GMé | issuu 5

GolfGolfManagementE u r o p e

PERN’S PROGRESS

MAY 1998£2.50 25FFR 7.5DM 625PTAS

The definitive business magazine for the European golfing industry

International golf coursearchitect Jeremy Pern has just

been appointed vice president ofthe BIGCA - and he has clear views

on the nature of golf in Europe

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EDITORJohn VinicombeEXECUTIVE EDITORAlister MarshallFEATURES EDITORAndy FordNEWS EDITORDavid BowersSTAFF WRITERSColin Cameron, Peter Simm Pat Symes, Duncan Wright

PUBLISHERMichael LenihanPUBLISHING EXECUTIVEAngus DaySALES CONSULTANTPaul GardenerADMINISTRATIONSharon O’ConnellPRINT & REPROColourspeed & PPG Repro

GOLF MANAGEMENT EUROPEIS PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY BYPORTMAN PUBLISHING &COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED

GOLF MANAGEMENT EUROPE24 HIGHCROFT BUSINESS ESTATEENTERPRISE ROADWATERLOOVILLEHAMPSHIRE PO8 0BTUNITED KINGDOM

TELEPHONE(44) 01705 425000FACSIMILE(44) 01705 [email protected]

WEBSITEWWW.PORTMAN.UK.COM

ISSN1368-7727

SUBSCRIPTIONSUK (6 issues) £15Europe (6 issues) £30Rest of World (6 issues) £40BACK ISSUES/SINGLE COPIESUK & Europe £4Rest of World £7

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATIONMAY BE REPRODUCED ORTRANSMITTED IN ANY FORMWITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSIONFROM THE PUBLISHER.WHILE DUE CARE IS TAKEN TOENSURE THAT THE CONTENT OF

GOLF MANAGEMENT EUROPEIS ACCURATE, THE PUBLISHERCANNOT ACCEPT LIABILITYFOR ERRORS AND OMISSIONS. CONTRIBUTORS OPINIONS MAYNOT NECESSARILY REFLECTTHOSE HELD BY THE PUBLISHER.

' PORTMAN PUBLISHING & COMMUNICATIONS LTD 1998


MAY 1998 ! GOLF MANAGEMENT EUROPE 3

ContentsContentsGOLF MANAGEMENT EUROPE

Cover StoryLister Furniture have

introduced into theEuropean golfing

market, a range ofclassic teak furniture

which would graceany golf club

Page 10

MAY 1998Issue Five

Rudding Park, Harrogate is a course thatprovides the perfect balance between

sport and ecologyFull story on page 22

inside

GolfGolfManagementE u ro p e

Water-in golfWith summer now

upon us, we examinethe importance of

successful watermanagement andeffective storage

Page 14

New Age ITComputers are partand parcel of every

day life, and for themodern golf club, itis important to keepup-to-date with thelatest developments

Page 26

A New VoiceJeremy Pern, the newvice-president of the

BIGCA, offers hisopinions on thenature of golf in

Europe

2

4 GOLF MANAGEMENT EUROPE ! MAY 1998

newsnewsAUS consortium of pension

funds is believed to have paidin excess of

£47million for an 80 per centstake in Peter de Savary’schain of exclusiveCarnegie Clubs andpledged to providefunds for expansion.

De Savary, wholaunched the businesssome three years ago withthe acquisition of Skibo Castlenear Inverness, has secured sites inTuscany and Rhode Island.

He has also just landed a 40-roomGeorgian mansion in a 4,000-acre

South Carolina plantation.De Savary has plans for another

site in France and one in theBahamas which will beattached to the existing UKCarnegie operations -Skibo, Stapleford Park in

Leicestershire, and itsLondon outpost in

Knightsbridge - with the aim offloating the business in New York.De Savary, meanwhile, retains his

20 per cent stake.

Farming and Agricultural FinanceLimited (FAF) is offering golf clubsa viable alternative to high street

lenders when it comes to arranging acommercial mortgage throughGrounds Capital.The new venture willbuild on the success of FAF’s financeservice which has secured deals withmore than 750 golf courses across theUK.

Grounds Capital manager, PhilipCoysh (pictured), said: “The specialistmarket knowledge gained by ourgroundscare service shows that golfclubs need a more tailored approachthan that offered through the high

street.Grounds Capital will be able tooffer golf courses medium and long-term finance at competitive agriculturalrates.”

The scheme offers mortgages towell-established private members orproprietary clubs of upto 60 per cent of openmarket valuation onterms of between fiveand 25 years, tailored tothe club’s individualneeds, includingseasonal repaymentsto coincide withpeaks in income.

FAF push Grounds Capital

De Savary sells majority stakein Carnegie Club

ashworth opensfirst uk store

We’re onthe move!

By the time thislatest edition landson your desk,

Portman Publishing,respected publishers ofGolf Management Europe willhave moved to larger premises, as itcontinues its ongoing expansionplans.

At the same time, the companyis launching two new email facilities,and although existing telephone andfacsimile numbers remain the same,the new address is:

Portman Publishing Co Ltd24 Highcroft Business EstateEnterprise RoadWaterloovilleHampshire PO8 0BTUnited Kingdom

[email protected]@portman.uk.com

The UK’s first Ashworth Golfmanstore opened at the West Essex GCnear Chingford in February.

The idea came from the club’shead pro, Robert Joyce, and his twoassistants Carl Bianco and GlenCulmer.

Following the introduction of theProShopKeeper computer system,Joyce realised the only brand to beconsistently popular was Ashworth.

Over 350 sq ft has now been fittedout with all Ashworth shop fittings asthe shop now sells no other brand,being totally dedicated to Ashworth’srange.

Commenting on the move, Joyceexplained the benefits.“We have beenable to streamline our administrativecosts by consolidating orders andreturns, and we have also been able tosecure the best terms for purchasing,”he said.

“These advantages have beenpassed on to the customer and so ourprices are the most competitivearound.

“So far the feedback from themembers and visitors alike has beenextremely positive and needless to sayour clothing sales are considerably upon this time last year.”

A full entry of 500 teams representing golf clubs throughout the UK hasgreeted the launch of the Kubota Golf Club Challenge.Played over a series of five knockout matchplay rounds culminating in a final

at Woodhall Spa in October, the competition is for teams of two players - thesecretary and head greenkeeper - of each competing club.

Tournament organiser, Sporting Concepts Ltd, stated that the new event isproving a “tremendous success”, having been over-subscribed by more than100 entries in its very first year.

Wilson has signed 26-year-oldPadraig Harrington to play the revolu-

tionary new Fat Shaft irons over the nextthree years. The three-time Walker Cup

player, who linked up with PaulMcGinlay to win the World Cup of Golf

for Ireland last year, is recognised as oneof the most exciting talents on the PGA

European Tour.He said: “The Fat Shaft irons gave me

an excellent combination of distance andaccuracy and I’m looking forward to

using them from now on.”


PERN’S PROGRESS

MAY 1998£2.50 25FFR 7.5DM 625PTAS

International golf coursearchitect Jeremy Pern has justbeen appointed vice president ofthe BIGCA - and he has clear viewson the nature of golf in Europe

full entry for inaugural club challenge

A better class ofwood for clubsA better class ofwood for clubs

The definitive business for the European golfing industry

BRITISH INSTITUTE OF GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS

Swan Golf Designs LimitedTelfords Barn, Willingale,

Ongar, Essex CM5 0QF, England

Phone: 01277 896229 Fax: 01277 896300E-Mail: [email protected]

Howard Swan M.ScNigel Henbury B.A., Dip.Arch.

Golf Course Architects

member of the


The continued expansion of the Barrelfield Golf Network has been enhancedwith a link-up with Bowring Sport & Leisure Insurance Services. The burgeoningnetwork has grown from seven to 34 affiliated courses over the past year and the

agreement with Bowring is a bonus for all member clubs. The network is expectedto reach over 50 affiliated courses in the next year, with an eventual target of 100.

BOWRING LINK-UP WITH BARRELFIELD NETWORK

lost ball debatefinally settled?

Is a lost ball the property of theclub or any old pick-up merchant?

Think carefully before you offer ananswer, for this often contentiouspoint has been the source of argumentfor years, and now a British judge hasruled that property which has beenabandoned cannot be stolen.

A Staffordshire jury heeded hisadvice and acquitted two men whowent diving at midnight in a club lakeand were caught by police with over800 soaking balls in the back of theircar.

The wet-suited pair admitted trawl-ing for balls, but denied theft.

It is generally accepted that lostballs are regarded as a perk for clubmanagers and professionals, but now,subject to appeal, this time-honouredview must be changed.

The telling words of the judgewere: “If property has not been aban-doned, but a defendant genuinelybelieved that it had, that defendantcannot be convicted of theft.”

You have been warned.

hepworth looking to increase portfolioEric Hepworth, renowned for his magnificent interpretations of some of the

country’s most glorious golf courses, and who has provided hole by holephotographs for the R&A of The Open Championship since 1995, is hoping toincrease his portfolio by being invited to photograph courses new to him.Pictured above is the 13th green at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

Many of the industry’s keygroundscare suppliers havealready signed up for the

Sports, Amenities and LandscapingTrades Exhibition (SALTEX) atWindsor Racecourse, on September8-10.

Jon Gibson, SALTEX show direc-tor, said: “So far, 327 exhibitors havesigned up for SALTEX ’98 - that’s tenper cent ahead of this time last yearand means that 42,500 square metresof space available at the show isalready occupied.”

SALTEX ’98 gathering pace

David PottageGolf Course Architect

68a High Street, Walkern, Stevenage, Herts SG2 7PGTel: 01438 861438 Fax: 01438 861788

Member: British Institute of Golf Course ArchitectsMember: European Society of Golf Course Architects

The 2nd hole, Edinburgh Course, Wentworth

The 7th hole, Nansha Golf Club, China

We�re MakingWaves...

Comment


CommentLEAD EDITORIAL

Golf... 30 or 40 years ago, the mere mentionof the sport would have called to mind themiddle classes, retired army types and thelikes of Wodehouse’s Bertie Wooster and his

playboy chums.It is that mentality which has to be extinguished if

the game is to survive according to the excellent GolfFutures report which has set out the parameters forsuccess in the 21st century.

The definitive study, produced by The HenleyCentre for Emap Pursuit, is required reading for everygolf club aiming to capitalise on the opportunities thatmay well present themselves as we head into the newmillennium.

Golf Management Europe editor John Vinicombereviews the report on page eight of this issue, and hestates it doesn’t pull punches.

Good job too.For far too long now, the sport has rested on its

laurels and, in Britain specifically, has relied on tradi-tion and the aforementioned middle classes.

Golf in Britain and Europe has an exciting future ifit welcomes with open arms the five to six million newgolfers - many of whom are women and children - whoare expected to want to take up the sport in the nextdecade.

They must be afforded equal rights, they must beencouraged, and most importantly they must beaccommodated.

Of equal importance is the need for golf in Europeto be under the auspices of a central authority.

Of course there will be cries of protest from thosewhose empires will be seen to be crumbling aroundthem, but a multi-million pound business is not in placemerely for the gratification of half-a-dozen or so admin-istrators who can dine out weekly courtesy of theirpseudo-domains.

