Golf Business News – Bigga urges all golfers to support our driest springs with our green guards in 70 years
The UK and International Golf Green Administrators Association (BIGGA) calls on golf clubs and golfers across the UK to support its members as we face our driest spring decades.
Spring 2025 brings a sharp contrast after some of the recent winters are very wet. According to the Metropolitan Office, rainfall has been in a historic downturn in many areas. Wales recorded the driest parade since 1944, while East Anglia experienced its second largest parade. With little improvement in May, the green administrators are under great pressure to keep the surface under growing turf pressure.
David Byron, a green sanitator at Thorndon Park Golf Club, said at Green Park Golf Club in Essex (pictured): “It's very, very dry. It's the driest start in nearly 70 years. We hardly rained, and we only had one blow.
“On our fairways, we have about 3–4% moisture. Usually, you need 10 to 15% moisture.”
These conditions face significant challenges in turf restoration and maintenance. Areas without irrigation, such as fairways, are suffering, while the team is trying to protect the green and green green with limited water resources.
Richard Johnstone, course manager at Royal Aberdeen, said he recorded only 11mm of rain between April and early May: “We experienced extreme weather patterns. It was no longer balanced. Instead, we saw rain at one extreme or the other, either constantly pouring rain or completely drought.
“It doesn’t seem like there is too much consistency anymore, which brings some huge challenges.”
Paul Woodham, an agronomic leader at R&A, noted that warm days combined with cold nights, seasonal growth disrupts, causing grass pressure and delaying the recovery of winter injuries.
Clubs are encouraged to communicate publicly with members and share insights on current situations and course management strategies. Transparent engagement and social media updates are key tools for fostering support.
“Our advice to the club is to have a professional conversation with your course manager, set agreed goals, and provide public support to your team of green administrators,” said Jim Croxton, CEO of Bigga.
“They will be more aggressive with the strong support of their members and are determined to overcome these challenges.”
“As a curriculum manager, communication and education are our responsibility,” Johnstone said. “We need to use various channels such as social media, blogs and other platforms to help people understand the current situation and our management approach.”
• For more details, click here
