BIGGA reveals finalists of its annual greenkeeping awards, with the winners due to be announced at BTME 2023
An innovative project to restore the historic links that hosted the first Open Championship, a club that hosted its first ever professional golf event and a team that battled Scottish snowfall to construct a new hole have been revealed as the finalists of the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association's (BIGGA) Awards 2023.
Each year BIGGA invites nominations from across the golfing industry to recognise the achievements of its members, who play a vital role in the ongoing success of the sport.
The BIGGA Awards are divided into three categories, with the winners revealed at the BIGGA Welcome Celebration with Origin Amenity Solutions, taking place on the opening evening of the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) in January 2023.
BTME is the largest annual gathering of greenkeeping professionals outside America and is held at the Harrogate Convention Centre in North Yorkshire alongside the Continue to Learn education programme. Together the events are considered among the most influential in the golfing calendar given the professional development opportunities presented to golf greenkeepers, helping them produce fantastic playing surfaces at every level of the sport.
With incredible prizes up for grabs, the BIGGA Awards recognise that high standards of quality and dedication are vital to the success of any golf course or championship. They reward the innovation of BIGGA members who are at the cutting edge of the profession and any BIGGA member within the UK, regardless of their golf facility's size, age or reputation, can enter. The awards provide golf clubs with an opportunity to showcase their greenkeeping team's talents and celebrate their achievements.
Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year sponsored by Bernhard and Company
This award isn't just restricted to those clubs who host majors or DP World Tour events. A team may have done incredible work to get the course fit for professional or amateur events, including national or important local championships.
The finalists in this category for 2023 are:
- Abridge Golf Club in Essex for hosting the club's first EuroPro Tour event, the PDC Championship, from 29 June to 1 July 2022
- Minchinhampton Golf Club in Gloucestershire for hosting South West Week and Open Championship - Regional Qualifying in June 2022
- St Annes Old Links for the hosting of Open Championship - Final Qualifying and The R&A's Amateur Championship in June 2022
Greenkeeping Project of the Year sponsored by Sports Turf Data Solutions
This award recognises those greenkeeping teams who have undertaken a specific project, completed within the past year. However, projects can be long term and include course construction, renovation or rebuild - the possibilities are endless.
The finalists in this category for 2023 are:
- Astbury Golf Club, led by Head Greenkeeper Andy Brougham, for their bunker renovation project
- Prestwick Golf Club, led by Golf Course Superintendent David Edmondson, for the recreation of the original 12-hole Open layout used for the first Open Championship
- Strathaven Golf Club, led by Head Greenkeeper Stephen Hunter, for the redesign and reshaping of two holes to fit in with safety concerns
Outstanding Contribution of the Year sponsored by Baroness
This award is presented to a BIGGA member or members who has made an outstanding contribution above and beyond their normal working life. This can be for charity, for the betterment of the greenkeeping profession or association or generally for society. The winner of this award will be revealed at the BIGGA Welcome Celebration at BTME 2023.
More information about each of the finalists can be found on the BTME website.
BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton said: "Around Christmas each year I get the tremendous pleasure of revealing which of our incredible members have been selected as finalists of the BIGGA Awards, with the winners to be announced at our fantastic BIGGA Welcome Celebration at BTME. I never fail to be impressed by what our members are able to achieve, despite the sometimes immense challenges put in front of them. Whether it be a project to improve their facility or preparing for and delivering an important championship at their venue, their skill, talent and commitment knows no bounds.
"Congratulations to our finalists and thanks as always to our wonderful sponsors for supporting BIGGA members every step of the way."