Latest news with #GaryRodger
Scotsman
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Braids ready for 125th Dispatch Trophy as greenkeepers do 'unbelievable' job
Gary Rodger and his team work wonders following recent damage to greens by e-bikes Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Greenkeepers at the Braids have worked wonders to get the Capital course ready for the 125th Edinburgh Evening News Dispatch Trophy after mindless idiots on e-bikes wreaked havoc just over a fortnight ago. Head greenkeeper Gary Rodger and his team were left devastated after more than a dozen people on e-bikes were caught on video riding roughshod over the Edinburgh Leisure-run course in the build up to the milestone edition of the historic team tournament. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In two separate incidents in the space of a few days, a number of greens were left badly damaged by tyre marks, leaving Rodger and his staff in a race against time to get the course playable for an event that was first held in 1890. Greenkeepers have 'plugged' the damage to the greens at the Braids caused by e-bikes | Contributed But, while scars may still be visible and will be for some time, it's mission accomplished, with the tournament, which has been won for the last two years by Duddingston and now bidding to become the first team for nearly 20 years to do the hat-trick, starting as planned on Saturday. 'Every bit of the markings were deep and some were really deep,' said Rodger, who was sitting at home when he was sent a video taken by someone out playing on the course at the time of the worst of the damage being caused. 'With some of the more superficial ones, we spiked up the turf and got some seed in there nice and early and we got some wetting agent on it and soaked it and those parts came back pretty quickly, which was great. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The one good thing about the drought at the moment is that there's a bit of heat there as well and that's helped us out with the recovery process, which has been fortunate.' The ninth green was one of those worst hit by the e-bikes just over a fortnight ago | Contributed Over the past fortnight, Rodger has worked in tandem with Hugh Dawson and Scott Higgins in repairing the damage and, in a personal show of appreciation for their efforts, the boss arranged a game for them all at Cabot Highlands Castle Stuart last weekend. 'Honestly, the boys have been unbelievable,' added Rodger. 'With the deeper marks, we've had to spend a lot of time plugging. We use the hole-changer and we take half the depths of what you would set a hole and we plug out in a row all the deep bits. 'We've had to go to the back of the eighth green, where not many people end up, to get those plugs but you have to put them back one by one and make sure they are all perfectly level, so it is a real time-consuming process. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'There's no manual for something like this. Fortunately, we have seen things like this before elsewhere and plugging it out is the best way to do it because you are pulling out a plug that has loads of moisture in it and the surface is nice and clean as well. 'I think, all in all, we ended up losing about two days of man hours on it. That's two days when we are short staff and could really have been doing with spending it somewhere else.' Turf at the back of the eighth green has been used by the greenkeepers to repair the damage | Contributed Rodger, who played in the event himself around 20 years ago for BIGGA (British International Golf Greenkeepers' Association), prepared the course for a Dispatch Trophy for the first time last year. It was hailed by all the competitors for being in fantastic shape before heavy rain caused bad flooding, leading to the final stages of the event having to be completed later in the year. 'It's been a tough year,' admitted Rodger, who worked at Muirfield earlier in his career. 'I was hoping after the problems we had last year with the weather that we would have what you would class as a normal start to the season, but it's been pretty much straight into dry and cold conditions and that brings its own challenges. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We've also had some staff issues with a couple of guys being off sick for the long term, so it's been a bit of a battle for us as we've been down to three or four of us for the last five weeks or so. Then you get something like this happen and you are thinking 'just give us a break'. 'But, as a greenkeeping team, this is it for us. We really do get a kick out of setting the course up for the Dispatch. Everything is geared up for the Dispatch - we love it!' The green at the 12th was also badly damaged by the mindless idiots | Contributed2 As, of course, do the competitors and, though just 32 teams are taking part in the milestone edition, another exciting week lies in store high above the Capital. 'We still have 128 players competing,' observed Silverknowes star Keith Reilly. 'It's one of the best golfing weeks of the year and everyone always looks forward to it. The Braids is a great match-play course where anything can happen - and normally does!' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Allyn Dick has won no less than seven gold medals - the latest two with Duddingston - and is now bidding to complete his second hat-trick after already achieving the feat with Carrickvale from 2007-09. 'I don't think there is a better place to be in the sunshine than the Braids, absolutely my favourite course as there is just something magical about the place,' she said. 'Dispatch week just makes it so much better. For those of us who have played there for years to the first-timers, it's special. 