Royal Aberdeen Golf Club – Golf Course Blog

Tag: business

  • Staff Training – 3 Day Lantra certified Excavator (Tracked)Course

    Senior Greenkeeper Owen Mackay recently attended a 3-day Lantra certified training course to gain the skills and knowledge to successfully operate 360° Excavator (Tracked) below 10 tonnes. The course was held at Ringlink Services Scotland, Laurencekirk from the 4th – 6th March 2026.

    The training included both classroom, practical demonstrations and a final assessment. Owen was attending the course to give him the knowledge and confidence to operate the machine safely and .

    After attending the certified training course, Owen will now be able to:

    • Describe the key requirements of health, safety and environmental legislation
    • Interpret and comply with drawings, specifications, schedules, risk assessments and
      manufacturer’s operator’s manuals (MOM) related to the plant or machinery operations
      and the work to be carried out
    • Identify the hazards associated with plant or machinery operations and put the
      appropriate control measures in place
    • Identify and explain the purpose of machine components and operator controls
    • Conduct all operational and pre-start checks
    • Prepare the excavator for site and highway travel
    • Drive the excavator safely over varying types of terrain
    • Operate the excavator safely in restricted spaces
    • Prepare the machine and bucket to excavate
    • Demonstrate how to attach and remove different types of buckets and ancillaries safely
    • Select the appropriate techniques to perform essential tasks
    • Operate plant and machinery to excavate ground and loose materials to given work
      instructions
    • Perform excavation activities in a variety of soil types
    • Demonstrate how to grade, spread and level different
      types of material
    • Demonstrate how to lift basic suspended loads with the
      excavator in set configuration(s)
    • Shut down and secure plant or machinery
    • Describe the procedures used for loading and unloading excavators when transported on
      a trailer.

    Upon returning from the course, Owen will now be able to apply these skills to help ensure safer operations, better efficiency, and a more professional approach to excavator work on site here at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club.

  • Staff Training – BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition 2026

    From the 19th – 21st January 2026 Golf Course Manager Richard Johnstone, First Assistant Greenkeeper Euan Polson and Assistant Greenkeeper Lindsay Skea attended the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition in Harrogate, North Yorkshire

    Royal Aberdeen Golf Club will benefit greatly from their attendance at the Continue to Learn education programme at BTME. Continue to Learn at BTME offers more than 250 hours of education specifically aimed at sports turf professionals and those working within the golf club industry. The education being delivered provided a variety of opportunities to help develop and hone skills.

    Below is a representative list of the types of classes the team attended at BTME 2026.

    Turf & Course Management

    • Irrigation management
    • Water efficiency
    • Drought management
    • Renovation planning
    • Drainage design and management
    • Soil analysis for turf
    • Reading turf trial data
    • Fertiliser programme planning
    • Identifying grass species

    Environmental & Agronomy Topics

    • Sustainable turf management
    • Integrated pest and weed control
    • Biodiversity and habitat management

    Management & Leadership

    • Strategic planning for golf courses
    • Building and managing a budget
    • Recruitment and staff development
    • Supervisory and leadership skills
    • Managing stress and wellbeing
    • Conflict resolution
    • Motivation and team building

    Professional Development

    • Personality profiling
    • Positive thinking and mindset
    • Mathematics for turf managers
    • Using data to improve decision-making

    Attending the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) is an additional attraction. Showcasing 100+ exhibitors, displaying the latest products and innovations in sports turf as well as the opportunity to secure special “show offers”.

    Networking with fellow professionals and industry specialists is invaluable, providing the chance to learn from around 5000 other golf course management experts and colleagues from across the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.

    http://www.btme.org.uk

  • Staff Training – Future Turf Managers Initiative(FTMI)- Class of 2025

     First Assistant Greenkeeper Euan Polson was recently selected to be part of the Future Turf Managers Initiative 2025, a training programme to help talented greenkeepers progress towards head greenkeeper and course manager roles.

    FTMI was held at Ransomes Jacobsen’s headquarters in Ipswich from 24-25th September and will be followed by a series of online education sessions before culminating in two days of education at BTME in January 2026.

    The Future Turf Managers Initiative (FTMI) has been designed to provide practical tools and guidance, to help candidates to pursue their career aspirations. It is aimed at up and coming greenkeepers who want to make the leap to Course Manager. Focusing on personal and professional development, rather than agronomy based subjects.

    Jacobsen and BIGGA recognise the importance of preparing greenkeepers to take on the role of Head Greenkeeper or Course Manager. It designed to provide practical tools and guidance to help the candidates to pursue their career aspirations through this professional development conference and utilises the expertise of leading Course Managers, dynamic trainers and industry experts to mentor and educate the next generation of industry leaders giving them a clear understanding of what the future holds and a realistic overview of the expectations that come with the role of a Course Manager.

    This intensive training programme covers:

    • Presentation Skills
    • Communications
    • Presenting a Professional Image
    • Interview Techniques
    • Successful CV’s
    • Stress Awareness
    • Building a Budget
    • Becoming a Leader