Greenkeeper support team revealed for BMW PGA Championship
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The director of golf and greenkeeping at Wentworth Club has spoken about his pride at the return of a greenkeeper support team to assist with course maintenance during the BMW PGA Championship this September.
Members of the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) will head to Wentworth for the European Tour’s flagship event, which for the 2019 season has shifted from its traditional May hosting to September.
The shift in dates has been necessitated by changes to the world golf calendar and reduced competition from other events should mean a star-studded field of players head to Virginia Water for the Rolex Tour event, taking place from 19 to 22 September.
Wentworth’s Kenny Mackay, is eager for the BIGGA volunteers to get the most out of their time as part of the team and so the group is divided between those who will undertake bunker raking duties and those who will play an active role in the preparation and maintenance of the West Course for the duration of the event.
Kenny said: “With the change in the schedule, the hosting of the BMW PGA Championship is going to be a completely new experience for the Wentworth team. The preparation of the course each morning is going to be very tight if we’re to stay ahead of the golf and so the BIGGA volunteers will prove vital as we work to achieve our aims of preparing a course fit for the European Tour’s flagship event.
“Over the last two years we’ve really evolved the support team experience, so a portion of the volunteers have the opportunity to fully integrate with the Wentworth team. If you ask the volunteers who come regularly, every year is getting better and better. We want to ensure they learn many things that they can then take back to their own club.”
BIGGA members are invited to participate in the BMW PGA Championship Volunteer Support Team as an opportunity for career development that is provided as part of their membership. July will also see a separate team of members head to Royal Portrush to assist with The Open, while teams will also attend other major events, such as the Ladies British Open and the Solheim Cup.
The preparation support team:
Adam Baldwin, Lilley Brook
Anthony Duffield, Ham Manor
Craig Woodman, Bramshaw
Daniel Evans, Maesdu Llandudno
David Ball, Thetford
Josh Dunn, Bramcote Waters
Kevin Tigg, Merrist Wood
Leigh Powell, Windlesham
Phillip Slater, West Herts
Rob Patrick, Stoneham
Sam Ewing, Crane Valley
Jonny Peacock, Rugby
David Taylor, The Bristol
Peter Meek, The Wisley
Seamus Gaughan, Migros Golf Park (Switzerland)
Tim Leat, Rich River (Australia)
Luke Lacey, Exminster
Callum Atkinson, Prestbury
Harry Misselbrook, Harewood Downs
Henry Aggar, Windlesham.
Bunker support team:
Jeff Drake, Newbury & Crookham
Oliver Kirk, unattached
Sam Amey, Basingstoke
Nathan O’Sullivan, China Fleet
Kevin Weller, Dale Hill Hotel
Iain Biggs, Chesterfield Downs
Oli Norfolk, Tylney Park
David Westwood, Kingswood
Jamie Ingerson, Rochester and Cobham
Nick Street, Crews Hill
Billy MacArthur, Temple
Craig Gibson, Essendon Country
Steven Maples, Coventry
Oliver Clark, Mill Hill
Matthew Winney, East Sussex National
Jacob Kennard, Milton Abbey School
Aaron Stead, Surrey Down
Ashley Darnley, The Bristol
Charlie Cripps, Cams Hall Estate
Sam Bethell, Chipstead
Steve Bridgeman, Woking
Steven Hirons, Kirtlington
Tony Bartram, Wentworth
Stuart Simmonds, Boundary Lakes
Robert Brown, Bognor Regis
Adam Young, The Players Club
Daniel Allsworth, Drayton Park
Nicholas Edwards, Remedy Oak
Stevie-Jon Hood, Forest of Galtres
Lewis Turner, The Dyke
Ryan Lindsay, East Sussex National
Matthew Lindsay, Highwoods
Chris Mitchell, Maidenhead
Ryan Frankish, Spalding
David Smith, Newmarket Links
Gary Nimmo, Oundle
Jordan Belong, Camberley Heath
Patrick Redmond, Woking
Stuart Fry, Old Thorns
Jakob Schur, Rudding Park
Jorge Manso, Coombe Wood
Daniel Cowley, Stanmore
Lee Williams, Phoenix
Martin Coe, China Fleet
Kevin Hensman, Rowlands Castle
Steven Morgans, Harrow School
Jack Holman, Middleton Hall
Graham Down, Harewood Downs
James Lomas, Hadley.