Landmark training initiative in Iceland
At the Bernhard Academy, we recently brought together 13 Icelandic greenkeepers and turf technicians in Reykjavik for a dedicated training initiative, continuing our investment in professional development within the country’s turf care sector.
The three-day programme was hosted at GKG Golf Club and led by the club’s greenkeeping team, including Course Manager Guðmundur Árni Gunnarsson and Head Greenkeeper Kate Stillwell. They identified a gap in access to specialist technical education across Iceland and played a key role in making this initiative possible.
By bringing together representatives from multiple facilities, we ensured that the knowledge gained would extend well beyond a single venue, helping to strengthen standards across Iceland’s wider turf care community.
The initiative was delivered by our Programme Leader for Equipment and Technical Management, Barry Drennan, and focused on bridging the gap between day-to-day course maintenance and advanced engineering expertise. Over three days, delegates took part in a combination of technical learning and hands-on application, working directly with machinery suited to Iceland’s unique operating conditions and logistical challenges.
We covered key aspects of modern turf management, from precision spraying and machinery diagnostics to advanced cutting unit set-up and long-term fleet maintenance strategies. The aim was to equip attendees with practical skills to improve both performance and efficiency back at their home clubs.
Kate Stillwell highlighted the importance of creating access to this type of training, building on the progress already made by TETO over the years: “This training has been a great opportunity for Icelandic greenkeepers and mechanics. Our goal was to bring everyone together to provide access and hands-on guidance that is usually hard to come by. The feedback from the 13 delegates has been very positive. It’s clear that by coordinating this as a group with SIGI (The Icelandic Greenkeeping Association) and supplier, Toro Iceland, this was a worthwhile investment in our greenkeepers and turf technicians. This training was about them.”
For us at the Bernhard Academy, this programme reflects our wider mission to make high-quality technical education accessible to turf professionals around the world.
As Barry Drennan said: “It was a privilege to deliver this programme in Reykjavik. The initiative Kate showed in coordinating greenkeepers from all over Iceland is what made this so successful. Access to specialised training can be limited there, so being able to bring this education directly to a motivated group of professionals is exactly what the Bernhard Academy is designed to do.”
This initiative also highlights the growing importance of collaboration in raising industry standards, with Iceland’s turf care professionals demonstrating how a collaborative approach to training can deliver benefits on a national scale.
We remain committed to supporting industry leaders like GKG Golf Club, helping to drive progress through accessible, expert-led education worldwide.