Irrigation specialist Rain Bird has appointed Alastair Higgs to lead the international golf team supporting the company’s customers and developing sales and market share for its products across Europe, North Africa and Central Asia.
A valued Rain Bird employee since 2016, Higgs began his career as a greenkeeper at Calcot Park in 2000, before becoming Head Greenkeeper at Donnington Valley and then Course Manager at Windlesham Golf Club.
Joining Rain Bird in 2016 as a Golf Sales Specialist, he became Golf District Manager for the UK, Ireland and Iceland in 2018, and in 2021 moved to France, taking on a new role outside the golf business as Service Manager for EMEA and India.
Speaking about his latest role within the firm, Higgs said: “Taking up an international role for Rain Bird Golf is an exciting challenge for me and one I’m looking forward to immensely. Given the impact of climate change, sustainability is crucial for the golf industry. Being prepared to maintain peak course conditions with potentially fewer resources and more regulation will be ever more important.
“With Rain Bird’s proven technologies and global service levels, we offer the most innovative approaches to course irrigation, supporting our customers and partners to improve playing conditions and be sustainable.
He added: “Clubs considering their irrigation requirements either today or for years to come can benefit from a winning combination of experience and dedication from our talented Rain Bird team and valuable distribution partners. This is a great time for me to re-join the golf industry and impact on its development.”
Stuart Hackwell, Director of Rain Bird’s Golf Division, said: “I am excited to have Alastair in this leadership role for Rain Bird Golf in Europe. His extensive experience as a user, salesperson and service manager makes him uniquely qualified to lead this team. Alastair shares Rain Bird’s belief of the importance of being a trusted partner for the golf industry.”