gmé | issuu 68

GolfManagement Europe

UK £5.00 Eur 5.75US $8.25

All too often the clubhouse can be regarded as the poor relation to the course, but Stan Colders

has designs to elevate its status page 23

it’s all about detailWhite Horse Contractors lay down solid foundations at Heythrop Park as they seek more high-profile projects

issue 68september 2009

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SEPTEMBER 2009 GME 3

publisher’s editorial

My wife and I have just celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary.

In days gone by I could have hauled out the old hackneyed line about ‘get-ting less for murder’. But nowadays, you could quite conceivably use that line on your first wedding anniversary... but that’s enough political satire.

But it has occurred to me that marriage is very much like golf.

For instance, some people take it up after trying and failing with a previous sport, although not me, as this is my first attempt.

Like marriage, golf is something you have to work at if you plan on succeed-ing at it. Like golf, marriage has its up and downs, and you work through them because it is worth persevering.

And both have times of economic hardship: golf because of the current recession; marriage because of how ever many kids you have.

If you look on the bright side, the reces-sion will end – but the kids will keep drain-ing your resources until you find yourself with a wooden overcoat.

There is also the question of stance: too firm a stance in marriage and you’ll end up in the rough; too loose a stance and almost inevitably you’ll slip up.

The same could also be said, of course, about the grip, though I’m sometimes accused by my beloved wife of losing my grip on reality rather than anything else.

On a bad day both golf and marriage can feel like a real slog, but just one mo-ment of elation or inspiration can make it all worthwhile. There are of course many hazards to be avoided in both; traps one can fall into; areas where accuracy is paramount; and the opportunity for tears aplenty.

And, as one of my young colleagues pointed out, almost inevitably, in mar-

riage as in golf, one ends up carrying round a bag...

At this point I would like to reiterate it was not my line – though it did make me chuckle.

Also, at the start, your registrar or vicar is effectively Ivor Robson, calling out both names and setting you on your way.

If as an industry we look at golf as a marriage, we have had our ups and downs, notably in the last 12 months.

But most of us will survive; some may have fallen by the wayside, but for those who have persevered, the good times will feel all the better for the experience.

And one bad year out of ten isn’t a bad ratio is it? GME

Why golf and wedded bliss go hand in glove

Michael [email protected]

Heythrop Park is the latest course to be constructed by White Horse Contractors.

5

Niblick Golf Design has just completed a stunning revamp of Stavenger Golf Club.

15

With close links to St Andrews, Braemar Golf is helping to deliver some stunning courses.

18

The golf course construction industry has been badly damaged by the recession.

26

Golf Management Europe is published six times per annum by PPC Portman.

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“almost inevitably, in marriage as in golf, one ends up carrying round a bag...”

4 GME SEPTEMBER 2009

The Johnnie Walker Championships at Gleneagles, venue for the 40th Ryder Cup matches in 2014, was the ideal opportu-nity for Club Car to present Colin Montgomerie with his Ryder Cup Captain’s car.

This event was highlighted by Montgomerie as an opportunity for fellow tour players, desperate to bag one of the 12 coveted slots for Celtic Manor next year, to “impress him”.

Club Car, the Official Golf Car for the European matches of the Ryder Cup, presented Monty with the

customised European Captain’s golf car in prepa-ration for the 2010 Ryder Cup matches.

Monty was absolutely thrilled to receive his Club Car Precedent car, which as well as being customised in the striking blue and gold of the European Union, has specially embroidered seats sporting the European Flag and ‘Captain’s Car’ embla-zoned across the front.

“Over the years as a play-er I have seen how impor-tant it is for the Captain to be in the right place at the right time as the drama of

each day unfolds at the Ryder Cup.

“The Captain’s car has been greenside for some of the greatest Ryder Cup moments and I am looking forward to my time behind that steering wheel assisting my team,” commented Montgomerie.

The presentation was made by Kevin Hart, nation-al account manager who

spoke about Club Car’s involvement: “It is an honour for Club Car to be able to participate in some small way to the overall success of the Ryder Cup, and it is with great pleasure that we award the Precedent Captain’s car to Colin.

“We wish him the best of luck with his preparations and of course the actual matches next year.”

headline news

Monty receives his Captain’s Car for the ryder Cup

Donald Trump is one step closer to building the “world’s best golf course” in Aberdeenshire after planners approved outline permission to develop land needed for the £1bn project.

The six parcels of land have not yet been acquired by the develop-er and could prove a significant hurdle in completing the luxury resort as they are owned by some of his fiercest critics.

But a spokesman for Trump Golf Scotland said: “We are not considering compulsory purchase orders. That is an issue for the council. But we need these additional parcels of land, they are within the estate.”

The project has been beset with opposition since the start and was originally rejected by the Aberdeen Council Committee.

But the Scottish Government intervened to grant outline permis-sion last December and the council are currently reassessing a compre-hensive plan.

A verdict is expected in October and, if it is given the green light, initial work could start in November.

Rain Bird has launched, what it claims to be a revo-lutionary new irrigation control solution.

The IC System is a control platform that uses Rain Bird’s exclusive Integrated Control Technology™ to link a course’s central control directly with its rotors and valves. By incorporating a small Integrated Control Module (ICM) with each rotor or valve, the IC System eliminates the need for decoders or satellite control-lers on the course.

According to Matt Mikucki, product manager for Rain Bird’s golf course central control systems, the IC System combines simplici-ty with lower costs.

“In today’s highly compet-itive marketplace, green-keepers face the challenge of providing players with the best possible golfing experience while keep-ing expenses at a mini-mum,” he said.

“Combine that fact with an increased emphasis on water conser-vation and environ-mental steward-ship, and the result is a need for a simpler, more cost-efficient way to manage golf course irrigation.

“Now, Rain Bird has answered that need with our new IC (Integrated

Control) System,” added Mikucki.

“With fewer parts, the IC System

is easy to design, install and maintain, and has simple design parameters that result in faster installation and a significant reduction in the cost of both materials and labour.”

While the IC System offers ease of installation and cost-efficiency, it also exceeds current industry standards for reliability and performance.

rain bird launches new control system

After fifteen years with Crown Golf, chief operating officer John Weir left the company at the end of July 2009 to pursue a private equity-backed opportunity in the UK golf sector.

Over the years Weir, an original founder of Crown Golf, has played an impor-tant role in the development of the Berks-based compa-ny, which is the UK’s largest owner/operator with more than 50 golf courses.

Crown Golf chief execu-tive officer Stephen Lewis commented: “John’s role in building this company should be recognised and we are sorry to see him go.

“I have really enjoyed my time with Crown Golf,” added Weir. “It is a great company, with some first class people, and I believe that they will continue to play their part in the devel-opment of the game in this country.”

Weir leaves Crown Golf to pursue new opportunity


on the cover

faCTfilE;

White Horse ContractorsLodge HillAbingdon OX14 2JD

United Kingdom

TEl; (44) 01865 736272faX; (44) 01865 326176

WEblinK; WHITEHORSECONTRACTORS.CO.UK

With a series of high profile clients throughout the UK and across Europe, the White Horse Contractors team has built many golf courses and has recently finished Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire.

The company, which was founded in 1957, also specialises in the field of drainage and irrigation, and offers advice on water harvesting, lakes, reservoirs, and water features.

As a leading golf course contractor, White Horse Contractors full service package takes the concept right through to completion and beyond – undertaking renovation and mainte-nance for golf course owners including tees and greens, bunkers, buggy paths and walkways.

White Horse Contractors uses specialist trenching machines to cut minimum-width drainage trenches to a laser controlled depth and grade, thus ensuring a spoil-free finish and in-turn, less damage to the course.

White Horse Contractors has worked with many golf course designers throughout Europe, including leading international architect Donald Steel.

“White Horse Contractors have worked with us and for us on many new and estab-lished golf courses during a 20-year period,” Steel said, “and I have never known a better or more efficient company with which to deal with.

“The company has excel-lent design abilities, but is also equally happy to imple-

ment the plans of other drainage consultants.

“White Horse Contractors gives every job its full atten-tion and sticks rigorously to plans and specification.

“The company’s ‘tidying up’ after a job is exemplary, but rarely needed due to the standard of its workman-ship.”

With endorsements such as these, and with a portfo-lio boasting some truly spec-tacular courses, it’s little wonder that White Horse Contractors are in high demand. GME

“White Horse Contractors gives every job its full attention and sticks rigorously to plans”

White horse Contractors sets the standard for coursework

Weller Designs Limited Golf Course ArchitectsBishops Mead House, West Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7DU

E I G C AEUROPEAN INSTITUTE OFGOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS

Email [email protected] www.wellerdesigns.co.uk Telephone 01252 712 127

Directors: David Weller Bruce Weller

Passion and Flair . . . is Excellence From concept to completion, Weller Designs, specialist golf course architects

• Course appraisals & surveying • Concept & detailed design • Full planning application • Environmental impact assessment

• New Builds • Remodelling • Construction specification • Site supervision

Untitled-1.indd 1 18/9/09 13:08:20


Oceânico is delighted to announce that the refurbish-ment to the critically acclaimed Laguna course in Vilamoura is set for comple-tion in the next few weeks.

