The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association and Jacobsen have announced the delegates of the FTMI 2025 Future Turf Managers Initiative, a training programme to help talented greenkeeper candidates progress towards head greenkeeper and course manager roles.
FTMI is a hybrid programme of online and in-person education and mentoring. The 2025/2026 schedule begins with face-to-face training at Jacobsen HQ in Ipswich this September, followed by further sessions online during October, November and December. The course concludes with two and a half days of learning at BTME in Harrogate in January 2026.
The initiative is designed to give the participants an insight into management skills that they will need as they progress through the ranks in their careers. Topics covered include presentation skills, communication, time management, interview skills, CV writing, stress awareness, budgeting and leadership.
The FTMI Class of 2025 includes the following greenkeepers:
Callum Atkinson – first assistant greenkeeper, The Wilmslow Golf Club
Tod Bannerman – senior greenkeeper, Taymouth Castle Golf Club
Patrick Brown – senior greenkeeper and spray technician, Fulwell Golf Club
George Edwards – deputy head greenkeeper, Walton Heath Golf Club
Alistair Hogg – senior greenkeeper, A&M Fife Golf Club
Alex Hudson – assistant greenkeeper, Sharpley Golf Club
Chris Keeler – deputy course manager, Prestbury Golf Club
Ronan Latham – senior greenkeeper, JCB Golf & Country Club
Toby Long – first assistant greenkeeper, Broadstone Golf Club
Carl Moore – deputy head greenkeeper, Kings Norton Golf Club
William Moore – assistant course manager, Kilworth Springs Golf Club
Euan Polson – first assistant greenkeeper, Royal Aberdeen Golf Club
Phillip Shields – first assistant greenkeeper, The Blackwood Golf Club
Greg Smith – first assistant greenkeeper, The Berkshire Golf Club
John Thornton – irrigation technician, Copt Heath Golf Club
Delegates are assigned to mentor groups throughout the programme. The mentors for this year are all previous FTMI graduates and are course managers Leigh Powell (Windlesham), James Parker (Machrihanish Dunes) and Ben Williams (Royal Cinque Ports).
BIGGA CEO, Jim Croxton, said: “It’s always a thrill to learn of the successful delegates for the Future Turf Managers Initiative as the developmental opportunities they receive and the chance to become an FTMI graduate can turbo-charge careers. I look forward keenly to seeing how the Class of 2025 develop and to meeting them all at Jacobsen HQ in September. We remain hugely grateful to Textron for supporting this amazing initiative for BIGGA members”.
Nicole Burn, Brand Marketing Director at Jacobsen, said: “We’re proud to support the Future Turf Managers Initiative in partnership with BIGGA. Investing in the development of future leaders in turf management is essential to the growth and sustainability of our industry, and we’re honoured to play a role in that journey”.