'With the weather forecast, we will hopefully see a hard and fast Braids, meaning lots of unpredictable bounces and lies but, for me, that's the joy the course gives you as no two shots are the same.' Helping mark the milestone event, Braids Hills Golf Centre and North Berwick-based Golf Finance have both provided financial support while Alexander Kirkwood & Son have presented a one-off quaich for the winners. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Gary Rodger, the head greenkeeper at the Braids, treated his staff to a game at Cabot Highlands Castle Stuart last weekend as a personal 'thank-you' for their work over the past fortnight in particular but earlier in the year as well | Contributed 'This year will be 50 years since I first played in the Dispatch, missing one because of a broken ankle and the other last year because of a prostatectomy,' said John Archibald, one of the event's stalwarts and set to represent Heriot's Quad this year. 'Even though the numbers are very disappointing this year, it's still a great tournament to be involved in and definitely the best amateur team tournament. It still has an atmosphere on that first tee, even though you don't get all the heckling from the old Edinburgh Thistle balcony any more. 'I was seriously disappointed when I saw the reports of the e-bike damage on some of the greens - but that wilful damage will not deter from the spectacle of the event.' It certainly won't and, after being part of the team that has worked hard to get the course ready, the aforementioned Higgins will be among those teeing up on Saturday morning. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Scott is actually competing in the Dispatch for the first time,' revealed Rodger of his staff member. 'He's playing for Musselburgh Old Course - and he is buzzing for it!' First-round draw 8.00am Donuts@The 9th (Newbattle) v Caermount 8.15am Buckstone v Kilgour Wealth Management 8.45am Bank of Scotland v Hailes 9.00am Edinburgh Western v Prestonfield 9.15am Lochend v Heriot's Quad 9.30am Carrickvale v Heriot's 9.45am BBT v Stewart's/Melville 10.00am Turnhouse v Stephen Gallacher Foundation 10.15am Colinton Mains v Silverknowes B 10.30am Harrison B v Edinburgh Academical 10.45am Bruntsfield Allied v Harrison 11.00am Silverknowes v Musselburgh Old Course 11.15am Braids United v Edinburgh Thistle 11.30am Dalmahoy v Murrayfield 11.45am Duddingston v Hailes B Noon Kilgour Property Management v Swanston
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Edinburgh E-bike yobs wreck historic golf course as greenkeeper speaks of 'despair'
A gang of E-bike vandals have ripped up a historic Edinburgh golf course. The head greenkeeper at Braid Hills Golf Club has spoken of his despair, after around 15 riders roared across the greens. Gary Rodger branded the aftermath a 'scene of devastation' while speaking with the Daily Record. The course has been left with deep skid marks, with members 'appalled'. READ MORE: Edinburgh 'ban' on Red Arrows and RAF fighter jet flights proposed READ MORE: Edinburgh high-rise residents beg 'please fix our lift, it's been nearly a year' The 136-year-old municipal has come under repeated attacks from youngsters on the electronic bikes, which have marauded, along with others on high powered scramblers. ADVERTISEMENT Gary said: 'One of our boys made a video of the young boys coming over a fairway and you could count around 15 of them against the skyline. "It was a grim sight, when you know what was going to happen next. I don't know if they are setting out to cause the damage or whether they just like the hills and contours, which cause natural ramps for them. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox "But they are ripping up all our good work and it's soul destroying for us." Gary said the greenkeepers have been working long and hard to get the course in top condition for the prestigious Dispatch Trophy - which has run for 125 years. He said: "This is a club with such a rich history and these bikes are killing us. "The greens were looking pretty good but when we came to work and were faced with the damage it was a hammer blow." 'We are literally dreading this going on and on' -Credit:Supplied/Daily Record Gary's videos and images on X were shared worldwide, causing outrage in the USA and Australia among golf fans. He has made a complaint to police and hopes they can stop those responsible before the course suffers even worse damage. ADVERTISEMENT The course damage includes two greens that were left unplayable, plus grooves caused by deep skids in other parts of the course. Gary added: 'We have an 18 hole course that we have been focusing on and a nine hole course. They just keep coming back to the big course, which is really frustrating.' He said that efforts were being made to identify those responsible, including analysing various videos. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. He said: 'The stuff we have doesn't make faces clear but we are hoping that police might be able to put together whatever evidence is there and get an idea of who is doing this. 'We are literally dreading this going on and on. My first thought is to appeal to the better nature of those responsible in the hope they can accept that what they are doping might be having consequences way beyond what they ever intended. But we really just need it to stop.' ADVERTISEMENT In August last year a group of bikers were filmed wreaking havoc at Braid Hills, as horrified locals watched on. Three youths on motorised bikes were chewing up turf, ignoring the protests of witnesses who berated them and demanded that they stop. A video at the time showed a resident, yelling at the group before they beeped their horns at him and took off from the scene.
