Dear Industry Colleague

Our lead article this week focuses on Richings Park, near Heathrow. It is a very well run facility, maximising its potential in a highly competitive area. Carl Lindsay, who runs the complex, has created a number of additional membership categories so that junior golfers can move seamlessly into adult players across a 12 year period with a gradually increasing subscription as they get nearer to 30. This is a brilliant idea and whilst it makes the details of club membership a little more complex, it is just the right sort of incentive to encourage young people to keep playing golf. He has also introduced a helicopter landing area to the side of his golf range - this adds both glamour and cash to the proceedings at Richings Park.

As the clocks change and the nights overtake the days, we all turn ourselves towards the events coming up over the winter period. With so much happening in golf at present, it is vital to keep abreast of current trends in management, education, equipment and machinery, chemicals, techniques and gossip. There is no better opportunity to do this than at the BTME show at Harrogate (21st-23rd January 2020) ably run by BIGGA, and an absolute must-attend event for anyone considering equipment purchases or keen to keep up-to-date with everything to do with course conditioning. All greenkeepers should enrol in some of the courses as it is the perfect way to keep up to speed with the latest trends and techniques. Course operators cannot afford not to be up to speed on their understanding too. Catching up with old friends and new is very pleasant, but also incredibly useful. Swapping notes and sharing ideas only makes for better golf courses. . 

Best wishes, Colin Jenkins