BTME 2019 runs from Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 January and is hosted by the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association. But who is BIGGA and how does the association help improve working conditions for the UK’s golf greenkeepers?
Formed in 1987, BIGGA is Europe’s largest membership greenkeeping association and works tirelessly to elevate the profession of greenkeeping by providing extensive educational opportunities and working to develop the reputation of the profession among golfers and other parts of the golf and turf industries.
This progress owes a huge debt to the dedication of countless BIGGA members who have contributed voluntarily through committee work and support of BIGGA activity.
BIGGA comprises a network of almost 6,000 greenkeepers and turf professionals who come together for education and networking, including volunteering opportunities at many of the largest professional events within golf. Each year volunteer support teams help out at The Open and BMW PGA Championship and you’ll find BIGGA members volunteering at many of the game’s other major events, such as the Ryder Cup and Ladies’ British Open.
Soon after the formation of BIGGA, it was understood that there was a desire among the companies involved within the industry to have a platform where they could network with the association’s members on a face-to-face basis. The first BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition was held in Harrogate in 1989 and it’s been held in the North Yorkshire spa town ever since.
A latter development was the addition of the Continue to Learn education programme, which is now a key part of BTME. The programme attracts over 1,000 greenkeepers each year and ensures that the exhibiting companies have an engaged and educated audience to interact with.
The association provides a unified voice for the greenkeeping profession and communicates widely through a number of channels, including the monthly magazine Greenkeeper International and Your Course, a twice-yearly magazine that informs golfers about the methods greenkeepers utilise to create a modern-day course.
BIGGA also works closely alongside golf’s governing bodies, supporting groups such as The R&A, PGA and GCMA to achieve their ambitions and create a strong and secure future for the game.
If you’re interested in joining BIGGA, or perhaps you’d like to explore ways in which you can support the association in its aims, head to www.bigga.org.uk