The course that has played an integral role in providing first class golf and a major part in creating an unrivalled Oceânico golf experience to visitors and

locals has seen re-grassing programmes, extensive top dressing to fairways improv-ing quality and playability as well as an elaborate tree remodelling programme to further enhance the golf course.

‘This is the first phase of a three-year plan that will see improved surface conditions and a fresh overall look to the Laguna course,” commented Chris Stilwell, CEO Oceânico Golf.

“We are committed to making sure each and every course maintains a standard that visitors associate with Oceânico venues.

“The developments we have made will further enhance golfers’ experi-ence when playing the Oceânico Laguna course,” he concluded.

news

Grandvalira Golf Club, the highest golf club in Europe situated at 2250 metres above sea level in the heart of the Pyrenees, has taken a package of Ransomes Jacobsen turf maintenance equipment from Spanish distributor Green Mowers of Burgos.

A man was killed after being trapped by a grass mower at a Derbyshire golf course. The incident happened at Stanedge Golf Club, in Ashover, and fire crews spent more than three hours at the scene using specialist equipment to release greenkeeper John Hague.

Golfers are five times more likely to book a tee time online this year, compared to last year, according to Online Teetimes. And with the company reporting over £1.2 million online green fee sales in the year to date, the signs are that UK golfers are increasingly embracing the concept of booking online.

A World PGA Alliance, including organisations representing 56,000 PGA professionals and more than 22,000 PGA-member golf facilities worldwide, has been formed to establish and guide teaching, playing and educational standards for the golf profession in developing golf territories.

Further to the exciting conclusion to The Open Championship, and to mark Stewart Cink’s remarkable Open Championship win on the Ailsa Course, Turnberry has named a suite in his honour.

in briEf;

oceânico prepare to open laguna Course

The Sports Turf Research Institute in conjunction with Natural England, the English Golf Union and The R&A, has awarded Reigate Heath Golf Club accreditation under the English Golf Environmental Certification Scheme.

The award is for clubs showing a commitment and dedication to ecological good practice, and Reigate Heath exceeded the targets set to join a select band of clubs in the UK that have achieved this.

The STRI provides an inde-pendent ecological and environmental advisory serv-ice to golf clubs, enabling clubs to develop and improve the habitat and wildlife value of the golf course for both golf and wildlife.

Ailsa Edwards, chairman of Greens at Reigate Heath said: “As the golf course is the major part of the heath itself, the golf club has been working with the STRI for many years to maintain the highest standards while working to strict ecological guidelines regarding local grass species, types of sand

for the bunkers, tee and green dressings and path-way surfacings, and cutting and clearing regimes.

“Recognition from the UK’s leading ecological bodies makes the efforts of all those involved, from the club to the local conserva-tors and volunteers, very worthwhile.”

reigate heath wins sTri award

Troon Golf has added Campo de la Zagaleta as the latest addition to its growing portfolio of golf course resorts.

Situated in the heart of the Costa Del Sol, the exclusive Club de Campo de la Zagaleta is one of Europe’s most picturesque residential resorts.

Two championship golf courses sit prominently amidst the natural surrounds of this spectacular and chal-lenging resort, incorporating a mix of traditional golf course design and unsur-passed quality.

“After careful considera-tion of all of our options, we are very pleased to

welcome Troon Golf to manage our facilities” said president Dr Jorn Kreke.

“The established reputa-tion of Troon in maintaining the highest possible stand-ards of quality was the key to our decision, and we are convinced that this will be in the long term interest of our members.”

Campo de la zagaleta turn to Troon


news

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Braemar Golf has been appointed by OPIN to provide extensive golf course construction management services to their PGA National Russia Golf Resort at Bolshoye Zavidovo, near Moscow.

Braemar Golf’s role was to initially work with OPIN to assist their preferred local contractor through an extensive pre-construction and bid phase, which involved the identification of a detailed budget and schedule, together with the establishment of the

construction methodologies, and the equipment and protocols required.

Braemar Golf in conjunc-tion with the contractor has now provided an efficient model of golf course construction collaboration.

Using the equipment and manpower of the local contractor, Braemar Golf provided a team of highly experienced professionals, including a project manager with over 25 years of golf course construction experi-ence, and a squad of inter-nationally renowned shapers

that have worked for some of the best names in golf, including Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.

European Golf Design architect Dave Sampson has been delighted with the progress, quality and detail being executed leading him to comment: “Braemar Golf and the local contractor have formed an ideal part-nership, that is reflected in the quantity and quality of work being delivered onsite.

“The blend of expert project management, huge-ly talented shapers and

local knowledge is deliver-ing and enhancing the design vision.”

Braemar’s goal was to deliver the best golf course in Russia, on time and on budget and with construc-tion now well underway, all stakeholders are confident of achieving what will be simply the finest golf resort in Russia.

Ground breaking commenced in June 2009 with seeding completion scheduled for September 2010 prior to a soft opening in late summer 2011.

braemar break ground at pGa national russia

Sonning Golf Club in Berkshire is making dramatic water savings after becom-ing the latest venue to install Toro’s Golf Decoder Controller irrigation system.

The club commissioned irrigation consultant Irritech to design the 18-hole, 6,366-yard course’s greens, greens surrounds, approaches, tees

and fairways GDC system as well as oversee the tender-ing process and supervise the installation as part of a phased upgrade.

“With the club an existing Toro machinery customer, choosing the company’s irri-gation was a natural choice,” said course manager, Matt Smith.

sonning making waves with Toro’s GdC system


news

The PGA will expand and improve its acclaimed train-ing programmes thanks to a grant of almost £500,000 from The R&A.

The R&A, which ploughs millions into promoting and growing the game world-wide, has given further

evidence of its commitment to the game by supporting The PGA in its training of modern-day professionals.

The PGA has more than 7,500 members working in more than 60 countries and each year around 250 new graduates qualify through a

three-year Foundation Degree in Professional Golf Studies.

Its training programmes include two successful degree courses, several further education opportuni-ties including a director of golf option plus a continu-ous professional develop-ment scheme.

At the heart of its educa-tion and training programmes is a commit-ment to the latest advances in sports-science, technolo-gy, equipment, coaching techniques, business and marketing – all designed to equip the degree-educated young professionals with the skills to grow and promote the game in a range of roles across the golf industry.

The latest funding will also assist the PGA in nurturing a network of volunteer coach-es across the UK and helping grow the game through schemes such as the

England Golf Partnership, clubgolf Scotland, Golf Development Wales and Junior Golf Ireland.

“The continued support from the R&A is invaluable in helping the PGA training and education programme sustain its reputation as one of the most respected across the world,” said Dr Kyle Phillpots, PGA director of education and training.

“We’re indebted to the R&A for their support and backing which ensures our members are well qualified to assist the R&A in their ambitions to grow the game throughout the world.”

The R&A is golf’s govern-ing body and organiser of The Open Championship and through the Championship’s success is able to invest an annual surplus through The R&A Foundation into grass roots development projects around the world.

r&a grant helps boost training at the pGa

A £2m sports complex could be built in an area of protected countryside around London’s Stansted Airport if a golf club’s ambitious plans get the go-ahead.

Elsenham Golf and Leisure has re-submitted an application to build a multi-purpose sports facili-ty on its site.

The local council’s planning committee rejected a similar propos-al in May because the site is in a protected green zone designed to stop the erosion of coun-tryside around the airport.

Owner Colin Pharoah said: “The new plans are for a facility about 200m² smaller in size and much more compact, so we hope we have addressed all of the issues raised by the planning officers.

“We want to be a resource for the wider community and link in with the schools and clubs in the area.

“It would be a centre not just for people in Elsenham but also nearby towns and villages. We will also have extensive disabled facilities.”

The Leaderboard group of golf courses – which comprises four clubs in the south-east of England – has banned a caddy escort service from its fairways.

The £230-a-round Eye Candy Caddies rake bunkers, help with registra-tion and “provide light banter.”

But Leaderboard Golf – which owns and operates The Oxfordshire, Chart Hills in Kent, Sandford Springs, in Hampshire and Dale Hill, in East Sussex - said the service “damages the reputation of the sport.”

A spokesman for Leaderboard said: “Anyone who seriously cares about the development of the game should work to ensure

that it is as professional, inclusive, and culturally inof-fensive as any other major sport.

“Exploiting outmoded notions of golf as a male bastion is not ‘just a bit of fun’ - it damages the repu-tation of the sport as a whole as well as its appeal to members of the younger generation of either sex.”

Eye Candy Caddies’ managing director, Sarah Stacey (pictured), said all her models completed train-ing managed by golf profes-sionals.

She said: “We add that extra sparkle and difference to any golf day and put a smile on people’s faces.