There needs to be one body of authority to whichall others report.

Sporting bodies, like chil-dren, need somebody tokeep them in order andgolf has never been sokeenly in need of a patriar-chal figure.

If you doubt these words,read Golf Futures, copiesof which are obtainable bycompleting the form onpage nine of this issue.

Now is the time,the time for action

G

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The Future?The Future?EMAP GOLF FUTURES REPORT


Astern warning, that ifunheeded will see the golfindustry fail to grasp theimmense opportunities to

be gained by the arrival of the 21stcentury, is spelled out in a definitivestudy produced by The HenleyCentre for Emap Pursuit.

Golf Futures is the most compre-hensive examination of golf in allaspects published and, as such, shouldcommand world wide attention andparticularly in the UK.

Nine months in the making, theexhaustive document is the vision ofEmap Pursuit and Golf Industry NewsEurope and is bound to have wide-spread repercussions wherever thegame is played.

The broad thrust of the study isaimed at the failure of the British golfindustry in not co-ordinating apublicity campaign and creating aninfrastructure to cope with a volatilemarket.

Many research sources are quotedand the saddest statistic in the reportis that, in ten years time, between fiveand six million adults currentlyexpressing a desire to play, will nothave taken up golf.

The report, knee-deep in facts andfigures, doesn�t hesitate to pull anypunches saying that, in effect, theBritish golf scene is not getting its acttogether and conflicting commercialinterests, as well as governing bodies,need to be taken under a centralumbrella.

Britain and Europe, it is claimed,is 60 years behind the United StatesNational Golf Foundation yet all thesocio-economic omens are promisingand the Labour Government is reck-oned to be good for golfers.

Golf is a £2 billion industry, butmarketing budgets worth millions ofpounds a year on golf-encouragingschemes lack impact when acombined operation in a centralcampaign would get the messageacross to greater effect.

Every golf club should have acopy of the Golf Futures analysis butkeep it in safe keeping for this is aclassic piece of scholarship and notthe usual dry as dust tome churnedout by academics with nothing betterto do.

If only half the forecasts cometrue, this study will have plenty morethan served its purpose although Idaresay plenty of feathers will beruffled at the Royal and Ancient, thePGA and the EGU. OPTIMISTICNo organisation is accused of sittingon their backsides, or even blinkeredthinking. Instead, it is a plea for amassive pooling of efforts and placingbefore all parties, just how big golf isin the UK and what lies at stake.

The tone is generally upbeat. Golfin Great Britain has a potentially opti-mistic future, but the examiner in thiscase says that more effort is required.

Golf is the most popular competi-tive sport in the country and a rise of1.2 million golfers is predicted in the

next decade. In that time no morethan 300 18-hole courses will beneeded with the emphasis on pay andplay, driving ranges and golf acade-mies.

Yet there are reminders of pastfollies; 80% of UK golf develop-ments built since 1989 have experi-enced financial difficulties.

Banks are less generous than atthe start of the 1990s. It was thenthat a malaise settled over the devel-opment market and the pinch wasalso felt in golf-crazy Japan whenGinza Golf Services, a dealer in clubmemberships, collapsed with debts of£1.16 billion.

Golf Futures believes there hasbeen a little too much doom andgloom spreading over from the earlyand mid-1990s and the outlook forgolf in the United States, Asia andEurope remains very positive.

In the last ten years the number ofcourses in Europe has risen by 150per cent to around 5,300 according tolast year�s Sports Marketing Surveys.Despite this growth, the ratio ofinhabitants per course remains veryhigh in almost all countries.

And while the report throws plen-ty of brickbats, it gives credit wheredue. �The British golf industry hasachieved a tremendous amount overthe last decade; 800,000 new playersand over 600 new courses have beenconstructed. By any standards thismust surely rank as a success.�

The market will evolve a solution.Of that the report is certain despitemany developments having been

Shaping theFuture

ofGolf

Golf Futures is set to become the strategic marketing bible for the British golfing industry; compiling analysis, forecasts and scenarios for thenext ten years. John Vinicombe examines this ground breaking new report

“Every club shouldhave a copy of the

Golf Futuresanalysis”

A

inappropriately designed. �Marketestimates suggest that 42 courseswere sold in 1996 for less than£2 million each.�

The report says that the 1988demand for golf by the R&A wasmisinterpreted by course developerswhen a purported need for 700 newcourses by the year 2000 was widelyquoted. The new courses were oftenaimed at the premium end of themarket when the real potential waspay and play.

Now, thanks to this latestresearch, the way ahead lies along amuch clearer path. Last year therewere 3.54 million golfers in the UKor, in other words, eight per cent ofthe population plays golf and lessthan one-third are members of clubs.

Golf participation has doubled inthe last 25 years and 7.7 per cent ofall adults now play the game and thefastest growth period was the secondhalf of the 1980s.

Since the publication of TheDemand for Golf, about 600 newcourses have been opened inEngland, Scotland and Wales with alot of congestion on many courses,particularly in the South East ofEngland. Golf Futures says TheDemand for Golf report produced the700 course figure in an arbitrarymanner.

The building frenzy peaked in1992 when over 100 new courseswere constructed in a year.

COURSE OPENINGSNow course openings have fallen toaround 40 per annum. Too many ofthe new courses focused on designrather than the needs of the market.

What Henry Longhurst was fore-casting over 30 years ago has becomereality with the building of courseswhere beginners don�t feel out ofplace. And driving ranges have takenoff.

The number of stand alone rangeswas about 450 in 1996. Of thisnumber, 22 were constructed overthe 1993 - 1995 period, 85 in 1991 -1993 and 112 during the 1989 -1991 boom.

While Scotland and Ireland leadthe world with the lowest ratio ofinhabitants per course, Sweden hasmore courses per head of populationthan England; Germany and Italy lagwell behind.

By the year 2000, the UnitedStates will have a golfing populationof between 25 and 30 million. In thelast ten years over 5 million golferstook up the game in the US and thatis well above the UK rate with thebest of Tiger Woods still to come andact like rocket fuel to further boostthe industry.

FIGUREShould an equivalent figure emergeon the UK scene, the effect would beenormously beneficial to the gamealthough the adulation followingWoods� US Masters victory in 1997was ridiculous when he was likenedto Jesus, Mozart and Gandhi.

On matters much closer to home,the report says that our golf isbecoming less dominated by theprofessional and upper middleclasses although women golferstend to be concentrated on the

loftier social level. There is a need fora harder sell to women.

Dealing with broader issues, GolfFutures says that the Labour govern-ment has inherited a strong growingeconomy from the Conservatives. Itforecasts a tightening in monetarypolicy and prospects for sustainedeconomic growth and low inflationare the best in 30 years.

If there are danger signs thatcould adversely affect golf, it is agreater pressure on free time,although two-thirds of the popula-tion feel they don�t have enough freehours to get things done and that golftakes too long.

On the other hand, the game isseen as a good way of getting awayfrom a stressed life.

As the economy improves, peoplewill feel safer in their jobs and aremore likely to take up golf, particular-ly if the family can participate.

What the future offers for theclub professional, how ageing fitsinto the golf scenario, environmentalissues connected with the game, theinfluence of European Union institu-tions, television and marketingtrends are all extensively dealt withand those are only some of thesalient points covered in this remark-able glossy 123 - page report thatkeeps coming up with the mostmind-boggling facts.

OFFERTo obtain your personal copy of theGolf Futures report - priced at £495 -look no further than our exclusivereaders� offer below.

The Future?The Future?EMAP GOLF FUTURES REPORT


Portman Publishing have joined forces withEMAP Pursuit to offer Golf Management Europereaders an exclusive opportunity to own a copyof the Golf Futures report.

Readers purchasing Golf Futures will receive aone year’s FREE subscription worth £30 toGolf Industry News Europe.To take advantage of this exclusive offer,simply fill in the form and return with payment to: Golf Futures Offer, Portman Publishing Co Ltd, 24 Highcroft Business Estate, Enterprise Road, Waterlooville, PO8 OBT

Golf Futures EXCLUSIVE OFFER !!! I enclose payment* for £495 made payable to:Portman Publishing Co Ltd or debit my credit card (£25 credit card surcharge applies)

Signature Expiry

Title Name

Club/Company

Address

Post Code*All Cheques, Postal Orders and Eurocheques must be drawn in Sterling.

Golf "GolfManagementE u r o p e

Lister flying theflag for wood

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The range has many standardsto choose from - Lutyens, Mendip,Warwick and Severn to name justsome of the more well-known.

The wood always has a satin-smooth finish and is afforded tensilestrength by the solidarity of morticeand tenon joints secured by teakdowels.Telephone (44) 01323 431177


newsnewsEssex pro Jason Groat may not

have a wedge of PGA Tour winsunder his belt, but he may just

shape the future of young golfers inEurope with his radical driving rangedesigns.

The 31-year-old, who earns hiscrust at Warley Park, is bored by thedriving ranges inEurope - and hebelieves everyoneelse is too.

His radicalapproach to golfdriving ranges isdesigned to encour-age more people to enter the sportand develop better players, by offeringa variety of shots from the bays.

The biggest difference is the intro-duction of greens - one for every fourbays. They are staggered, becominglarger the further back they go.

A course planner in each bay helpsthe golfer play the range and eachgreen has a flag and a number, just ason a normal course.

Groat said: “The main thing aboutmy designs are they are logical andthey are designed totally for the user.

“So many ranges I have visited aretotally unacceptable - they are moreconcerned with the collection of theballs than that which interests thepaying customer.

“People want to hit aball to a green not aboard with yardageon it.“Most people prac-tice because theywant to improve,and these designs,

are totally focussed on the golfer - howthe player practices, what they think,what they feel and what they see.”

He continued: “Golf is graduallygetting slower because the golf courseis not the ideal place to learn. With myidea players will be able to visualiseevery shot.

“It is so stimulating to hit a ball to agreen over a bunker or water as youwould on your local course.”

Groat’s plans drive a holethrough traditional designs

Along-term friendship has led totwo of Britain’s youngest golfcourse architects teaming up

after working independently for thelast ten years.

Jonathan Gaunt and SteveMarnoch’s merger has producedGaunt & Marnoch Ltd, and they willcontinue to work from their respectiveoffices in London and Bakewell.

Old friends since their days as land-scape architecture students at LeedsUniversity, their careers have followedsimilar lines until they decided earlierthis year to pool their talents.

Both are members of the BritishInstitute of Golf Course Architects -Marnoch (37) is an associate andGaunt (33) a full member.

Contrary to the views expressed bymany within the industry, Gaunt andMarnoch believe there is still a greatdeal of potential in the UK market,and feel their merger will offer excitingnew possibilities.

Gaunt explained: “We have beencompeting against each other for thelast eight years despite being friendsthroughout that time.

“We believethat by joiningtogether wecould offera moreinter-estingpack-age.”

carnoustie links upwith toro

Gaunt and Marnoch join forces

The Sports Turf Research Institute has released Turfgrass Diseases andAssociated Disorders.The new book, written and edited by Dr Catherine York,responsible for STRI’s pathology and pesticide testing, replaces the now out ofprint Turfgrass Pests and Diseases, first published in 1990.

