Wrexham greenkeeper’s ‘smart’ photograph claims top prize in BIGGA competition

A spectacular dawn image of a greenkeeper preparing his course at a modest North Wales golf club has claimed first prize in the prestigious annual BIGGA Photographic Competition.

From The Remarkables Mountain Range in New Zealand to the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, BIGGA members from all over the globe submitted entries for the competition, which has seen the judge's favourite 12 images selected for inclusion in the greenkeeping association's calendar 2017.

The winner of the photographic competition was announced exclusively in Greenkeeper International, which is the monthly magazine received by each of BIGGA's almost 6,000 members.

The theme for this year's competition was 'Life on the Course', with images focusing on the hard work and dedication of greenkeepers, most of which goes unseen by golfers.

There were spectacular sunrises and sunsets, beautiful wildlife and a whole load of mud, rain and snow, but in the end there could only be one winner.

Wrexham Golf Club's Acting Deputy Head Greenkeeper John Parry used his eye for a photograph to capture the winning image.

The photograph, taken on his Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone, shows a silhouetted greenkeeper installing a hole on the club's 6^th green at dawn one morning.

"I'm over the moon to have won," said John. "There were a lot of really good pictures entered into the competition, so I actually can't believe it. It was a beautiful morning and I was out there with my boss at the time, changing holes. I took hundreds of photos that morning, and I saw him on the 6^th hole with the sunrise behind. He didn't know I was taking the photo and so it was very natural."

"I'm absolutely over the moon to have won and I can't wait to defend my title in next year's competition."

In winning the competition, John scooped the top prize of an Apple Watch. He will also be presented with a framed print of his photograph at the Welcome Celebration, to be held at BIGGA's annual trade exhibition, BTME, in January.