“All the girls are trained in the etiquette of golf and

uniformed in appropriate golf attire. They all sign a code of conduct so every-one is clear about the boundaries.”

leaderboard Group ban Eye Candy Caddies

One year before its 125th anniversary, Dutch manu-facturer Imants BV has taken over the manufacture, marketing and develop-ment of Koro-Systems.

“The decision to expand the Imants range of turfcare products with the take over of Koro-Systems followed intense discussions between

all the parties involved,” explained Felix Peters, md of Imants BV.

“The consensus was that working together as one company would create a stronger consolidated prod-uct base that would ensure the continuation and further market expansion of these highly respected machines.

“I am delighted that Ko Rodenburg will continue providing invaluable insight and participation in product development on a consul-tancy basis.

“The combined knowl-edge, skills and experience will lead to the introduction of many innovative new products in the future.”

imants announce takeover of Koro


news

Tel: +44 (0)1462 683031 www.huntergrinders.com

all these OpenChampionship Clubschoose to reliefgrind with a Hunterprecision grinder›A:

destination forrester park on course for 2013A Fife golf resort has

announced a £65m redevel-opment, which will include a double-winged, five-star hotel alongside a club-house, spa and leisure complex, equestrian centre, driving range and nine-hole golf course.

The family-owned Forrester Park is also looking to add a fishing loch and around 140 homes, beside a number of holiday lodges.

Owners Bobby and Beth Forrester and son Robert - who is heading the develop-ment - believe it to be the largest private family invest-ment in Scotland for years.

Robert said: “For the last 16 years we have been developing the golf course and now the idea is to create an international resort of five-star quality.

“The focus will be on ‘Destination Forrester Park’

and promoting the family leisure side of the business,” he added.

“We will be very much interacting with the local community and we have had a meeting with the community council to discuss the proposals.”

The new hotel will offer Michelin-star dining and a conference and banquet-ing centre large enough to accommodate 1,000 guests.

Built by the existing course, the new nine-hole stretch will cater mainly for begin-ners, junior and lady golfers.

Scottish Golf Union chief executive Hamish Gray said: “The existing set-up has shown great imagination in a very short time. Now these proposed plans will build on what is already an excellent business.”

The new resort could be complete by 2013.

Golf course architect, Simon Gidman, has just finished a new 18th green, first tee and academy facili-ties at the Hösel Golf Club near Dusseldorf, Germany.

Although the course is only 15 years old, initial plan-ning objections restricting clearance of trees in a near-by orchard forced the 18th green and driving range some distance from the clubhouse.

However the local authori-ties recently accepted the revised location of the 18th

green, and a new tee, fair-way bunkers, 18th green and academy facilities, constructed by Josef Pötter were opened this summer.

Chris Raper, course manager, said: “The local authorities allowed some minor clearance of poorly managed trees and in its place we have doubled the size of the original orchard and planted rare fruit trees.

“Both the club and the local authorities are delight-ed at the way the project has evolved.”

Gidman finishes hosel


news

barenbrug has launched a 100 per cent fescue mix-ture – BAR Rubra – to help greenkeepers increase or re-introduce highly desir-able fescues to all areas of the golf course. The introduction follows what the company believes will be a growing demand for fescue mixtures due to the availability of a new selective herbicide to control several of the most common, unwanted spe-cies on the course.

Golf clubs in ireland will have improved ac-cess to the very latest developments in sports turf machinery and technical advice follow-ing the appointment of Campey Turfcare’s new product specialist, Brian O’Shaughnessy.

Troon Golf has been selected to manage the golf operations for Med-iterannia Saidia Golf. The resort in which the golf course will sit, is a magical tourist destination in North East Morocco, facing the shores of Almeria, Spain.

Ashburnham Golf Club has been using the Ray-cam Triplex Greens Brush from Campey Turfcare Systems for three months and are so impressed with it that a second unit is on order for delivery this autumn. Club Car has delivered a fleet of 37 Precedents to Slaley Hall, De Vere’s Northumberland resort. The new Precedents have all been specially adapted to be fully road-worthy and each one will be assigned to one of the Slaley Hall lodges to form part of the first class service at Slaley Hall.

in briEf;

Saldana Golf Club, locat-ed six kilometres from Burgos in northern Spain, has recently purchased 16 of the latest electric E-Z-GO RXV golf cars from local distributor Green Mowers.

Saldana is a new golf course, which is family-owned and was initially designed by Pepe Gancedo with final design input from Laureano Nomen. The course sits in 71 hectares of

rolling countryside in the Castile-Leon region.

Alphonso Gil, course manager said: “From the outset we planned to oper-ate with golf cars and have purpose-built cart paths around the course.

“The RXVs are really special golf cars, especially the electric powered buggies. They are very economical to operate and daily maintenance is very easy.

“For the golfer they are quiet and have some excel-lent safety features. The drive motor has advanced technology that puts other golf cars in the shade.

“We use E-Z-GO buggies at our Lerma Golf Club and have always found them to be very reliable and very good value.”

saldana opt for E-z-Go

MGM Mirage has announced it is to build a luxury hotel at the Egyptian development of New Giza, alongside a spectacular new golf course designed by Thomson Perrett & Lobb.

The hotel, to be called MGM Grand New Giza and targeted for completion in 2013, will sit alongside the TPL golf course and within a 1,500-acre development – the first masterplanned community in Egypt – that will also incorporate elegant homes, lavish restaurants, shopping malls, sporting facilities, a hospital and a university.

TPL Principal Tim Lobb said: “From the outset the client, TPL, and the whole design team have been committed to delivering a world class project the whole of Egypt can be proud of.

“With a luxurious hotel chain like MGM announcing it will be building a hotel complex, it underlines the class of this development and adds to the appeal of a resort which, when complet-ed, will be a haven for fantastic golf.

“The third hole will now be an amazing hole to play, as the golfer will be playing

towards the Pyramids and adjacent to the MGM Grand hotel.”

Once completed, the New Giza Development will feature 2,500 villas and townhouses – 80 per cent of which will enjoy views of Cairo and the Pyramids of Giza. Phase one of the hous-ing development is already sold out.

MGM Mirage destined for new Giza

A takeover of a closure-threatened Aberdeen golf course has been complet-ed. Auchmill golf course faced closure as part of Aberdeen City Council’s £60m programme of spend-ing cuts but won a reprieve after a committee of members asked to take it over.

The move was agreed in principle by councillors in

March but a legal wrangle over the transfer of one member of staff had delayed the official hand-over.

It was confirmed by the local authority in September that the licence agreement, which sees the committee take over the running of the course on a trial basis until March next year, will take effect from immediately.

A 30-year lease is expect-ed to be negotiated if the trial proves to be a success.

Committee member Elaine Leiper said: “The golf course and the club is the hub of our community. It has provided youngsters with a sense of purpose and this investment will give them a chance to excel in a sport they love, as well as a chance in life.”

auchmill lives to fight another day


news

(44) 01394 380800 | ppcgolf.com

An established 18-hole golf course in the Aquitaine region of France with planning permission for 94 homes, plus a further 20,000 m² of land allowing for upto 200 additional properties to be developed.Guide Price: EUR 6 Million.

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Weller designs on the front foot at The rose bowlWeller Designs have been

commissioned by the Rose Bowl in Southampton ─ home to Hampshire County Cricket Club ─ to create an 18-hole championship standard golf course that would be commensurate with their exciting plans to develop a five star resort destination complex on the international cricket ground.

The new golf course forms a key element of what is an

innovative development plan, with the planned hotel becoming an integral part of the stadium itself.

Rooms on the inside of the hotel will offer views directly on to one of the finest crick-et arena’s in England, whilst rooms on the outside will have views onto a beautiful and dramatic golfing land-scape including a large man-made lake and island green.

The key to the scheme was obtaining planning permission for the importa-tion of a considerable quan-tity of recovered inert soil onto the site.

As a result of the consent, The Rose Bowl will be able to design and construct the entire golf course primarily through charges levied against the inert soil, there-fore alleviating the need to obtain external financing.

The course itself will be a fascinating combination of regenerated heathland, mature oak parkland and a more formal styling which will complement the state-of-the-art international stadi-um with its iconic pavilion and hotel.

Weller Designs are one of the UK’s leading consultants in the field of inert soil recov-ery and are currently under-taking twenty such schemes.

Staff at sportsturf contrac-tor MJ Abbott are celebrat-ing after scooping two accolades at the tenth annual South Wiltshire Business Awards.

As first time entrants, they triumphed in two categories, winning both the Solstice Park Professional Services Award and the Emery Little Environmental Award.

Accepting the award on behalf of the company alongside chairman Mike Abbott (pictured right), contracts director Nigel

Wyatt (pictured left) said: “We’re delighted to have been recognised in this way by the local business community which we’ve been part of since 1963.

“This is the first year we’ve entered these awards and we did so without expecta-tion. As a company we’re enthusiastic about recycling and use many recycled products ourselves so we’re particularly pleased with the Environment Award.

