On the eve of last month’s Harrogate Week Thursday came an announcement that has set the turf world talking.

It simply said that representatives of the boards of directors of the Institute of Groundsmanship and the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association had met days before to discuss the idea of joining forces.

The statement said they had ‘unanimously agreed to explore in-depth the possibilities andpotential of a strategic merger for the wider benefit of their members and the sports turf industry.’ There were separate statements from the respective heads of each of the bodies.

IOG’s Geoff Webb said: “This agreement is an opportunity for the memberships of both organisations and for the unification of the industry in general.”

BIGGA’s John Pemberton said: “The potential unification of BIGGA and the IOG presents a major opportunity for the turf management industry to influence the future both commercially and politically for the benefit of all members.”

BIGGA was formed in January 1987 to amalgamate separate greenkeeper bodies in the UK. IOG is older, beginning life in 1934, and may consider itself a senior partner in any coming together. Speculation about a single body and perhaps the fusion of the Saltex and BTME shows is mounting.