gmé | issuu 53

from russia with gloves Although not famed for its golfing pedigree,

golf in Moscow is set to flourish with ten newcourses being demanded by the city’s Mayor,

Yuri Luzhkov, in the next ten years.

The leading business magazine for the pan-European golf industry

GolfGolfManagementE u ro p e page 14

March 2007www.portman.uk.com

UK £5.00 Eur €7.50US $9.75

Built to Last...Ransomes celebrate 175 years of Mowing Excellence sincethe world’s first ‘Budding’ grass cutting machine of 1832.

Contents

Members of the British Association of Golf Course Constructors (BAGCC) havecontacted us here at GME to express disillusionment over their professionalorganisation. The BAGCC has drifted along with insufficient direction for too

long now, and the industry as a whole, and an increasing number of membersare apathetic about the organisation and its merits.

In contrast, the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA) hasprospered since forming – and dropping the word ‘British’. Admittedly,there are fewer contractors than architects, but the two bodies aresymbiotic.

The change in the architects’ association was not, initially, univer-sally popular and one or two well-known architects refused tosign up - but progress is never without its critics.

Now is the time surely for the constructors’ organisation tofollow suit. This would help attract not only contractors fromoutside the UK, but also indicate to golf clubs throughoutEurope that the association is a truly European body.

Let’s use the name of the Golf Course Constructors ofEurope (GCCE) as a working title. The name is not toodissimilar to the US equivalent – The Golf Course BuildersAssociation of America (GCBAA) – which would not be abad thing. This is the 21st century and not the time tobe parochial. If the industry is to compete on the worldstage it needs to be seen to be a powerful representa-tive body and not just golf’s equivalent of a parishcouncil committee.

The difference between the GCBAA and its currentBritish counterpart is striking. The US-based grouphas professionally produced literature to hand out toprospective clients, but more significantly, they hada presence at their trade show – yet it’s been sometime since the BAGCC showed its face at Harrogate,let alone Munich. If the association fails to promote itself, how aremembers ever going to get value for money?

Cocktail functions are all very well for a bit ofmutual back-slapping and blowing smoke up eachother’s digging implements; but what impact doesit have on members’ balance sheets? Only a nega-tive in terms of fees we would suggest.The phrase “Now is the time for all good men tocome to the aid of the party” was devised to test thespeed of a typewriter. Now we believe it is symbolic

of the need to test the strength of feeling within theindustry.

It’s time forfresh thinking atthe BAGCC

issue 53credits;editorJohn Vinicombe

contributorsDavid BowersNeville JohnsonPete SimmRob Wright

publisherMichael Lenihan

administrationSharon O’Connell

printColourspeed

Golf Management EuropeDeben HouseMain RoadMartleshamWoodbridge IP12 4SEUnited Kingdom

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Whilst due care to detail is takento ensure that the content of GMEis accurate, the publisher cannotaccept liability for errors.

© Portman Publishing andCommunications Ltd 2007

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conwy golf club 23

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Golf Management Europe March 2007

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News

March 2007 Golf Management Europe

Lead StoryProLink Solutions – the wholly-ownedsubsidiary of ProLink Holdings Corp and aleading provider of GPS golf coursemanagement systems and on-courseadvertising – has announced that it hassigned a letter of intent to acquire itslargest distributor, European-basedElumina Iberica, and all of Elumina’soperating subsidiaries.

As ProLink’s distributor in Europe, theMiddle East and Asia, Elumina hassecured cart-mounted ProLink GPS instal-lations at over 70 courses in these terri-tories, as well as on-screen advertisingcontracts with Saab, Lexus, Bose andCitroën, among others.

The Elumina acquisition is anticipatedto close in the second quarter, althoughthere can be no assurances that thistransaction will close on this timeline orat all.

The acquisition is subject to the sign-ing of a definitive purchase agreement,audits for required reporting periods,completion of due diligence, and variousregulatory and shareholder approvals.

The Founders of Elumina, Mark Smartand Kevin Clarke, have agreed to multi-year employment contracts to continuegrowing the Elumina/ProLink brandthroughout Elumina’s current distributionterritories.

“The combination of the two business-es will add to ProLink’s already explosivegrowth over $10 million in top linerevenue on a proforma 2006 basis as wellas over $3 million of EBITDA,” saysLawrence D. Bain, CEO of ProLinkSolutions.

“The strong system and advertisingpipeline in 2007 makes the Eluminaacquisition exciting for ProLink and itspartners, as the company continues togain even more traction in the interna-tional landscape.

“ProLink will have an on-the-groundpresence in the UK, Spain and Francewith the remainder of Europe and Asiacovered by those offices. In 2007,Elumina will leverage their presence innew territories such as Australia, China,Italy and Germany.”

ProLink signs letter of intentto acquire Elumina Iberica

Montenegroset to develop

The Vitala Group has agreed in princi-ple with Limon Investments BV of theNetherlands to acquire land sites inMontenegro and to finance the first golfcourses to be built there.

A number of locations are currentlybeing evaluated and an acquisition strat-egy is in progress. Each project invest-ment will range from US$28-65 million.

A Suffolk golf course owner was ‘namedand shamed’ by his local paper as part ofan anti-drink-drive campaign.

Anthony Tyrell, 59, was banned fromdriving for 16 months, to be reduced byfour months on successful completion ofa drink-drive rehabilitation programme.

He was also fined £750 and ordered topay court costs of £60.

The Evening Star, Ipswich, reported howthe court heard that Tyrell, who ownsFynn Valley Golf Club, told a police officerhe was “useless and stupid” and should“catch real criminals” after being pulledover in the early hours one morning.

In mitigation, the court was told Tyrellhad miscalculated how much he had todrink following an evening meal.

PGA sign upin US as well

Jacobsen, the US sister company ofRansomes Jacobsen in the UK, hasreached a ten-year agreement with thePGA of America to serve as the officialturf equipment supplier to The PGA ofAmerica and exclusive turf equipmentsupplier to PGA Golf Properties.

This follows the signing of a similararrangement in the UK last year whichsaw the PGA sign a three-year agreementwith Ransomes Jacobsen to become theofficial supplier of turf care equipment.

Roger Warren, president of The PGA ofAmerica said: “For 85 years, Jacobsenhas demonstrated innovative break-throughs in equipment that cares for fineturf.

“As we renovate our golf courses at thePGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, andprepare Valhalla in Louisville, for the2008 Ryder Cup, Jacobsen turf equip-ment will play a key role in defining thelook of these marquee PGA properties.”

David Withers, md of RansomesJacobsen said: “Last year we announcedour agreement over here, and now thisnews has broken. To have official suppli-er status to the PGAs on both sides ofthe pond is a truly remarkable achieve-ment and demonstrates the huge stridesthat the Jacobsen brand is making in theworld of golf.”

Suffolk proprietor bannedand fined for drink driving


Scotts has launched Sierraform GT, which the company claims is the most powerfuland well-balanced fertilizer available for golf greens. It is the first golf green fertil-

izer to contain both slow-release nitrogen and slow-release potassium, which createsa unique dual effect. Nitrogen is delivered slowly, which means no growth spurts

after application and a plant that matures more evenly. The inclusion of potassiumensures a stronger plant which is more resilient to extreme stresses.

Scotts unveil Sierraform GT

Moors Valleygoes private

East Dorset District Council has decid-ed Moors Valley Golf Centre will bemanaged by a private contractor.

The golf course, located in the MoorsValley Country Park, near Ashley Heath,has been run by the council since it firstopened to the public in 1988.

However, club members have claimedsoaring green fees and council bookingrestrictions have threatened the viabilityof the business.

Bids have been invited from partiesinterested in running the golf course andan interview panel will be set up, toassess the bids and make a recommenda-tion for a course manager to the coun-cil’s policy and resources committee on apreferred bidder.

Chairman of the committee Derek Burtsaid: “It’s a very successful enterprise.There is a model railway, a shop, icecream and catering all run by otherpeople, but the time is now right forsomeone else to run the golf course.”

Spa opens at Ufford ParkBest Western Ufford Park Hotel Golf and Leisure near Woodbridge in Suffolk, has

launched a brand new health and spa facility at the venue. Ufford Park opened thedoors to its Thermal Suite celebrating with cocktails named after the different treat-ments available in the spa, which is open to guests at the hotel and all visitors.

News


Golf courses in Great Britain andIreland remain optimistic about theirfuture performance, despite participationrates in the sport remaining relativelystagnant.

According to the inaugural KPMG GolfBenchmark Survey which was recentlypublished, 87 per cent of the courses inGreat Britain and Ireland that respondedto the international survey rated theirfuture business prospects as either goodor excellent.

When comparing the operational andfinancial performance of golf coursesacross the EMA region however, it wascourses in the United Arab Emirates thatcame out on top. Average revenues atgolf courses in Dubai and the UAE arefour times greater than those in Portugal,the second top performer from the 27countries in the sample.

While the UAE has just 13 golf courses,growing demand from increasing numbersof expatriates and tourists, particularly inDubai, is fuelling rapid growth with atleast ten new courses planned or underconstruction.

Elsewhere, the Golf Benchmark Surveyreveals the number of golf courses andplayers in Eastern Europe has tripledsince 2000, with 68 courses and 23,000affiliated golfers in the Czech Republicalone.

In Northern Europe, lower prices haveboosted participation rates. More thanfive per cent of the total population inSweden and Iceland now play golf,resulting in a regional participation ratefive times greater than the rest ofEurope.

