Continue to Learn Conference 2023 - Tuesday

An update from BIGGA on the key initiatives currently in place to achieve the Association’s aims to improve the lives of greenkeepers.

This will include updates on projects relating to:

• The recruitment and retention of staff
• Influencing employers
• Industry co‑operation
• Education pathways

Presented by:

Jim Croxton

Chief Executive Officer

Jim has been CEO of BIGGA since 2011 and is a passionate campaigner working on behalf of the UK's greenkeepers. Having grown up on a golf course, Jim has a lifelong passion for the golfing industry and he regularly speaks to the leaders at all of golf's governing bodies to promote greater respect and improving working conditions for golf's greenkeepers.

Steve Lloyd

BIGGA Chairperson

Learning outcomes

• … Understand what BIGGA is doing to improve the lives of its members
• … Hear about numerous industry initiatives
• … Understand how BIGGA works with other golf industry and turf industry organisations

In the golf industry, we know how great golf can be for nature. From being custodians of vast areas of internationally important sand dunes, to protecting ancient woodland and making homes for threatened wildlife. How do we get the message out there to the world and how do we quantify the biodiversity value of golf?

Over the last year, and for the next four years, The R&A is embarking on a project to truly show how much wildlife our UK golf courses support. With 23 venues to assess across a range of landscapes, what have we learnt from the 2022 survey season?

Learning outcomes

• … The aims of The R&A Golf Course Biodiversity Project
• … Learnings from the 2022 biodiversity survey season
• … How working with local nature conservation bodies can help you to discover the wildlife being supported by your golf course
• … How to target habitat management for priority species
• … Record keeping and communication tools

Presented by:

Sophie Olejnik

Freelance ecological consultant Oleo Ecology

Sophie Olejnik is an ecological consultant specialising in golf course management for nature conservation. She has worked in the industry for over nine years honing her skills in habitat management for protected and other notable species across golf courses around the UK to ensure that golf courses continue to support nature. Working closely with Bob Taylor, Sophie has provided consultancy advice to the R&A across all Open Championship and the AIG Women’s Open venues and has most recently been undertaking a range of surveys to quantify the biodiversity value of 27 golf courses as part of a five year project to show how golf is good for nature.

Investing in golf course improvement projects is important for maintaining the integrity of a golf course, as well as being able to deliver conditions that meet expectations. During this session we will focus on what types of renovation projects are being completed on golf courses, how these renovations are being planned and completed, as well as identify strategies we have observed at golf courses that are undergoing renovation and that would be useful at any facility.

Learning outcomes

• … Provide a variety of tried and tested strategies
• … Set up construction projects for success

Presented by:

Zach Nicoludis

Agronomist USGA

Zach joined the Green Section in the spring of 2016 as an agronomist in the Central Region. He is based in the Columbus, Ohio, office and conducts visits in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Canada as well as providing educational outreach throughout the Central Region.

Working on a golf course during high school inspired Zach to pursue a degree in turfgrass science at Penn State University. Upon completing his degree, he worked as an assistant superintendent at St. Clair Country Club in Pittsburgh, Pa., French Creek Golf Club in Elverson, Pa., and Bidermann Golf Course in Wilmington, Del. Zach went on to become the South Course Superintendent at Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, Del., where he spent four years before joining the USGA Green Section.

We are inundated with data and many are overwhelmed when it comes to using the data to make decisions. This session will discuss the kinds of data that are most useful to enhancing playability and turfgrass performance.

Presented by:

Dr Frank S. Rossi

Associate professor of horticulture and the “Grass Guy” Cornell University

Dr. Frank Rossi (@fsr3) is an Associate Professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University where he leads the Turfgrass Science Program and teaches courses in horticulture, turfgrass science and food systems. He has advised more than 25 graduate students who have gone on to contribute to both the study and practice of turfgrass science, water quality protection, as well as Veterinary Medicine and Organic Golf Course Management.
He’s published scientific books, chapters, articles, columns, videos, and podcasts, mostly because he can’t stop talking about grass. You can hear him on the popular “Frankly Speaking” Podcast @Turfnet.com.

Frank has had a long career advocating for excellence in environmental stewardship and is passionate about firm, fast, safe, playing surfaces and
recognized throughout his career as among the most influential people receiving the 2017 John Reid Lifetime Achievement Award from the Metropolitan Golf Course Supt. Association and the 2018 GCSAA President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship.

