BIGGA and The R&A select ten greenkeepers for first-ever championship agronomy experience
The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and The R&A have selected ten ambitious and talented greenkeepers to provide tournament support during five of this year’s biggest championships.
Course preparation © The R&A.
Ten BIGGA members will join the home greenkeeping teams for the hosting of this summer’s R&A championships, including The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush and the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl. The greenkeepers will gain experience in elite championship preparation, working alongside the home greenkeeping teams and The R&A’s Championship Agronomy Team.
The volunteers will be on site at:
- The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush
- The Senior Open at Sunningdale
- The AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl
- The Amateur Championship at Royal St George’s and Royal Cinque Ports
- The Women’s Amateur Championship at Nairn
Each member is selected to participate at one of the championships, where they will be fully embedded into the home greenkeeping team. The entire group will also assemble at Royal Birkdale in April for an education session and will be invited to attend The Open at Royal Portrush, where they will learn about course preparation and the staging of a major championship.
The R&A Championship Agronomy Programme is the latest exclusive offering for members of BIGGA, building on the existing programme of exciting member initiatives, each intended to further the ability and skill of greenkeeping professionals.
The successful BIGGA members selected for 2025 are:
- Ethan Walker, Enville Golf Club
- Steven Connolly, Ansty Golf Centre
- Duncan Sieling, The Richmond Golf Club
- Kyle Gauld, Whitecraigs Golf Club
- Geoffrey Seath, Broadstone Golf Club
- Christopher Szoradi, The Manchester Golf Club
- Adam Matthews, Minchinhampton Golf Club
- Jack Hall, Kilworth Springs Golf Club
- Dean Baily, Heswall Golf Club
- Bradley Taylor, Beau Desert Golf Club
Adam Newton, Sustainable Championship Agronomy Lead at The R&A, said: “After an extensive application process, we have selected 10 impressive candidates who will gain a great insight into championship agronomy and greenkeeping at some of our most prestigious R&A Championships and a unique educational experience that will support them in their future careers.
“We look forward to developing the programme with BIGGA over future years and ensuring that it represents an aspirational learning experience for its members.”
Jim Croxton, BIGGA CEO, said: “BIGGA members have access to an incredible range of exclusive career-development opportunities and I’m convinced that the R&A Championship Agronomy Programme will soon be held among the upper echelons of those. Our collaboration with The R&A is a real vote of confidence that highlights how well thought-of our members are by the wider industry.
“My congratulations go to the 10 members selected to participate in this first cohort. The emphasis is now on them to make the most of the opportunity and represent our profession and association to the highest standard.
“My thanks also go to The R&A and greenkeeping teams at each of the host venues for the enthusiasm that has brought this programme to fruition.”
For more information about BIGGA and its various activities including how to become a member, visit www.bigga.org.uk
Dean Baily
Dean (33) is deputy course manager at Heswall Golf Club on the Wirrall but has travelled extensively throughout his career. He previously worked at Gleneagles in Scotland, as a groundsperson at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (Wimbledon) and abroad at Ingaro Golf Club in Sweden and Jacks Point Golf Club in New Zealand. He also spent over a year as an assistant groundsperson at Chelsea Football Club.
Steven Connolly
With 27 years’ worth of experience, Steven (46) is the course manager at Get Golfing Ansty Golf Club, where he has transformed the fortunes of the facility while also working towards his Master Greenkeeper certificate.
During his time on this programme, he will be able to draw upon significant experience having worked at the Spanish Open, British Masters and PGA European Seniors at The Belfry. Steven has also been course manager for major events including the National Schools Championship and English Amateur championships.
Kyle Gauld
Kyle (22) is an assistant greenkeeper at Whitecraigs Golf Club near Glasgow.
Despite only working in the golf industry three years, Kyle has fully-embraced the opportunities it presents and under the tutelage of Course Manager Andy Wilson has completed an apprenticeship and gained several qualifications that are useful to his chosen career. In 2024 he also participated in BIGGA’s final Open Volunteer Support Team, which has since been replaced by The R&A Championship Agronomy Programme.
A keen golfer, Kyle previously worked at Mearns Castle Golf Academy, where he was responsible for maintaining the driving range area.
Jack Hall
Jack (31) is senior greenkeeper at Kilworth Springs Golf Club, having previously worked at several golf clubs including Stratford Oaks, Northampton, Lutterworth and Cold Ashby.
He plays golf to a handicap of 3 and has a degree in tournament golf earned at the University of St Mark & St John in Plymouth. Jack has also gained tournament experience volunteering as part of the BMW PGA Volunteer Support Team at Wentworth Club in 2019 and 2022 among other elite professional championships.
Adam Matthews
Adam (39) has been a member of the greens team at Minchinhampton Golf Club for over 20 years. A former football referee, Adam also took charge of Championship matches and has visited more than 70 Premier League and Football League grounds across the UK.
Adam has spent his entire adult working life at Minchinhampton and following a five-year spell as golf courses manager, in 2024 Adam made the decision to step into the deputy courses manager role.
Geoffrey Seath
Splitting his career between Australia and England’s south coast, Geoffrey (39) is currently deputy head greenkeeper at Broadstone Golf Club. He has gained outstanding experience in the UK, having previously worked at The Wisley, Queenwood and Coombe Hill golf clubs in Surrey and prior to that he worked near Sydney at Twin Creeks Golf Club and in Sydney University’s sports department.
Geoffrey also sampled greenkeeping Stateside by participating in the Ohio State Program, where he worked at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club and TPC Sawgrass for the 2018 Players Championship.
Duncan Sieling
The deputy course manager at The Richmond Golf Club, Duncan (47) has over 25 years of experience ranging from private members’ clubs to championship resorts.
Playing to a handicap of 1, Duncan is a talented golfer who has already experienced working at championships in Ireland, Australia, Germany and the United States, where he joined the agronomy team for The Players Championship in 2013. He is also part of the matchday groundstaff at Luton Town FC.
Christopher Szoradi
A first assistant greenkeeper at Manchester Golf Club, Chris (24) is currently studying towards his Level 3 Advanced Golf Greenkeeping qualification at Askham Bryan College.
Chris is fortunate to have had some outstanding bosses, both in Jonny Roberts at Manchester and previously Michael Gibbons at Disley Golf Club, with both keen to develop their team and encouraging them to get involved with BIGGA’s career-development opportunities.
Bradley Taylor
Another football referee, Bradley (27) serves in the United Counties League and as an assistant referee in the National League System. Since May 2024 he has worked as an assistant greenkeeper at Beau Desert Golf Club, following a successful spell at The Belfry.
He already has extensive tournament experience, having volunteered at the Betfred British Masters, HSBC Abu Dhabi Championships and the Cazoo Welsh Open and in 2025 participated in the ICL Continue to Learn Scholarship.
Ethan Walker
An assistant greenkeeper at Enville Golf Club since October 2024, Ethan (26) is another to have gained significant tournament experience while working at The Belfry. He has already experience four British Masters, as well as joining the greenkeeping teams at the Genesis Scottish Open in 2022 and the PGA Tour Championship at East Lake.