Ryan Gall, spray tech at the Scottish championship golf and country club, Loch Lomond, has won the prestigious title of Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year.
Ryan’s ASOOTY award presentation was made as part of the glittering BIGGA industry awards at BTME in Harrogate this week (22 January 2026), along with the competition’s other high calibre finalists, Emile Grobler of Encompass Environmental and Dom Wright, Assistant Greenkeeper at Fulford Golf Club, York.
The ASOOTY awards highlight best practice and experience in the challenging role of ensuring accurate application on all amenity surfaces.
Sponsored by ICL and Syngenta and managed by the Amenity Forum, the awards seek to share top tips and advice that will raise the standards of spray application across the amenity industry.
The ASOOTY judges particularly praised Ryan’s deep understanding of the principles of sprayer operation, along with how that can be put into practice each day while spraying. The west of Scotland Loch Lomond site poses some particular challenges to overcome for application, with its high rainfall and windy conditions, along with a busy schedule of play and greenkeeping team activity to work around, all of which were well recognised and mitigated by Ryan.
Notable for his success was the attention to preparation and pre-emptive actions even before he starts spraying. Ryan understood the objective of each application, and how he could use his skills to fine tune techniques to ensure the maximum product would reach the desired target.
Furthermore, using decision support systems - such as Growing Degree Days and disease forecasts - to schedule treatments, the application timing could be optimised to the closest available spray windows and his application techniques fine-tuned to the conditions. Ryan highlighted how he is part of team decisions on when to spray, with the confidence to input views and adjust operations that comes with knowledge and experience.
He has quickly developed the skills to get the best out of a switch to a new John Deere sprayer on the Loch Lomond site. While the system is fully automated, it remains essential to understand the fundamentals of nozzle selection and operation to fully exploit the capabilities of the technology.
Syngenta Technical Manager, Sean Loakes added: “The role of the modern sprayer operator goes beyond the physical application. The ASOOTY Awards explore approaches to Integrated Turf Management, how different products work to protect and promote turf health, and the contribution of application in achieving reliable and consistent results.
“All of the finalists this year demonstrated and excellent understanding of ITM principles. Along with the positive effects of good application techniques for the stewardship of products to assure long-term efficacy.”
The judges noted Encompass Environmental contracts manager, Emile Grobler showed his mastering of the practical complexities of accurate and consistent application on amenity hard surfaces and inaccessible railway areas using knapsack sprayers, with very strong awareness of implications and preventing potential issues. His knowledge, experience and constant attention to achieving the best possible results every time was exemplary. The judges were particularly impressed with his forward-looking approach in seeking new technologies and solutions that could further improve results in the future.
Dom Wright of Fulford Golf Club in York only had a career change to greenkeeping in the last five years, but has quickly identified spray application as an area of real specialisation. The judges praised his great enthusiasm and keen willingness to learn, and how he had sought out guidance and ideas from other more experienced sprayer operators. His grasp of the fundamentals, implementation of new techniques and increased practical skills should make him a highly valued and integral part of the greenkeeping team going forward.
ICL Landscape & Industrial Business Development Manager, Lewis Blois, added: “We were once again hugely impressed with all the finalists’ dedication to ensuring every application is made as effectively as possible. They all take exceptional care to achieve a good result, as well as immense pride that they have made a real difference with a job well done.
“This year the Awards have recognised the range of spray application techniques and the differing skills involved across the amenity sector. It will provide a unique and vitally important resource for all involved in spray application.”
Presenting the award at BTME, Ian Graham, Chairman of the Amenity Forum, said: “The skills required to competently apply professional plant protection products are often overlooked. Along with the formal training and accreditation process, there is the experience that takes years to acquire.
“Winners of this award have elevated the application process to an art, be that with a knapsack or a boom sprayer, to help create great playing surfaces all year round and managing amenity areas efficiently and cost effectively, along with maintaining immaculate lawns for customers,” he adds.
“The Amenity Forum is delighted to work with ICL and Syngenta as the sponsors of this award and would like to congratulate Ryan for upholding the highest of professional standards.”
Look out on the Amenity Forum website for more details and entry form for the launch of next year’s ASOOTY and your chance to win.
