Every January thousands of greenkeepers, course managers and other golf industry professionals descend on Harrogate for the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) – described as “Europe’s leading showcase for turf professionals and buyers”. The GCMA was well represented as ever, exhibiting in one of the main halls, and delivering various educational activities over the week.
Despite the snow that fell heavily on Tuesday evening, according to BIGGA “a total of 4,692 visitors also attended the three days of the exhibition at the Harrogate International Centre with the halls particularly busy on the first day.”
GCMA CEO Bob Williams was particularly satisfied with the event:
BTME is always an important week for the GCMA, and the 2015 event was a real success for us. Our education programme was well attended, and it was great for us to see a real mix of people on our Introduction to Golf Club Management course, with greenkeepers, PGA professionals, and golf club managers – both serving and aspiring – working together over the three days.
The exhibition offers tremendous networking opportunities, so as well as exhibiting in the main hall to help raise a wider awareness of the association, the GCMA team had a number of meetings throughout the week and it’s always great to catch up with our industry colleagues. It was particularly satisfying to sign a contract to extend our successful educational sponsorship agreement with Toro and Lely (below).
Thanks to Jim Croxton, Sami Strutt and everyone at BIGGA for their excellent organisation and hospitality, and we look forward to returning next year!
Thanks to Emma Clifford and Megan Bibby (the current and a former GCMA Manager of the Year!) who looked after the GCMA stand all week, Regional Secretaries Howard Williams and John Edgington who also helped out over the week, and our presenters on the training course and our educational seminars.
You can find out more about BTME here, and click here to view a gallery of images from the event.
By Mike Hyde