Meanwhile Spain tops the league forthe most expensive country to be amember of a golf club with average annu-al subscriptions of just under €3,000.

But the Middle East is proving to begolf’s international hot spot, with cours-es in the region averaging 45,000 roundsper year, compared to the 26,000 roundsplayed on courses in Great Britain andIreland, and profitability levels (average:45 per cent gross operating profit) farbeyond other courses in the sevenregions surveyed.

Andrea Sartori, head of KPMG’s TravelLeisure and Tourism Practice said: “It isencouraging to see that golf courseowners and operators in Great Britainand Ireland are positive on their futureoutlook.

“Golf remains an immensely popularsport in the region; however the highsupply of courses has resulted in a verycompetitive marketplace. Golfers in theUK and Ireland are becoming increasinglysophisticated in their demands and Ibelieve it will be the courses that adaptto cater for such needs that will ulti-mately succeed.

“There are now more than 7,000 golfcourses and 4.2 million registered golfersacross Europe, the Middle East and Africa.With increased life expectancy, improvedand cheaper air transport, health andfitness awareness as well as growth indisposable income and media coverage inemerging economies, golf is expected tofurther develop both in terms of demandand supply.”

The Golf Benchmark Survey providesessential performance indicators for golfcourse owners, operators and financiers,enabling them to compare their ownbusiness against high, average and lowperformers in their geographical market.

“What’s more, I believe the benchmarkindicators we have introduced willbecome standard measures in the inter-national golf business,” said Sartori.

Benchmark Survey optimisticabout the future for golf

Fota Island opts for E-Z-GOThe Fota Island Golf Resort has taken delivery of a fleet of 40 golf cars and two

shuttle vehicles from E-Z-GO. In November 2004, the Flemming Group purchased theFota Island Golf Club and has subsequently transformed it into an international resortwith a five-star hotel featuring 131 guest rooms, a 1,600 square metre spa with 17treatment rooms, a full-length swimming pool, hydro-pool, and walking river.

DonningtonGrove all setfor upgrade

Donnington Grove Country Club nearNewbury, Berkshire, is set to benefitfrom a significant investment to upgradeits clubhouse and hotel.

Featuring an 18-hole PGA EuropeanTour approved golf course designed byDave Thomas, Donnington Grove isamong leading travel operatorGolfbreaks.com’s top 20 destinations andis a favoured venue for group andcompany outings in the Thames Valleyand M4 corridor.

The clubhouse and hotel, part of astately home built in the 1760s, will nowbe upgraded with a new pro shop, 80-seat restaurant, spike bar, a large indoorgolf coaching and training facility, refur-bished men’s and women’s changingrooms, plus 40 additional hotelbedrooms.

Christopher Strong, general manager,said: “The new clubhouse means golfersand visitors will enjoy even better facili-ties at Donnington Grove.

“While we are already a popular desti-nation for golf breaks and group outings,this upgrade of the clubhouse willenhance the experience for visitors and,combined with our outstanding golfcourse, create one of the best golfvenues in the south of England.”

Faldo to workin Canada

Faldo Design has signed a contract tocreate an 18-hole championship courseand accompanying 18-hole par threecourse in Eastern Canada.

The course, which will be named ‘TheFortress’, is to be the centrepiece of theLouisbourg Resort Golf and Spa, a multi-million dollar development on CapeBreton Island in Nova Scotia.

Faldo Design has undertaken the proj-ect on behalf of CBI Developers.

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Ransomes JacobsenWest Road, Ransomes Europark

Ipswich IP3 9TT

Telephone: 01473 270000Facsimile: 01473 276300

www.ransomesjacobsen.com

Cover Story2007marks a major milestone in thegroundscare industry with RansomesJacobsen Ltd celebrating the 175thanniversary of mower production at itsfactory and worldwide headquarters inIpswich, Suffolk.

Edwin Budding’s historic lawnmowerdesign was patented in 1830 and JR&ARansome were the first company toobtain a licence to manufacture thisremarkable invention.

The first Ransomes-manufacturedmachine for domestic use was producedin 1832 and this signalled the beginningof commercial mower production in theUK.

Although the company no longerproduces domestic lawnmowers they areone of the leading commercial mowermanufacturers supplying equipment togolf courses, local authorities, landscapecontractors, sports clubs and majorsports stadia around the globe.

David Withers, managing director ofRansomes Jacobsen Ltd said: “This is ahugely significant milestone in the histo-ry of our company; from this small begin-ning we are now one of the leadinggrounds care machinery manufacturers inthe world.

“Ransomes mowers have been suppliedto monarchies and nobilities acrossEurope and Asia and the Ransomes name

has become a by-word for quality Britishengineering. Over the years the companyhas had its ups and downs, but today itis a vibrant market leader, with a modernmanufacturing plant providing employ-ment and career opportunities to thepeople of Ipswich.

“If you look at the groundscare manu-facturing industry today, you’ll find ahuge number of people who either begantheir careers in Ipswich or have workedfor the company and this has been thecase for decades.

“On a personal basis, I am delighted tobe heading a dynamic management teamat this significant moment in the compa-ny’s history and thank everyone, past andpresent, for their contribution,” conclud-ed Withers.

175 Years of MowingExcellence in Ipswich

COVER STORY

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News


Golf’s answer to Twenty20cricket tees off at Playgolf

Castle Courseat St Andrews

After a naming competition whichattracted more than 4,000 entries fromaround the world, the name of the newSt Andrews Links course will be theCastle Course.

The name reflects the history of theheadland to the south-east of StAndrews where Kinkell Castle once stoodin the middle ages.

Commenting on the name, AlastairDempster, chairman of Trustees, said: “Ingolfing terms this is a major decisionand an historic announcement.

“It is not every day that a new courseat St Andrews is named, and in selectingthe Castle Course as the name I think wehave made an excellent choice.”

Rare Gossip attracts interestGossip dating back over 140 years caused a stir in January when a very rare copy of

one of the most important books on early golf sold at Bonhams in Chester for £9,165.This signed first edition copy of Golfer: Historical Gossip about Golf and Golfers, dated1863 was the first anthology to be written on the sport. The book, which waspresented in a lined clamshell box, sold to a European private collector.

Accolade forMacKay

Kenny MacKay, director of golf coursesand grounds at The Belfry has beenappointed as vice chairman of BIGGA.

MacKay, 42, who lives in LeamingtonSpa and has worked as a greenkeeper forover 15 years, has worked at The Belfrysince November 2005. Previous to this hewas Marriott Group golf courses managerbased at the Forest of Arden.

MacKay’s role will be to support BIGGAchairman Billy McMillan in delivering thegroup’s activities for 2007, and then takeup the position of chairman for 2008.

“This title is a great honour for me andsomething I am extremely proud of,” saidMacKay. “I am extremely passionateabout what we do in the greenkeepingprofession and working for BIGGA willallow me to increase awareness of thisindustry and the professional reputationof golf greenkeepers.’’

PowerPlay Golf - a shorter, more excit-ing way to enjoy golf - has been hailed ahuge success at its worldwide launch,with some key figures in the sport claim-ing it could revolutionise the game.

Launched at Northwick Park by Playgolfplc, PowerPlay Golf uses two flags oneach green and rewards golfers who takeon the more difficult pin position - inessence a bold bid to create golf’s answerto Twenty20 cricket where aggressive andexciting play reaps dividends.

Some of golf’s leading figures wereamong the first golfers in the world totest the nine-hole format at NorthwickPark’s revolutionary golf complex, whichfeatures replicas of famous holes fromaround the world.

Playgolf director Peter McEvoy, formerWalker Cup captain, said: “PowerPlay Golfis a punchier, spiced-up version thatretains the values of golf but has excit-ing elements of risk and reward.

“In well under two hours you cancompete in an enjoyable golf event,involving a high degree of strategy andskill, and have lots of talking points forthe bar afterwards.

“I certainly don’t want to detract fromthe traditions of golf, but at the sametime we have to find new ways topromote golf that suits modern, busylifestyles.

“It has enormous TV potential withinthe professional game because tuckingflags away in difficult positions is evenmore appropriate for the skill level ofpros.”

PowerPlay Golf is played over a maxi-mum of nine holes, with two flags ineach green - one white, one black - withthe black flag representing the moredifficult pin position and a ‘PowerPlay’scoring opportunity.

At the start of a hole, players nominatewhich flag they are aiming for anddouble their Stableford score on ‘blackflag holes’ provided they score a netbirdie or better.

Golfers must play three PowerPlayholes during the round, with an optionalfourth ‘PowerPlay’ at a designated parthree hole which offers a special‘SuperPlay’ opportunity - a 30ft diametercircle around one black flag.

A player can elect to go for the circlefrom the tee and if he successfully landsinside, he gains an additional threebonus points. But if he misses, he losestwo points.

Playgolf chief executive, David Piggins,said: “Golf has to embrace the need toadapt to a modern lifestyle and Playgolfhave always had it in mind to fulfillmodern needs - hence our high-qualitysix hole course at Northwick Park.

“There is no reason why PowerPlay Golfcannot be embraced by any golf club tocreate a fast, exciting and interestingcompetition on their front or back nine,”continued Piggins.

“Our experience of staging the world’sfirst demonstration of PowerPlay Golf washugely positive. We are determined tolaunch it as a professional event and weare progressing talks to that end.”


A new joint venture, BGD-Nass, has been awarded a prestigious contract toconstruct the new Colin Montgomerie signature course at the Riffa Views project in

the Kingdom of Bahrain. The £6.2m award followed a competitive tender processinvolving four bids. Richard Browning, CEO of Riffa Golf and Residential DevelopmentCompany said: “The partnership brings a professional calibre that is essential for the

quality demanded by the Riffa Views project.”

