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Introducing BIGGA’s volunteers

February 24, 2020/in News, Press Release/by Karl Hansell

Introducing BIGGA’s volunteers: The Open 2019 is heading to Sandwich in Kent this July and the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association has revealed which members have been selected to join the volunteer support team that will help maintain playing standards throughout the event. Each year The R&A requests BIGGA’s assistance with the championship and this […]

Expanded greenkeeper team at Chart Hills

February 24, 2020/in People, Press Release/by Tom Skinner

Expanded greenkeeper team at Chart Hills: The ambitious new owners of Chart Hills Golf Club, in Kent, are continuing their investment into the club’s staff and facilities by expanding the greenkeeping team and completing previously unfinished renovation projects. The recruitment process has been led by Golf Course Manager, Neil Lowther, who has 18 years of […]

Introducing BIGGA’s volunteers

February 24, 2020/in News, Press Release/by Karl Hansell

Expanded greenkeeper team at Chart Hills

February 24, 2020/in People, Press Release/by Tom Skinner

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Introducing BIGGA’s volunteers

February 24, 2020/in News, Press Release/by Karl Hansell

Introducing BIGGA’s volunteers: The Open 2019 is heading to Sandwich in Kent this July and the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association has revealed which members have been selected to join the volunteer support team that will help maintain playing standards throughout the event.

Each year The R&A requests BIGGA’s assistance with the championship and this will be the fourth time a volunteer team of BIGGA members has attended an Open at Royal St George’s, having also helped out in 1993, 2003 and 2011.

Introducing BIGGA’s volunteers

BIGGA members who join the support team are given unprecedented access to golf’s greatest championship, supporting every match with bunker-raking duties.

The bunkers at Royal St George’s are among the most famous in golf, with the giant ‘Himalaya’ on the 4^th hole proving an intimidating test, not just for the golfers who land in the hazard, but also the members of the support team who will tidy up the sand afterwards.

Every full BIGGA greenkeeper member is eligible to apply for a place on the team and over the years there have been incredible memories made by support team members.

Phillip Snellin of Donaghadee Golf Club was a team member at Royal Portrush in 2019. He drew the final match of the championship and had a money-can’t-buy view as Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood battled it out for the Claret Jug.

“The last two holes were among the best things that have ever happened to me,” said Phillip. “It was awesome. Walking down the 18^th, I’ve never experienced anything like that. The songs, the atmosphere, the hair stood up on my arms big time and there’s no words that can describe it.”

BIGGA Chief Executive Officer Jim Croxton said: “The Open is, in my view, the finest tournament in the sport with the beautiful links courses that host the event being critical to that. Royal St George’s is a special venue and I’m thrilled that once again members of BIGGA have the chance to play a small part in presenting it for the world’s best players.

“Following two very difficult years in terms of weather, I know that Course Manager Paul Larsen and his team have put in an extraordinary amount of work to ensure the links will be in prime condition.

“I’m extremely proud that once again The R&A has called upon BIGGA’s professional members to assist with the maintenance of the course throughout the championship. The Open is a long week but everyone at BIGGA is looking forward to giving our all and ensuring the 149^th Open is Royal St George’s best one yet.”

The BIGGA Volunteer Open Support Team will be provided with accommodation, food, refreshments and uniform for the event. Members of the support team may also be called upon at short notice to assist Course Manager Paul Larsen and his team with early morning preparation work and divoting duties. With early tee times and golf played until nightfall, the week is intense and physically-demanding.

The 149^th Open takes place from 16 to 19 July 2020. Thank you to everyone who applied to be part of this year’s team.

Here are the BIGGA members who will be assisting the home greenkeepers for the duration of the event:

Robert Acheson, Thornock Park GC; David Ball, Thetford GC; James Bonfield, The Hertfordshire G&CC; Tom Bromfield, Trentham GC; Andrew Brown, Boundary Lakes; Mark Cleverley, Hollywood GC; Jason Connoughton, Yeovil GC; Daryn Curtis, Royal Mid-Surrey GC; James Dawson, Oulton Hall GC; Julian Drake, Neath GC; Nicholas Edwards, The Wisley; Michael Elderfield, Sandy Lodge GC; Edoardo Fauro, Walton Heath; Ryan Fiander, Lees Hall GC; Stuart Fry, Old Thorns GC; Craig Gibson, Essendon CC; Jorge Grandio, Royal Wimbledon GC; James Hampson, Llanymynech GC; Craig Hempseed, Mortonhall GC; Kevin Hensman, Rowlands Castle GC; Alastair Hollingsbee, Etchinghill GC; James Hook, Woodspring G&CC; Dale Housden, Drayton Park GC; Adam King, Radley GC; Antony Kirwan, Romford GC; Matthew Kitson, Royal Mid-Surrey GC; John Le Cappelain, Royal Jersey GC; Chris Low, Olton GC; Matthew Mackenzie, Ellesborough GC; Steven Mapes, Coventry GC; Michael Mead, Littlehampton GC; Peter Meek, The Wisley; William Merritt, Beacon Park GC; Ashley Millar, Churston GC; Harry Misselbrook, Harewood Downs GC; Ryan Neale, Blackwell GC; Joshua Raper, Golf Club Hosel E.V.; Laura Sayer-Hall, Ardfin GC; Tom Silcock, Macclesfield GC; Will Simmonds, The Richmond GC; Niels Sorensen, Randers Golf Klub; David Stewart, Walmley GC; Nick Street, Crews Hill GC; Ollie Tanton, Royal North Devon GC; Amy Thomas, Barton-on-Sea GC; Scott Thomson, Wetherby GC; Gary Tonge, Tain GC; Jeremy Ward, Rotherham GC.

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Expanded greenkeeper team at Chart Hills

February 24, 2020/in People, Press Release/by Tom Skinner

Expanded greenkeeper team at Chart Hills: The ambitious new owners of Chart Hills Golf Club, in Kent, are continuing their investment into the club’s staff and facilities by expanding the greenkeeping team and completing previously unfinished renovation projects.

The recruitment process has been led by Golf Course Manager, Neil Lowther, who has 18 years of service at Chart Hills to his name and is committed to restoring the course to its full potential following the venue’s recent purchase by Ramac Holdings Ltd.

Expanded greenkeeper team at Chart Hills

“After initial conversations it became clear that it was paramount for us to add resource and build a new greenkeeping team in order to take the golf course forward,” commented Lowther.

“Investment has already begun, and we are now able to complete unfinished projects such as the renovation of the 10th and 12th tees which are now well under way.”

The new employees join the existing greenkeeping team of Adam Weeks, Irrigation Engineer, who has worked at Chart Hills for 25 years; Mathew Krause, First Assistant Greenkeeper; Marc Mulholland, Greenkeeper in Training; Gavin Spiers and Geoff Lezemore, both part-time Greenkeeping Assistants.

William Watkins joins Chart Hills as a qualified Greenkeeper with five years’ greenkeeping experience, while Liam Levett heads to the club at the beginning of March as a Greenkeeper in Training, having had previous experience working at the resort.

The club has ambitious plans for major improvements to all the main playing surfaces, excluding the recently renovated greens and bunkers, with drainage works forming a major part of these improvements.

“There is a very positive vibe amongst the greenkeeping team, and we are all looking forward to being part of a new era for Chart Hills,” added Lowther.

Ramac Holdings Ltd are committed to investing significantly in the venue having announced its acquisition in December 2019 and are working on an extensive development strategy alongside the in-house team, led by General Manager James Cornish and Director of Golf Ant Tarchetti.

For further information on Chart Hills, visit www.charthills.co.uk, ring 01580 292222 or email reception@charthills.co.uk

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

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You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Introducing BIGGA’s volunteers

Expanded greenkeeper team at Chart Hills

Introducing BIGGA’s volunteers

Expanded greenkeeper team at Chart Hills

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Introducing BIGGA’s volunteers

Introducing BIGGA’s volunteers: The Open 2019 is heading to Sandwich in Kent this July and the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association has revealed which members have been selected to join the volunteer support team that will help maintain playing standards throughout the event.

Expanded greenkeeper team at Chart Hills

Expanded greenkeeper team at Chart Hills: The ambitious new owners of Chart Hills Golf Club, in Kent, are continuing their investment into the club’s staff and facilities by expanding the greenkeeping team and completing previously unfinished renovation projects.

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