The new 60-page title covers up-to-date information on diseases which arecommon to the UK and on cool season turfgrasses in general.. The information isarranged in such a way that the turf manager can quickly identify the diseaseproblem and follow the best course of remedial action. Each disease and disorderis fully illustrated with its own colour plate.

STRI publishes new book

Turf maintenance equipmentspecialist Toro has signed a three-yearworking partnership deal withCarnoustie Golf Links.

The agreement includes the supplyof equipment and on-site support forthe 1999 Open Championship.

Carnoustie will take delivery of awide-range of Toro machinery formaintaining all three courses at therenowned Scottish venue.

Course superintendent John Philip(above) said: “I chose Toro based onmy past experience. I know the prod-ucts and am particularly keen on thegreens and fairways mowers whichgive a superb quality cut, are reliable,well-engineered and hard to beat.”


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news


newsChris Collins has been appointed

chairman of the BritishAssociation of Golf Course

Constructors following PeterDunning’s decision to stand down.

Collins, who manages CJ Collins(Construction) Ltd, has many yearsexperience, and was responsible forthe 18-hole course and teaching acad-emy at the National Golf Centre,Woodhall Spa. Bob Blyth of Land UnitConstruction has been appointedCollins’ vice-chairman.

Warwick-based Southern Golf Ltd,who have been responsible for anumber of prestigious courses in boththe UK and Europe, have been electedto the association. Joining as associatemembers are White Horse ContractorsLtd of Abingdon, a land-drainagespecialist.

Meanwhile Howard Swan has beenelected to the presidency of the BritishInstitute of Golf Course Architects forthe coming year.

After 18 years of service, MartinHawtree stepped down as president atthe institute’s annual meeting in April,when Jeremy Pern was appointedvice-president, while Neil Coles, KenMoodie and Bruno Steensels - fromBelgium - joined the committee.

Commenting on his appointment,Swan said: “I am privileged to havebecome president of Europe’s leadingprofessional body in the field and lookforward to a busy and productiveyear.”

The institute’s InternationalConference is scheduled to be held atWentworth on November 17 and 18.

New men atthe helm

Hampshire-based Huxleys has reported record sales for the only British-manufactured ride-on greens mower - the Greenstar.Recent customersinclude councils, racecourses and numerous golf courses across the UK

including Vale of Leven and Goodwood.Director Paul Huxley said: “We took a lot of trouble to

get the specification right for British conditions by askingBritish greenkeepers what they wanted. Standard featuresinclude permanent all-wheel drive, exceptionally quietoperation, 11 knife cutting reels, steering mowing uniteswith quick detach facility and optional groomers,turf combs and rear roller brushes.

“We made sure that the price was verycompetitive. It’s pleasing to find that alot of customers prefer to buy Britishprovided they are getting good valuefor money.”

The contract to build the newDavid Williams-designed 18-holecourse on the Mapledurham Estate,near Reading - to be known asCaversham Heath - has recently beenawarded to Whitnell Contracts.

The 7,000-plus yard course, on thebanks of the Thames, is anothermember of the rapidly expandingBarrelfield Golf Network, and construc-tion is already underway with comple-tion anticipated in early autumn.

The practice is also involved in there-building of 16 greens on the OldCourse at Edenbridge Golf andCountry Club, Kent (above).

With a three-month programmewith greens, approaches, andsurrounds being turfed, disruption tothe club should be minimal accordingto Williams - and members will be ableto look forward to all-year round playon the newly-contoured greens.

The work, which has been under-taken by Grassform Limited, began in

March with completion due at the endof this month (May).

Williams explained: “Edenbridge,an old traditional course built on heavyclay, was suffering as every autumnplay had to move on to temporarygreens until drier conditions emergedin the spring.

He added: “This is something weanticipate seeing on many older cours-es where the benefits of all-round playon high-quality greens are appreciatednot only by members and visitors, butalso those involved in the commercialside of the clubs.”

williams kept busy at mapledurham

The Professional Short Course Championship - which disap-peared off the calendar in 1973 - will be resurrected on June19 at Nailcote Hall, Warwickshire.

The championship was first held at Torquay’s Palace Hotel in 1933and continued for 40 years. Its re-launch will attract some of the topnames on the European Tour including Paul Broadhurst, JamieSpence and Mark Mouland.CH ‘Charlie’ Ward, three-time Ryder Cup player and participant inthe inaugural event 65 years ago will take the first shot.

BeharreLl givencaptaincy

John Beharrell has been appoint-ed captain of the Royal and AncientGolf Club for the year 1998-99.

Born in 1938, he was, at 18, theyoungest winner of the amateurchampionship at Royal Troon.

Formerly md of an internationaltrade finance company, he turnedhis hobby into a horticultural busi-ness which is now run by his twosons.

His lives at Little Aston where heplays off a handicap of five.

Huxleys report record sales levels

Prestige Lockers has launched aweb-site which allows architects, interi-or designers and decision-makers inthe golf industry easy access to thecompany’s products and services.

Visitors to the site, which can befound at www.prestige-lockers.co.ukcan create their ideal locker room asthe site displays the diversity ofbespoke wooden lockers available.

Short course Championship resurrected

prestige lockers take to the web

Experts in landscapearchitecture, surveying, irrigationmodifications including storage lakes, land drainage and water features, budget feasibilitystudies and projectmanagement.

Over 35 years of constant investment in the latest machinery for earth moving,shaping and finishing including our own engineeredequipment for bunker construction, cultivations and seeding techniques haveenhanced our reputation for reliability and efficiency in golf course and sportsfieldconstruction.

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E-mail:[email protected]

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Sovereign’s TGA approved quality standard turf was on display at an open weekat Crowley Turf Supplies, Upminster, Essex, in March. Crowley, an appointed

Sovereign distributor, aimed the event at professional clubs, local authorities and thegeneral public, and golf course managers in particular expressed considerable inter-

est in the jumbo rolls on display.

sovereign turf attracts interest

PROPERTY portfolio DESCRIPTION PRICE VENDORAlbury End, Herts; 180-acre development site with consent POA FPD SavillsBeadlow Manor Hotel & GC, Beds; 2 x ! + driving range £3.5 Million Humberts LeisureBentleys Golf Site, Leicester; ! development site with consent º £480,000 FPD SavillsBraintree Golf Site, Essex; Consent for 29-bay driving range £200,000 FPD SavillsBrett Vale GC, Raydon, Suffolk; ! POA Edward SymmonsCocksford GC, Tadcaster; ! + # 110-acre site £1 Million FPD SavillsGrassmoor Golf Centre, Chesterfield; ! + driving range £550,000 William HillaryHenllys Hall Golf Hotel, Isle of Anglesey; ! £1 Million William HillaryHorncastle GC, Lincs; ! with consent for clubhouse £475,000 FPD SavillsIford Bridge Complex; # with consent for further ! POA William HillaryLa Grande Mare Hotel & GC, Guernsey; ! £6.5 Million FPD SavillsLydd GC, Kent; ! + driving range º £800,000 William HillaryM40 Corridor; ! development site with consent £1.5 Million FPD SavillsMoated Farm Golf Centre, Surrey; # with consent for range º £395,000 FPD SavillsPuxton, Weston-Super-Mare; 2 x ! development site £800,000 FPD SavillsOrchardleigh Park, Somerset; 2 x ! with mansion £3.75 Million FPD SavillsThree Locks GC, Bucks; ! pay & play £1.5 Million FPD SavillsWestwood Court, Kent; 170-acre development site £650,000 FPD SavillsWhitehaven GC, Cumbria; Developed but unplayed course POA FPD Savills

Under Offer º

Iford Bridgereturns to themarketplace

The Iford Bridge complex - on theborders of both Bournemouthand Christchurch - has returned

to the market after a proposed sale fellthrough.

William Hillary Leisure and Hotelsand Humberts Leisure have beeninstructed by Christchurch BoroughCouncil to offer the nine-hole, pay andplay course - with tennis and bowlsfacilities - for lease.

The site extends to a maximum of88.5 hectares with planning permis-sion already granted to develop a 27-hole course, 30-bay driving range andclubhouse.

Further development opportunitiesmay exist.

An agreement for a 99-year leaseon standard full repairing and insuringterms are offered over the property.

Annual rental offers are invited - abase rent with a performance relatedtop-up is preferred - subject to fiveyearly reviews.

Feature


FeatureIRRIGATION & WATER MANAGEMENT

Despite the weather through-out Europe this Springwater resources are becom-

ing ever more stretched and the issueof water conservation becomes evermore politicised.

Within the UK, consumption ofwater for irrigation by agriculture,horticulture, amenity and sportsturfaccounts for less than two per cent ofthe nation�s total water consumption.

Why then does irrigation get dis-proportionate attention in the media?The simple reason is that whilst theannual proportion of water consumedfor irrigation is small, that consump-tion is concentrated in the summermonths when supply is at its lowest.

Deservedly or not irrigators donot have a very good public image atpresent, particularly those who�waste� water on turf rather thancrops.

In order to have a voice in thewater debate irrigators need to showthat they are using this resource in anefficient and responsible manner.

Whilst full fairway irrigation is anecessity on courses in SouthernEurope, in Northern Europe ithas been viewed as a luxuryrather than a necessity.

This is rapidly changing asthe climate changes and asgolf clubs seek to increasegreen fee revenues by havingmore society days.

The increase in trafficmeans that fairway irrigation isa necessity if golf courses are tobe maintained in the manner thatgolfers have become accustomed to.

...Sources of WaterMAINS SUPPLYOn the continent this is not an optionsince the quantities required are justtoo great and the cost would beprohibitive.

In Britain, with prices for water ataround £0.65 per cubic metres and an

average consumption for a standard18 hole course, incorporating greens,

tees, approaches and fairways irri-gation system at 20,000 cubicmetres per year this represents aconsiderable cost.

However the annual overallconsumption for a full fairwayssystem can be much lower in

the more humid parts of Britainand even in the south-east thisfigure can be reduced to around15,000 cubic metres if an irriga-

tion system with part circle sprin-klers is installed.GROUNDWATER ABSTRACTIONThis is by far the cheapest source ofwater. However, there are many partsof Britain where the EnvironmentAgency simply cannot grant anabstraction licence for the summermonths.

Many clubs already have a summerabstraction licence - some granted in ➧

Water is the source of life for all golf courses, and availability canbe a problem - but, says Giles Wardle, with the right storage and

distribution techniques, efficient water control can be achieved

The Wise Use ofWater

Automatic WateringPromotes Better GolfAutomatic watering is designed to promote bettergolf by enhancing the turf, helping greenkeepersproduce better courses.

For full details, consult the specialists, ISS Aquaturf,people whose knowledge is backed by 20 years practical experience.

aquaturf SYSTEMS LTDUnit 6, The Bourne Centre, Salisbury Business Park, Southampton Road, Salisbury SP1 2NYTelephone 01722 412510 of Fax 01722 413025

Anglo Aquarium have been supplying aquatic plants for over 35 years.In that time we have become one of the largest growers and suppliers inour field.Our customer base ranges from garden centres, landscapers, localauthorities, environment agencies, through to golf courses. In fact,where there is water, Anglo Aquarium will advise and supply theappropriate plants to suit all circumstances.Plants are grown in containers from plugs (5cm) to 30 litre (40 cm) potsto suit the various demands of our customers. We are also producers ofpre-planted coir �bio rolls� and coir �pallets� for the control of watererosion on river banks and other areas.Our own fleet of transport is dedicated to ensure that all plants arrive ontime and in good condition.If you have a water feature that needs attention, please call us and wewill be glad to help.

