ICL Continue to Learn Scholarship

"I'm over the moon to be selected for the ICL Continue to Learn Scholarship. I haven't been to BTME for a few years, so to be attending as well as gaining 15 hours of education is a great opportunity to progress my career. I'm very grateful to have been chosen.

"Continue to Learn is important for all greenkeepers in whatever roles or positions who are keen to push their careers. Whether gaining knowledge or refreshing ideas, there are a variety of classes, workshops and seminars to choose from with top speakers presenting. 

"I hope to gain new skills and the knowledge to progress and prepare for a course manager role in future. Having been a deputy for a few years now, I know my eventual next move will be a big one and I aim to be as prepared as possible for it."

"I am very grateful to be chosen for this fantastic opportunity as it will allow me to progress and develop my career. I see this as a very positive step and one that will help me become a more established greenkeeper. 

"I believe having events like this is a great way of networking and seeing old friends but also a great way to make new friends. Everyone is there for a reason and that is to help each other become a better greenkeeper, which is so important to the growth and development of this industry.

"I am only 21 and very keen to learn more and get more involved in the industry. Although I am still young and have a lot to learn, I want to one day be in charge of a golf course. I'm really keen to continue to learn and always better myself in the industry so this opportunity would help me along massively to reach my goals."

Coming into greenkeeper later in my working life, I am keen to educate myself slowly but surely to the highest possible levels so that I can propel my career.

What I have discovered so far is that greenkeeping can be quite a solitary existence and I think it is vital for occasions such as BTME and Continue to Learn to act as vehicles to bring colleagues together to promote camaraderie as well as pushing the concept of continuing professional development to the fore of our thinking.

As greenkeepers, if we all keep learning then the whole industry benefits as the paying public will be attracted to better quality and cared for golf courses.

It's a simple fact that knowledge is power! All head greenkeepers and course managers have stood the trials and battles of the uneducated. Attending classes allows people to hear previous triumphs of those who we aspire to be. Not only do we get to hear what they achieved, but we learn how they did it!

I attended a class directed by Kevin Fish at BTME 2022 called Step-by-step: Writing a strategic plan and I realised that without shared experiences, triumphs and failures, there can be no progression. Continue to Learn allows those of us who have a passion for the job to gain valuable knowledge and advice so we can brace ourselves for the time when we ‘take the reins’.

Continue to Learn is very important to the industry as it is a place to learn and grow as a greenkeeper. It plays host to so many different things such as seminars, workshops, shows and award ceremonies for many categories like FTMI, Master Greenkeepers and environmental awards, to name a few. 

The knowledge and experience gained from going is second to none and everyone throughout the industry knows it is our biggest calendar event. BTME and Continue to Learn are a chance to meet new people and see what exciting new things are coming for the industry, with all companies present to represent themselves.

Continue to Learn and BTME is an extremely important cog in our industry. I love that each year we are supplied with an amazing trade show with informative and educational classes, many of which are free of charge. I feel this is where our industry differs from others. It is not just all about purchasing from one of the many vendors and I feel BIGGA cares for us as individuals and clearly wants us to enjoy our time at the show and most importantly progress our careers forward.

Having been in this industry for a number of years, I see BTME as a way for greenkeepers to get away from their clubs for a few days, making them feel appreciated for all their hard work and dedication during the past year.

As we all know, greenkeeping is normally quite a guarded subject between clubs. However, over a four-day period during January this all changes. Friends sit and speak about matters over a pint or two and new friendships are formed. The moods are happy, mental health struggles are shared and there is an excited buzz in the atmosphere, for the rapidly approaching season.

Continue to Learn opens you up to other ways of working, management, tools, methods and education, let alone networking and meeting others you would otherwise never get to meet.

Continue to Learn will help me educate myself further and provide skills that I can use to further my career. I'm a big believer in sharing information and knowledge and everything I would learn from attending Continue to Learn at BTME, I would share with the other staff at the club. Whenever we go away for events or courses, we normally give a small presentation to the rest of the team upon returning and so all that I learn at Continue to Learn, I will pass onto others at work and in my network.