Joint Venture in Bahrain

Geoff Horleydies aged 67

Geoff Horley, proprietor of The OaksGolf Club, Carshalton, Surrey, died lastmonth, at his home in Somerset after ashort illness. He was 67 years old.

He joined The Oaks as a teachingprofessional at the end of 1972, whenthe 18-hole course was still being built -it opened for play in July 1973 with theclubhouse completed later that year.

For a time Geoff also taught atEdenbridge, Cray Valley and Trent ParkGolf Courses, before taking over theprofessional’s shop at The Oaks in 1976.Shortly afterwards, he became a directorof Oaks Sports Centre and eventuallybought out the other directors to becomesole proprietor.

He continued to improve both thecourse and facilities until a serious fire inFebruary 2005 devastated the clubhouse,adjoining pro-shop and staff accommoda-tion.

Geoff is survived by his wife Donna andeight-year-old son Edward.

A new owner is being sought for a successful Lincolnshire golf course which hasbeen developed and operated for the last 14 years by a local farming family.

Laceby Manor Golf Club, just under five miles inland from Grimsby, is on the marketat a guide price of £775,000 through Savills Regional Leisure Team in Oxford. The golfcourse, designed by Dewar Wishart of the Sports Turf Research Institute, was expand-ed from nine holes to eighteen in 1996 and, in 2000, a second floor was added to theoriginal single storey clubhouse. The club currently has over 450 members.

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News


Online Teetimes Limited has startedphase one of the launch of its UK inter-net greenfee booking service - with anemail campaign to 300,000 golferspromoting tee times at its participantclubs.

With the aim of directly marketing teetimes to around 1.5 million golfers thisyear, OTL has set up more than a dozenpartnership agreements to use some ofthe country’s biggest databases of golfersto directly drive traffic to courses.

Pat Stanford, of Online Teetimes said:“The ability to push available tee timesto golfers is critical in helping clubsincrease their visitor green fee sales.

“Our database partnership agreementsmean we will eventually be reaching upto 500,000 golfers within weeks of ourofficial launch and up to 1.5 milliongolfers by the end of the summer.”

OTL currently has more than 70 clubsmaking tee times available through itsown zero per cent commission website,and this figure is expected to reach 200during the season.

The company sends weekly its ownemail broadcasts making golfers aware ofspecial offers, typically ‘distressed’ teetimes golf clubs have allowed OTL topromote to its golfer database.

And through partnerships with some ofthe UK’s biggest consumer-facing golfbusinesses - including American Golf -golfers will be able to book tee times onthese heavily-visited websites.

Added Pat Stanford: “Setting up anonline tee time booking service is easy -it is certainly not a technology issue. Butsuccessfully distributing tee times is aspecialist skill and this is where weexcel.

“A golf club has to be assured that itstee times are being made available to themaximum possible audience. A websitealone is not a powerful enough methodto drive green fee sales, which is why wework so hard at building databases ofgolfers we can email.

“At OTL we have a tee time distributionmodel that enables us to reach hugenumbers of golfers very quickly throughhighly-effective email marketing.”

The method saw OTL develop Ireland’slargest online green fee booking servicewhich has a history of delivering thou-sands of paid-for rounds of golf to clubsin the country.

Last year Ireland experienced a 35 percent year-on-year rise in online tee timebookings, with one club selling 1,400rounds online during the year.

Online Teetimes UK launchtargets 1.5 million golfers

Plans for a radical revamp of a Boltongolf club have been put before localcouncilors.

Officials have submitted an applicationto resite and remodel the existing RegentPark Golf Club, and have called on theservices of international golf architectDave Thomas.

The £800,000 revamp is expected totake between 18 and 24 months and thecourse will remain open throughout.

Bolton Council owns the land on whichthe course is built but Regent Park GolfClub is the long-term lease holder.

Managing director Robin Day said oneof the main reasons for the improve-ments was to resite the fourth, fifth andsixth holes which currently fall withinthe flood plain of the Middle Brook.

The area is often unplayable in heavyrain forcing staff to close the entire 18-hole course.

Dave Thomasplans a footin Bolton

Club Car renews relations Club Car has extended relationships that ensure its golf cars and utility vehicles will

continue to play important roles at The Ryder Cup and on the PGA European Tour. Club Car has entered into a new agreement with Ryder Cup Europe Ltd to remain the

Official Supplier of Golf Cars and Utility Vehicles to the 2010 Ryder Cup matches atCeltic Manor in Wales. Club Car will also continue to be the Official Golf Car and GolfUtility Vehicle and an Official Sponsor of the PGA European Tour. Both agreementswere signed at the recent PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.

Moor Park Golf Club has just complet-ed four years of bunker work on both oftheir Harry Colt designed golf courses,with a number of holes being updated.

The work was undertaken by Grassformin conjunction with course managerStuart Bertram, following consultationwith Martin Hawtree.

Chief executive Jon Moore said: “Therehas been a lot of hard work behind thescenes to bring the facilities up to par.We have also launched a ‘Meet n Golf’package, which we hope will appeal tobusiness people who need to organise ameeting and would like to finish theirday with a few holes of golf.”

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News


Colin Montgomerie has visited RiffaViews to take a look at the latest designproject he is designing in associationwith European Golf Design, the jointventure design company of The EuropeanTour and IMG.

Work is underway on the constructionof the 27-hole Riffa Views development,to include an 18-hole championshipcourse together with a 9-hole par 3course.

Both the par 3 course and the backnine of the championship course will befloodlit to allow night time play all yearround.

Montgomerie describes the course asbeing of “authentic links style withrolling fairways, revetted pot bunkersand large undulating greens.” Dramaticdesert landforms provide a stunningcanvas through which the highly strate-gic layout has been routed.

“This is a course that will reward intel-ligent, strategic play, from the first shotto the last,” Montgomerie said.

Speaking after taking part in a groundbreaking ceremony Colin Montgomerieadded: “It is an exciting time for me withthe building of this course and it shouldenhance the standard of golf in Bahrainand help towards getting Bahrain morerecognition as a future tour venue.

“This is also an ideal opportunity formore Bahraini players to get involved inthe sport and to boost the local scene.

“We have seen what has happened inMalaysia, China and Thailand in recentyears and Bahrain can do the same andmove up on the world stage.”

After hitting several shots to test outhis design strategies, Montgomerie metwith the management of Riffa Views topresent the new masterplan.

Richard Browning, chief executive ofRiffa Views, said: “Colin’s visit marks thestart of the construction phase and theculmination of a great deal of detailedplanning work.

“It’s great to have the contribution ofsuch a superb sportsman in this project.”

Spencer Schaub, former head profes-sional at The Grove, has replaced BlythReid as director of golf at the five-starHertfordshire venue.

The 30 year old American worked forsome of the most exclusive golf clubs inthe US and Australia before he made themove to the UK to help launch The Grovein 2003.

Monty breaks ground asRiffa Views takes shape

Schaub’snew role

Bespoke Blending and Bagging (BBB)claims to offer the first customised serv-ice for precision blended top dressings,rootzone and soil amendments in the fineturf sector.

The company has its own blending andbagging plant which uses state-of-the-artequipment to produce any mix of productin a variety of particle sizes.

Greenkeepers can order a specific topdressing to suit their own turf’s require-ments, and customers can even use theirown printed bags if they desire.

BBB is run by sports turf specialistEcosolve, and md Bretton King said:“Now, greenkeepers can order any blendof top dressing or rootzone that has beenformulated for their own turf.”

New Blending and Baggingservice launched at BTME

The Supreme Court of Andalucía hasopened a criminal investigation intoalleged irregularities in the constructionof homes at the Santa Clara golf resort.

Officials from the region’s highestcourt are looking into claims of fraud atthe complex in Otura after environmentalgroup Ecologistas en Accion presented areport to the public prosecutor’s officeagainst developers Santa Clara SA.

According to newspaper Granada Hoy,the green group believes construction ofthe 3,000 homes at the complex, manyof which have already been sold, startedwithout a municipal works licence.

The court is also looking into claimswater authority ConfederaciónHidrográfica del Guadalquivir was notnotified by the developers that naturalstreams at the complex had to be divert-ed to accommodate the homes.

Officials from the court have asked theGuardia Civil, the water authority andthe Junta de Andalucía regional govern-ment for all the necessary paperwork forthe golf development to help in theirinvestigation.

A spokesman for the public prosecu-tor’s office confirmed the developers andlocal Otura town council could face crim-inal charges if the environmental group’sclaims prove to be true.

Santa Claraunder fire

Raising the Curtain


FEATURE

Our Russian speaking editor, John Vinicombe, reports from Moscow where golf behindthe Iron Curtain is set to prosper, with as many as twenty new courses either currently inconstruction or on the drawing board.

The 27-hole complex to NickFaldo�s design is nearingcompletion in Moscow and isexpected to be unveiled in

the summer of 2008.By that time golf courses, while not

exactly commonplace in Russia, will nolonger be regarded as examples of bour-geois decadence. On the contrary, golfis part of a 21st century Russian revolu-tion and nothing to do with theupheaval triggering off the sevenmomentous days that shook the worldin October, 1917.

The collapse of communism openedthe floodgates to a class of oligarchsand nouveau riche so that Moscow isreputed to be the most expensive city inthe world. Within its environs are saidto be 33 billionaires and counting.