Anglo Aquarium Plant Co. Ltd.Strayfield Road, EnfieldMiddlesex EN2 9JETel: 0181 363 5548Fax: 0181 363 8547


WARDLEConsulting Engineers Ltd.

Independent Irrigation Consultants & Project Managers

GGoollff IIrrrriiggaattiioonn SSppeecciiaalliissttssFeasibility studies, water supply and storage

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Feature


FeatureIRRIGATION & WATER MANAGEMENT

Irrigation systems designed, suppliedand installed for all Golf, Landscapeand Fine Turf applications.Large stocks of sprinklers, fittings and spares.

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Your complete independentIrrigation specialists

perpetuity - but typically this will besufficient for only the greens, tees andapproaches. In areas such as Scotlandand the West coast this is not such aproblem and many golf courses havefairway irrigation systems usingsummer abstracted water.WINTER STORAGEStorage of winter abstracted water,whether surface water or groundwa-ter, is often the best solution for a fullfairways irrigation system.

The capital costs are high but therunning costs are much lower thanpurchasing water from the domesticsupply. Furthermore the Environ-ment Agency will look upon thisoption favourably and are likely togrant a winter abstraction licence.

If the golf course has a compre-hensive drainage system, this watercan be stored in the reservoir and

used for irrigation without having toapply for an abstraction licence.

However not all golf courses havea suitable site for the construction ofa reservoir and the incorporation of areservoir as an aesthetic and strategicgolfing feature is ill advised as thewater level will drop during thesummer months.ALTERNATIVE SOURCES These sources of water are commonin arid climates. The use of treatedsewage effluent (TSE) as the irriga-tion source is compulsory in placessuch as Mallorca, but is also practicedin Britain and Northern Europewhere there is treatment plant nearby.

However this requires continuedmonitoring and management ofwater quality, careful scheduling ofthe irrigation system and specialconsideration to the agronomicimplications.

Reverse osmosis and desalinationof brackish or sea water is also possi-ble but very costly and is only prac-ticed in places such as the MiddleEast.

...Irrigation SystemsOnce a feasibility study has beencompleted and the water sourcesecured it is vital to design an effi-cient irrigation system.

ELECTRIC IRRIGATION

For Nationwide Service call Simon Hills on:

(01202) 824580Mobile: (0973) 698183

email: [email protected]

DRAINAGE LTD.

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THE PROVENPERFORMERThe sturdy walk-behind 60 trencher from Case

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IRRIGATION & WATER MANAGEMENTFeatureFeature

For existing golf courses with oldor poorly designed and installed irri-gation systems, there are oftenmeasures that can be taken to improveperformance and efficiency withouthaving to install an entirely newsystem.

In addition to the design andinstallation of the system it is para-mount that the system is operatedproperly and used to its full potential.

IRRIGATION SCHEDULINGThe best irrigation scheduler is thegreenkeeper. There are many tools,such as weather stations, at hisdisposal in programming the irriga-tion applications

More often than not however, theirrigation is programmed by thegreenkeeper based on years of experi-ence of the local climate and particularconditions that prevail on the course,

rather than on objective criteria suchas rainfall, evapotranspiration rates,soil type, grass species and cut height.There are so many variables in calcu-lating water requirements that theempirical approach by an experiencedgreenkeeper will often prove to beeffective and efficient.

Nevertheless there is scope forimprovement in this aspect on manygolf courses, such as the use of PCbased control systems to give thegreenkeeper greater flexibility in theprogramming of the irrigation.Inmany cases these new control systemscan be �retro-fitted� to existingsystems using the existing cables anddecoders.IRRIGATION DESIGNThe design of the irrigation system isprobably the most important factor inensuring that the system uses waterefficiently.

Good design is worth much morethan a manufacturer�s warranty orcontractor�s guarantee, since thesystem should be in service long afterthe guarantee has expired.

In terms of water use efficiencythe two most important designfactors are;

Firstly, uniformity of water appli-cation. This is an often overlookedfactor in the design of irrigationsystems, but is the most critical factorin avoiding the appearance of dry orwet spots on the playing surface.

Uniformity is a factor of sprinklermodel, nozzle and operating pressure,the sprinkler spacing and configura-tion (eg. triangular, square etc.) andwind speed.

The second is degree of control.The ability to differentiate the sprin-kler run times to match the conditionsthat prevail around that sprinkler isparamount. Valve-in-head sprinklertechnology facilitates this but is not apanacea for efficient water use.

In many circumstances properlyconceived and well designed blockirrigation systems can achieve thesame results.

L.D. BOURGEIN OXFORD LIMITEDSouth Hinksey, Oxford OX1 5AZ

Telephone: 01865 735420Fax: 01865 326155

The ClearSolution to all your Irrigation Requirements.Avoid exhausted, hard,cracking greens by installing a fully automatic, pop-upsprinkler system from Aquamatic.

We offer a free, no-obligation site visit and quote any where mainland UK.

For further information contact Aquamatic Irrigation on:

Tel: 01282 873322Fax: 01282 870904

Standroyd Mill Cottontree, Colne

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There can be very few thingsmore frustrating whenwalking onto a tee than notknowing how the hole pansout ahead of you.

Professionals will undoubtedlyhave walked the course, and on top ofthat they have a caddy who knowsevery inch of the green, and can tellyou where the flag is at any givenpoint during a four-round competi-tion.

But your average hacker may beplaying the course for the first time,with not a clue as to the hazardsahead save for a tatty piece of rustymetal which indicates the hole�slength at 316 yards. Or is that 376?

And no sign of the flag, so is thedistance accurate? After all the green-keeper was out earlier to change pinpositions. None of this is conduciveto good play.

That�s where the GreenBox PinMarker System comes into its own.The pin marker follows extensiveresearch into the needs of both theclub and the golfer, by North Shields-based manufacturers GreenBox Inter-national.

Brian Dobinson, managing direc-tor, of GBI, believes the Pin MarkerSystem represents a completely newdirection for golf course accessories.

He said: �I spent three days walk-ing around the GCSSA show in Los

Angeles in February to see if therewas anything like it coming on themarket, and there wasn�t.

�Whilst at the show, I also spoketo numerous visitors from golf clubsall over the world, and no-one hadever seen a product like our PinMarker.

�The idea sprang forth from abrainstorming session we hadhere about a year ago.

�We then took out thepatents and all the protec-tion that we needed, andwe installed the first set ofunits on a north-eastcourse for researchpurposes last August.

�We started to marketthe Pin Marker at the end of last year.We have now appointed agents inIreland, Spain, Portugal and theUnited States, and we expect to addseveral more European countries thisyear.�

The system can be located eitheron, or at, the approach to the tee, andprovides all standard details in respectof stroke index, par and yardages -but most important of all, it showsthe current position of the pin.

Now, the approach shot to thegreen can be planned with confidence,

and Dobinson believes the systemmay prove to be invaluable in thedevelopment of individual players.

The lower panel of the display boxmeasures 18� x 9� and in addition tothe normal hole information, it showsa large graphic display of the greenwith a movable red marker indicatingthe current pin position.

A detailed layout of the full holecan also be incorporated if required.If the pin position changes, all that isrequired to ensure a continued accu-rate display is around five seconds -insert the key, lift the cover, move themarker and lock the cover back inposition.

It could not be simpler for thecourse management - and it could notbe more helpful for Joe Public.

A smaller upper panel provides avariety of possibilities. It comes witha range of eight standard noticesallowing different messages to bedisplayed on each tee, ranging fromAvoid slow play to Winter rules apply(lift and place).

But from the golf club�s point-of-view, the most intriguing scenario isthe 18 available sponsorship opportu-nities.

GreenBox


GreenBoxADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

Providing essential information on every course, whilst generatingadvertising income is all in days work for these new Pin Markers from

GreenBox - “probably the next best option to having a personal caddy”

An optional layout of the lower panel incorporatesfull hole details

The GreenBox display unit is a superbidea with an exact description of the

hole and particularly as it gives the pinposition of the dayColin Christison, golf director

El Paraiso GC Estepona, Spain.

BoxingCLEVER

�


ADVERTISEMENT FEATUREGreenBoxGreenBox

Potential sponsors will not beslow to recognise that each displaywill be scrutinised by almost everyplayer on the course. What othereconomically viable advertising givesalmost 100 per cent target audiencecoverage?

In addition, each unit is providedwith a clear-fronted weatherproofwallet which is ideal for displayingcompany logos on corporate hospital-ity days.

The standard units are manufac-tured from high-quality impact resis-tant ABS mounted on a colour-codedsteel bracket - stone pin markers arealso available - and are designed towithstand the most severe of weatherconditions.

Units can be supplied either, forinstallation in a permanent positionor with facility to be removed for ease

of ground maintenance, with, in thisinstance, a locking system to preventunuthorised removal.

Prices for the permanent unit startat just over £200 + vat, and Dobin-son believes the initial reaction ofpurchasers indicates the GreenBoxPin Marker System is here to stay.

�Such has been the impact at ourvery first installation, that apparentlythe golfers now go to the unit reli-giously before they tee off specificallyto find out where the pin is placed.

�We already have two courses insouthern Spain and we are confidentof obtaining a lot more business inthis region where the Pin Marker isseen as a great aid to the thousands ofplayers visiting this golf haven.

�Slow play is a major concern, andalthough we�re not going to speed upthe game immensely, it will undoubt-edly help, as golfers know where thepin is located before they tee off.�

GreenBox International LtdTTMA House, Norham RoadNorth Shields, Tyne & Wear NE29 7UJ

Tel (44) 0191 296 3838 Fax (44) 0191 296 4848www.greenbox.co.uk E-mail [email protected]

The proprietor of Chalgrave ManorGC in Bedfordshire, Steve Rumball,is an unashamed fan of the Green-Box Pin Marker System.

He confirmed: “We were about 90per cent down the road with some-body else when we saw the Green-Box system and changed our mind.

“We put them in about a month agoand they look really good. They aresmart tidy units and the informationon them is excellent.

“What I particularly like about them,is the ease with which you canchange the information about theadvertiser.

“For instance if you’ve got a localcar dealer advertising and he has a‘deal of the week’ it is a simple oper-ation to change the contents of theunit weekly.”

He added: “The members also likethem because we have a couple ofblind greens and the Pin MarkerSystem provides the vital informationto enable them to step ontothe tee knowing where thepin is in relation to the restof the green.”

GreenBox Pin Markers’ smart design ensure thatyour information looks good on any golf course

We put them in about a month ago,and they look really good.

They are smart tidy units and theinformation on them is excellent

Steve Rumball, proprietorChalgrave Manor GC, Bedfordshire

Comment...

�

Case StudyCase StudyGOLF COURSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION

Astark warning to golf clubs that the taxman islooking in their direction with even morevigour comes from Bob Simmons (picturedbelow), executive director of the Association of

Golf Course Owners.Speaking for 180 members of the association, formed

two years ago at the instigation of Vivien Saunders,Simmons pulled no punches to an audience at theClubhouse Exhibition.

