TURF MANAGEMENT
The cost of utilities is rising exponentially and rather than utilising mains water , secure alternative water sources must be found , particularly in the south of England . The burning of petrol fuel is being called into question and costs will again continue to rise , with electronic machinery quickly being moved from the prototype stage to the active market . Discussions are also well underway as to whether robotic machinery can be used to plug the labour shortage being experienced in the turf industry .
For a golf course to be sustainable – with the word being used in the holistic business sense , not the environmental management interpretation – then things need to change . An educated workforce that engages with industry-wide discussions and takes the opportunity to search out new and innovative practices is going to be key if a sports facility is to overcome the challenges we face in the coming century .
The R & A , the governing body for golf outside America , is well aware of this and has in the past few years undertaken the Golf Course 2030 roadmap , with a comprehensive range of research projects looking at the changes golf needs to implement if it is to overcome the pressures of a changing climate , legislation , economics and other factors .
The fundamentals of turf management will always remain the same . Golfers want consistent putting surfaces , level teeing areas and to find their golf ball if it goes into the rough . But over the coming years the way these are achieved is likely to change . With the world-leading education at their fingertips and the opportunity to share ideas across the greenkeeping community , BIGGA members are better placed than most to adapt and thrive on the golf courses of the future .
Find out more by heading to the BIGGA website at www . bigga . org . uk
58 GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | January 2022