All the more reason why the biggestname designers in golf like Nick Faldoand Jack Nicklaus have appended theirsignatures to layouts among the silverbirch and lush meadows of Moscow�sdacha dotted outskirts.

To the fore among other enterprises,the $15m Nick Faldo International isfast nearing completion. The project isclose to Sheremetevo Internationalairport in Moscow�s north-west lushgreenery. It�s like having a champi-onship course within a few minutesdrive of Heathrow. Also scheduled toopen next year is a course bearing JackNicklaus� stamp.

At present Moscow has two 18-holecourses plus the nine-holes City Clubwhich is ten years old. The MoscowCountry and Golf Club founded by thefamous Swedish ice hockey player SvenTumba was built on wasteland by a trib-utary of the Moscow river.

They say that where�s there�s muckthere�s money... membership at the CityClub involves a joining fee of £39,000with an annual subscription of £5,000.That�s what you pay for being only 15minutes drive from Red Square.

For those of us in warmer climes itseems a bit of a try-on as the Russianwinter means golf is only possible at

best between five and six months of theyear. When temperatures plummet thereis nothing for it but repairing to indoorcentres or a computer simulator. But thefat cats just head for the sunshine.

Nick Faldo is busier these days thanever before. This year he is 50 and hasmore than 30 projects in every part ofthe world as befits a reputation as oneof the most talented player-designers.

He works closely with his team ofarchitects on each individual site. Aswinner of 43 tournaments world wide(11 Ryder Cups, six majors), it is nowonder that his incursion into Russiaand China presented no difficulties.

His first course in China is theRoyal Orchid International inGuandong province along the estuary ofthe Pearl river. Meanwhile, Russia hasattracted unprecedented investmentfrom the once despised west leavingChina to play catch-up.

Trust in Russian companies growsand Britain is the largest single investorin the country.


BP�s total stake was recently quotedas £4.2 billion and the feelgood factorhas spread to Russia�s politicians whichis where the likes of Faldo and otherscome in.

Years ago Armand Hammer, whodied aged 92, was a pioneer in stimulat-ing East-West business. Immenselywealthy, he was always on good termswith the communist hierarchy includingLenin. He advised Leonid Brezhnev togive the OK to golf course constructionin the old USSR to help attract westerninvestment. The suggestion was ignoredand 16 years ago the Soviet Unionturned up its toes.

But Yuri Luzhkov, Moscow�smayor, is not hamstrung by partydogma. He has asked for ten courses tobe built in and around the city in thenext five years tripling the existingnumber. And Alexander Yarunin, vice-president of the Moscow GolfDevelopment Federation is reported assaying that the number of players isexpected to swell from 5,000 to 25,000in the next few years.

In his view Russia could soon beproducing professional players to matchthe recent crop of successful performersin world tennis. With a population ofaround 150 million occupying one-sixthof the world�s surface, and with theright economic support, Mr Yarunin isunlikely to be proved wrong.

The message is clear. The Russiansare coming.

He told The Times: �More and morechildren are being introduced to golf. Ithas become fashionable among themiddle class and wealthy, but it is notonly the children of rich people who arelearning. Each spring our golf schoolsare full.

�The authorities in Moscow nowunderstand the importance of golf as asport and from the social point of view.The mayor himself plays, which is a bighelp.�

Mr Luzhkov welcomed bids fromprivate developers and promised to setaside a 250-acres in Moscow for onesite. This, if it comes about, is aremarkable commitment as land pricesin and around the hub of the capitalhave gone through the roof. The aver-age price for a property late last yearwas £2m and rising.

Unsurprisingly the British firm ofestate agents, Knight Frank and Savillshave an office in Moscow where Rolls-Royce and Bentley have showrooms.

As Russia�s economy booms on theback of its resources of oil and gas itfollows that those who can afford it willturn increasingly to leisure activities -hence the popularity of golf. Realwages rose by 12 per cent in 2005 sowhat sort of money does it take tobelong to a private club?

The City Club rates are quotedabove but, as yet, there are no figuresavailable about what it will cost to playthe Nick Faldo International. However,there is promise of cheaper golf becom-ing available elsewhere.

Max Hosford, chairman of MoscowCountry Club, was an early arrival onthe bustling scene. He came in 1995when golf was primarily an expat sport.The MCC was built in 1994 on landowned by the city and used principallyby western diplomats and visiting busi-ness people.

Since 1996 it has hosted the BMWRussian Open. At 7,350 yards it is typi-cal heathland and studded with silverbirch. It could almost be The Berkshire.

As an old Moscow hand, MaxHosford is not likely to have misreadthe signs. �Now Russian businessmenhave totally embraced the game,� hesaid. �We have more rounds at theMCC than ever before. Golf is growingin Russia considerably and it is excitingto see the new courses coming up.�

Encouragement for youngsters andthose less well off is coming from theR&A. Russian golf initiatives are toreceive R&A backing following a visitto Moscow by Duncan Weir, the R&Adirector of golf development and LeifOhlsson of the PGA of Europe.

President of the Russian GolfFederation, Dr Konstantin Kozhev-nikov and the association�s secretaryAlexy Nicolov, led visits to the site of anew public course at Troparyvo whichhas been laid out together with a two-tier driving range.

The Russian Federation has beenaffiliated to the R&A since 1992 andbecame a member of the European GolfFederation the following year. Russiahosted the 2002 European Ladies�Junior Team championship and thisyear the European Ladies� Individualchampionship will be played at a newcourse building in St Petersburg.

There are currently 20 golfing proj-ects in either planning or constructionstages throughout Russia and the R&Aare offering help with the provision ofpublic golf facilities.

A coaching grant has also beenagreed of £8,000 to enable a profes-sional to work with the Russian nation-al amateur squad, with children inMoscow and with the few professionalsin the country. A consignment of juniorgolf equipment is also already on theway.

It is also planned to offer bursariesfor leading golf students and golfmanagement and greenkeeping studies.Representatives of the R&A will begoing to Moscow to hold a seminar onthe rules of the game. In a reciprocalgesture Dr Kozhevnikov will attend the250th anniversary of the R&A. PPC


Time for Tee?

TEE TIMES

Online tee times are here to stay, with more and more golfers set to buy their green feesthis way over the coming years. John Kelly talks to Paul Heeney of Online Teetimes Ltd(OTL) about how he sees the market developing this year.

Any golf club manager orsecretary who acknowl-edges visitor green fees as avital part of their business,

must be considering making tee timesavailable on line this year.

For many switched-on clubs, it isalready the number one considerationbecause 2007 will be the year when UKgolf clubs finally see the real financialbenefits of online tee time booking.

More than 70 clubs are currentlymarketing tee times via OnlineTeetimes and, based on their experi-ences to date, they expect this numberto reach 200 by the end of the summer.

But as with all new ways of doingbusiness, only about 15 per cent of golfclubs are fully informed about what isbeing offered from day one andembrace the change.

Online Teetimes� experience overthe last two years in Ireland has shownthat the benefits for these early adoptersare numerous, but with two distinctadvantages over clubs that join later on.

They understand how the onlinecommunity perceives their product andthey implement a yield managementsystem early.

Managing director Paul Heeneytakes up the story: �The one thing thatall of these clubs have in common, isthat they are generating significantbookings from online channels.

�For many of the remaining 85 percent of clubs, their management teamsand committees are interested inmaking tee times available online butwould appear to be in debate abouttechnology and integration, possiblybelieving online tee time booking isdifficult. It isn�t.

�Online tee time booking is not atechnology issue. Online tee time book-ing is, however, a distribution issue.�

Continued Heeney: �Getting golfersto find tee times, click them and bookrequires significant skill and invest-ment. OTL has a very dynamicapproach and we reached 300,000golfers within days of our UK launchbecause of our distribution expertise.

�In the UK this figure will swell to1.5 million golfers with a phased roll-out of on and offline activities, to ensurewe promote tee times to a huge audi-ence. In March, we emailed 300,000golfers via our �Broadcast Partners� andlaunched www.teetimes.co.uk.

�Our �Broadcast Partners� includehousehold names such as The GolfChannel UK, Young Masters Golf,National Club Golfer, GolfPunk,YourGolfTravel, Lakeballs and UK-GolfGuide together with a number ofother major businesses. Email Marketing �Their reach allows us to send 300,000emails promoting our participatingclubs� tee times and our services. Thisability to hit high numbers of golfersquickly with a wide choice of tee timessets us apart in an increasingly competi-tive market and helps us to sell golfclubs� perishable products.

�Our relationship with our�Broadcast Partners� is ongoing andhelps form a tee time distribution strate-gy that uses highly-effective emailmarketing. And it encompasses anetwork of companies with databases ofactive golfers who are already using theinternet to purchase golf products,� stat-ed Heeney.

�All are waiting to find tee timesand book them. But successful emailmarketing is just one part of the OTLdistribution model. It�s a numbers game� more tee times, to more golfers,equals more revenue!� !


Currently, around 3.25 million regu-lar and occasional golfers in the UKhave internet access and with broad-band adoption in the UK reachingrecord figures an explosion in onlinetee time booking is inevitable.

�The remaining phases of our UKroll-out enable us to reach a majorchunk of this audience,� continuedHeeney. �Around 1.5 million golfersthis year, and establish online tee timebooking as the very best way for golfclubs to fill quiet periods.

�We are currently implementing�White Label� programmes with some ofthe UK�s largest golf retail, media andtravel businesses, who interact onlinewith hundreds of thousands of golfers,whilst undertaking direct emails to ourown database and offline promotions.