Since February, Simmons has been a member of theEGU executive and this gives his words added weight.With an extensive background in marketing, golf courseand hotel management, Simmons, 50, also knows his wayaround the labyrinthine paths of politics and workings ofgovernment departments.

Although representing the views and interests primari-ly of proprietary clubs, Simmons says he has no axe togrind with members� clubs. The message he delivered atthe National Agricultural Centre at Stoneleigh began withtracing the last 15 years of the golf industry and thedramatic changes in that time.

The number of players taking up the game in the midand late 1980s led to a severe shortage of playing facilitiesand during that period the private members� clubs repre-sented around 90 per cent of the outlets available. Themajority of members� clubs were full with long waiting lists.

It was at this time the government put into placeincentives for agricultural land to be put to other uses andone of the options was developing sport and, in conse-quence, golf. A huge course building programme beganand virtually all the courses built in the last 20 years areproprietary owned. Today about 800 courses are in thatcategory.

�With 2,400 courses in the UK, the proprietary sectorhas increased its market share from less than 10 percent of the total courses in the early 1980s to arounda third of the total facilities in the country at thepresent time,� said Simmons.

During those boom years speculators becameinvolved and new companies arrived to pick up newbusiness without having the necessary experience.Basic market research went out of the windowand many owners ran into trouble throughover borrowing.

It is Simmons� contention that thevalues of courses and potential sitescontinued to grow until 1992 whenthe recession started to hit hard.Then came hard times for ownerswith negative equity being createdamong other problems.

�This caused many owners toeither sell at a loss, be put intoreceivership or hang on by their

finger nails. A survey by Golf Research Group in the early1990s, indicated that the majority of proprietary ownedcourses were in financial difficulty.

�Investment in golf courses over the last four years hasnot proved to be the gold mine that investors thought.The returns have been small and just as many owners werethinking things may be improving and they had gotthrough the recession, they were hit by a change to theVAT legislation in April, 1994.

�This put all proprietary courses at a serious financialdisadvantage. The changes allowed exemption from charg-ing VAT to private members� clubs on their subscriptionsand they also received substantial cash refunds of VATpreviously paid and back dated to 1990. Golf courseowners, however, were still required to charge VAT ontheir subscriptions and obtained no VAT refunds.�

At this point in his address, Simmons made a plea fortax legislation to be changed and called for pressure to bebrought to bear on the authorities. His complaint wasaimed at unfair trading conditions that caused problemsthroughout the golf industry.

�The new Sports Minister, Tony Banks, has indicatedthat the Labour Government want to get back to theSport for All policy. Unfortunately, Mr Banks only seemsto think that sport applies to football.

�We have made representations to him, but have nothad the courtesy of a response or acknowledgement of ourdocuments. Does this typify the new government�s atti-tude to sport and the development of facilities?�

Simmons later told me that no progress was madewhen the Conservatives were in power, but added thatduring their time in opposition, the Labour Party�s reac-tion was, �fairly positive.�

�All that has changed now but that has not stopped uslobbying MP�s and ministers on both sides of the

House as well as meeting with the InlandRevenue and HM Customs and Excise.�The VAT question has been ongoing for a whilenow. The proprietary courses and the privatemembers� courses have been put in a situation,where due to the way the regulations are applied,

they are seen as two separate entities by HMCustoms and Excise.

�Not only does this create unfair com-petition between the two sectors,

but also financially penalises theend user - the golfer, and alsothe course owners. He continues: �The golfer

belonging to a proprietarycourse is being penalised

by having to pay 17.5 percent on top of the sub-scription fees.

Owners� unitein war on taxation


A

JOHN VINICOMBEeditor

At the recent Clubhouse Exhibition, executive directorof the Golf Course Owners Association Bob Simmons,delivered a damning attack on the British tax system


Case StudyCase StudyGOLF COURSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION

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LICENCENo. I2354

�In order to remain competitive with local members�clubs, many proprietary courses have to absorb in part, ifnot all, of this VAT charge to remain competitive.�

Simmons now brought his heavy artillery to bear onthe crux of the argument in referring to a Treasury orderintroduced in the latest budget. This is in the form of astatutory instrument, the Value Added Tax (Sports,Sports Competition and Physical Education) Order 1998.

This is designed, said Simmons, to exclude all SportsClubs that have been set up by club owners to take advan-tage of the exemption status for VAT on subscriptions.�This has been done in spite of the two VAT tribunal casesrelating to these arrangements, being lost by Customs andExcise. It seems you can win one day only to have the lawchanged so that Customs and Excise can�t lose.

�Where is the justice in this? What is the point of VATtribunal rulings when Customs can just change the rules?�Simmons revealed to me later that there were at least twocourses in the south and south-east that will lose over£80,000.

�With the recession of the early 1990s, the growth ofthe game has slowed dramatically. The British GolfIndustries Association are seriously concerned about the

flattening out over the last three or four years affectingequipment sales. Members� clubs have found income fromgreen fees and societies has fallen and waiting lists aredisappearing altogether.

�Everyone needs to compete on a level playing field.That�s all we are asking. It will be to the benefit of thegolfer and development of the game.

�Fair taxation is essential. According to the InlandRevenue, they estimate that there is £19 million in unpaidCorporation Tax owed from members� clubs, not meetingtheir obligations.

�The EGU recently issued advice on this and it issomething that must be dealt with. A large number of themembers� clubs do not pay their taxes when due. Thosethat don�t could face financial penalties.� Then Simmonspainted a grim picture for any tax dodgers in the world ofgolf.

�In December, the Inland Revenue issued a taxbulletin relating to the way accounts should be presentedand how inspectors should assess for Corporation Tax onsports clubs in general.

�It was noticeable that, in this document, golf clubswere highlighted and it is clear that the Inland Revenuewill be persuing the issue with more vigour and clubsshould be aware of this when preparing their accounts.�

These were just some of the points touched on by BobSimmons to the seminar. The estimated 3.5 milliongolfers in the UK, all manner of clubs, and the golf indus-try as a whole would be foolish in the extreme to let hisremarks and observations fall on deaf ears.

“With the recession of theearly 1990s, the growth of

the game has sloweddramatically”

HAWTREEGOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS

Since 1912

5 OXFORD STREET, WOODSTOCK,OXFORD OX20 1TQ

TEL: (01993) 811976 FAX: (01993) 812448E-Mail: [email protected]

Web site: www.hawtree.co.uk

British Institute of Golf Course Architects

What have three-dayeventing, golf and tvsoap Emmerdale incommon? If your

answer was Yorkshire take a pat onthe back - if you answered RuddingPark, Harrogate, then you can take agold star.

The estate, which was formerlyhome to three-day eventing, andwhose holiday homes are owned bythe despicable Tates in Emmerdale,now houses what is claimed to be�Yorkshire�s premier parkland course�.It is not an idle boast.

The 6,871-yard, par-72 course, isset in outstanding 18th century park-land, and with due deference to thedelightful surroundings, over 9,000trees and almost a mile of new hedgeswere planted to enhance the ambi-ence when the course was shaped inthe mid-1990s.

The estate itself dates back to the1700s and was acquired by theMackaness family in 1972.

The current managing director isMark Mackaness, son of John, thepurchaser. He explained: �The golfcourse was a natural progression toour other activities and there was amarket for it. As for the layout of thecourse I�m absolutely delighted.�

At the heart of the 2,000-acreestate is the grade I listed RuddingHouse, which, following a period ofrepair and restoration, is now a 50-room four-star hotel and one of thecounty�s leading venues for confer-ences, banqueting, private dining andcorporate entertaining.

The hotel works hand in glovewith the three-year-old, MartinHawtree-designed golf course, whichhas already won a national ecologyaward for the way it preserved thenatural landscape and created newhabitats for fauna and flora.

In 1996 - a year after winning theregional title - it beat off competitionfrom around 300 other clubs for theprestigious £5,000 Best Environ-mentally Designed and ManagedCourse Award organised by groundcare specialist Amazone.

Mackaness said: �Beingthe best at anything is atremendous achieve-

ment, and when itinvolved an area ofthe business whichcompetes against thechallenges of nature,it �s all the morerewarding.�

Env i ronmen t a linformationboards on the

c o u r s ed e t a i l

points ofin teres t ,

and the woods and lakes are proving ahaven for many of Britain�s nativespecies. In addition, it has severalother somewhat unique attributes.

The tee for the short 164-yard,par-three fifth is adjacent to a disusedcemetery - a grave concern for thesuperstitious.

And a wayward tee shot is unlike-ly to find a bunker, except that is onthe signature hole, the 14th, which isset deep in woodland - it has fourof the course�s six bunkersnestling among rhododen-dron bushes around thegreen.

The reason forthe dearth of sandtraps is simple.The course wasdesigned in consulta-tion with the National Trust, whichwould not allow bunkers in the park-land area where they would be obtru-sive.

In addition, certain areas have tobe mown to give the appearance of agrazed park and some of the golf hadto be taken outside of the parksgrounds.

Club Insight


Club InsightRUDDING PARK

The view back towards the lake from thesecond green at Rudding Park

we have a

quality course

open to

everybody”“

Rudding PARK

The award winning course at

Rudding Park relies on a

combination of efficient

management, modern facilities

and an environmental

sensibility - the ingredients

for a successful club, as

David Bowers discovered

G O L F


Stephen MacFarlane, of theHawtree practice, explained: �Weworked our way through six or sevenplans for the course and were delight-ed with the outcome.

�The area inside the park wasmature land but we planted treesoutside the park so that in 80 or 100years time that will also have the lookof parkland.

�The bunkers could only be placedin areas of woodland, in other wordswhere they could not be seen fromthe house. The basic requirementswere to preserve the appearance.�

And it works. Save for the flutterof a flag in the distance and the occa-sional far-off cuss of a wayward teeshot, one could easily be forgiven forthinking these are the grounds of anyof the country�s numerous splendidstately homes.

Staff at the club are justifiablyproud of the magnificenceof the course.

Golf events� man-ager Mina Mans-bridge, who withher assistant LucieWallace is respon-sible for around600 corporate andsociety days atRudding Park, said:�It really is a beautifulsetting - unfortunately becausewe are so busy I don�t often get theopportunity to fully appreciate it.

�But there are certainly a lotworse places to earn a living. Oncepeople start working here they tendnot to want to leave.�

So Rudding Park is a fine coursein a magnificent setting and is leadingthe way in ecological terms. But it isalso flying the flag for the moderngolf club, pointing the way forwardinto the new millennium.

It not only affords men andwomen equal status, but has alsoturned over the running of the busi-ness almost entirely to the fairer sex.

And the media attention this hasspawned is not merely the result ofexcellent marketing, but a conse-quence of the business and profits thewomen have generated at the club.

The course is just part of a golfcomplex which comprises an 18-bayfloodlit driving range, a workshop forclub repairs and renovation, anextensive shop - managed by anothersuccessful business woman LindaNicholls - and a PGA golf academywhich features specially-designedacademy holes and state-of-the-artvideo technology.