“A huge thank you must go to all of the staff.”

abbott scoop awards


news

Turfcare machinery manu-facturer, Ransomes Jacobsen, has a long estab-lished working partnership with Turfco Manufacturing Inc of Minneapolis, and

markets Turfco products throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India.

At SALTEX recently, Ransomes Jacobsen intro-

duced the new Turfco WideSpin 1540 EC, which is a top-dresser providing the most accurate and widest range of applications with the least amount of adjust-ments.

The WideSpin 1540 EC also features electronic controls which can be used to preset the three spinner and corre-sponding belt speeds.

Ransomes Jacobsen’s product manager Richard Tyrrell, who is responsible for the Turfco range said: “Turfco have brought together patented WideSpin technology with a unique electronic controller to give the greatest level of flexibility and precision available.

“Designed with the least amount of adjustments to get a perfect spread, every time you top dress, the 1540 EC is also the easiest to use.”

Turnberry Resort course manager, George Brown, has paid tribute to the Toro equipment that helped him prepare the Ailsa Course for the 138th Open.

Brown and his greenkeep-ing team used a legion of Toro mowers to keep the Ayrshire course in immacu-late condition throughout the Championship, which saw Tom Watson’s bid to become the oldest player to win The Open end in defeat when the 59-year-old was beaten by Stewart Cink.

“We began our prepara-tions for The Open Championship by signifi-cantly increasing our fleet in the last six months, which has helped tremendously,” Brown reveals.

“We’re very happy with all the new machines, particu-larly the greens and fairway mowers. The ability to stripe in one direction with the fair-ways is a real advantage.

“The Reelmaster 3100-D Sidewinder is also great, helping us to cut closer on certain areas.”

Brown, who has been a Toro customer for 20 years, has also been using a HydroJect 3010 water injec-

tor aerator: “The HydroJect has really helped alleviate compaction and get some water into the roots.”

Toro helps Turnberry to open triumph

A major campaign has been launched to stop hundreds of homes being built on a Lancashire golf club.

A community leader is hoping to spark a “people power” backlash against proposals for homes on part of Ingol Golf Club, in Preston.

Multi-millionaire owner Trevor Hemmings is one of 71 landowners who has expressed an interest in development to planners drawing up the Local Development Framework, a 20-year masterplan for future development in the region.

But that has sparked fury among residents who fear the course will be destroyed by the move.

Local councillor Bill Shannon is now hoping residents will besiege planners with objections to the idea. He said: “I’m expecting sometime later this year that a decision will be made either to keep the golf course designated as its is or that it will be designated for housing.

“If we can get a number of people at this stage to say they want it designated for recrea-tional use, hopefully it will help.”

Leisure tycoon Hemmings admitted last year he was interested in “potential development” of the 18-hole course.

ransomes Jacobsen put into a spin by Turfco

The company responsible for the running of Basildon Golf Course is facing finan-cial problems two years after taking control from the local council – putting a promised £1million revamp under threat.

Basildon Golf Centre’s latest accounts cast doubt on its “ability to continue” running as a business.

The firm maintains, howev-er, that it can turn things around and see the project through despite the reces-sion and an ongoing legal battle over its plans.

The business – a self-contained limited company

set up by Jack Barker Ltd which manages a number of golf courses for councils across the country – was already behind with its rent on the 99-year lease.

It should have paid £60,000 rent in the first three years, but council bosses have let this go unpaid, and have since allowed it to have a further three years rent free.

In July the council also agreed to a long-term £60,000 loan to the compa-ny to tide it over.

The company has also twice taken out bank loans against the lease.

Under plans approved by the council, the firm was set to finance the revamp by allowing up to 140,000 tonnes of building spoil to be dumped on the course, which would then be used in the redevelopment.

Developers dumping their spoil would have paid to deposit each load, giving the business a large income stream.

However, these plans have been on hold ever since residents launched a court battle to overturn the council’s approval. A date for a hearing at the Court of Appeal is still to be set.

problems mount up in basildon


news

The finishing touches are being put to one of the region’s most attractive golf and business complexes located on hills above Plympton on the outskirts of Plymouth.

Boringdon Park Golf Club is a purpose-built 27 hole golf course with extensive banqueting and confer-ence facilities set in 200 acres of landscaped park-land with sweeping sea views across Plymouth and towards Dartmoor.

The first members are currently playing on the par 72, 18 hole course but they will soon have the option of a further challenging nine holes as well as 20 covered and 20 grassed ground lit driving bays including a short game area with a green, bunkers and chip-ping area.

The brainchild of director Michael Davey (pictured above left), Boringdon Park’s competitive edge will be its purpose built hospitali-ty facilities supplementing the high quality golfing arrangements.

Davey, 41, who estab-lished Trethorne Golf Club said: “With the experience of Trethorne, we have been able to design a multi-purpose venue that will not only attract golfers but will appeal to the business community at large as we are offering flexible banqueting, conference and meeting facilities that no one else in the area can match.”

In addition to the club bar, main bar, restaurant, pro-shop and locker rooms, the 18,000 sq ft complex can banquet up to 420 people or sit up to 1,000 theatre style, with flexible partition-ing and a choice of entry doors allowing each event to be self-contained.

On the upper floor a further private area has an extensive balcony with panoramic views which can be enjoyed by golfers, visi-tors or hired for private func-tions.

The landscaping is due to be completed in the autumn and will include patio areas, a garden with children’s outdoor play area and an ornamental lake.

On completion, it is antici-pated that Boringdon Park will employ over 50 staff from the local region.

Davey added: “We want to be all inclusive providing the very best facilities avail-able to appeal to as wide a range of customers as possi-

ble from golfing members of our exclusive Platinum Suite to the wedding market, seminar organizers and chil-

dren who will have their own play area in the restaurant with toys and drawing boards.”

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Heritage in the making


club focusWEblinK; SGK.NO

They say good things come to those who wait, so a darkened sky wasn’t going to dampen spirits at the official launch of the renovated course at Stavanger Golf Club.

Despite an unwelcome deluge, the club’s shotgun tournament went off with-out a hitch with 150 members teeing up to enjoy 16 rebuilt greens, three remod-elled fairways and new bunkers through-out. After all, they’d been waiting for this moment for quite some time.

Ten years earlier, the club had embarked on a NOK 40 million (€4.65 million) investment programme to upgrade its infrastructure and amenities culminating in a new-look course that would incorporate a drainage system capable of dealing with Norway’s unre-mitting rain – nearly 200mm fell in July alone.

It was a job worth doing. Despite the dampness, Stavanger is one of Norway’s most respected tracks and the country’s second oldest 18-hole golf course.

Originally laid out by Fred Smith in 1956, it became a must-play course for Scandinavia’s golfers and consequently hosted a number of top tournaments including the Norwegian Championships in 2006.

But despite its undoubted pedigree, the course was showing its age and badly needed a drainage system that could contend with the Norwegian downpours.

“For the last 20 years, we’ve been struggling with our drainage especially after heavy rain when it took days before the course returned to its normal playing conditions,” says Steinar Fløisvik, Stavanger’s general manager.

“Now it doesn’t get wet at all. During the official opening tournament, we had terrible weather but after hours of heavy rain, we were still putting on dry greens.”

On the day of the relaunch, the club’s members enthused about their new course while enjoying a special dinner. It seemed they all felt the renovation had been a success.

Mark Alexander gets under the skin of the impressive restoration project completed by Niblick Golf Design at

Stavanger Golf Club in Norway.

What lies beneath


faCTfilE;

Stavanger GolfklubbLongebakke 454042 Hafrsfjord

Norway

TEl; (47) 51 93 91 00faX; (47) 51 93 91 10

EMail;[email protected]

propriETor;Steinar Fløisvik

hEad GrEEnKEEpEr;Inge Ullestad

Club foundEd;1956

“For the last two years I’ve been wait-ing for someone to criticise the work but it’s the first project I’ve been involved in where no-one has said anything negative about it at all,” said Fløisvik. “I remember an older member saying he was happy because he was going to play this beauti-ful course within his lifetime.

“There was so much expectation, it was clear the work should have started long beforehand. The last five years, when Niblick got involved, have been vitally important.”

The course was re-designed by Niblick Golf Design through a rolling programme of improvements that were completed without requiring the course to close at any point during the five-year build.

Apart from Niblick’s planning, the uninterrupted operation of the course was only possible thanks to the support from the club’s members, says Fløisvik.

“We’re the only course in Norway to renovate in this way,” he says. “There’s a big club in Oslo that closed for almost two years to build a new course, but we’ve been able to play all the time. It’s been a challenge but the members have support-ed us all the way.

“Sometimes we had to close a hole or play temporary tees or greens, but the members have continued to support the work throughout.”

With the members’ approval, work carried on while play was preserved. As well as safeguarding the weekly medal, this considered approach also meant financial stability for the club. “If we had closed down for a couple of years, we would’ve lost income but instead we’ve been able to keep our members and our sponsors.