�These more integrated programmespromote tee time bookings on the UK�smost heavily visited golf websites � andlet us reach golfers where they shop,travel, browse and chat.

�Our key integrated partners spanretail, travel, media and web portals �with major retailer American Golf andofficial PGA club exchange siteGolfbidder.com playing significantroles. Talks are also well underwaywith Golfmagic.com, the UK�s leadinggolf community website, and with oneother dominant golf media brand.

�We are working with some of thelargest online customer bases in golfand golfers will be able to find andbook tee times within these prime sites,thereby giving our member clubs maxi-mum exposure.�

American Golf has more than onemillion customers a year visiting itsnetwork of 71 stores, and has agreed anon and offline marketing programmewith OTL � promoting online tee timebooking in-store with point-of-salematerial.

Daniel McAdam from AmericanGolf said: �American Golf has a trackrecord in giving large numbers ofgolfers instant access to quality golfproducts at unbeatable prices, via ourstores network, website and emailbroadcasts.

�Adding tee times to our range ofproducts is a completely natural fit andthe OTL model provides the best serv-

ice to both golfers and golf clubs.Everyone wins.�

Golfers and golf clubs are wakingup. Golfers can now search for andbook great value green fees online at noadditional cost to themselves � whileclubs can set their own rates which,whilst attractive, do not necessarilyneed to be half price.

The success of OTL in Ireland hasbeen to provide golf clubs with a highlevel of service and their own databaseof golfers with the very latest informa-tion. This combination saw many of thegolf clubs receive in excess of 600rounds last year � over ten per cent oftheir walk-in business.

�We confidently expect one in fourwalk-in rounds to be booked onlinewithin the next two years and our firmbelief is that the majority of golf will bebooked online within the next three tofive years,� said Heeney. �But becausewe do not charge a commission, there isno negative impact on golf clubrevenues as internet booking inevitablyincreases in popularity.�

It can be difficult to find the time todiscuss which online tee time provideroffers the best solution. But clubs onlyhave to consider four things.

Do you remain in complete controlof your tee times and pricing?

Can your provider distribute largenumbers of tee times across many plat-forms?

Are your tee times actually shownto the maximum number of golfers?

What is the cost of the service?Online tee time booking opens up a

wealth of healthy opportunities forclubs. What message would you send to250,000 golfers every week if it didn�tcost you money?

Would your pricing be static orwould you look at price points fordifferent times of the day? Would youcontrol your voucher golf, and wouldyou look at your time sheet and fill alate cancellation?

There really isn�t a more cost effi-cient model available today to sell teetimes and there really has never been abetter time for clubs to offer tee timesonline. So do it now. Get it right, andthe rewards can be huge. PPC

�WE CONFIDENTLY EXPECT ONE IN FOUR WALK-IN ROUNDS TO BE

BOOKED ONLINE WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND OUR FIRM

BELIEF IS THAT THE MAJORITY OF GOLF WILL BE BOOKED

ONLINE WITHIN THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS�

Mox really deliver on the whole package...�It�s been a great ride for us, and we�re delighted with Mox. There�s simply no downside; if there�sanything with the buggies we can�t do, I know they�ll sort it out for us. I think we work very well together and the buggies are making money, and that makes me and my committee very happy!�Pat Clash, General Manager Salisbury and South Wilts Golf Club.

Making the most from your buggies? Wondering about introducing them at your club? If you want a company that�s a partner not just a supplier, then come and talk to us on 0088770011 664466 000044, or e-mail us at [email protected]

But don�t just take our word for it...

Whatever the weather�Roger Priddle, Captain ofSalisbury and South Wilts GC, taking delivery ofthe club�s new and larger fleet of ten buggies

Bulleid Graduates


One of the first things IanBulleid realised he wouldhave to contend withwhen taking over the chair

of the Golf Consultants Association wasthe inherent cynicism in the UK.

Bulleid, who celebrates his 50thbirthday in April, came to the role withan impressive CV to herald his arrivalas the successor to Mike Shields, whosetwo-year tenure ended in January.Bulleid has enjoyed a long career incommercial leisure, with much of it ingolf.

So he knew he would have to over-come the natural reluctance of somewithin the industry when it came todealing with �consultants�.

He said: �The UK is quite strange.Elsewhere in the world � in the USA inparticular � if somebody doesn�t knowsomething they�re very happy in theshort term to go out and employ theexpertise. For some strange reason inthe UK we seem a lot more averse todoing that.

�Unfortunately, when people thinkof consultants they tend to think of thelarge companies and the old adageabout if you ask a consultant to tell youthe time, he borrows your watch to tellyou and forgets to give it back

�I�d like to think the guys in theassociation will give you the rightadvice, but it�s a bit more than a docu-

ment to be used merely to prop open adoor. Certainly that�s very much so inthe field I work in, where we�ve hadparticular success.

�Not only do we tell people what�swrong with their business and how toput it right, I�ll also tell them how to doit and roll up my sleeves and come anddo it for them. Part of it is that afterservice, and that is one of the reasonswhy the word consultant doesn�t havethe connotation I�d really like it tohave.�ImpetusThe business to which Bulleid refers isthat in which his company, ImpetusGolf and Leisure, has created quite astir.

Bulleid explained: �Impetus doestwo things. First there�s strategicconsultancy: we were the lead companywithin the GCA which worked on thegolf tourism strategy for Wales in theaftermath of them winning the RyderCup.

�The other side of our business isthat we operate golf courses. Wecurrently have three under contract:Sandburn Hall; Gainsborough GC andBoston West Golf Centre, Lincs.

�Our little niche is that we don�temploy staff. The owner operates andretains all the staff and we act as ageneral manager or director and adviseand guide the club.�

Bulleid brings to bear many years ofexperience, not only to Impetus but alsoto his new role as chair of the GCA.GraduatedHe said: �I graduated from college witha degree in sports science. And in thosedays the majority of jobs were workingin local authority leisure centres. But Iwas always determined to work incommercial leisure.

�I was lucky enough to get a jobvery quickly working for Thorpe Parkand was part of the opening team there.I then spent a few years at the Wembleycomplex, around the arena, the stadium,and the conference centre.�

He then moved north of the borderto join Ladbrokes where he ran snookerand leisure centres � �when Steve Daviswas at his peak,� smiled Bulleid.

There is no surprise in learning thatit was while he was in Scotland that golfloomed large. He joined Gleneagles andlooked after the golf and all the otherleisure facilities at the hotel.

After nearly five years at one of thesport�s premier venues he joinedWhitbread as golf and leisure managerwith responsibility for the company�s14 courses.

But ten years ago he left to start upon his own � and Impetus was born.And two years later he was a foundermember of the Golf ConsultantsAssociation.

Ian Bulleid is the new chairman of the Golf Consultants Association, an organisation thatdescribes itself as a �marketing consortium�. David Bowers talks to the new chairmanabout his plans for one of the industry�s best kept secrets.


�I was approached by BryanGriffiths, chairman of GolfconsultInternational,� recalls Bulleid, �who�dbeen in the business for many years andhad built and designed golf courses allacross the world. Educate�He was keen to get a group of like-minded independent consultants togeth-er, for he felt there was a need toeducate developers and land owners thatif they wanted to build a golf coursethey really needed to be market led andnot just go to a golf course architect andsay �build me a golf course�.

�That was the basic premise. For awhile there was a debate as to whetherwe were a trade association or whetherwe were a marketing consortium � andthe truth is we�re a marketing consor-tium.

�So the objectives of the associationare very much about providing a one-stop shop for potential clients, so what-ever discipline they are looking for,somebody within the association willhave the ability and skills to help them.

�And the fact they are a member ofthe association gives it a kitemark, ifyou like, in terms of the quality and thestandard of the work that will beproduced.�

Despite Bulleid�s admission that theGCA is a marketing consortium and nota trade association, new members arealways welcomed.

All the GCA asks is that golf shouldbe the main area of business and thecompany, or individual, should possessa demonstrable track record as the asso-ciation will take up client references ��So we can be satisfied in our ownminds that they are reputable people,�added Bulleid.

�And we�re looking for memberswith complimentary skills rather thanpeople with the same skills as existingmembers.

�The last three new members illus-trate that: one specialises in golffinance, in terms of leasing golf equip-ment; we�ve just accepted an applica-tion from an agronomist, as we did nothave one previously; and there is apending application from somebodywho is very involved in the design ofclubhouses. It�s a very broad spectrum.�

Bulleid does not view his potentialtwo-year stint as chairman as merely anhonorary role. As in his own businesshe will be mucking in and rolling up hissleeves.

He has an engaging and affablemanner but only a short period in hiscompany will convince you that such anapproach does not dilute a very shrewdand focused business brain.

He knows what he wants from theGCA in the next two years � and heknows where he wants to leave it.

�The key thing I�m looking toachieve is to raise our profile; to make

sure a lot more people realise the organ-isation exists. We�ve been around for afew years but we�ve never really gotover that threshold where people say�yes I know who the GCA are�.

�There�s lots of thing that willhappen underneath: the website,committing more money to marketing,and a lot more PR activity as well.

�The GCA is a non-profit-makingorganisation but I�d like to leave it in asensible financial position, so therearen�t issues over fees and money andwhatever else.

�The crudest measure of our successI suppose is the level of fees we manageto generate for our members as a resultof leads coming in through theenhanced profile.Constitution�Under the terms of our constitutioneverybody pays an annual fee for theirmembership and all those fees arebudgeted to be used for GCA activitiesincluding marketing and the conference.