The clubhouse has been designedto complement the surroundings and -under the auspices of Claire Reason -

offers popular European-stylehome-cooked cuisine.

All things considered,Rudding Park couldbe conceived as atremendous clubfor the benefit ofthe well-heeled of

North Yorkshire.Yet it remains a pay-

and-play course asMina Mansbridge con-

firmed.�Golf is a sport that should be

played by everybody. We wantpeople to enjoy it and we want tomake it accessible - but just because itis accessible doesn�t mean you can�tprovide quality.

�So we have a quality course opento everybody, and the more peoplethat take part, the better for us.�

And they have achieved every-thing they set out to do. A round atRudding Park - or two or three ifyou stay at the luxurious hotel - is adelightful way to pass a few hours ordays.

Litt le wonder then that theSugdens, Tates and Dingles frequentthe course when filming allows. It�senough to drive Eric Pollard todrink.

Club InsightClub InsightRUDDING PARK

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Ashfield House1154 Melton RoadSyston Leicester LE7 2HB

Telephone: 0116 269 6766Mobile: 0836 553899

Fax: 0116 269 6866

JOHN GREASLEY LIMITED

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Hole 14 Rudding Park

Whilst walking on the second fairway, thetranquility and charm of Rudding Park’s 18th

century parkland can be breathtaking

Top left: The bridge over the lake, near the fourth

Above: Rudding Park’s peaceful surroundingsgive plenty of opportunity to concentrate on a

putt at the third

Matthew Orwin is a mem-ber of the growing bandof young people wholike to see their future

prospects of attaining top manage-ment posts linked to the ever expand-ing golf industry.

Currently the 21-year-old holdsthe position as sales and marketingmanager at the Stapleford AbbotsGolf Club in Essex - an impressive45-hole parkland complex owned bythe Clubhaus Group.

It is not a position he arrived atthrough sheer luck or good fortune,instead it has been a move plannedwith almost military precision andmotivation to reach the goal he sethimself when he was an 18-year-old.For two years he was employed as atrainee professional at Lingfield Parkin Surrey.

He said: �As an amateur I playedoff a six handicap, but I never had thedesire to make professional golf mycareer. Nevertheless this period of mylife was the first step on the ladder Ialways wanted to climb.

�It gave me an invaluable insightinto the life of the club pro. How heorganised coaching, tuition and partic-ularly how to make the club shop aprofitable enterprise when these daysthere is so much competition frommajor outlets.�

For the next two years hechanged his role completelywhen he moved from the clubprofessional�s shop tobecome an assistant green-keeper, and more valuableinformation was gleanedon yet another aspect, anda vitally important one, inthe day to day operation ofrunning a golf complex.

During his time as anassistant greenkeeper he alsoheld two part-time posts asan accounts assistant atLingfield Park Racecourseand also worked in the bar ofthe golf club.

Having at that stage laid a solidfoundation for his future career, heleft Lingfield in October 1996 tobecome administration manager ofWesterham Golf Club in Kent, tack-ling the multifarious duties and prob-lems associated with the always tensesix months before an entirely newgolf complex opens, followed by theequally anxious first six months of itsoperation.

�This was a real test. It was anentirely new concept and obviouslyeverything had to be as faultless as itcould possibly be. In a comparativelyshort time Westerham has becomehugely successful.

�I look back on that period with agreat deal of satisfaction and hopethat what I tried to do before andafter the opening of the club helpedin making the complex what it istoday.�STUDYThroughout these positions and inhis present post, Orwin has contin-ued to absorb and study all aspects ofgolf club management towards gain-ing qualifications in Business andLeisure Management, and alsotowards attaining full membershipqualification of the British Institute ofInnkeeping.

Currently he is studying for hisHigher National Certificate in GolfCourse Management to add to theGreenkeeping and Sportsturf Main-

tenance qualification gained duringhis time as an assistant green-keeper at Lingfield Park.He has been in his present postas sales and marketing managerat Stapleford Abbotts for sixmonths with responsibility for

society and corporate golf days,members functions, and all asso-ciated services dealing with theretail aspect of the club.�We have a first class complex atStapleford Abbotts. It is a beau-tifully designed course with anunusually high number of waterfeatures.

�Obviously to make it profitablewe need to utilise its resources to fullcapacity which makes the role of thesales and marketing area extremelyimportant.

�Similar to quite a few complexesthroughout the country we havedeveloped what I call the hassle-freecompany and society days where wehave the complete responsibility ofarranging every aspect of our clientsday, embracing arrangements such aswhat pre-tournament reception theyrequire; the actual golf tournament;post-tournament dinner and prize-giving.

�It takes all the problems awayfrom the company or society andleaves them hassle-free to entertaintheir clients.

His overall objective is an ambi-tious one - the acquisition of a posi-tion as a general manager by the timehe reaches 25.TARGET�Gaining all those hands on experi-ences in every area in the day to dayrunning of a club is certainly to mymind an absolute necessity - vital if Iwant to reach the target I have setmyself.

�When I was at Lingfield Park, afew of the members were amazedwhen I made the decision to give upmy position as a trainee professionalto become an assistant greenkeeper.

�They just couldn�t understandwhy a young chap given the opportu-nity not only to learn the duties ofthe club professional, but also the


ProfileProfileMATTHEW ORWIN Young sales and marketing manager Matthew Orwin

is determined to package himself as a great all-rounder in general management

The Stapleford Abbots Golf Club - an impressive 45-hole parkland complex, where

Orwin is currently the sales and marketing manager

Age is no barrier for ORWIN

ALISTER MARSHALLexecutive editor

opportunity to play golf, couldsuddenly decide to make such aradical change in his employment.

�But it was all part of the plan I�dlaid down for myself. How many golfclub secretaries or managers have areal professional knowledge of theirgreens which is always such a bone ofcontention at golf clubs?

�Consequently as far as I�mconcerned my work as an assis-tant greenkeeper followedby my studies in green-keeping maintenance wasessential learning for me.

�I enjoyed playing golf butit was never going to feature asa career. Since I was aged 18my sights have always beenfocused exclusively on specialis-ing in the general managementship ofproprietary owned golf complexes.NEW BREED�They are producing a new breed ofgeneral manager, who must havemore than just a working knowledgeof the game itself, course manage-ment and greenkeeping every bit asmuch as the professional skills associ-ated with the actual business manage-ment of the complex.

�If you have acquired the knowl-edge first hand of being able to talkwith a fair degree of expertise to theclub professional and the greenkeeperon their specific roles in the club andknow the problems they face thismust surely be a tremendous advan-tage in carrying out your duties.

�Many of today�s general man-agers have taken up their posi-tions after specialising in otherareas of the golf club such asfrom the ranks of the club

professionals or they have enteredthe industry from hotel or leisureclub management.

�They do an excellent job but Iam certain the time is fastapproaching when it will benecessary for candidates for

general managers posts to have morethan just a scant working knowledgeof every single aspect of running of agolf club if they have to satisfy thedemands and skills required by theirprospective employers.

�This is the reason why I amdetermined to perfect all those skillsinto one professional package that Ican present with confidence at anyfuture interview.

�So far I�ve been extremely luckywith my career. I�ve been in the rightplace at the right time.CONFIDENT�I don�t think my age is a disadvan-tage. If I can over the next few yearsgain all the experience necessary tohandle every aspect of golf clubmanagement, I am confident I willhave qualifications to successfullyundertake the task and realise whathas always been my ambition,� headded.

Orwin will be heartened by whatis already happening in the UnitedStates and what could well develop inthe foreseeable future in the UnitedKingdom.

Fierce bidding for the hotshotyoung executive with the degrees andexpertise to take full administrativecontrol of the exclusive golf andcountry club complexes has becomeas much an integral part of theAmerican golf scene as the head-hunting of the whizzkid attorney asportrayed by John Grisham in hisnovel The Firm.

It remains to be seen just howlong Clubhaus can retain the servicesof this hot young property.


ProfileProfileMATTHEW ORWIN

Feature

26 GOLF MANAGEMENT EUROPE ! MARCH 1998

FeatureINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Your Club: who�s minding it?Running a golf club in the 1990s is no easy task. Your members expect a well run club, reasonable prices, and a secure but pleasant club environment. At a time of escalating costs and rising crime against property, you may wonder how you can provide all this and keep the club�s finances in the black.ClubMINDER is an integrated club management system, based around a membership card, which has been designed togive better control in the areas of security and financial management.ClubMINDER lets you control access to the club�s premises, keeping out thieves and unwanted visitors. It can tell you who is where at any time, and can make your premises secure at the touch of a button.ClubMINDER enables you to offer discount to members whilst charging non-members the full price. Its comprehensive information system helps you make better decisions about your prices and stock.And what is so good about ClubMINDER is that it actually does all these things in accordance with yourinstructions. This means that the person minding the club is always with you.

ClubMINDER: better information, better control.To find out more about ClubMINDER, call 0181 343 1119 or fax 0181 343 4942

HighCRAFTTotal solutions for club

management

Highcraft Services Limited59 Church Crescent

FinchleyLondon N3 1BL

nformation technology (IT)has dragged the golf industrykicking and screaming into the1990s. The traditional sporthas been enhanced by the

availability of computerised equip-ment which can organise finances,book tee-times and even water thefairways.

Evesham-based Fairway Systemsclaims to increase nett income at acourse with systems based around up-to-the-minute technology and ease ofaccess to information.

Fairway Systems� ExecutiveInformation System benefits from asolid foundation of Microsoft Win-dows�95 integrated into MicrosoftOffice, an Oracle database and atouch screen point-of-sale system.

It is specifically designed forresorts, daily fee cours-

es and municipalsand is the preferredgolf partner for

Micros Fidelio - the world�s leadingfood and beverage POS and hoteland front desk management systems.

Its undoubtedstrength is in thequick and easyaccess to informa-tion, allowing theinformation thecustomer wants atthe time he or shewants it.

It can compileand compare information efficientlyto create the perfect itinerary for themost demanding of golfers.

Future success of increasedrevenue will also depend on acomprehensive system of historicalanalysis, yield management reportingand revenue forecasting.

Managing director Gordon Bun-ker believes making sense of informa-tion is the key to success and he

added: �We are finding moreand more that people are bring-ing hotel techniques into golf.In the future it will be thosepeople who make the money.�Technical experts from thecompany travel around ¼million miles per year to visit1,000 courses to research and

identify areas of productenhancement which en-sures an unprecedentedlevel of after sales supportwith $1 million per year

spent on free enhancements and thecompany on-site to install, configureand migrate existing data.

And on-site training for manage-ment and operative staff is includedin all the company�s packages. Thesystem is not complex to operate,comes complete with technical docu-mentation, operating manuals andthe peace of mind offered by a 24-hour technical hot-line.

Stockport-based Club Systems hasspecialised in the design and market-ing of computer software for cluband society administration for nearly20 years, and the company�s softwareis used daily by over 1,600 clubsthroughout Europe, the Middle Eastand Africa.

Club Systems� Club 2000 softwareis used by over 65 per cent of main-land UK golf clubs for control ofboth men�s CONGU and ladies�LGU playing handicaps and perfor-mance records. ➧

IGolf enters

the ageITArticle by David Bowers

Global Golf’s home-page, and their latest creation, the officialweb-site of St. Andrews Links

MARCH 1998 ! GOLF MANAGEMENT EUROPE 27

Creating the vision to manage

From the Old Head toNew York State...

