A delegation of 13 of Icelandic greenkeepers and turf technicians came together in Reykjavik last month for a training initiative delivered by the Bernhard Academy, marking a continued investment into professional development for the country’s turf care sector.
The three-day programme was hosted at GKG Golf Club and led by the club’s greenkeeping team, Course Manager Guðmundur Árni Gunnarsson and Head Greenkeeper Kate Stillwell, who recognised a gap in access to specialist technical education across Iceland.
By bringing together representatives from multiple facilities, the programme ensured that knowledge gained would extend well beyond a single venue, strengthening standards across Iceland’s turf care community.
Delivered by Barry Drennan, Programme Leader for Equipment and Technical Management at the Bernhard Academy, the initiative focused on bridging the gap between day-to-day course maintenance and advanced engineering expertise. Over three days, delegates undertook a mix of technical learning and hands-on application, working directly with machinery used in Iceland’s unique operating conditions and logistical challenges.
The programme covered key aspects of modern turf management, from precision spraying and machinery diagnostics to advanced cutting unit set-up and long-term fleet maintenance strategies, equipping attendees with practical skills designed to improve both performance and efficiency back at their home clubs.
Stillwell said the initiative was about creating access where it has traditionally been limited, and following progress TETO has already made over the years: “This training has been a great opportunity for Icelandic greenkeepers and mechanics. Our goal was to bring everyone together to provide access and hands-on guidance that is usually hard to come by. The feedback from the 13 delegates has been very positive. It’s clear that by coordinating this as a group with SIGI (The Icelandic Greenkeeping association) and supplier, Toro Iceland, this was a worthwhile investment in our greenkeepers and turf technicians. This training was about them.”
For the Bernhard Academy, the programme reflects on its wider mission to make high-quality technical education accessible to turf professionals around the world.
Drennan added: “It was a privilege to deliver this program in Reykjavik. The initiative Kate showed in coordinating greenkeepers from all over Iceland is what made this so successful. Access to specialised training can be limited there, so being able to bring this education directly to a motivated group of professionals is exactly what the Bernhard Academy is designed to do.”
The initiative highlights the growing importance of collaboration in raising industry standards, with Iceland’s turf care professionals demonstrating how a collaborative approach to training can deliver benefits on a national scale.
To learn more about the Bernhard Academy and its educational offering, visit www.bernhardacademy.co.uk