BIGGA and Bernhard and Co. are again teaming up to bring a delegation to the annual Golf Industry Show, this time the 2018 event in San Antonio. Photo courtesy of BIGGA
The 10 British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) members who will saddle up for a trip to San Antonio and the Golf Industry Show next year as part of the BIGGA delegation, sponsored by Bernhard and Co., have been revealed.
BIGGA’s golf course managers and greenkeepers will enjoy the trip of a lifetime to GIS, one of the major events on the industry calendar. The GCSAA-organized educational conference will take place at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Feb. 3-8.
The delegates for 2017 are:
- Stuart Adams, Head Greenkeeper, Cardigan Golf Club
- Craig Berry, Course Supervisor, St. Andrews Links Trust
- James Bonfield, Course Manager, The Hertfordshire Golf Club
- Thomas Jacques, Greenkeeper, Royal Lytham & St. Annes
- Richard Johnstone, Course Manager, Nairn Dunbar Golf Links
- Jamie Martin, Head Greenkeeper, Gifford Golf Club
- Tom Smith, Head Greenkeeper, Wickham Park Golf Club
- Timothy Lewis Sethi, Golfpark Zurichsee
- David Warner, Deputy Head Greenkeeper, Woking Golf Club
- Andy Whyman, Head Greenkeeper, Pryors Hayes Golf Club
Each of the delegates completed an application form before being invited to a second application stage, which consisted of interviews with representatives from BIGGA and Bernhard and Co.
The 10 BIGGA members on the “Bernhard Delegation,” as it is commonly known in the industry, will travel together to the U.S. for GIS, where they will enjoy fantastic networking opportunities and hands-on access to world-leading golf course and facility management solutions. The delegates will also attend some of GIS’s superb educational seminars, presentations and workshops.
In addition to visiting the exhibition, the delegates will act as ambassadors for BIGGA and Bernhard by manning the BIGGA booth at the show.
The Bernhard Delegation is one of the industry’s most established and popular trips, and many of the delegates have described it as one of the highlights of their career.
Jim Croxton, CEO of BIGGA, said: “A place on the BIGGA delegation to the Golf Industry Show has become synonymous with BIGGA members who are dedicated and passionate about striving to improve their own abilities, and as such, we can’t ask for better ambassadors to represent the association stateside.
“Through the continued and excellent support of Bernhard and Co., I am delighted that we are able to offer these 10 BIGGA members what is certain to be a career-defining experience.”
Steve Nixon, global director of sales for Bernhard, said: “Bernhard are very proud to sponsor the BIGGA delegation and would like to congratulate all 10 delegates for the quality of their application. We are looking forward to spending time with them all and helping them toward developing their career further through this experience.”
Applications for the 2019 Bernhard Delegation will be launched in July.