Club Car, one of the most prominent and respected golf-cart manufacturers around the world, recently made progress in its mission to improve educational standards in the golf industry. To this end, Club Car announced a new partnership with the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA).
Worldwide, more Club Car golf carts are produced and sold each year than any other brand, and customers may choose from more than 80 models made for a wide range of situations, environments and budgets. Some Club Car golf carts are designed for players while several models of utility task vehicles (UTVs) are perfect for greenkeepers and course managers to improve efficiency in operations.
BIGGA Education Supporter
As part of the partnership with BIGGA, Club Car will join as an official Education Supporter and provide services geared toward the improvement of educational standards and the professional development of greenkeepers. Much of this work will be accomplished through the BIGGA Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program.
“Club Car has been a respected brand in the golf industry for more than 50 years and fully advocates the continued professional development of greenkeepers and course managers,” said Dennis de Roos, utility sales director for Club Car in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. “Engaging with the market and ensuring the highest quality standards are met are two key elements of the BIGGA CPD program, which mirrors our commitment to the industry, and we look forward to working with the association to help further improve the golf business as a whole.”
The CPD program at BIGGA plays a large role in the very existence of the organization. It is geared toward developing skills and imparting new knowledge to golf-course professionals while boosting confidence and strengthening credibility. The unofficial motto of the program is “CPD is a strategy to help you succeed and go on succeeding.”
This not only benefits individuals in the industry but also employers. All BIGGA members receive an online CPD account upon acceptance, and all formal educational events earn them one credit per hour.
Educational Opportunities From BIGGA
BIGGA offers several educational opportunities for groundkeeper professionals as learning and development is one of the organization’s primary goals. On the BIGGA website, there are numerous self-help and how-to resources available and these are free to all members. These guides cover a range of topics, including conducting meetings, preparing for appraisals, recruiting staff, developing a training policy and promoting equal opportunities.
In addition, BIGGA launched a Microsoft Online Learning Center last year with help from a partnership with GTS Learning. Members can use this resource to develop their Microsoft Office skills and other IT skills with a 10 percent discount and an offer to reclaim up to 80 percent of course fees. For the completion of each eight-hour course, students will receive eight CPD credits.
BIGGA also offers several professional qualifications for groundskeepers. Through the Club Managers Association of Europe (CMAE), golf course professionals may study to earn the CMAE Certified Club Manager qualification, and the International Golf Course Equipment Managers Association (IGCEMA) offers a certification program for which BIGGA acts as a proctor. The program covers six core subjects, including hydraulics, electrical, internal combustion engines and sprayer troubleshooting.
The highest qualification offered by BIGGA is the Master Greenkeeper Certificate, and it is only awarded to members who display the highest standards of achievement in golf-course management and greenkeeping. This program consists of three stages. The first is education, training, and experience, the second is the assessment of golf-course operations and the third is a case study and technical examination. So far, only 67 people have earned the qualification.
Club Car a Forward-Thinking, Dynamic Company
Club Car’s partnership with BIGGA comes not long after the company announced that it had been appointed as the official supplier of golf carts to St. Andrews Links Trust (SALT), which is known as the Home of Golf and is one of the most recognized golf resorts around the globe. This announcement solidified Club Car’s position as an industry leader.
In addition to St. Andrews Links, fleets of Club Car golf carts have been installed at several other leading golf destinations, including The Grove, The Address Montgomerie, and Gleneagles.
“Club Car is a really forward-thinking, dynamic company, and it’s great to be able to confirm them as one of our Education Supporters,” said Jill Rodham, business development manager at BIGGA. “BIGGA is focused on driving the golf-course industry forward through collaboration, which includes working with partners that can make a difference to our members’ businesses, and we look forward to developing a mutually beneficial relationship in the future.”
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