CLASS OF 2025 REVEALED

BIGGA and Jacobsen have announced the delegates of the FTMI 2025 Future Turf Managers Initiative, a training programme to help talented greenkeeper candidates progress towards head greenkeeper and course manager roles.

FTMI is a hybrid programme of online and in-person education and mentoring. The 2025/2026 schedule begins with face-to-face training at Jacobsen HQ in Ipswich this September, followed by further sessions online during October, November and December. The course concludes with two and a half days of learning at BTME in Harrogate in January 2026.

BIGGA say the initiative is designed to give the participants an insight into management skills that they will need as they progress through the ranks in their careers. Topics covered include presentation skills, communication, time management, interview skills, CV writing, stress awareness, budgeting and leadership.

The FTMI Class of 2025 includes the following greenkeepers:

• Callum Atkinson - first assistant greenkeeper, The Wilmslow Golf Club
• Tod Bannerman - senior greenkeeper, Taymouth Castle Golf Club
• Patrick Brown - senior greenkeeper and spray technician, Fulwell Golf Club
• George Edwards - deputy head greenkeeper, Walton Heath Golf Club
• Alistair Hogg - senior greenkeeper, A&M Fife Golf Club
• Alex Hudson - assistant greenkeeper, Sharpley Golf Club
• Chris Keeler - deputy course manager, Prestbury Golf Club
• Ronan Latham - senior greenkeeper, JCB Golf & Country Club
• Toby Long - first assistant greenkeeper, Broadstone Golf Club
• Carl Moore - deputy head greenkeeper, Kings Norton Golf Club
• William Moore - assistant course manager, Kilworth Springs Golf Club
• Euan Polson - first assistant greenkeeper, Royal Aberdeen Golf Club
• Phillip Shields - first assistant greenkeeper, The Blackwood Golf Club
• Greg Smith - first assistant greenkeeper, The Berkshire Golf Club
• John Thornton - irrigation technician, Copt Heath Golf Club

Delegates are assigned to mentor groups throughout the programme. The mentors for this year are all previous FTMI graduates and are course managers Leigh Powell (Windlesham), James Parker (Machrihanish Dunes) and Ben Williams (Royal Cinque Ports).
 
BIGGA CEO, Jim Croxton, said, “It’s always a thrill to learn of the successful delegates for the Future Turf Managers Initiative as the developmental opportunities they receive and the chance to become an FTMI graduate can turbo-charge careers. I look forward keenly to seeing how the Class of 2025 develop and to meeting them all at Jacobsen HQ in September."