Frank is married and the father of three children, Past-President of his local school board, and a Gentleman Farmer specializing in humanely and pasture-raised Heritage Breed pigs and poultry (@belcantofarm).

New approaches to dollar spot, anthracnose and fairy ring control.

Learning outcomes

• … Is the climate impacting disease severity?
• … What does the future hold
• … A look at the latest trial data

Presented by:

Glenn Kirby

Technical Manager EAME Syngenta

Glenn Kirby is Syngenta Turf Technical Manager for Europe, Africa & Middle East. Glenn combines a vast wealth of experience of practical greenkeeping and turf management in the UK and the US, with a deep technical understanding of the science behind agronomy solutions and decision making. He has worked in technical roles with Syngenta in the UK and EAME to initiate new Integrated Turf Management technologies and practical solutions for turf managers. Glenn has pioneered the development of the new Syngenta Turf Advisor app, to create an innovative easy to use platform, providing all the data and advice to make better turf management decisions every day.

Sean Loakes

Technical Manager UK & Ireland Syngenta

Sean Loakes is Syngenta Technical Manager for the UK and Ireland. A qualified biologist, Sean has had a career in environmental science and research through practical field trials and laboratory studies, primarily focused on best practice and optimising results from every application. His role involves using his experience and innovation to develop new turf agronomy strategies to meet the evolving challenges for customers, including the increasing importance of biopesticides within Integrated Turf Management programmes. Sean works with turf managers, independent researchers and Syngenta’s own team of R&D specialists to ensure the exciting pipeline of Syngenta new products is supported by digital solutions and practical advice to achieve the best possible results.

We often focus a great deal of our energies in making sure our turf systems are resilient. But how often do we focus on our own, internal resilience systems? This session will explore some of the most important themes related to building internal resilience. Intention, self care, vulnerability, letting go and courage are but some of the topics that will help us to develop a deeper sense of personal resilience.

Learning outcomes

• … Developing personal resilience
• … Self care and learning to let go

Presented by:

Paul MacCormack

Superintendent and General Manager Fox Meadow Golf & Country Club

Paul MacCormack is the Superintendent and General Manager of Fox Meadow Golf Course, located in Stratford, Prince Edward Island Canada where he lives with his wife Jill and three children Maria, Lucas & Clara.

As an author, speaker and certified mindfulness meditation teacher, Paul loves to share his knowledge and passion for mindful living.

This session will expose golf course managers and industry personnel to the latest research regarding climate change and current/future impacts on turfgrass management. While much of the national discussion focuses on sea level rise and tidal flooding, impacts are already occurring around the world. Much of the attention regarding greenhouse gasses focuses on CO2 but nitrous oxides (produced from the denitrification process) will be important in turfgrass management. Plants in general, and especially turfgrasses (due to their rapid growth rates), absorb large amounts of CO2. Generation of nitrous oxides via denitrification will also be discussed. Changes in turfgrass species due to warming night time temperatures are already having an impact on turfgrass selection as more golf courses move from creeping bentgrass to ultradwarf bermudagrasses in the American mid‑south. A warming climate and climate volatility is having an effect on pest populations as warm‑season weeds are moving north into cooler climates and other pests are increasing in incidence and severity.

Learning outcomes

• … Help golf course managers and industry personnel understand the latest research regarding climate change and current/future impacts on turfgrass management
• … Expose golf course managers and industry personnel to the fundamental aspects of factors affecting climate change

Presented by:

Dr Fred Yelverton

Turfgrass weed scientist (professor of crop and soil sciences) North Carolina State University

Fred Yelverton, PhD, has been a faculty member at North Carolina State University since 1986. Yelverton was an extension specialist with an emphasis on herbicides, plant growth regulators and pesticide residues.

Since 1995, he has been a professor of weed science with research and extension responsibilities for turfgrasses in the Crop Science department at NCSU. His speaking engagements and consulting activities have taken him to 47 states and 55 countries on six continents. Yelverton has also been active with both undergraduate and graduate students. He has taught a class every year since 1995 and currently teaches two courses: 1) senior seminar and 2) Advanced Pest Management for Turfgrasses. In his career, he has advised 20 graduate students (10 MS and 10 PhD). He currently teaches 2 seminars for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America: 1) Advanced Weed Management, and 2) Effects of Climate Change on Turfgrass Management and Turfgrass Pests.