World Leaders in Golf CouseManagement Systems

Fairway Systems (Europe) Ltd, PO Box 2000,EVESHAM, Worcs, WR11 4YL, UK

Tel: +44 (0)1386 871490 Fax: +44 (0)1386 871500Email: [email protected], http://www.fairway.co.uk

For those whom golf is notmerely a game... it’s a business

vision

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reservation and booking

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the back office

1650 + Golf Clubs use ‘CLUB 2000’

For a complete management system contact Club Systems for details on:

� Handicap & Membership Administration Software

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� Card controlled, Player Score Input Systems

�CLUB 2000� Computer based Golf Administrationfor the 21st Century

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Feature


FeatureINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

It has been designed with anaccent on improved ease-of-use, oper-ational time-saving and versatility ofavailable features to do away with theneed for a user to be tied to acomputer processing scores for up totwo hours on competition day.

The complete system includesmenu-integrated modules for men�sCONGU scores, handicaps and per-formance; ladies� LGU scores, handi-caps and performance; membership,subscriptions and dues accounting;and club nominal financial control.

Each module is able tostand-alone or combinewith other modules. Pro-grammed in compiledBasic, the software runs on any IBM-compatible hard-disk PC with aprocessor of at least 286 capabilitywith the minimum Club 2000 system- including ladies� scores and handi-capping - starting at less than £400.

Golfpac�s software has proved sopopular with the Golf Union�s, thatthis year will be the eighth successiveyear the company has been retained tobe the official recorder at the Women�sBritish Open Championship.

The Stoke-on-Trent-based outfithas just celebrated ten years supplyingthe golf industry, with the Score-SuitePlus competition and handicap soft-ware - the choice of many of the UK�sgolf unions.

The software combines CONGU,LGU, and EGU society handicappingschemes into one integrated packagewith all the resulting reports to suit.Amendments to handicapping regula-tions are automatically included in anannual upgrade.

Score-Suite Plus is available withvarying player limits to reflect the sizeof each club�s membership and isdesigned to grow with the club byvirtue of an upgrade to a higherversion.

The company also sup-plies computer hardware,membership and tee-timesoftware, registration sys-tems, door access and elec-tronic point of sale equip-ment including stock con-trol and loyalty schemes.

Clubminder from HighcraftServices, is an easy to use club man-agement system built around a mem-bership card.

It has been designed in consulta-tion with an number of golf clubs,and links members accounts in thebar, restaurant and pro-shop withdoor access and player score entry allthrough one integrated databaseaccessed by a single card.

Clubminder improves the clubsfinancial performance by enablingbetter financial control. Members payin advance an agreed sum onto their

membershipcard, and usethe card forp u r c h a s e swithin theclub at disco-unted prices.

The clubthen decideshow much

discount to offer its member, whilstnon-members are charged at the fullretail price.

The system provides completefinancial management informationgathered from point of sale trans-actions, enabling the club to makebetter decisions about pricing andstock management.

The Clubminder systemmaintains an on-line recordof cards used, so that theclub always knows who is onits premises at any one time, thusreducing opportunities for theft.

Unlike a key, lost or stolen cardscan immediately be suspended by theclub, and the system enables the clubto monitor the usage of its facilities,and to plan events or promotionalactivities at the optimum times.

Baron Systems� software waslaunched in 1981 and was developedspecifically for golf and leisurecomplexes.

Over the years, the system hasevolved through significant enhance-ments based on customer require-ments and is now established in someof the finest resorts on the planet.

It is based around flexibil-ity and can be as simple oras complex as required,encompassing modulessuch as membership,booking, point of sale,handicap, competition andfood and beverage.The company also offers

Internet tee-time booking whichallows global access to a resort and hasbeen created to give club membersand organisations direct contact fromanywhere in the world. It allowsbookings, payment and invoicing tobe handled in one transaction.

Following the LGU�s decision tobring ladies� handicapping more inline with men�s, Baron has consoli-dated the mens and ladies� handicap-ping together to form one product -so there are no extra costs for theprogramme.

Another company offeringcomputerised tee-time bookings isGlobal Golf - but their option isslightly different.

The company specialises inproducing Internet sites for golf andnow in association with two UScompanies which specialise inpublishing golf guides - one with adistribution of around eight million -the Derry-based company is produc-ing a massive world-wide, electronic,destination guide database on the net.

It has been developed with BaronSystems and opens a club�s tee book-ing office to the world 24-hours aday, 365 days a year, providing acentralised tee reservation system forInternet and non-Internet users.

Reservations can be made,customers can pay securely on-lineand receive booking confirmation,view course and club details - all withTee Res/BookIT.

Killarney Golf Club in Ireland has acreditable web-site, including a direct

tee-booking facility


FeatureFeatureINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

computers that score

TheGolfpacCompanyThe only company to have scoring softwareused at sevenEuropean Amateur Team Championships,eight Weetabix Womens� British OpenChampionships anddozens of national andinternationalchampionships.

contact

for

CONGU handicapsLGU handicaps

CompetitionsOrder of Merit

MembershipEpos

Tel: +44 (0) 1782 721916Fax: +44 (0) 1782 722101

e-mail: [email protected]://www.golfpac.mcmail.com

12-14 Pear Tree RoadBignall End

Stoke on TrentStaffordshire

ST7 8NH

With the assistance of the two USpublishers, Global Golf can offeraccess to thousands of golf coursesworld-wide - from the US, to Europeand the Far East.

Global Golf�s Liam Gallagher ex-plained: �Nobody could publish aguide this size in book format - itwould be about ten feet thick!�Global Golf also provides a link tohotels so acting almost as a golfingtravel agent.

Producing a golf club�s own loyal-ty or ID card has never been easier -or more cost effective - as it is now.

The privilege range of plastic cardprinters from DED Ltd fit easily on adesk and are controlled by a PC.Standard software supplied enables aclub to produce attractive designs andprint them quickly and cheaply.

The latest range of low-cost videoconferencing cameras capture theimage and are frozen as required ontothe card.

The equipment is very easy to useand the range of printers accommo-dates all budgets from monochrome,through to multi-station versions,and laminators and even hologramscan be added to the design.

Away from the facts and figures,Smart Golf UK, offers an indoor golfsimulator that allows even the highesthandicapper to play courses such asTroon, Pebble Beach, Valderramaand soon, St Andrews.

Using the latest technology andreal clubs and balls, players can prac-tise, or play for fun - but whatevertheir reasons for playing, the club cantake on board the obvious profits.

In fact, European Tour player JimPayne, was so impressed with thesystem that he has decided to endorsethe simulator throughout this season.

Payne first saw the simulator inuse on a Monday morning, when hewas surprised by the number ofpeople playing at such an unpopulartime.

Commenting on the simulator, hesaid: �As soon as I tried Smart Golffor myself, I was immediatelyimpressed by its detail and accuracy.�

Sales and marketing manager AlanBurch said: �They are installed in allsorts of venues not just golf clubs -leisure centres, hotels - but whereverwe have installed them they arealways busy. It uses Links softwareand enables players to try their handat 22 of the world�s top courses.�

Players hit a ball with their ownchoice of club into a wall-size image,and the computer takes over, sensingthe ball�s path and speed and repre-senting it precisely on screen.

When the ball come to rest, thescreen is re-drawn to show thegolfer�s view from the ball�s new posi-tion. And because it enables custom-ers the chance to play �real� golf atanytime, irrespective of weatherconditions, it offers a virtually unlim-ited opportunity for profit.

Taking up a minimum of floorspace, Smart Golf is available on alow-cost leasing scheme and is fullyupgradeable.

Membership & AdministrationBooking & Green Fees

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is the leading integrated point-of-sale and managementsystem specifically designedto ensure the smooth day-to-day running of a modern golf

club. The system is available in modules or as a fullyintegrated package.

For further information please contactEuro Systems Projects Ltd at:

Europa House, Kimpton Link Business Park, Kimpton Road, Sutton, Surrey SM3 9QP

Tel: 0181 251 5100 Fax: 0181 251 5101e-mail: [email protected]

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Firm FocusFirm FocusGOLF PERSONNEL INTERNATIONAL

If you have ever tried to employ anew head professional or golfmanager, the chances are that youfollowed a traditional route. Because if you�re not lucky

enough to have the right person fallinto your lap by word of mouth orrecommendation, then the likelihoodis that the you will have advertisedthe vacancy in a relevant magazine orjournal.

What follows is an often timeconsuming and laborious process ofsifting through CV�s often of variedquality, followed by arranging inter-views and sending out rejectionletters.

The importance of good managersand professionals can never be under-estimated in terms of income genera-tion for clubs, not to mention yourinvestment in them. The need there-fore to ensure that you attract theright personnel has never been moreimportant.

Golf Personnel International is aspecialist recruitment company whichbrings together golfing personnelincluding PGA professionals at alllevels, managers, directors and secre-taries, with employers from golfclubs and centres in the UKand abroad.

Their objectives aresimple, to provide topquality staff to meetthe exact requirementsof employers whateverthey are.

GPI has an extensivedatabase of potential can-didates, and using dedicatedsoftware, is able to match theexperience and the skills of thesepeople to meet the requirements ofthe employer.

This means that only relevant CVsare forwarded ensuring a great deal ofadministration and valuable time is

saved. Interviews are than arrangedeither in person, or by telephone at atime and location to suit everyone.

As director and PGA professionalMatthew Groves explains: �What weaim to do is to give employers exactlywhat they want.

�For instance if, you contact us andyou are looking for a German speak-

ing, Class �A� head professionalwith at least eight years

experience, the CVs thatarrive on your desk willmatch your require-ments down to the lasttee!�But what of the costinvolved? GPI charge a

flat fee for placingemployees which varies

depending upon experience,qualifications, and language

skills. Matthew Groves adds: �In any

other industry employers pay recruit-ment agencies thousands of poundsfor skilled employees who ultimatelyare responsible for ensuring the

success and prosperity of businesseswith multi million pound turnovers.

�Golf is no different to any otherbusiness in terms of the need forskilled individuals. For little morethan the cost of a fair sized advertise-ment, we are supplying clubs withsome of the most experienced andqualified personnel in the industry.�

Golf Personnel International aremembers of the Institute of Employ-ment Consultants (IEC), and theFederation of Recruitment andEmployment Services (FRES).

They are based in Guernsey,Channel Islands, a proven businesscentre with a broad internationalbase and excellent communicationsinfrastructure.

To check out the quality of theircandidates contact Golf PersonnelInternational today.

GPIa fresh approachto recruitment

We are supplying clubs with some of themost experienced and qualified personnel

in the industry

Helping you make the right selection; the directors of Golf Personnel International, from leftto right, Andre Austin, Gina Le Prevost and PGA professional Matthew Groves

�For further information, kindlycontact:Golf Personnel InternationalLes Ruettes HouseLes RuettesSt SavioursGuernsey GY7 9FTTelephone: 01481 67140Facsimile: 01481 67141email: [email protected]

AnalysisAnalysisJEREMY PERN


W herever mankind hassettled permanently thesurrounding landscapehas been modified.