“And because we worked on a couple of greens at a time, people could see what

was being done and looked forward to playing it.

Every spring and autumn we had new areas to play so the members were always looking forward to the next new part to be completed.”

To return the course to normal playing conditions as quickly as possible, the club opted to turf, rather than seed renovated areas. This quick-fire solution was key to getting play under way promptly and generating income but it merely repre-sented the icing on the cake - the real changes had been made beneath the surface.

Niblick Golf Design started work on the course in late 2004 reshaping two greens to add complexity as well as much-needed gradients to carry water away from the playing surfaces.

By spring 2009, sixteen greens had undergone similar treatment and all the bunkers had been reshaped. As one of the directors at Niblick Golf Design explains, the renovation project was needed to return the course to its former glory which meant improving its drainage.

“It’s a very well respected course, but it had flat, soil greens that had little if any positive fall away from the playing surfac-es,” says Brian Phillips.

“In an area that gets nearly one and a half metres of rain a year, it is inevitable that greens will suffer through compac-tion.

“When we started, there were no catch-ment basins at all which is typical on an old course, but when a club needs to get its visitors and members out on the course as soon as possible after a down-pour, they’re absolutely essential.”

As well as contouring greens, bringing them up to USGA standards and reshap-ing bunkers, Niblick also installed thou-


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sands of metres of new drainage and laid a top layer of sand over effected areas. It was a painstaking process, as Phillips explains.

“We modelled the look of the course from a drainage point of view, so by creat-ing catchment basins we created more undulations on the fairways. But we had promised the club we would keep the style of the original bunkering and that took a while to perfect.

“We had to study the existing bunkers to make sure the shapers understood how the ball would run into the bunker and how the lips would look. The bunker on the eleventh was one of the toughest – I think we rebuilt it four times before we were happy with it.”

Better drainage along with a layer of Sportcrete in the bunkers also improved matters but the new-look Stavanger isn’t all about pipework and drains. For instance, the third hole has a brand new green site which rests on the banks of a lake about 30 metres from the forested resting place of its predecessor.

In a similar vein, the rather bland fair-way of the seventeenth is barely recognis-able when compared to the previous

layout, as it now has a stream crossed by a picturesque stone bridge. Things have moved on at Stavanger.

The redesigned holes will certainly grab all the headlines and rightly so, but the real charm of the new course runs far deeper. “If you are able to cut the grass in dry conditions, it makes a difference,” says Fløisvik.

“The members love it because we can form the golf course by cutting the grass

at different heights which gives it a great look. The greens are more difficult which is fantastic because we couldn’t extend the course to make it tougher so we need-ed to make the greens more challenging. Ultimately, we can make plans now because we know what to expect.”

The significance of the work isn’t lost on Phillips either. “Stavanger Golf club is hugely important to Norwegian golf,” he concludes. “They’ve always been active in junior development and have produced some great golfers.

“To be approached by a club like Stavanger was a great honour. We’re very proud to be associated with such an old club and one so well respected in Scandinavia.” GME

“For the last two years i’ve been waiting for someone to criticise the work but it’s the first

project i’ve been involved in where no-one has said anything negative about it at all.


braemar golf WEblinK; BRAEMARGOLF.CO.UK

As well as being based in St Andrews, the Home of Golf, and working with esteemed clients such as St Andrews Links Trust, Braemar Golf is also forging a reputation in emerging golf markets such as Russia and Bulgaria.

On the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria sits one of the most spectacular new sites in Europe – the Gary Player-designed Thracian Cliffs Golf and Spa Resort – which perched on a 4.5km ledge of white limestone cliff overlooking the Black Sea, it is a truly outstanding golf course.

Commenting on the design, Gary Player, who believes Thracian Cliffs will become one of the top golf resorts in Europe, said: “Thracian Cliffs reminds me of Pebble Beach and I expect the golf course to be just as dramatic.”

The course routing utilises the stunning white cliffs and presents views that Player is sure will ‘rival any golf course anywhere in the world.’

Braemar is currently working with the owners to manage the construction of the golf course and prepare it for opening, but is also focused on the development of the domestic game in Bulgaria whilst helping to establish the country as a genuine destination for international golf-ers, with Thracian Cliffs as the jewel.

Braemar also manages the Peter Harradine-designed Pravets Golf and Spa, located just 30 minutes from the country’s capital Sofia which is another magnificent Bulgarian golf course. With the stunning Stara Planina mountains as its backdrop, Harradine has designed a course that winds its way around the shores of beautiful Lake Pravets.

The course is complemented by the four-star Riu Hotel and Spa, a completed real estate project, and what will be

Bulgaria’s foremost golf academy to drive the development of the domestic game.

In partnership with Terra Tour Services, Braemar Golf is excited and confident that Pravets will bring international quali-ty golf and resort facilities to Sofia and is certain it will be a commercial success story.

Keith Haslam, managing director of Braemar Golf, said: “We are passionate about the game but even more passionate about building successful and honest rela-tionships with clients, assisting them in creating successful golf properties and operations.

“The diverse locations we work in require a tailored approach and we concentrate on building trust and integri-ty with our clients, which can be challeng-ing in areas like Eastern Europe.”

The philosophy of creating mutually beneficial relationships with all clients is absolutely key to everything at Braemar, and over the last couple of years the company has added golf course construc-tion management as one of its core activi-ties and this is providing of huge value to some clients.

Two examples of Haslam’s dedication to building strong working relationships are highlighted by the seamless operation of the coaching service at St Andrews Links Golf Academy (on behalf of St Andrews Links Trust) and its long-term partnership with the PGA.

Braemar Golf delivers all instruction (as PGA Golf Management) on behalf of St Andrews Links Trust, which is led by Steve North, one of Golf Monthly’s Top 25 UK coaches.

Braemar has also been voted one of Golf Inc. Magazine’s ‘Most Admired Operators’, helped by a relationship with

Braemar Golf is forging a reputation for crafting, managing and delivering business success to some

of golf’s most exciting projects. Its’ attention to detail and its’ wide range of services are helping to

deliver some exceptional golf projects across the globe, as Mhairi Mackenzie discovers.

braemar Guiding business success


the Links Trust that has been enriched by delivering successful coaching on all levels.

The long-standing relationship with the PGA as ‘Official Supplier’ of Golf Management Services is also very impor-tant to Braemar, as Haslam explains: “The relationship has been beneficial to all parties including ourselves, the PGA and our clients.

“The PGA has seen it’s brand expand into new regions, such as China and Russia, and as a result Braemar clients have gained a unique association with one of the oldest, most respected and instantly recognisable brands in golf.”

These benefits are well illustrated at the Bolshoye Zavidovo project on the outskirts of Moscow in Russia. As well as delivering full construction management and golf management services, the project will feature the PGA National Russia golf course and PGA National Russia Golf Academy, whilst also being the home for the development of golf in Russia.

In a country where signature architects and other golf brands do not provide the marketing benefits they do in other coun-tries, the PGA brand is recognised and respected and has, to date, delivered precisely what the owners require.

Another testament to Braemar’s quality of services and strong working relation-ships is demonstrated through BraemarNass, a joint venture golf course construction company based in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Having recently finished the construc-tion of the Colin Montgomerie-designed Royal Golf Club, in association with European Golf Design, this is set to become one of the finest golf courses in the Middle East.

Jeremy Slessor, managing director of EGD, said: “The course is exquisite, and let me just congratulate you once again. The bar has been set pretty high!”

Jonathan Pendry, Braemar’s golf cours-es director, added: “Although EGD are not a client, golf course architects are a vital stakeholder in our construction and construction management services busi-ness. Our aim is to deliver for all our stakeholders and the approach seems to be paying dividends.”

Pendry also revealed that EGD are the golf course architects of the PGA National Russia and to date, client, archi-tect and contractor are working as a part-nership with Braemar to deliver another outstanding golf course.

Haslam believes it is this approach and relationship building, as well as delivering business results, that has led a relative newcomer to the business to achieve a diverse portfolio of work, clients and projects.

Recent additions such as Palm City Family and Golf Resort in Denmark, Bolshoye Zavidovo in Russia and the two projects in Bulgaria have added to projects ongoing or completed from Fiji, China, Bahrain, Croatia, Cape Verde and of course, St Andrews. GME

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egcoa

Big changes, economic downturn, increasing demand for sustainability; they could be seen as only negative trends. But golf course owners have to realise that change means opportunity.

What can operators do to make sure they take the next step from these changes and seize opportunities that lie ahead in the future? The European Golf Business Conference will offer ideas and solutions for operations, marketing, hospitality and yield management.

Once the golf industry real-ises change is occurring, there is a need to define and collate the opportunities evolving from the changes around us. In short, we have to define the next step to be taken.

Around 250 delegates gathered last year in the Hilton Hotel in Berlin to discuss and define the changes that are taking place in the European golf market.

