The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association’s (BIGGA) “Continue to Learn” education program, which takes place each January, has received the support of The R&A as part of its commitment to a sustainable future for golf and golf courses.
Held in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, Continue to Learn coincides with the esteemed BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME), the foremost trade show for golf course professionals in Europe.
The event provides more than 140 hours of learning opportunities for golf greenkeepers and groundspeople, making it among the most influential events in the golfing calendar.
The R&A has long supported BIGGA and its members and has demonstrated its commitment to BTME and Continue to Learn by hosting presentations that offer guidance based on expert research and experience staging major events.
R&A representatives have been a mainstay on the Continue to Learn program for many years, providing world-leading agronomic advice and hosting panel discussions in the context of historic championships held throughout the year.
The Golf Course 2030 program was launched at Continue to Learn in 2018, and research participants have returned each year to discuss their findings and proposals.
For the first time, in 2025, The R&A will be recognized as formally supporting the Continue to Learn Conference program, which comprises
- a major 2-day learning event and
- a separate New Greenkeeper Conference.
Additionally, R&A representatives will participate in various Classes and contribute towards cost-free learning opportunities such as the Seminars and the BTME Breakfast Session.
Next year (2025) will also mark the 20th anniversary of The R&A’s Greenkeeping Scholarship and events are anticipated to take place at BTME and Continue to Learn to mark the occasion.
To date, over 500 greenkeepers from 30 countries have benefitted from this influential scholarship opportunity.