groundsman. “If you adjust my budget for inflation from then to now via the Retail Price Index, then next year I will be spending 32% less. This has all been driven by me, i.e. rather than the club looking to squeeze me, I have been squeezing myself. The upshot is that I am actually far better provisioned than ever before and we are doing much more with less. Not so much austerity, but a positive growth mindset. Buy cheap, buy twice and all that!”
Do you have to jump through hoops to get what you need or are you well supported by management?
According to Andy Mackay, sound planning helps enormously. “For example, I always have a rolling five-year capital expenditure programme. I can’t always get what I want and have to be realistic, especially during the current climate, but generally I'm well supported, and have had a couple of excellent and really supportive Chief Execs who have kept in touch without actually interfering unnecessarily.”
“I work better when I’m left to my own devices to a large extent, and it’s when
PC OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 I 19
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 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164