�This year we will be going roundthe country doing some roadshows toget in front of golf course owners.Chances are once we get in front ofthem they will find a reason to use us �if not now at least sometime in thefuture.�

Certainly if Ian Bulleid is at theroadshow you�ll be left in little doubt asto what the Golf ConsultantsAssociation can do for you. PPC

JOHN GREASLEY LIMITEDAshfield House, 1154 Melton Road, Syston, Leicester LE7 2HB

Telephone: 0116 269 6766 Fax: 0116 269 6866

Email: [email protected]

�Specialist in Golf Course Construction�

Wychwood Park, Royal BirkdaleRudding Park, Gog Magog

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BAGCC

Woburn and the intelligent use of water.

Woburn wanted the highest standards of reliability, back up and efficient water usage.Course Manager Chris Hunt’s recommendation was clear: Rain Bird.“We’ve been very happywith the first system installed in 1999 on the Marquess course, and everything about it fromthe Central Control system to the sprinklers has run smoothly and very reliably.”

“With the experience we’ve had and the kind of weather we can expect in the future, a newspecification was developed for the Dukes and Duchess courses, eg. complete irrigation ofboth courses in eight hours. Rain Bird’s equipment, from weather station to pump, fromcontrol system to sprinklers, combines technical excellence with reliability, familiarity andsimplicity.That’s why we chose Rain Bird.”

The irrigation system includes:" a Rain Bird pump station to provide 197 cubic metres of water at 6.5 bar" a Smart pump facility to monitor the system" a Nimbus II controller to control the Dukes and Duchess courses" a WS Pro Lt weather station and lightning detection system" 1600+ sprinklers on the Dukes and Duchess courses: Eagle 750E on greens and

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Picture Perfect

CLUB INSIGHT

Conwy Golf Club in Wales, was captured in three Victorian paintings popular the worldover. David Bowers discovers how one man is aiming to highlight the Caernarvonshireclub�s immortality.

The tag line on Visit Wales�current advertising campaignis �Wales � Golf as it shouldbe��.

And nowhere was it summed upbetter for me than at Conwy Golf Clubon my first visit a few years ago. Aspart of a press trip we received a �royal�welcome, with the club captain at thefore.

When it came to playing the course,one of my playing partners � the editorof a golf magazine but whose identitywill remain hidden to prevent furtherembarrassment � produced the worsttee shot of his life.

The ball veered off at an unpleasantangle and hit the avuncular club captainin the rear end. Waving away the myri-ad apologies from my playing partner

the captain just gritted his teeth, smiledthrough the pain and waved us on ourway before welcoming the next groupto the tee.WelcomeHe may have gone on to retire to theclubhouse cursing under his breathabout the idiots in the first group out;we weren�t to know. But certainly hisoverall demeanour gave no suchimpression. If that�s not a welcome inthe valleys, what is?

For those not fortunate enough tohave travelled west to enjoy thedelights of the club, you should knowthat Conwy GC is a fabulous linkslayout on the North Wales coast.

It boasts spectacular views not onlyseawards, but also across land to thehills of Snowdonia. !


It sits in the shadow of Conwymountain overlooking the estuarytowards Llandudno�s Great Orme �where Welsh international footballerDean Saunders recently planned tobuild another golf course.

Conwy is nearly 120 years old, iswidely believed to be the second-oldestclub in Wales and is proudly the firstcourse in the principality to have hostedan Open qualifying event, ahead of lastyear�s championship at Hoylake.

That association finished off a nicecircle of history as it was members fromRoyal Liverpool Golf Club whorealised the potential and initiallyarranged a 12-hole layout here, on landknown locally for years as the Morfa, in1875.

And - I was told when visiting - theMulberry Harbours of World War IIwere built on a site behind what is nowthe second green, before being launchedinto the estuary for their role in the D-Day landings. Now that�s the kind ofgolfing fact yours truly loves to learn.

Another such fact is that Conwy isthe course featured on the renownedpaintings by Douglas Adams: ADifficult Bunker; The Putting Green;and The Drive. They were believed tohave been painted in 1893, whenConwy was a relatively new course andprobably the only course in NorthWales.

Visitors to the course may discoverthis for themselves as prints are hung inthe clubhouse and � shrewdly � on thescorecards.

But David Williams, a former presi-dent of the European Institute of GolfCourse Architects, is leading acampaign to enlighten more of the golf-ing public worldwide of the linkbetween the iconic images and hishome club.

Williams, who can include the likesof Merrist Wood, Surrey National,Reigate Hill, Clandon Regis, SlaleyHall and PGA Golf de Catalunyaamong the golf clubs upon his CV, said:�Many people think they are merelyworks of imagination, because copiescan often be found in golf club housesthroughout all five continents. Indeedthey can be found in the clubhouses atWentworth and Sunningdale. Atmosphere�With the massive increase in newcourses in the UK over the last 15 years� more than 700 have been constructed� many clubhouses sought to create atraditional golf club atmosphere andoften it is by the use of historic printsadorning their walls.�

The three Adams paintings haveproved to be a popular choice for theinterior designers � but few are aware,when choosing, that Conwy is thevenue.

Similarly, not a great deal is knownof the artist. An in-depth biography ofAdams (1853-1920) is as easy to find asa still day on the North Wales coast. Hewas considered to be a landscape andwildfowl painter with a penchant forfield sports including hunting, shootingand fishing.

His favourite subjects weredescribed as �Scottish panoramasincluding lochs and coastal views�,which may have led many to believe thetriumvirate of paintings were of a rela-tively unknown Scottish course or, ashas seemed to be the more commonlyheld view, works of the imaginationbased on a Scottish landscape.

It is perhaps in the US where thepaintings are most revered.

Williams added: �I first becameaware of the significance of the paint-ings when, during the 1980s, I visited

the United States with Brian Huggett toview the Tournament Players Courseswhich were then being created through-out America, as part of our research intodesigning similar venues throughoutEurope.

�One of the first courses we visitedwas the then newly built TPC at EagleTrace near Fort Lauderdale in Florida.Imagine my complete surprise whenentering the magnificent vast walnut-clad foyer of the club to see only onelarge painting: The Drive.

�Knowing its origin, Brian turned tome and said �David, it looks as if theyknew you were coming�.�

Williams discovered many moreplaces where the prints took pride ofplace, including the headquarters of theUnited States Golf Association at FarHills, New Jersey.

�The museum and library at FarHills is generally regarded as the lead-ing golf museum in the world, andcontains many of the most famousimplements in golf history and folkloreincluding the club used by AlanShepard when he became the firstgolfer on the moon.

�The museum also contains many ofthe clubs used to hit golf �s mostremarkable shots including BenHogan�s one iron, and Bobby Jones andJack Nicklaus� putters.Imagination�However, all visitors to the museumsee, as the first images, are the threeAdams paintings of Conwy - the onlyexhibits in the lobby. And even theUSGA believed they were works ofimagination.

�During the visit, I explained thelocation of the paintings to our host,who explained he had copies of all threepaintings above his dining room fire-place.


Fact FileClub: Conwy Golf Club

Beacons Way, Morfa, ConwyCaernarvonshire LL32 8ERWales

Telephone: 01492 593400Facsimile: 01492 593363Email: [email protected]: www.conwygolfclub.co.uk

Secretary: DL BrownPR Officer: Aled Jones

Course Info: 18-holesPar: Par 72, 6936 yards (Opened 1890)

Members: 1000Green Fee: £22- £39

�I also wrote to the museum curatorfollowing the visit and sent to himmodern photographs from the sameviewpoints as the paintings, as well as apanoramic photograph linking the threepaintings.�PinehurstA few years later on a return visit,Williams was greeted by one of thepaintings in the arrivals lounge atPinehurst airport. And almost all ofPinehurst�s dozen courses contain printsof the pictures, which were described toWilliams during the trip �the three mostfamous golf paintings in America�.

Although the Welsh club is rightlyproud of its association with the paint-ings, it has never exploited its world-wide exposure � one feels that might beregarded as a little unbecoming.

The paintings are displayed in thedining room of the clubhouse, but thereis no direct link or description.However, committee member AledJones has taken on the responsibility ofcreating a permanent display explainingthe background of the images andpinpointing the precise locations.

Having been recognised already byseveral golf magazines as a �must visit�golfing venue � and indeed I recom-mended it after my one and only sojournto North Wales � a permanent reminderof Conwy�s niche in golfing historywould certainly add to the allure.

A links course, a unique history,iconic imagery, excellent clubhousefood and a former captain who couldn�tsit down for a fortnight: now that�s golfas it should be... PPC

�ALL VISITORS TO THE MUSEUM SEE, AS THE FIRST IMAGES, ARE THE

THREE ADAMS PAINTINGS OF CONWY - THE ONLY EXHIBITS IN THE

LOBBY. AND EVEN THE USGA BELIEVED THEY WERE WORKS OF

IMAGINATION. DURING THE VISIT, I EXPLAINED THE LOCATION OF

THE PAINTINGS TO OUR HOST, WHO EXPLAINED HE HAD COPIES OF

ALL THREE PAINTINGS ABOVE HIS DINING ROOM FIREPLACE.�

Common Interests


TURF MAINTENANCE

Adry year probably, but it�s abig watershed for green-keepers. Golf �s big turfmaintenance show at

Harrogate in January said more aboutthe way greenkeepers are going to berepresented in future than about whatequipment and material is coming on tothe golf course scene in the coming 12months.

