Five UK greenkeepers fly out to Sawgrass

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The seven international greenkeepers – five from the UK – who will be flown out by John Deere this month to Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida to join the agronomy team on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass for the duration of The Players Championship have been named.

The seven to join the John Deere TPC Sawgrass Volunteer Programme are: Ben Hunter, deputy course manager, The Richmond GC, Mark Tucker, head greenkeeper, Neath GC, Alex Brougham, deputy head greenkeeper, Trentham Park GC, Peter Lewis, greenkeeper, Royal Liverpool GC, Eddie Irvine, deputy head greenkeeper, Trump International Aberdeen, Dean O’Connell, greenkeeper, Grange Golf Club in Ireland and Yannick Weber, assistant superintendent, Cape Kidnappers, New Zealand.

Previous successful applicants of the scheme have described the experience as life changing and overwhelming. Welshpool Golf Club course manager, Jon Gamble, said: “TPC Sawgrass is an amazing venue and is out of this world. The presentation of the whole site is fabulous, from the condition of the course to the flowers and grandstands that sit very high on 17.

“They really do gear the tournament up so that everyone who goes has an awesome time, from a spectator point of view. Going to Sawgrass has made me want to go back every year now, just to get that buzz from what you experience.

“I would encourage and push anybody that wants to go there, to do so.”