In defence of the golf course workforce

BIGGA has been made aware of comments made on National Radio yesterday by a former cabinet minister that denigrates the value of Golf Course Management as an educational and vocational path, referring to it as a “dud degree" which will not lead to graduate employment.

These comments are, of course, negligent and potentially damaging. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth; Golf Course Management is a growing industry with currently more vacancies than qualified applicants. Anyone successfully studying for a degree in this field is effectively guaranteed employment in a vibrant industry.

The sport of golf currently delivers more than £11 billion annually to the UK economy, provides employment for over 100,000 people, and is enjoyed in various formats by over 12 million UK citizens. It is also a significant source of tourism revenue, with the UK widely acknowledged as The Home of Golf. The sport provides mental health, physical wellbeing and social benefits to its participants, and the courses on which it is played provide valuable sites for biodiversity.

Approximately 15,000 highly skilled and experienced sports turf management professionals are actively engaged in managing the UK’s more than 2,500 golf facilities, with practically all of them possessing a formal qualification of one level or other all the way up to and including Masters level. These qualifications encompass a wide variety of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) subjects alongside management, finance, communications and sustainability.

BIGGA is committed to maintaining, and indeed improving, the educational standards required for this important growing workforce, in the face of climatic, technological and regulatory developments. We work alongside the major governing bodies within the sport of golf to ensure it remains healthy and vibrant for decades to come.

We would be delighted to engage with any politician who wishes to learn more about the profession of golf course management to ensure they are aware of the genuine societal, economic, health and environmental benefits golf brings to the UK.

Jim Croxton
BIGGA Chief Executive Officer