A statement issued as everyoneheaded for BTME revealed that theBritish and International GolfGreenkeepers Association had beenhaving talks with the Institute ofGroundsmanship about a possiblemerger.

Nothing concrete yet, but what thiswill probably mean is that greenkeepersand groundsmen will in the not toodistant future have the same representa-tive body.

Quite a ground-shaker perhaps, butit is not necessarily a bad thing. A pool-ing of resources and a bigger, singlevoice in the face of legislation and allthe anti-golf course lobbying could justmake life a bit easier for the greenkeep-ing fraternity.

BIGGA has done a pretty good jobsince it was formed in 1989 especiallyin the area of education and training inpartnership with the GreenkeeperTraining Committee which lives underthe same roof at Aldwark near York.

The question now is are the twodisciplines within sports turf care goingto melt into one: and what about tradeshows? Are we going to lose our tradi-tional January meeting of minds? Whenwill a greenkeeper be a groundsman, orthe converse?

Heaven forbid, but we may be look-ing at new job descriptions and evennew terminology. We have to wait andsee, but more on this hot potato is likelybefore the year is out.

This year was always going to be anodd one for course equipment. The bigmanufacturers had chosen a while agoto boycott this year�s BTME, so wecould assume there wouldn�t be muchdoing on the new product front, and byand large this is the case. There werehowever still 170 exhibitors at theHarrogate show and plenty to arousethe interest of course managers andhead greenkeepers.

There does seem to be an accelara-tion of the biological approach tocourse care, and sometimes fromsurprising quarters, not least this yearfrom a company known hitherto for itsmechanical repertoir.

Charterhouse, whose biggest offer-ing to turf has for years been the Dutchmanufactured Verti-Drain machines foraeration work, has set up a whole newdivision to deal with the biologicalcomposition of sub-turf soil.

It�s called Soil Harmony and theidea is specially formulated biodynamicmaterials will enhance the make-up ofthe rootzone in conjunction with Verti-Drain�s physical contribution.

The company says it offers golfcourses a free initial soil health checkwith recommendations for appropriatetreatment. Agronomist Mark Atkins isheading up the new service, so he�s theman to contact if you want a free once-over for your fairways and greens espe-cially if you�re a confirmed Verti-Drainuser - although Charterhouse says itdoesn�t matter what aeration machineyou favour. EcosolveAnother name known for its aerationmechanics on the golf course butexpanding into the material world isEcosolve, whose �drill and fill� equip-ment has breathed life into many a fair-way and green.

The company has launched what itcalls a bespoke blending and baggingservice, offering courses customisedproduction of precision blended top-dressing, rootzone and soil amend-ments.

It has set up its own plant to produceexactly what the agronomist or green-keeper specifies and ingredients areprecisely measured to produce uniformblends, automatically bagged in 20, 25or 1000kg bags. !

Despite preliminary talks about a possible merger between BIGGA and the IOG, asNeville Johnson reports, there were plenty of other stories coming out of Harrogate Weekto keep the greenkeeping fraternity interested.


Yet again water shortage will prob-ably be a dorminant force this year aswill the pressure on clubs to do morerecycling. One way clubs can do theirbit on both counts is the way the green-keeping staff go about cleaning up turfmachinery.

Aptly named CourseCare is acompany whose ClearWater WashpadWater Recycling Systems are now inuse at over 60 courses in the UK andIreland. The latest of these systemsoffers an efficient way to decontami-nate washdown water of all the toxicnasties that gather on used equipment.

Being an underground set-up it�sunobtrusive and means you keep theright side of Groundwater Regulations.Micro-organisms do the business, sothere are no moving parts, no noise andpretty low running costs. If clubs sharp-en up their environmental act, and thesigns are many will, it looks like thiscould well be a more widely usedinstallation. Sand StormPursuing the recycling theme, whatabout on course sand? Principally forgolf course bunker renovation is SandStorm, a piece of kit that you�d thinkevery course should have.

JSM Distribution is the source ofthis tractor linkage newcomer. Itsvibrating screens remove debris, trapsilt deposits for wash-off, and remixsand into a �like new� condition. A realvirtue is the way it gives access to diffi-cult working areas like �pot� bunkers byoverhanging the work area.

Watering a course just gets moreand more high tech. Toro Irrigation iscranking things up as much as any ofthe specialist manufacturers here byintroducing what it describes as themost powerful decoder system nowavailable to clubs.

The Golf Decoder Controller is theirrigation gizmo to get. Toro says it iseasy to install, simple to use, and willsuit the needs of head greenkeepers orany contractor called in to do coursewatering.

Two versions are available for thissummer�s irrigation work: a stand-alonesystem for up to 200 stations and a PC-based one for up to 3,200. It uses low-power solenoids on both sprinklerheads and automatic valves, sodecoders can be installed as far as4.5km from the central unit using asingle 2x2.5mm2 cable. AbilityAlso, its ability to turn on 50 stationsper wire path will shorten watering�windows� and allow shorter ramp-upperiods during crucial watering times.

There have been giant strides in theforecasting of local weather conditionsfor courses in recent years. This yearthere�s a new on-line service available

that as well as this gives early warningof disease attacks. GreenCastSyngenta has launched GreenCast,which has been under scrutiny by theSTRI and at a number of courses upand down the country. The main spin-off is it will help in getting fertiliser,fungicide and herbicide applicationtiming right.

The basic service from a dedicatedwebsite is free, but more sophisticatedforecasting can be had by subscribing.This gives access to five-day, hourlyweather forecasts provided by the near-est weather station, plus hour-by-hourlocalised disease risk spray windowforecasting.

There�s the usual crop of extensionsto the seed companies bag of goodies,all pretty good as you�ve come toexpect. Rhizomatous Tall Fescue is stillvery much a growing force andBarenbrug offers two new mixtures,Bar 10 and Bar 30, which have it as aconstituent part particularly to copewith the extremes of drought and water-logging.

RTF does seem to be showing itsworth and you can expect its use tooffer greenkeepers a genuine way ofdealing with global warming and allthat therein is.

Finally it�s sustainable coursemanagement that�s going to gathermomentum this year, especially nowwe see the R&A�s Golf CourseCommittee funding projects lookinginto its effectiveness. GuidelinesFirmer surfaces on fairways and greensis the end game and the R&A is aimingto produce guidelines for all types ofcourse - links, heath and parkland. Areport is expected in the autumn basedon STRI investigations using a USGAdevice called the Turf Thumper atcourses in England, Scotland andWales.

A three-year project is also underway, looking into ways of developingand sustaining leaner greens, but find-ings are way off yet. The R&A�swebsite, www.bestcourseforgolf.org iscertainly getting to be a useful port ofcall. It�ll get more and more visitors in2007, that�s for sure.

And finally, just when you thoughtthere could be no more utility vehicleupgrades Club Car has launched anoth-er one, the CarryAll 295. This is thefirst fully automatic 4x4 for golf coursework.

Better still it has an in-built systemthat senses the terrain and will engage -or disengage - 4WD accordingly. Witha top speed of 25mph and roll-overprotection it�s the run-around everygreenkeeper, and possibly groundsmen,will aspire to this year. PPC


Firm Focus

COMPANY PROFILE

Some of the most successfuland influential businesseshave been those formed outof necessity. Rolls had to

join with Royce; and where wouldSmith and Kline be without Glaxo?

Strategic alliances are springing upin many industries and PPC Golf is afine example of how that can help abusiness. Bringing together experts invarious fields, PPC Golf is a specialistgolf service and management company,utilising decades of relevant experience.

Mark Smith BA MRICS MBA is apartner of the company and a regularcontributor to Golf ManagementEurope. He has advisedowners, operators, develop-ers, banks and public sectorbodies within the golf sectorfor more than 15 years.

He explained: �We canadvise clients on manyaspects of their golf busi-ness from buying and sell-ing proprietary-owned golfcourses to designing andprinting scorecards � ourexperience is that exten-sive.

�When it comes to theproperty side of the busi-ness, whether it�s sellingon the open market,confidential placings toacquisitions, transactionnegotiations or due dili-gence up to legalcompletion, we are bestplaced to assist.�

But while Smith�s speciality lieswithin the financial sector, PPC Golfalso contracts experienced andrenowned professionals in the field ofPR and marketing, course photographyand print and design of scorecards andcorporate literature.

Director, Michael Lenihan added:�If somebody is looking to take theirbusiness to the next level there aremyriad avenues to consider. Engagingconsultants in each field is the idealway to go forward but outsourcing tonumerous individual firms is notalways cost effective and is certainlytime consuming.

�That�s why we chose the bestpeople in each arena to come under theone banner � that of PPC Golf. Weknow we can rely on them and ourconfidence in our staff means golf clubscan relax and leave it all to one compa-ny to manage the whole project fromstart to finish � in a more cost-effectivemanner, in budget and on time.�MarketingHe added: �Take golf course photogra-phy as an example. Not all professionalphotographers can capture your courseat its best � golf course photography isa specialised skill. And good images areyour best marketing tool when it comesto corporate literature or media cover-

age � it is the world�swindow on your club.

�Our photographerhas more than 25-yearsexperience in golfcourse photography andhas been contracted bysome of the most famouscourses in the world.Why would you trustyour photography toanybody else?�

Similarly, PPC Golfemploys experienced indi-viduals in all other aspectsof the company�s businessto ensure client satisfaction� and, importantly, to main-tain the burgeoning reputa-tion of the company.

Lenihan added: �As PPCGolf, we are a relatively new

company. But many of the peopleworking for and with us have beenfamiliar faces in the golf industry formany years.