Research by the EGCOA showed that old models do not fit anymore and the time is right for golf courses to start acting upon the wishes of the so called ‘new golfers’.

The ‘commercial push to growth peri-od’ (see GME March edition) forces course owners and operators to think of

new ways to attract customers and replace out-dated members. The

intensive growth of golf courses in the late

1990s and 2000 changed the supply-and-

demand equation and

the industry has been attempting to figure out how to deal with it ever since.

The impact of the economic downturn might have resulted in a decline of the

growth rate, but the question remains, are too many courses

chasing too few golfers? And, on the growing supply

side, what is happening with regards to the demand of people looking to play golf?

It was not long after the Berlin conference that the credit crunch started to demand even more creativity

from golf course operators. How could people afford to play golf if

more and more started losing their jobs? Another major force that will impact on

the golf business is ‘green awareness’. Water management is higher on the

agenda than ever and most communities no longer accept green, flourishing golf courses that do not respect environmental sustainability.

Besides this change in demography and demand for sustainable development, the program of the fourth European Golf Business Conference will touch on vari-ous other subjects:

How can staff at your golf club adapt better policies that will increase member retention? What can we learn from other businesses when it comes to yield management? And do you think your e-marketing is almost perfect?

Speakers at this year’s conference will also present ways to better use valuable sources like websites, e-newsletters and member databases. If you have questions, comments or suggestions for speakers and topics, let us know what they are and we will make sure they are included in the program. GME

Last year’s European Golf Business Conference was entitled ‘The Big Change’. This year, it’s up to delegates to define

‘The Next Step’. Tibbe bakker describes what the fourth European Golf Business Conference, taking place in Amsterdam, has to offer.

defining the next step

WEblinK; EGCOA.EU/CONFERENCE


GME readers can register for the special Early booking fee by faxing this coupon to the EGCOA. Fill out your details and get to know how your club can take ‘The Next Step’. Offer valid until 1 November 2009.

Mr / Ms.: Name: Company / Golf Course:

Address:

Zip Code: Country:

E-mail: Phone / Mobile:

I will participate as a:

* EGCOA Member Special fee for GME readers: €475,- (ex. 19% Dutch VAT) * Non Member Special fee for GME readers: €695,- (ex. 19% Dutch VAT)

* Delete where appropriate. Visit www.egcoa.eu/conference for more details.

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P R E F E R R E DS U P P L I E R


in person

How many times have you sat in a golf clubhouse at the end of a round, looking around and thinking how much better the place would be if the owners had paid greater attention to detail?

I know I have, and freely hold my hands up to doing it at my own club 18 months ago as I sat contemplating another disap-pointing 18 holes in a near-deserted club-house.

Thankfully, my own problem was quickly solved as new owners arrived to breathe some much-needed new life and ideas into a tired club and transform its fortunes and atmosphere.

And a newcomer in golf is attempting to take the whole design concept to an altogether different level with a new way of thinking that could revolutionise the way clubhouses, driving ranges or such like are developed in the future.

Formed in 2000, Belgian company Mind:Style specialises in providing guid-ance and design on a wide range of crea-tive projects, ensuring consistency with

the master plan. It is not a construc-

tion business though, as Mind:Style concen-trates on assisting clients during the various stages of the design plan, right from creating the big picture down to the vital small

meticulous details. “It’s all about the

vision and what kind

of experience the customer wants when they arrive,” said Stan Colders, managing director, founder and the driving force behind Mind:Style. I have a passion about wellness and health. Mind:Style can inspire people to enjoy golf.

“What I have discovered, and it’s a normal reaction all over the world in golf, is that everybody thinks that if they just create a nice interior that’s okay and a clubhouse will work, but a lot of the time clubhouses don’t work because not enough thought is put into them.

“Clubs have to be aware of this and what we are trying to tell the industry is that there is much more to it than an architect and interior designer.

“Golf is a mental game, so you have to think how you are going to relax the customer and make them enjoy the club-house experience even more so you can help them have a better game.

“I think it’s a mixture of music and colour but is also a question of identity. For instance, the way the clubhouse staff talk and greet customers is very impor-tant.

“We are thinking all the time about the detail of the designs. It’s not only the inte-riors. We are thinking about what you see in the car park, with the colour and forms of signs, and even down to the dress code of staff.”

A veteran of the entertainment and design industries, Colders, who is 40-years old and hails from Belgium, sees his and his team’s role as a storyteller to create one-of-a-kind environments that leaves a lasting impression on audiences and visitors alike.

style with Mindful design

WEblinK; MINDSTyLE.NET

Stan Colders is a man with a vision, a man whose

design practice Mind:Style is creating a reputation for

quality and sustainable clubhouse design. Interview

by Peter Simm.


Mind:Style conceptualises and designs unique, sustainable environments for anything from retail, hotel, restaurant and bars to leisure and healing, creating interi-or and outdoor environments that add spiritual, physical and emotional value to the human experience.

However, it is only since 2006 that Colders has turned his attention to the golf industry and realised the opportuni-ties available to put his own unique stamp on the game.

He explained: “I had a design company for many years in Belgium where I specialised in temporary structures like exhibitions and entertainment. It’s all about creating experiences. I had played golf for eight years when I was asked to think about going into the field.

“Somebody told me that someone with my sort of know-how could be very inter-esting for the golf industry with a new approach for clubhouse design and driv-ing ranges.

“I took this on board and now I investi-gate the identity of a clubhouse and try to improve it.

“When it comes to new golf resorts, the first thing investors do a lot of the time is look for a golf architect. The architect then plans a magnificent championship course but they forget their vision and feel for the project. They forget the actual game experience of the place and, with that, the clubhouse.

“It’s not integrated with the vision and so, when it’s built, it always seems to come a bit too late.”

Like all successful businessmen, what-ever their field, Colders is not afraid to investigate and embrace new ideas and technology to deliver the best possible designs and ideas to his customers.

And underlining everything is his devo-tion to attention to detail and, in a word, homework.

Colders said: “The design element of anything is much more important because you can’t make a mistake.

“Our work is based on a pre-study analysis of the problem and it’s only then that we start to design. Homework is absolutely key to producing the best design for the client and it’s something that a lot of people just don’t do.

“Often you hear that people have a clubhouse where nobody goes or a pro shop that nobody visits because they don’t think things through.

“With new generations coming through in the game, this is essential because there is now a strong evolution of golfers. Teenagers are fashion-conscious while your twenty-somethings want to drink a beer in modern surroundings.

“I understand all sorts of philosophies including Feng Shui and wellness concepts. Some are just trends but we try to analyse all of them and stay up to date with new technologies and approaches so we can give clients the best advice.

“Our inspiration for design is drawn from the heritage and the cultural charac-ter of the project. Our company wants to achieve styles that are concentrated and focused on the mind – that’s why we have chosen golf as it’s a very mental game.”

Mind:Style is already creating a name for itself in golf, winning second prize and praise for its clubhouse design for the new Muscat Hills Resort in Oman, which was ecologically sustainable, practical and financially efficient.

Other designs for driving ranges in his hometown of Antwerp and in Holland have also been heralded, while talks are at an advanced stage for the company to lend its expertise to new projects in Spain and in the Champagne region of France.

He added: “For a project in Oman, I created something that was inspired by the country’s castles . The clubhouse is over 4,500 square metres and because of its unique design an attractiveness, it would pay itself back in a very short time.

“The difficulty that we face is that we are a new name in the golf business and, until now, none of our designs have been realised.

“But designing golf infrastructure is exciting and fun. Once the first project will be realised, there is no doubt that others will follow.

“I want to create environments that inspire people to enjoy life. If a project is to do with that, then I’m interested.”

With such a different and refreshing outlook, it’s likely Colders is going to have plenty to interest him over the coming years. GME

“Our inspiration for design is drawn from the heritage and the cultural character of the project. Our company wants to achieve styles that are concentrated and focused on the mind – that’s why we have chosen golf as it’s a very mental game.”

Mind:Style, Uitbreidingstraat 84/3, 2600 Antwerp, Belgiumt. +32 3 286 70 90 - f. +32 3 286 70 99 - www.mindstyle.net - [email protected]

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course construction

In the good old days, when banks were willing to lend money and new course openings were as common as church fairs, the golf course construction indus-try was a good place to be. Practitioners with the necessary skills and experience were in demand and their order books were full. Times were good.

These days, the outlook isn’t looking so rosy. Like all sectors of the economy,

golf has found the going tough under the new credit crunch regime.

With property prices nose-diving and investor confi-

dence following suite, many new projects have been shelved which hasn’t been good news for Europe’s construction firms.

“It’s extremely difficult, and anyone who thinks

otherwise isn’t living in the real world” says Ray Wilson,

managing director of Southern Golf, a UK-based contractor with over 30 years’ experience of building and main-taining courses around the world.

“There’s been a 30-40 per cent down-turn compared to four years ago. Some people have seen a lot more but there has certainly been a significant drop.”

