Meet the Finalists - 2024

Endorsed by Rob Phillips, Berkshire College of Agriculture

Patrick was previously an IT recruiter and before then he worked at Daytona Kart Track, so unsurprisingly he's a massive motorsports fan. He also does ju-jitsu.

Patrick has completed his PA1 and 2 training with the assistance of the BIGGA Refund of Fees scheme supported by Baroness. He has experienced three BMW PGA Championships at Wentworth Club and has also volunteered for the Cazoo Classic at Hillside and the Portugal Masters at Dom Pedro Golf Club Vilamoura. This summer he'll join the BIGGA Open Volunteer Support Team at Royal Troon.

Patrick was an ICL Scholar at Continue to Learn 2023 and has twice been awarded greenkeeper of the month at Wentworth Club, including being put forward for employee of the quarter in 2023.

Endorsed by Sam Reid, The Grove

A former hotel doorman, Jack has been greenkeeping for two years. He enjoys gardening with his eldest daughter and together they grow plants and vegetables, as well as doing lawn maintenance.

Jack joined The Grove in 2022 and during that summer's dry weather was tasked with moisture management on the club's USGA-specification greens. Since then, he has taken ownership of managing moisture levels on the course and has been awarded employee of the month numerous times.

Jack will volunteer at the Aramco Team Series at Centurion Club during July and looking forward hopes to begin working alongside The Grove's head mechanic, Neil Cawley, to manage the club's Toro fleet.

Endorsed by Neil Markham, Tadmarton Heath Golf Club

Matt began his working life in an office without any windows and quickly realised he needed to escape. His dad had been a greenkeeper for 40 years and offered to give him some turf management training as Matt became the sole greenkeeper working at the nine-hole Daventry and District Golf Course.

Matt was a finalist at Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year in 2022 and on the journey home drove past Tadmarton Heath Golf Club. "It is a well-renowned heathland course in my area and has ambitions for being a top 100 course in the UK," said Matt. "I decided to ask if they needed any staff and luckily enough someone had left a few days earlier. A month later I started work there!"

Matt holds a degree in audio recording and technology and plays guitar and bass. He has performed with a variety of bands ranging from Johnny Cash covers to heavy metal.

Endorsed by Cary Rawlings, Bridgwater & Taunton College

A talented cricketer and golfer, Jack has represented Somerset at county level in both sports. 

Jack is deputy course manager at Farrington Park, having been in the industry for almost six years. In 2023 he was selected by the BIGGA SW&SW Region as the recipient of funding to support his trip to BTME to further his education.

Jack was part of the volunteer staff at Celtic Manor Resort for the 2022 Cazoo Open and is looking forward to assisting Mackenzie & Ebert as the golf architects develop a new 12-hole course at Farrington Park.

Endorsed by Callum Wark, JCB Golf & Country Club

A lifelong supporter and season ticket holder of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Jack has worked in the sports turf industry for nearly 10 years. He was selected for FTMI in 2023 and has travelled to the USA on four occasions to volunteer at PGA Tour events. In 2022 he volunteered at Augusta National Golf Club for the Augusta National Women's Amateur.

Jack said: "I am excited for what the future holds at JCB Golf & Country Club, my home club that has given me the inspiration and platform to achieve anything I wish to achieve."

Endorsed by Jack Sims, Nevill Golf Club

Morgan enjoys downhill mountain bike racing and has been an apprentice greenkeeper at Nevill for two years. He attended Continue to Learn this year and said it was an inspiring experience. Despite only celebrating his 18th birthday in February, Morgan is certified in pesticide application (PA1 & 6) and said he is proud to represent Nevill GC at these awards.

Endorsed by Craig Malloy, Bishop Burton College

Alex began his journey in turf by volunteering as a matchday groundsman at Lincoln City FC and has also helped out at Boston United FC. He has since become the youngest matchday groundsperson at Wembley Stadium.

Alex hopes to volunteer at upcoming golf championships in France and Dubai but said he has a great passion for greenkeeping, demonstrated by the research he does at home and the fertiliser and maintenance programmes he produces.

Endorsed by Jim Cassidy, Myerscough College

Will enjoys cricket, football, darts and golf and has worked at Kilworth Springs for 19 months.

He said: "I hope to one day become a course manager at a top golf course. I also want to travel to lots of different golf courses and learn more along the way."

Endorsed by Andrew Sims, Sparsholt College

Daniel switched to greenkeeping after completing a Level 3 extended diploma in sport and excellence, specialising in golf. He said: "During this course I was given the opportunity to complete two weeks' work experience at Wellow Golf Club. I enjoyed this so much that as soon as my course was completed, I pursued a career in greenkeeping."

Daniel said he has a particular interest in heathland management, adding "bringing back the natural landscape of the course to heathland not only enhances the look of the golf course but supplies a valuable habitat and helps to promote golf courses in a positive light".

Endorsed by Scott Robertson, Strathmore Golf Centre

Cameron spent the summer of 2021 working as a seasonal greenkeeper and straight after finishing school the following year he got straight to working in his chosen career. 

"I soon realised I had made the right choice about going into greenkeeping," he said. "I love helping to present the golf course to members and visitors and seeing how much effort goes into getting it to such a high standard."

Cameron won the Harry Diamond Award at the BIGGA Scotland Awards 2023, which gave him the opportunity to visit the maintenance facilities at St Andrews Links Trust, Loch Lomond Golf Club and Murrayfield Golf Club. He will also join the volunteer team for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in September.