Five of his former graduate students are now faculty members at various universities across the US. Yelverton was recently named Fellow in the Crop Science Society of America. This is the most distinguished award offered by this professional society and is awarded to 0.3% of its members. Fred has received the GCSAA Outstanding Contribution Award for 2023.

From construction to grow‑in and maintaining for daily resort play, follow our journey of establishing and nurturing fescue in a unique environment. See how we re‑thought our process and cultural regime as we continued to learn how to manage fescue in a region geared towards managing  bentgrass and poa.

Presented by:

Jason Dziabel

Golf Course Superintendent Cabot Cliffs, Cabot Cape Breton

Originally from Oakville, Ontario, Canada, Jason completed a business diploma, attached golf course management with continuing education in turf at the University of Guelph. His attention switched from a professional playing career to managing turf.

Working across four provinces in the country within the turf industry, Jason has over 20 years around the game of golf across North America and abroad.

Over the last year, England Golf has embraced the challenge of incorporating sustainability into all aspects of the organisation and to encourage sustainability to be a priority for our affiliated clubs. We will discuss the challenges and opportunities that golf clubs face, with a range of examples about what different clubs have done to embrace sustainability. We will also talk about what England Golf is doing to improve its footprint and inspire others to adopt similar practices.

Learning outcomes

• … Increase the awareness of the scope of sustainability
• … Provide meaningful and realistic action items
• … Generate a conversation among the greenkeeping community
• … Encourage idea sharing and best practice methods, regardless of which country you are in

Presented by:

Emma Huggins

Sustainability manager England Golf

Emma has been at England Golf for a few months, heading the new Sustainability Team. In this role, she works with partner organisations, counties and clubs to ensure that the impact of England's thriving golf industry is increasingly sustainable. Prior to working for England Golf, Ema worked in the US as an Environmental Specialist for the State of Florida, helping local communities create adaptation plans in the face of sea level rise and climate change. Both roles emphasize the importance of collaboration, education and effective action.

Owen James

Sustainability Manager England Golf

Owen is the Sustainability Officer working at England Golf. Having found a golf club in a hedge as an 11 year old, his love for the game developed into working both with the the greenkeeping team and hospitality team at his golf club. Owen then went to university to pursue his passion for environmental management, before amalgamating his loves for golf and the environment for the role at England Golf, starting in January 2022. Owen enjoys all sports, and is keen to develop a deeper understanding of how sport and the environment can benefit each other.

• The history of the club and golf course
• Preparation for The 2023 Open
• My year as captain at Hoylake during The 2014 Open and the story of the new 17th hole
• Preparing the range facility for the 151st Open on Hoylake Municipal

Presented by:

Alistair Beggs

Head of Sustainable Agronomy The R&A

Alistair Beggs joined the R&A in January 2019 having previously worked as Head of Agronomy at STRI. In his career at STRI Alistair advised on many different types of turf throughout the world. He gained warm season experience in Asia and has provided advice to clients throughout Western and Southern Europe and throughout the UK. He has gained a wealth of knowledge on the management and upkeep of many different types of golf course. Alistair's qualifications include a Biology degree and a diploma in Golf Course Architecture and he is a member of the BASIS professional register. He is a regular contributor to industry publications and presenter at turf conferences. Alistair is a keen golfer and member at Royal Liverpool, and Rye. Alistair was Captain of Royal Liverpool in 2014.

James Bledge

Links Manager, Royal Liverpool Golf Club Royal Liverpool Golf Club

James  has over 26 years' experience as a greenkeeper. He recently spent nine years at Royal Cinque Ports, where he oversaw major renovation and upgrades. He has been at Hoylake for the past 22 months and during this time the team delivered a successful Open Championship, despite challenging weather conditions.

James was one of the first FTMI graduates and has also been an FTMI mentor, in addition to speaking at many BIGGA events and conferences. 

Chris Trimble

First Assistant Greenkeeper Royal Liverpool Golf Club

Sam Cooper

Golf Club Member Royal Liverpool Golf Club