�And if you think your problem isunique we can assure you we knowsomebody within the industry who candeal with it for you. We will handle itand you can sleep safely knowing anexpert is on the case.�

Whatever the future holds for eitheryou or your golf club, a call to PPCGolf could be of significant benefit toyour business in the long term.

PPC Golf � it�s such a simple ideait�s amazing nobody�s done it before.

PPC Golf tailor-madefor your golf club

Tel: (44) 0870 241 4678Email: [email protected]: www.ppcgolf.com

PPC

PPC

The Drive to Succeed


OPINION

April is fast approaching andthe golf industry is justemerging from its winterslumber. Golf car manufac-

turers and golf car dealers across thecountry are building and preparing golfcar fleets ready for what we all hopewill be a long and profitable summerfor the golf industry.

For those of you out there who donot currently hire golf cars to yourmembers or guests, then perhaps youshould reconsider as we start yet anoth-er season. It may be that income andprofit are not that important to you, or itcould be that a service to your membersand guests may be your motivationbehind choosing to offer golf cars.

It may be that you want to keep yourmembers playing longer � after all,none of us are getting any younger.

These are a couple of good reasonsto offer a golf car for hire, however thevast majority of the clubs and courseswe work with, here at Yamaha, offergolf cars to their customers to earnmuch needed revenue, and very impor-tantly, profit.

I know money isn�t everything, butat a time when waiting lists formembership at golf clubs are gettingshorter � and in some cases a thing ofthe past � every penny counts.

The casual leisure golfing groups,and societies, now have so much choiceas to where they play their golf, andmore importantly, where they spendtheir hard earned cash, perhaps thehumble golf car could be the answer.ReturnWhether you purchase, or lease hire, thepotential return can be exceptional. Ofcourse, the amount of income and prof-it, depends on a lot of factors, but forexample, a single golf car costing onaverage £800 per annum, can return inexcess of £3,000 in the same period, nota bad return on the initial investment.

If you multiply this by four, six, oreven ten cars, you can start to appreci-ate why the large golf club operatorsfocus so heavily on golf car revenue.

Of course, there is as with all othermachinery, a choice of manufacturerout there, and a number of very gooddealers to choose from.

At Yamaha, we pride ourselves onour ability to work very closely withour customer�s right from the initialcontact, and all the way through thesales process, always ensuring that weexceed the customer expectations. Thisphilosophy continues throughout thelife of the contract.

Good after sales service is easy topromise but very difficult to deliver.Most promise it, but very few can deliv-er it over a long period of time to thestandard we have set here at Yamaha.

One of the most frequent questions Iget asked is whether clubs should optfor petrol or electric golf cars. By thetime you also factor in LPG (LiquidPetroleum Gas) as a viable alternative,you can start the process of finding thebest option for you.

There are pro�s and cons with allthree fuel sources. For example, bothpetrol and LPG cars are perceived to bemore expensive to run and noisier thantheir electric counterparts.

However, electric cars require moredetailed on site maintenance than petrolor LPG cars, so it is important that you

For longer than we can recall, golf cars have been extremely profitable sources of muchneeded revenue for golf clubs of all shapes and sizes. But, as Brian Swinden of Yamahaexplains, you don�t need a huge fleet to make money out of buggies.


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As chosen by St Andrews Linksand The R&A

ask the right questions and be given theright answers that best suits your busi-ness, as electric cars are not always thebest solution for everyone.

There is also a perception that elec-tric cars are green and good for theenvironment. Well on the face of it thatmay be true, as they are certainlyquieter and do not seem to pollute theenvironment. However if you ask yourYamaha area sales manager, he will tellyou about the battery, the acid and thegases that are released during charging.

He will also tell you about thedisposal of the batteries when theycome to the end of their working life.So are electric cars as good for the envi-ronment as you might think?

It is true that there has been asubstantial shift over the last five or sixyears from petrol cars to electric cars.This change has come in the main fromthe commercial sector and the largeoperators who see the cheaper operatingcosts of electric cars as a major reasonto run electric cars fleets, rather than Isuspect, for environmental reasons.

In the defence of petrol golf cars,these were the pioneers of the golf carindustry, and continue to be the perfectfit for a large proportion of golf courseoperators.

Yes, they are more expensive to runper round compared with electric cars,and as I have said previously, they are alittle nosier than their electric brothers.

However, their on site maintenanceis not so sensitive, and if the car runsout of petrol then you just fill it up andoff you go. No need to wait eight hoursfor the batteries to charge.

The newest addition to the availablefuel sources is LPG, and it is a verygood option for the larger fleets, say often or more cars.

The main reason to consider LPGover petrol or electric, is that to run alarge fleet of petrol cars you wouldeither have to apply for a petrol storagelicence, which is very difficult toobtain, or you would have to ship infuel in large quantities which is illegal.

With LPG the fuel is stored on siteand you just fill your LPG golf car asyou would your road car.

In the case of electric cars, you musthave a dedicated power source availableto charge the fleet, which is sometimesnot available on site, and can thereforebe very expensive to install. So there isa place for the LPG powered golf car,and it should be considered as part ofthe options available to you.

At Yamaha, we offer all three fuelsource options on new and Yamahaapproved refurbished cars. For 2007,we have launched the new Yamaha�Drive� golf car � our first all new carfor ten years. We do not believe in revo-lution at Yamaha just evolution and inthe Yamaha �Drive� we have continuedwith this philosophy.

For over 50 years Yamaha havebeen producing motor products, and forover 30 years � in our opinion � theworlds best built golf cars. The �Drive�is certainly no exception. TechnologyThe Yamaha �Drive� is packed withindustry leading technology throughout.We believe there are 57 reasons why the�Drive� is the best golf car ever built,and I would like to share with you justone or two of these.

Internal disc brake technology anindustry first. A completely encloseddisc brake, no drums, no brake shoesjust one cable, and it is virtually mainte-nance free; Reason 21.

Automotive style coil over shocks,which deliver a smooth and comfortableride; Reason 33.

Largest contoured seat in the indus-try. Important? We think so. Yamahagolf car seats have always been regard-ed in the industry as the best.

Virgin foam bonded to a seamlessfabric backed vinyl cover. The basewon�t sag or warp as it is made ofpolypropylene strengthened with platedsteel inserts; Reason 47.

These are just three of the 57reasons why we think we have the bestgolf cars ever built. To find out theother 54, contact your local Yamahadealer who will be delighted to showyou some more reasons why we thinkYamaha build the best golf cars. PPC

Portfolio


01480 226858

Otterbine wow WarwickshireTo improve water quality and providea stunning display, The WarwickshireG&CC has installed Otterbine aerat-

ing fountains in two of its ninelakes. Course manager Daniel Rowesaid: “We use one of our lakes as a

water source for irrigation and had a5hp Sunburst aerating fountain

installed and quickly saw results. Itreally keeps the water clear.”

01473 270000

Warley Park thank RansomesNew members are joining Warley ParkGolf Club near Brentwood in Essex asa direct result of the improved play-

ing conditions following the club’spurchase of new turf maintenance

equipment from Ransomes Jacobsen.The club appointed a new coursemanager, Domenic Rodgers, last

August and the transformation sincehis arrival has been significant.

0141 814 3366

Wiedenmann launch i-seriesFifty-eight sales staff from 30 UK

and Irish dealers attended therecent European launch of the newTerra Spike i-series at the Vila Sol

Spa and Golf Resort in Portugal.This prestigious resort, situated 30

km from Faro in the Algarve was theideal venue for Wiedenmann UK to

launch this latest innovation to theTerra Spike range of deep aerators.

01797 320636

DED goes to the theatreLondon theatre, the Victoria Palace

has standardised on the PosiflexJIVA 8015 touchscreen terminal forall bar and concession sales areas –22 units in total. This contract was

won by Collaborative Software inpartnership with UK based distribu-tor of PoS hardware – DED Limited,who suggested the JIVA 8015 from

Posiflex as the obvious choice.

01359 272000

Barenbrug’s new CatalogueBTME was the venue for the launch

of Barenbrug’s new BAR rangeSports and Amenity Grass Seed

Catalogue for 2007. As well as beinga comprehensive guide to the

company’s wide range of products, itis packed with useful informationwhich includes a new ‘global solu-tions’ section, which addresses the

issue of climate change.

0141 814 3366

LMS Lincoln win franchiseLMS Lincoln Ltd of Wellingore nearLincoln, the family-owned groundscare business, has been appointedthe Wiedenmann UK dealer for the

region. Their territory encompassesall of Lincolnshire, from the Humber

in the north to the Wash in thesouth, and adds strength to

Wiedenmann’s dealer network in theeast of England.

01473 270000

Jacobsen improve WatervilleMike Murphy, the Links superinten-

dent at Waterville Golf Links, hasrecently purchased two Jacobsen

light fairway mowers complete withpatented turf groomer attachments.Murphy is very particular about hiscourse believing that links should

be true to their original concept andconsist of wide fairways bordered by

small areas of semi-rough.

0871 220 5353

Primo Maxx is cost effectiveScotts’ revolutionary turf growthregulator Primo MAXX has been

hailed by many greenkeepers as oneof the most effective turf manage-

ment tools they have ever used.Many of the country’s high profile

golf clubs, such as Royal Ascot,have seen huge improvements withthe product, but smaller clubs with

tight budgets are also benefiting.

gmé | issuu 53

Documents

architects association

golf clubs throughouteurope

european body

time forfresh

wellknown architects

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powerful representative

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