As the industry faces a national shortage of greenkeepers, Simon Olver discusses inspiring the next generation to work in golf
Recruitment and retention are huge talking points in the greenkeeping world right now as we face a large number of vacancies nationally, brought on by skilled greenkeepers leaving the industry and a slow-down in the number of people joining the workforce.
I’ve talked recently about the need for golf clubs to improve conditions and pay, so this month I want to focus on recruitment. It is a big focus for the industry and the British and International Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) in the years ahead, and was a big part of the Turf Management Exhibition in Harrogate this year.
There, BIGGA announced a new partnership with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, which will see BIGGA present First Green STEM education programmes in the UK.
Founded in 1997, First Green uses golf courses as learning labs. It has proved incredibly successful in the States, with superintendents now working at some of the country’s best courses, having had their first interaction with golf through the programme.
I’m excited to learn more about First Green as the roll-out begins. Inspiring youngsters, and showing them that you can have a varied and fulfilling career in greenkeeping – whether starting out through work placements and apprenticeships or college courses – is vital. They can then go on to work around the world, study at university, and enjoy a long career.
Engaging with young people, through schools and careers advice, is essential to growing the pool of greenkeepers nationally.
When I started at Dunstanburgh, I was a keen golfer. Like so many who start out this way, I didn’t know anything about greenkeeping, I was just a young lad working at my home club. As kids, and their parents, want to see what careers look like and where they can lead long-term before they start out, we have to show them while they’re at school.
It’s important we, as an industry – from clubs and management to greenkeepers, engage with BIGGA on this programme. We need to welcome youngsters to our clubs, engage with them, and extol the benefits of this rewarding profession and how it can lead to a long and fulfilling career. With that will come work placements and apprenticeships. It will also lead to more people wanting to study at college.
In 2022, BIGGA’s national survey found that 53% of golf facilities had vacancies, and 84% of clubs said they struggle to recruit greenkeepers. We must replenish the pool of young, keen people who want to work outside and learn. First Green is a great first step to doing that.
