The greenkeeping industry could be heading for crisis with a third of staff looking to leave, a major study has revealed.
Just days after Gordon McKie, the course superintendent at the Old Course, described the Open as an opportunity to “showcase greenkeeping to the world”, the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has issued a stark warning to the sector.
A study, which garnered responses from 1,300 BIGGA members across the UK, found 35% of greenkeepers are currently looking for work away from golf.
• Paul Lawrie to hit opening tee shot at Open
• Jack Nicklaus addresses Greg Norman furore
Set against a backdrop of difficulties with recruitment and staff retention, the survey found 53% of teams are running at less than full strength while more than 83% admitted they struggle to recruit new workers.
Generally, staff numbers have increased since the post-coronavirus golf boom, with clubs employing one extra full-time greenkeeper on average than in 2019.
However, BIGGA has expressed concerns that it has not been backed up with improvements in facilities, with one in five clubs still not offering single-sex changing or toilet facilities for female employees and nearly half not offering internet connectivity in greenkeeping facilities despite increasing reliance on technology.
…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Bunkered – Latest Headlines…