St Andrews sunrise wins photo competition

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An early morning image of sunrise over the Castle Course at St Andrews Links has been proclaimed the winner of an annual greenkeeping photographic competition.

Taken by course manager Jonathan Wood, the image shows the course bathed in early morning light, with greenkeepers working in the background and atmospheric Scottish skies overhead.

Jonathan said: “Working on a golf course, you get to see the most incredible sunrises and so my camera goes everywhere with me. It’s funny, I would change holes a lot because it was a good excuse to take my camera out and when I spotted that scene, I jumped out of the buggy and fired off a couple of shots. It was a good morning for it and I just knew it was going to be a good photo.

“I have always had an interest in photography and from a mental health point of view, photography has certainly helped me over the past two years. You don’t have to have a fancy camera, but it’s an excuse to go outside and you realise that in the bigger scheme of things we are quite small.”

Jonathan is now a two-time winner of BIGGA’s annual photo competition, having been successful in 2014 with an image he took while course manager at Trevose in Cornwall. He wins a Nikon digital camera worth £365 and a framed print of his image.

From competition entries received throughout the year, 24 finalists were chosen and put up for public voting. Photographer Mike Hyde of Carefree Golf Photography also lent his expertise to the judging process.

Mike explained why Jonathan’s photograph was the pick of the bunch. He said: “When I shoot, I try and create imagery that evokes emotion and this picture absolutely does that for me. It stirs a desire to get out and play golf, although I would probably rather be taking photographs in that light!”

While Jonathan’s photograph won the ‘Landscape’ category, Joe Simpson of Ipswich Golf Club won the ‘Greenkeeping’ category and Laura Sayer-Hall of Wallasey Golf Club won the ‘Wildlife’ category. Category winners all receive a £150 shopping voucher.