Moortown Golf Club provided a wonderful setting for delegates of the latest AMP Certificate.
The Advanced Management Programme Certificate in Golf Course Management for Golf Club Managers afforded delegates an insight into the world of greenkeeping and agronomy.
Hosted at Moortown Golf Club, the stage for the first Ryder Cup to be played on British soil in 1929, the course consisted of classroom learning and the opportunity to get hands-on out on the course.
Lead trainer Phil Helmn, Programme Leader for Agronomy, Leadership, and Management at the Bernhard Academy, was joined by Moortown Course Manager Steve Robinson as attendees were introduced to a range of key agronomic principles, as well as sampling some of the equipment and greenkeeping practices used to measure success and health on the golf course.
The three-day course received a 98% satisfaction rating, with Strathaven Golf Club General Manager Paul Hubner emphatically underlining the value it provided to him.
“This was an incredibly valuable three days of education and fun,” he said. “I can now return to my club with confidence and a depth of knowledge on agronomy, budgeting, and sustainability that simply wasn’t anywhere near this level prior to attending the course.
“The speakers were engaging and fun, turning what potentially could be a dull topic into something fun and educational. I would highly recommend attending GCMA courses in general.”
The group also learned about greenkeeping finances and financial planning, with Master Greenkeeper Phil delivering a fascinating presentation, sharing various approaches to greenkeeping budgeting, along with unique insights from his own career.
Delegates then debated the advantages and disadvantages of different budgeting styles, gaining a much clearer understanding of budgeting for golf course operations.
Phil continued by leading the group through the complex topic of capital expenditure on golf courses. This was followed by an in-depth workshop on golf course machinery, covering machinery replacement planning, purchasing options, and leasing alternatives.
Following a lunch which afforded plentiful opportunity for networking, the group reconvened to discuss machinery depreciation, asset management, and tracking. Emphasis was placed on the value of data in making informed decisions regarding future capital purchases and golf course development projects.
Summarising a memorable three days of learning, Phil said: “It’s been an absolute treat to talk to and meet a lot of Club Managers and just be able to explain a little bit about the foibles of course management and what a Course Manager has to go through.
“There are an awful lot of similarities between Course Managers and Club Managers. It’s a lonely role, as it is also sometimes for the Club Manager, but to be able to build that support and that opportunity for the two parties to be able to work together as a team is going to be so much more powerful for the club, and for the club’s benefit.”
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