To deal with the slump, which accord-ing to Plimsoll Industry Analysis has contributed to half of the UK’s golf clubs making a loss, Southern Golf has tight-ened its belt by cutting back on sub-contractors and is broadening its horizons.

“We’re a specialist company,” he says. “We could move into general earthworks but I think we’ll find sufficient golf work in the wider market. We’d rather keep our core business focused and look at other countries rather than diversifying.

“Our approach to overcome the current market situation is to be ultra efficient with our resources and look to new markets. There’s always a new market somewhere.”

While the company is picking up golf work, Wilson is at pains to point out that new projects outside golf would be of interest. That said, the company’s strategy is clearly to ride out the storm by remain-ing true to its roots.

Like most industry’s in the recession, the golf course construction sector has seen better times. Mark Alexander finds out how

some constructors are dealing with the economic downturn.

Expansion plans


Brian D. PiersonThe Golf Course Builder

projeCT manaGemenT • ConsulTanCy • ConsTruCTion

Belarus, denmark, franCe, Germany, maCedonia, spain, sweden

+44 (0)1425 [email protected]

www.piersongolf.com

Promoting excellence inGolf Course Construction

throughout EuropeFor further information about the

British Association of Golf Course Constructorsplease contact the chairman, Brian D. Pierson

on 01425 475584 or email [email protected]

New Courses • Renovation • BunkersIrrigation • Drainage

BRITISH ASSOCIATION OFGOLF COURSE CONSTRUCTORS

BAGCC

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ELYGOLFConstructRenovate Maintain

Reading, United KingdomTelephone +44 118 326 6168Email [email protected]

Appointed contractor for the renovation work being undertaken at Turnberry for the 2009 Open Championship


With course work ongoing in Portugal, Cyprus and Oman, as well as the compa-ny’s first tentative steps into the Indian market, Southern Golf is purposely look-ing further afield to counter the effects of the slowdown.

It’s a far cry from the heydays of the late 80s and early 90s when the industry saw a huge upsurge in live projects and developers clamoured to secure the serv-ices of building contractors.

One man who remembers those days well is Brian Pierson, chairman of the British Association of Golf Course Constructors (BAGCC). Back then, his company was in the thick of it which often meant clocking up the air miles as he visited numerous construction sites.

“In one year, my company built five new courses and altered six others,” he says. “It was a boom. I used to hire a plane to get around the sites.”

Unfortunately, the jet-set lifestyle didn’t last forever. By the mid 90s, liquidations were rife resulting in the BAGCC’s membership falling by 58 per cent in one year. According to Pierson, the depths of this black period even exceeded the current economic situation.

“There are a number of reasons why it’s not so bad now,” he says. “Firstly, there aren’t so many golf course builders in the country and a lot of them have slimmed down and don’t need the same volume of work.

“The two major players are MJ Abbott and White Horse Contractors and both involve themselves in not just golf course construction but also in irrigation, drain-

age and sports fields. There’s a lot of diversification into other areas rather than pure golf.”

As if to prove the point, Robert Donald, managing director of White Horse Contractors, says that while the propor-tion of golf work may have dropped, over-all the business has grown.

“Five years ago the amount of golf work we did accounted for 30-40 per cent of our total,” he says. “That percentage is now about 15 per cent. Our market share in the golf market has remained fairly static but we’ve developed in other fields and that has increased the size of the business.”

Established in 1957, White Horse expanded from its agricultural origins into the leisure and sports sectors most recently completing work at Heythrop Park and Chelsea Football Club’s Cobham training ground.

Working with Ely Golf as project managers, Heythrop is of particular note as it is found in one of the country’s most historic parks next to the ancestral home of the Earls of Shrewsbury. Working with English Heritage, the course has been built in keeping with the park’s listed status.

But even with multiple revenue streams to enjoy, things have been tough. “In the last 18 months, the golf industry has changed considerably,” says Donald.

“Private members’ clubs which had aspirations to carry out work have post-poned a lot of projects,” he says. “There has been a hardening of prices and the number of projects has declined.

“The companies will survive because they’re flexible and can shed their staff quickly. The skills won’t be lost but the problem is the industry isn’t training new shapers who are sympathetic to golf.”


“There is significant caution. Major capital investments for non-essential projects have been put on hold.”

Under these conditions, it’s not surpris-ing construction companies have looked elsewhere for work.

Indeed, rather than relying solely on golf, Donald says exploiting other markets, such as sports pitches and play-ing fields has fuelled the company’s growth.

“We’ve always been interested in devel-oping the business so we’ve sought out sectors with the greatest potential and we’ve found those to be in markets other than golf.”

Apart from providing the necessary workflow to fuel expansion, Donald says diversification has created the appropriate conditions in which White Horse has been able to improve its business practices and become a better contractor.

“When you’re working in the public sector with main contractors, you have demands that are far greater in terms of pre-qualification, delivery, management and programming,” he says.

“You tend to work under a more rigor-ous contract and health and safety regimes. It changes your outlook because you’re working to the rules of the main contractor and those rules tend to be more stringent than those you encounter when building a golf course.

“It teaches us to be better contractors, operating more safely with more accurate record keeping.”

While diversification has given White Horse the stimulus to grow and improve, it has inevitably diluted the significance of golf work to the company. Saying that, Donald says his ideal job would still be a high-profile, signature development.

In these testing times, it seems construction companies with aspirations for growth or even survival must either expand their geographical horizons by looking outside Europe or more funda-mentally redress the downturn by diversi-fying their business model.

One route remains firmly within the confines of golf while the other seeks out new opportunities elsewhere. While the latter may encourage better business practices that can be logically translated to traditional golf projects, it could also have a longer term impact on the trade of golf course construction.

“We’re in a recession and golf course builders aren’t going to be exempt from it,” Pierson concludes. “The companies will survive because they’re flexible and can shed their staff quickly. The skills won’t be lost but the problem is the industry isn’t training new shapers who are sympathetic to golf. Unless you have the workload, how can you?”

While survival may be the order of the day, what cost could it have on the future of golf course construction? With no new blood coming in and those with experi-ence opting to ply their trades elsewhere, who will carry on the tradition of the golf course builder? GME

International Golf Contractors andConstruction Consultants

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Repton Short Course at Rudding ParkRoyal Birkdale, Royal St George’s

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BAGCC

John greasley limitedAshfield House, 1154 Melton Road, Syston, Leicester LE7 2HB

Telephone: 0116 269 6766 Fax: 0116 269 6866



la quinta golf

La Quinta’s 27 holes of magnificent golf were designed by Manolo Pinero and lie in a fertile valley bordered by the Sierra Blanc mountains and the Mediterranean Sea.

Each of the three nine-hole courses are similar in design with Campo A San Pedro being the longest loop with a more open aspect, Campo B Ronda the short-est, tightest and most beautiful, while Campo C Guadaiza – the latest addition – is a mixture of both. All are a good test of golf.

It was back in January this year that Troon Golf issued a press release notify-ing the golfing world that they had been appointed to manage the 20-year old La Quinta resort.

Scott Evans was appointed to the role of director general and Antonio Pineda as the golf course superintendent with former financial controller Jose Luis Gomez (pictured top right) assuming the role of club manager.

La Quinta is owned by the Pascual family and they see the collaboration with Troon Golf as a further opportunity to move the resort forward. Borja Pascual is on record as saying that following the recent construction of many new golf courses on the Costa del Sol, La Quinta has to differentiate itself from the other golf offerings.

He believes that Troon Golf is the perfect partner to achieve this.

Scott Evans initially arrived at the resort back in August 2008 and, during the intervening period up to December, prepared a detailed business plan with proposals to enhance the quality of serv-ice and maintenance of the golf course.

His track record is impressive, and he has held numerous management positions at golf clubs in Dubai and Europe includ-ing Bearwood Lakes in London. The proposals were agreed and accepted by the Pascual family and the management agreement with Troon Golf was signed.

The management of La Quinta Golf and Country Club in Spain, has been in the hands of Troon Golf since early this year. Kevin Marks visited the 27-hole, family owned

complex and spoke with two of the club’s recently appointed management team.

la Quinta keeps it in the family as Troon Golf

lends a helping hand

WEblinK; LAQUINTAGOLF.COM


“Our strategy is to provide a quality golf destination here on the Costa del Sol, with a superior maintained golf course and service levels comparable with the very best in the Troon Golf portfolio,” said Evans.

“That ethos is a contributing factor to why we will be closing the Campo C course for five months, after the European Seniors event in October, to enable us to upgrade and remodel the course and install a €2.5 million drainage and irrigation system.

Club manager Jose Luis Gomez added: “We are determined to provide the abso-lute best playing conditions on the Costa del Sol here at La Quinta and following consultations with Troon Golf, we have agreed a four-year renovation plan for the courses. This includes overhauling our irrigation system, upgrading all our machinery requirements and investing in the quality of all the courses.

