Essential course maintenance trends you need to know today

According to Met Office figures, the UK has just come out of the sixth wettest spring on record, and the wettest since 1986.

Following an already wet winter, it’s put course managers up and down the country on the backfoot, especially when customers are lining up to tee off with high expectations of perfect fairways and greens rolling true.

With these short term pressures facing golf course businesses, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. So we’ve compiled five essential need-to-know trends to keep you up to date:

1. Growing importance of sustainable actions

Golf courses are coming under increasing pressure from environmentalists and sections of the wider public for their use of water, occupation of land and perceived lack of benefit to nature. 

This year and beyond, the onus on golf course businesses to put sustainability high on their agenda will continue, with a need to be more sparing with inputs, water use and look for new ways to encourage nature and biodiversity. 

While course managers around the UK are already engaged in these efforts, there’s a growing need to communicate the positive steps being taken, and the amazing value golf offers in protecting and enhancing biodiversity – particularly in areas impacted by farming and urban sprawl – to counteract negative perceptions from the wider public.

2. Costs continue to rise

Supply chain and price volatility is nothing new, but indications are that costs of machinery, spare parts and inputs will continue to rise this year, putting pressure on budgets and impacting larger scale investment projects.

3. More frequent play, week-round

The onset of the pandemic prompted a seismic shift in working patterns which, evidence suggests, is here to stay. For office workers, being freed from the daily commute means midweek golf has become the norm and experts suggest that isn’t going away anytime soon. So expect to see (and prepare for) a busier golf course – all week round this summer.

4. Technology helping to save time and money

Massive leaps in technology are seeing a number of courses and resorts invest in highly capable machinery.

At an increasing number of courses across Europe and North America, autonomous mowers are employed to streamline tasks, aid consistency and free up vital time for greenkeeping teams to focus on the finer aspects of course maintenance and preparation. Look out for these innovations becoming more widespread.

5. Industry risks losing greenkeeping talent

A survey by BIGGA in 2022 revealed over a third of UK greenkeepers were considering a future outside of the industry. A tumultuous few years, which led some courses to furlough or lay off staff during the pandemic, followed by an unprecedented surge in play, has contributed to a difficult environment for recruitment and retention. 

More recently, an increasing cost base together with rampant inflation is challenging golf course businesses to pay more to retain their greenkeeping talent. The same survey from BIGGA highlighted that over half of greenkeeping teams were running at less than full strength. Increasing pressures may prompt a rethink by golf clubs in how they better value, equip and empower these key team members.

According to Met Office figures, the UK has just come out of the sixth wettest spring on record, and the wettest since 1986.

Following an already wet winter, it’s put course managers up and down the country on the backfoot, especially when customers are lining up to tee off with high expectations of perfect fairways and greens rolling true.

For more information on our course maintenance services and how we help golf clubs and multi-course operators deliver improved course conditions, enhanced sustainability and long-term growth, get in touch.