Edinburgh Live
07-05-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh E-bike yobs wreck historic golf course as greenkeeper speaks of 'despair'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A gang of E-bike vandals have ripped up a historic Edinburgh golf course. The head greenkeeper at Braid Hills Golf Club has spoken of his despair, after around 15 riders roared across the greens. Gary Rodger branded the aftermath a 'scene of devastation' while speaking with the Daily Record. The course has been left with deep skid marks, with members 'appalled'. The 136-year-old municipal has come under repeated attacks from youngsters on the electronic bikes, which have marauded, along with others on high powered scramblers. Gary said: 'One of our boys made a video of the young boys coming over a fairway and you could count around 15 of them against the skyline. "It was a grim sight, when you know what was going to happen next. I don't know if they are setting out to cause the damage or whether they just like the hills and contours, which cause natural ramps for them. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox "But they are ripping up all our good work and it's soul destroying for us." Gary said the greenkeepers have been working long and hard to get the course in top condition for the prestigious Dispatch Trophy - which has run for 125 years. He said: "This is a club with such a rich history and these bikes are killing us. "The greens were looking pretty good but when we came to work and were faced with the damage it was a hammer blow." (Image: Supplied/Daily Record) Gary's videos and images on X were shared worldwide, causing outrage in the USA and Australia among golf fans. He has made a complaint to police and hopes they can stop those responsible before the course suffers even worse damage. The course damage includes two greens that were left unplayable, plus grooves caused by deep skids in other parts of the course. Gary added: 'We have an 18 hole course that we have been focusing on and a nine hole course. They just keep coming back to the big course, which is really frustrating.' He said that efforts were being made to identify those responsible, including analysing various videos. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. He said: 'The stuff we have doesn't make faces clear but we are hoping that police might be able to put together whatever evidence is there and get an idea of who is doing this. 'We are literally dreading this going on and on. My first thought is to appeal to the better nature of those responsible in the hope they can accept that what they are doping might be having consequences way beyond what they ever intended. But we really just need it to stop.' In August last year a group of bikers were filmed wreaking havoc at Braid Hills, as horrified locals watched on. Three youths on motorised bikes were chewing up turf, ignoring the protests of witnesses who berated them and demanded that they stop. A video at the time showed a resident, yelling at the group before they beeped their horns at him and took off from the scene.
Daily Record
07-05-2025
- Daily Record
Gang of E-bike yobs wreck 136-year-old golf course leaving 'scene of devastation'
Braid Hills Golf Club is repeatedly attacked by local neds on motorised bikes A horde of E-bik e vandals have ripped up one of Scotland's oldest golf courses. The head greenkeeper a Braid Hills Golf Club in Edinburgh has spoken of his despair as images of 15 riders on electronic bikes roared across fairways. Gary Rodger said the aftermath of the cavalry charge was a 'scene of devastation', with deep skid marks on greens and fairways, which have appalled members and gold fans. The 136-year-old municipal course has come under repeated attacks from youngsters on the electronic bikes, which have marauded, along with others on high powered scramblers. Gary said: 'One of our boys made a video of the young boys coming over a fairway and you could count around 15 of them against the skyline. 'It was a grim sight, when you know what was going to happen next. 'I don't know if they are setting out to cause the damage or whether they just like the hills and contours, which cause natural ramps for them. 'But they are ripping up all our good work and it's soul destroying for us.' Gary said the greenkeepers have been working long and hard to get the course in top condition for the prestigious Dispatch Trophy - which has run for 125 years. He said: 'This is a club with such a rich history and these bikes are killing us. 'The greens were looking pretty good but when we came to work and were faced with the damage it was a hammer blow.' Gary's videos and images on X were shared worldwide, causing outrage in the USA and Australia among golf fans. He has made a complaint to police and hopes they can stop those responsible before the course suffers even worse damage. The course damage includes two greens that were left unplayable, plus grooves caused by deep skids in other parts of the course. Gary added: 'We have an 18 hole course that we have been focusing on and a nine hole course. They just keep coming back to the big course, which is really frustrating.' He said that efforts were being made to identify those responsible, including analysing various videos. He said: 'The stuff we have doesn't make faces clear but we are hoping that police might be able to put together whatever evidence is there and get an idea of who is doing this. 'We are literally dreading this going on and on. 'My first thought is to appeal to the better nature of those responsible in the hope they can accept that what they are doping might be having consequences way beyond what they ever intended. But we really just need it to stop.' In August last year a group of bikers were filmed wreaking havoc at Braid Hills, as horrified locals watched on. Three youths on motorised bikes were chewing up turf, ignoring the protests of witnesses who berated them and demanded that they stop. A video at the time showed a resident, yelling at the group before they beeped their horns at him and took off from the scene. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
