40 BIGGA members were treated to the best seat in the house at The Open at Royal Birkdale in exchange for giving up their free time to help ensure the event went off without a hitch.


BIGGA support team

The event broke records to become the highest-attended Open ever held in England, and more than 40 BIGGA members were treated to the best seat in the house, in exchange for giving up their free time to help ensure the event went off without a hitch.

A single member attended every single match held during the tournament, meaning BIGGA greenkeepers witnessed Brandon Grace's record-breaking 62, amateur Alfie Plant stealing hearts to win the Silver Medal and the final duel between Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar.

Peter Allam raked the final match of the tournament and witnessed Jordan Spieth make history by becoming only the second male to ever win three different majors before his 24th birthday.

As the young Texan threatened to meltdown on the 13th, eagled the 15th and then sank a birdie putt on the final hole to claim his third Major, Peter was there to witness it all first hand.“It was one of the best things I have ever done,” said the Berkhamsted greenkeeper, who was volunteering on the BIGGA Support Team for the second time.

Peter was assigned the final match when his name was picked out of a hat at random, and he added: “I didn’t even think I was going to be here. I was on the reserve team for start and it was only when I got a call three weeks ago that I knew I’d be coming here, so to get the final match was incredible.”

On the final day of play the BIGGA Support Team were called into action 190 times, with Steve Hemsley called in to action the most, raking nine times for Brooks Koepka and Austin Connelly in the third from final match.

During The Open the BIGGA Support Team raked Royal Birkdale's approximately 123 bunkers a total of 1,220 times.