Morlais Castle Golf Club has been named Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year and Parkstone Golf Club the Greenkeeping Project of the Year at an awards ceremony in Harrogate.

The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) announced the winners of BIGGA Awards 2025 on the opening evening of the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME).

Merthyr Tydfil venue Morlais Castle Golf Club won the Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year Award with Bernhard and Company. The judges selected the three-strong greenkeeping team as winners ahead of the other, more established, finalists from Woburn Golf Club and Burnham & Berrow Golf Club, due to their commitment to including the local community in the hosting of the event.

Morlais Castle was nominated following the successful hosting of the Welsh Team Championship and head greenkeeper Stewart Freeman collected the award alongside his wife, Tessa, who also helped with greenkeeping tasks during the championship.

Also picking up an award on the night was the greenkeeping team from Parkstone Golf Club, who were revealed as the winner of the Greenkeeping Project of the Year Award with Price Turfcare.

Parkstone’s greenkeepers overcame multiple setbacks to create an exciting opening tee shot and practice area at the ‘Top 100’ course, located on the south coast. They were chosen as winners ahead of outstanding entries from Cowdray Golf Club and Long Ashton Golf Club, with the judges praising the communication and innovation of all three nominees.

The final award of the evening was presented to Stephen Bernhard, founder of Bernhard and Company. Throughout Stephen’s distinguished career he has advocated for greenkeeper training and education, culminating in the launch of the Bernhard Academy in 2019.

Jim Croxton, BIGGA CEO, said: “Congratulations to our winners. Their achievements extend far beyond the past year – for more than half a century in Stephen Bernhard’s case – and I’m delighted that we’re able to honour them in this way.

“To hear stories of how Stewart Freeman and everyone at Morlais Castle enlisted the local community to build a lasting legacy, or the ongoing success at Parkstone where Grant Peters continues to cement his reputation as one of our industry’s shining lights, it’s been a wonderful evening.”