Not only for food and materialrequirements, but for spiritualreasons, for pleasure and leisure.Sacred groves and pyramids gave wayto hunting preserves and Zengardens; from the end of the MiddleAges lakes and woodlands were creat-ed just for the view.

In the 19th Century private parksdeclined in favour of public spaces,for Sunday use by city dwellers:Central Park and Hyde Park.

Now we create game parks,national parks, nature reserves and allmanner of protected landscapes;natural and spiritual environmentsprotected from ourselves. We contin-ue to fashion landscapes for pleasureand leisure. Golf courses are part of atradition of landscapes designed forfun.

Looking at golf from a widerperspective it is legitimate to ask howgolf courses fit into the generalEuropean land use planning picture.Agricultural land area in Europe hasbeen growing steadily for thousandsof years.

About thirty years ago thingsstarted to change drastically. It is esti-mated that by the end of the century

nearly one third (over 6 millionhectares) of France�s agricultural landwill no longer be farmed. A similarpattern is emerging throughout allthe EU countries.

In many cases the land is simplyabandoned to be reclaimed by nature,in others it is left fallow and �set aside�so forest and woodland cover haveincreased dramatically.

The effects of this sudden changein the rural environment are awesome;in just one generation the farmingculture which has existed sinceNeolithic times has virtually disap-peared. Rural populations abandonthe land or have to seek alternativeuses and income from tourism andleisure.

Golf courses offer agriculturalemployment in a rural context. Theyoffer ways of maintaining disappearingland systems, and management oppor-tunities for maintaining environmen-tally sensitive areas at no extra cost.

Collectively they offer opportuni-ties to create large sustainable areas ofrich biodiversity on a European scale.

Individually golf courses can act assmall nature reserves, mini protectedlandscapes and sites of special interestas their own particular ecology isdeveloped and encouraged by sensitivemanagement and good stewardship.

Far from threatening theEuropean environment all golf cours-es have the potential to foster wildlifesanctuaries and habitat zones that aredisappearing elsewhere.

We are gradually becoming awareof how much courses can contributeto the quality of life and to the wellbeing of the countryside in Europe.

Although some critics regardthem as urbanised and artificial land-scapes, golf courses can offer theurban population access to an increas-ingly unapproachable and psychologi-cally distant countryside.

Golf courses act as transitionzones between the urban experienceand the countryside, and, like bufferzones around national parks, they canprotect and preserve the essential.

They are places where the urbanpopulation can discover sensationsthey would otherwise never experi-ence, the rising dust from a mid-summer squall, the scent of a fox, thesmell of new mown grass, dew wetfeet, the roar of quiet.

The European Commission presi-dent, Jacques Santer is unambivalentin his support for the contributionthat golf can make towards theenvironment.

In his speech launching the EGACommitted to Green environmentalcampaign during the Ryder Cup atValderrama last September, he said:�Respect for the environment goeshand in hand with human well beingand, indeed sporting excellence.

�This is certainly true for golf, inwhich harmony with nature is part ofthe game�s heritage and its enjoy-ment. The wise use of naturalresources is the proper goal of allresponsible managers.�

Some statistics: there are nowabout 5,400 golf courses in 22European countries. Golf coursesrepresent about 0.065% of the overallsurface area of those countries.

Added together golf courseswould cover no more than 250,000hectares, an area the size of Luxem-bourg, just a little bigger than theLake District National Park in Eng-land, equivalent to 4% of the agricul-tural land that has returned to naturesince 1970, in France alone.

About 1500 golf courses havebeen built since 1990. Most of themhave been modest projects on existingfarm land where common sense,financial limitations and sensibleplanning restrictions have precludedhuge landscape alterations.

Europe’s rural land use patterns are changing as they never have before. Jeremy Pern,vice president of the British Institute of Golf Course Architects, believes that it is possibleto achieve a course that is as equally playable as it is environmentally nurturing.

The Alps and the Lac de Gruyère provide theperfect backdrop for the Royal Golf and Business

Club, Switzerland

GGoollffThe Nature of

Golf inEurope

In a recent Council of Europepublication (written by a Munichbased company) called Tourism andthe Environment golf was targeted asplaying a major role in endangeringthe natural habitat.

�Golf has become increasinglytrendy throughout Europe. Unfortun-ately, it poses a big problem for theenvironment; large quantities of water,chemical fertiliser and pesticides arenecessary to tend the grass mostlycultivated in unnatural habitats.�

Whilst a very few tourist projectsmay have been of dubious environ-mental quality, no-one has seriouslydemonstrated scientifically or other-wise that golf courses in Europe pose�a big problem for the environment.�

Such unfounded generalisationsare not the Council of Europe�s usualstyle. Why is golf considered to beharmful to the environment? Doenvironmental groups ever attack golfusing unsubstantiated data simply tofurther their own political agendas?

In reality local opposition to golfprojects from farmers and nearbyresidents is often due to inter-communal jealousies, historic feuds,politics and fear of change. Fringegroups have been known to exploitlocal conditions to create issuesdisproportionate to the scale of theproblem.

Serious and respected environ-mental NGOs can make unrealisticand arbitrary demands which some-times show little understanding of thegame of golf itself.

In 1993 the Swiss WWF pub-lished suggested course developmentguidelines in which fairways shouldnot exceed 35m width and be mowedno more than once a week (with the

rough alongside mowed in certaincases just twice a year,) tees shouldnot exceed 100m2 in surface area andthe golf course surface area itselfshould consist of one third greens,tees and fairways, one third roughand semi rough, and one thirdecological compensation zones.

Experienced and qualified golfcourse architects have always resistedpressures toward uniformity ofdesign by accepting the need torespect the local landscape as a funda-mental part of the design process.

The response by the golf industryto environmental criticism has beenconstructive. There has been atendency to justify, control or explaincurrent management practice.

Activities with positive effectsinclude more environmentally sensi-tive golf course designs; environmen-tal education programs by and forgreenkeepers; liaison and conciliationwith the environmental groups inestablishing permit approval, reduc-ing fertiliser and pesticide consump-tion through integrated managementtechniques and better water manage-ment practices.

Work by the EGA Ecology Unit,the R&A and European Architectsand Greenkeepers Associations havebeen at the forefront of many of theseenvironmental enhancement initia-tives.

Educating golf course architectsand greenkeepers is not enough.Golfers themselves have to be sensi-tised to environmental issues andencouraged to take an interest in theirown golf environment.

Planners and environmentalgroups should consider two impor-tant ideas.

Firstly they need to understandthe environmental potential of golfcourses and to encourage developersto maximise that potential in thedesign phase whilst ensuring thatsubsequent course management isappropriate to the course design.

Secondly planners and environ-mental groups should have a clearunderstanding of the purpose of agolf course.

It is unacceptable to place plan-ning restrictions so severe that thefunction of the course is compro-mised.

It is pointless to create environ-mentally prize winning golf coursesdesigned by ecologically mindedlandscape architects but which thegolfers themselves find inferior andunacceptable.

New golf course developmentsshould be professionally designed tosatisfy golfers, as well as the localcommunity and the environment.

Sympathetically designed and wellmanaged golf courses may provideour grandchildren with rare havens ofnatural tranquillity in an increasinglysynthetic urbanised Europe.

Whether we like it or not golfcourses are a fixture within ourEuropean landscape and will formpart of our environmental and culturalheritage.

AnalysisAnalysisJEREMY PERN


Naturally occurring landscaping features can beintegrated to add local interest to a course

DAVID WILLIAMSGolf Design

Golf Course ArchitectsOver a dozen new courses built during the 1990sCLANDON REGIS GC KINGS HILL GCREIGATE HILL GC MERRIST WOOD GCNORTH WEALD GC BROKE HILL GCWESTERHAM GC MID-SSUSSEX GCTHE KINGFISHER COURSE AT MANNINGSBRIDGE GC

An integrated ‘one-stop’ approachto Complete Golf Design

Telephone: (01492) 533818 Fax: (01492) 533012E mail: [email protected]

Full member of the British Institute of Golf Course Architects

PortfolioPortfolioPRODUCT INFORMATION

NORTHCLIFFE CHOOSE PLASTICISERS

! +44 (0)113 285 2202

Plasticisers, Europe’s leadingproducers of colouredpolypropylene fibres and yarns,have supplied Northcliffe GolfClub, Shipley, with their highperformance, 300 denierneedlepunched carpet. With anatural fibre appearance thespike resistant carpet is manu-factured by Rawsons using fibreavailable in a choice of colours.

KALAMAZOO SECURITY SOLUTIONS

! +44 (0)121 411 3256

Kalamazoo’s effective Freeze-frame computerised photo IDsystems ensure that unautho-rised personnel can be identifiedimmediately. Used with theirSentinel manual visitor manage-ment system - that is tailoredspecifically for golf clubs- thesmall desktop system withintegrated video camera registersvisitors in under two minutes.

HI-TECH WATER SAVINGS

! +44 (0)1543 413585

The new Sensorflow electronicwater saving system fromArmitage Shanks, uses latesttechnology to efficiently controlwater usage. Basin and showeroutlets use sensors to deliverwater for a programmed timewhilst the user is detected. Thissystem also extends to urinalflushing, triggering after aprogrammable delay period.

CANON’S LATEST ORGANISERS

! +44 (0)500 246246

The new ZX 7000 series ofpersonal organisers from Canonboast a huge range of featuresincorporating schedulers, tele-phone directories, expensemanagers, currency convertors,calenders and even calculatorsare included. Weighing only242g and measuring just 139 x95mm, the new organisers arethe ideal travelling companion.

DWELLCOURT’S MASSIVE ORDER

! +44 (0)1536 417777

The Dwellcourt Group ofcompanies has recently ordered£¼ million worth of Jacobsen,E-Z-GO and Iseki groundcareproducts for its golf coursesacross the country that include;Kingswood GC and SilvermereG&CC in Surrey, HazelwoodGC in Middlesex, SprowstonPark in Norfolk and the FulwellDriving Range in Sunderland.

ARMITAGE SHANKS’ NEW STANDARD

! +44 (0)1543 413585

Armitage Shanks has predicted acolourful future for the UK’s £76billion leisure industry in 1998.Preparations to cater for thisrenewed demand for new standards in washrooms includea dedicated brochure to illustratetheir extensive product range anda dedicated technical supportdepartment to advise suitableproducts and make site visits.

TORO PRIZE FOR COURSE MANAGER

! +44 (0)1480 476 971

Last year’s winner of the ToroAward for Excellence inGreenkeeping, Ian McMillan,course manager of HankleyCommon GC, Surrey, is seen inthe driving seat of the new ToroReelmaster 2300-D that he wonfor his club. As with this year’scompetition, Ian also won a tripto the US for the GCSAAconference and show.

NEW POWER FROM ISEKI

! +44 (0)1536 417777

The new compact powerfulengines from Iseki, the SF200and the SF230 offer easy mainte-nance with flip up access, a largercapacity alternator (40A) and 27litres of fuel capacity help youwork longer. The new TM223,with a ground clearance of315mm, hydraulic power steeringand a large 22.5 litre fuel tank, isalso a versatile performer.


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