The greenkeeping team at The Wentworth Club in Virginia Water
has been recognised for its incredible performance in preparing the course for
the BMW PGA Championship 2017 with the BIGGA Championship Performance of the
Year Award sponsored by 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.
The greenkeeping team at Deeside Golf Club in Aberdeenshire is
celebrating after being crowned BIGGA Awards winners at BTME 2018.
Led by Course Manager Neil McLoughlin (41), the greenkeeping
team were announced as the winner of the BIGGA Greenkeeping Achievement of the
Year Award sponsored by Baroness, at a ceremony held this evening in the
Harrogate Convention Centre’s Royal Hall.
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.
The
Deeside team was presented with the award by television presenter and
#ThisGirlGolfs ambassador Naga Munchetty at the BIGGA Welcome Celebration
sponsored by Textron Golf. The awards ceremony is one of the highlights of BTME
2018, the premier turf management exhibition in Europe.
Talented young greenkeeper Alistair Morrison is celebrating
after winning a BIGGA Award at BTME 2018.
Alistair (25) is head greenkeeper at Durness Golf Club and was
announced as the winner of the BIGGA Young Greenkeeper of the Year Award
sponsored by Textron Golf at an awards ceremony held this evening.
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.
Alistair’s
award was announced by television presenter and #ThisGirlGolfs ambassador Naga
Munchetty at the BIGGA Welcome Celebration sponsored by Textron Golf. He was
presented with his award by Andre Andrade, director of international sales at
Textron Golf. The awards ceremony is one of the highlights of BTME 2018, the
premier turf management exhibition in Europe.