“We have in excess of 55,000 rounds a year and encourage the golfers to use golf cars, whenever possible. This speeds up play and actually creates less compaction

than footfall, which is good for the course.As part of our drive for quality we have recently invested in a new fleet of golf cars, 80 in total, which are the very latest electric RXV models from E-Z-GO.

“They were supplied by Green Mowers, who have a service depot close by and their support has been first class; one of their representatives visits every two days to ensure that we have no issues.

“We also purchased a Refresher vehicle for the convenience of the golfers when playing the course.

“The carts are superb, especially the innovative braking system and the auto-matic battery filling, which reduces daily maintenance checks. Overall they are very good golf cars, competitively priced and ideal for contributing to the quality image at La Quinta.”

For the last 20 years, La Quinta has been synonymous with golf on the Costa del Sol. The Pascual family are obviously focussed on remaining the premier golf-ing destination in the region and their collaboration with Troon Golf signals their determination to do just this. GME

“We are determined to provide the absolute best playing conditions on the Costa del Sol here at

la Quinta and following consultations with Troon Golf, we have agreed a four-year

renovation plan for the courses.”

Construction Remodelling Water Features

Tel: 01604 468908Fax: 01604 474853www.deltagolf2000.co.uk

180 Ruskin Road, Kingsthorpe Northampton NN2 7TA

BAGCC


my view

Any golf course owner is unlikely to have experienced far more devastating threats to their livelihoods than Alistair and Julie Wannop, owners of Eden Golf Club, near Carlisle.

In the last decade, the couple have had to overcome a destructive bout of foot and mouth on their farm and an inunda-tion of the club in the 2005 floods, before the economy crashed last autumn.

So a little difficulty in the banking world was never likely to offer much of a threat. “Things went very quiet, very quickly at the start of the year,” says Julie.

“It was quite worrying, but not unex-pected. Confidence has picked up since though and the encouraging thing is that bookings for this time next year are way above what we expected.

“I think as the recession has worn on, people have looked round and thought: ‘Well, I’ve still got my job and I can still pay my mortgage, maybe things aren’t as bad as people are saying’.”

The couple acquired the course, in 1992, while farming a 1,000 acre swathe of land running beside the River Eden.

It had been developed by Newby Grange, which adjoins the club and was being run as a hotel at the time.

When the hotel business folded the Wannops, who had sold land for the golf venture to the hotelier, had the chance to take on the course themselves.

Encouraged by Alistair’s father, Bill, they took the plunge and re-developed the course extensively, opening the clubhouse in 1994 and later adding a driving range.

Their aim was to produce a champion-ship-level course, but more importantly a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.

“Right from the start we were deter-mined not to be stuffy, we always resisted things like interviews for membership,” says Alistair.

“I still believe that’s the right way to be and I think the atmosphere here vindi-cates that.

“We run the course, but it’s up to the members to produce the atmosphere. We try to help, but they are the one’s who really shape the feeling of the club.

“Thankfully we have a lovely, loyal bunch. The most satisfying part of the job is seeing friendships formed and business relationships develop.

“We see kids come in at five-years-old when they are just starting to swing a club and see them develop into adults, which is immensely rewarding.”

Recession might spread panic among traders at the London Stock Exchange but in Cumbria the reaction is rather more sanguine as Matthew legg of Cumbrian Newspapers reports.

floods, foot and Mouth and coping in a recession

WEblinK; EDENGOLF.CO.UK


The Wannops’ progressive approach doesn’t stop at the clubhouse door, as they have also implemented a continuing programme of renewal.

Most recently they took the bold step of spending close to £1 million on a new nine-hole course as well as creating a new marquee space for private and corporate events.

“When we said we were adding another nine holes a lot of people said, ‘Why?’, says Alistair. “But with a business like golf, you’re not just looking at overcoming the ups and downs of the economy short term, you’ve got to look at the long term and ensure you’ve got a good golf course in 20, 30, 40 years time.

“The new course is a lot more hilly and offers a totally different challenge. It’s not for everyone, but it adds to the package as a whole.

“The key to the business is flexibility; you have to be as flexible as you can about satisfying current trends, not being too stuffy and going with the times.

“The restaurant side, for example, has grown massively, with people coming to eat regularly who never go on the golf course. The other challenge for us is marketing to people outside the county.

“We have regular corporate visitors from Glasgow, Leeds, Newcastle and Liverpool, so we can’t just put an advert in The Cumberland News. The great thing is that those people do find us and come again and again; it shows Cumbria’s pull-ing power.

“They often use local restaurants, for a change of pace away from the course and the next step is to get them to stay in local hotels.”

The family-friendly course is a diversi-fication: “From grass to grass,” says Julie. But its future was seriously threatened in the floods of 2005.

The 18-hole course was under water and left littered with trees, debris and silt. So many trees had been washed down from elsewhere that the machine hired to chop them up worked for six weeks.

The clubhouse, where work on the men’s changing rooms had just been completed, had also been under two-and-a-half feet of water and though the interi-or open brick walls were fine, everything

else: wooden floors and panelling, carpets, and furniture, had to be stripped out and replaced.

It was a blow made more painful by being the second disaster to hit the Wannops in fewer than four years.

On March 19, 2001, shortly after one of their cows had become the top yielding milker in the country, foot and mouth struck. “The cow’s photograph was taken for the paper and a week later it was in the pit with the rest of the herd,” said Julie. “Calves were being born and shot the same day. Alistair and I feel deeply for our animals and we were absolutely devastated.”

Family and staff had rallied round and Julie and Alistair quickly learned a lot about crisis management.

“We couldn’t turn back the clock,” says Julie. “Instead we had to focus on moving on and ensuring the animals were destroyed with the least possible stress.”

It had been tempting, once the sheds were empty, not to go back into farming, especially at a time of sliding milk prices, unsympathetic politicians, and a general decline in agriculture. But the couple’s passion for the job had remained, said Julie, and they also wanted to keep going for the sake of their staff, who had been so supportive.

When the floods struck, just as the plans for the nine-hole course were taking shape, the couple were too busy to ask “Why us again?”, says Julie. “But if some-thing bad happened a third time I certain-ly would!”

After the first few days in shock, the couple set themselves (and met) the target of having the course and clubhouse fully open again in time for the captain’s drive-in on March 19, 2005 – ironically the fourth anniversary of the farm being taken out by foot and mouth.

The course is in the best shape of its life now, and half of the greens have been reconstructed to USPGA standard.

A typically varied summer has done nothing to keep the faithful away from the fairways and the marquee side of the business is growing at a rapid rate.

If golf can be used as a barometer for the state of the economy, then the Wannop’s are in decent shape. GME

“Right from the start we were determined not to

be stuffy, we always resisted things like

interviews for member-ship. i still believe that’s the right way to be and i think the atmosphere here vindicates that.”

ring 01235 527111 website: golfbuggyspares.co.uk

Parts and Accessories


the last word

I’m at that stage in my life where everything good that happens to me seems to be tarnished in some way.

Take for instance the gift of a luxuri-ous 2010 Blacktee padded desk diary which turned up unexpectedly on my desk.

While most golfers would be delight-ed with such a gift I found myself star-ing at its cover is if the Grim Reaper itself were staring back out at me. Not surprisingly, for a 2010 diary, it had the legend 2010 emblazoned on the front cover.

And that was the problem: 2010 meant I would be 47 before the diary was consigned to the bin. Last month I was 20 – or so it seems.

Where have all the intervening years gone?

My wardrobe hasn’t changed drasti-cally – or so the kids take great pleas-ure in pointing out. And the handicap hasn’t reduced much either.

My beloved, I noticed, had already scrawled ‘sort out pension’ on the page allocated to January 1, 2010 – subtlety being her middle name.

I had always eschewed pension schemes – except where my employer put in the money – on the basis that it was far too early to worry about such things. Now I wake up and discover it’s far too late and I’ll probably have to continue writing for a living until I’m 112.

And, let’s be honest, it’s difficult enough to persuade people to pay me for this rubbish when I’m 46, let alone a dribbling wreck of advanced years. But this is where golf is going to help.

I’ve decided to make more of an effort to get out on the course. Golf will be my exercise; golf will keep me young; golf will be the catalyst for life beginning at 47...

In truth golf will always be my Rebecca Towers: the 15-year-old temptress who lured me in with the expectation of a lifelong love affair only to be dumped when she discov-ered my music taste was apparently that of a high-handicapper – The Buzzcocks to her Kate Bush.

Ironically Rebecca Wilson (nee Towers) is now a pensions’ administra-tor, which just makes me feel even worse.

Let’s face it, if the mere sight of a diary can send me into apoplexy about my impending dotage the chances of my golfing skills acting as a gust of life’s second wind are as likely as Scotland being the most visited destination for US tourists in 2009. GME

Golf to be my salvation as time catches up with me

“i’ve decided to make more of an effort to get out on the course. Golf will be my exercise; golf will keep me young; golf will be the catalyst for life beginning at 47...”

david [email protected]

(44) 01394 380800 | ppcgolf.com

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