The BIGGA Welcome Celebration which took place in Harrogate Convention Centre’s Royal Hall during BTME last week saw the BIGGA Annual Awards presented.
The winners were:
Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year sponsored by Rigby Taylor
The greenkeeping team at The Wentworth Club in Virginia Water was recognised for its incredible performance in preparing the course for the BMW PGA Championship 2017 with the BIGGA Championship Performance of the Year Award.
The Wentworth greenkeeping team with Chris Clark, chairman of Rigby Taylor
The redesign of Wentworth’s famous West Course was conducted by European Tour Golf Design, with the support of Ryder Cup captains Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn and the Ernie Els Design group. But it was Director of Estates and Golf Courses Kenny Mackay and his team who were responsible for ensuring the changes were implemented ahead of the BMW PGA Championship in May 2017.
All 18 greens were stripped of the old turf and re-seeded with a new creeping bent, while four greens - on the eighth, 11th, 14th and 16th holes – were completely rebuilt. A sub-air system was also installed on all the greens, while new drainage and irrigation was introduced.
Furthermore, all the bunkers were redesigned and reconstructed, with 29 completely removed from play.
BIGGA Chief Executive Officer Jim Croxton said: “This was nothing short of a superhuman effort by the team at The Wentworth Club, who worked non-stop from the moment the 2016 BMW PGA Championship ended until the 2017 event began to ensure the course matched up to the incredible standards required when hosting the European Tour’s flagship championship."
BIGGA Greenkeeping Achievement of the Year sponsored by Baroness
Led by Course Manager Neil McLoughlin (41), the greenkeeping team at Deeside Golf Club in Aberdeenshire were announced as the winner of the BIGGA Greenkeeping Achievement of the Year Award.
The Deeside greenkeeping team with Adam Butler from Baroness
When Storm Frank hit Aberdeenshire the day before New Year’s Eve in 2015, it caused the River Dee to reach record levels, three times covering the course in a thick layer of silt and debris.
In the aftermath, the team was able to get 10 holes reopened after just 77 days and the clean-up saw over six tonnes of grass seed laid down, 10,000m2 of turf laid and all 98 bunkers rebuilt, using 3,000 tonnes of sand for topdressing and bunkers.
During 2017 the hard work continued, with the silt layer impeding drainage. Over 400m of drainage was installed and a programme of scarification and topdressing helped break down the silt layer further.
Jim Croxton said: “Of the golf clubs who were hit hard by the devastation that Storm Frank wrought in December 2015, it was perhaps Deeside who were hit hardest of all.
“For greenkeepers who dedicate their lives to maintaining a relatively small patch of land, the damage must have been heartbreaking. It is therefore to Neil and his team’s immense credit that they were able to pick themselves up and restore the course to its former glory.
“I cannot praise the greenkeeping team highly enough for the work they have done to get Deeside back on its feet. They are truly an inspiration to greenkeepers all over the country.”
BIGGA Young Greenkeeper of the Year sponsored by Textron Golf
Talented young head greenkeeper at Durness Golf Club Alistair Morrison (25) was announced as the winner of the BIGGA Young Greenkeeper of the Year Award.
Young Greenkeeper of the Year Alastair Morrison with Andre Andrade of Textron Golf
Alistair began his career as an apprentice at Brora, before moving back to his hometown club at Durness. As the only member of the greenkeeping team at the most north-westerly course on mainland Britain, the role requires a huge amount of dedication and commitment to personal development and the development of the course.
During his three years at Brora, Alistair volunteered at three European Tour events, including the European Masters in Switzerland.
Jim Croxton said, “I’m delighted that we have been able to recognise the efforts of Alistair, who has achieved professional and personal development despite the challenges faced of preparing a course in tough economic time. The fact Alistair is able to prepare a thriving course for his golfers, despite working on his own and in such a remote location, is no mean feat and he is an inspiration to us all.”
