Cole Miedema, assistant golf course superintendent at Overtake Golf & Country Club in Medina, Wash., visits the famous par-3 15th hole at Royal Liverpool, played as the 17th hole for the British Open. Photos courtesy of Cole Miedema.
In the fall of 2024, I was selected as one of the lucky GCSAA members who participated in Bernhard Academy Links to Success delegation. This program sends nine members to the annual BTME conference in the United Kingdom, paired with the incredible experience of touring several industry leaders in turf care across the pond.
The trip commenced in January 2025 with our arrival at Moortown Golf Club in Leeds. Steven Robinson, the resident historian and course manager, provided insights into the extensive history of the inaugural Alister MacKenzie-designed course and the prestige of hosting the first Ryder Cup on British soil. The presentation was complemented by a traditional Sunday roast lunch and further insight into the required operations of maintaining and restoring the rugged, natural beauty of the historic heathland course.
During the following three days, we stayed in the small northern town of Harrogate, where the annual BTME conference is held. I took advantage of the Continue to Learn initiative at the trade show, where I heard from industry leaders regarding numerous factors important to our trade including establishing a well-rounded fertilizer plan, future-proofing golf courses, mental health and wellbeing and leadership skills. The sessions were thoroughly stimulating, but extracurricular activities — such as the chilly 6:00 a.m. 5K jog, the BTME trade show, British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) celebration, and a meeting with Berhnard Academy alumni delegates from the UK to traveled to the US — provided a welcome classroom break.
The first hole at Royal Birkdale, which will host the 2026 Open. In preparation for the event, all the course's pot bunkers are being reconstructed.
As the institutional education portion of the trip concluded, the delegation and I made our next stop at the astonishing Manchester City FC training facility and Etihad Stadium. Here we were welcomed by John Ledwidge, the head of grounds and landscaping across the 16+ football pitches and stadium grounds. John captivated us with his approach in turf care, which aims to aid in both superior turf recovery and athlete satisfaction/safety. The use of LED lighting rigs, frequent aerification, topdressing and dynamic surface performance testing allows for superior conditions for the athletes, but also for grass that can withstand substantial use by the club’s numerous development and competition teams. The visit was highlighted with a final procession along the Etihad Stadium pitch where we observed the premier-level conditions required for one of the world’s elite football clubs.
Next, we went westward to Liverpool. Though nearing the completion of our excursion, the anticipation of visiting both the homeland of The Beatles and the surrounding championship level links courses was palpable. Royal Birkdale (host of the 2026 British Open) was the initial stop. Sean McLean, the course manager, appeared to thoroughly enjoy demonstrating the demands of preparing a course for British golf’s highest honor. Aside from the beautiful coastal landscape and an impromptu rainbow, we witnessed the exhaustive effort put forth by McLean and his team to provide a course of Open Championship-level quality.
The historic Royal Liverpool clubhouse, built in 1895.
After Royal Birkdale, we visited Royal Liverpool, one of golf’s most prestigious links courses. James Bledge, the course manager, introduced us to his amazing team and demonstrated how a relatively small crew of 12-15 greenskeepers present the highest-level conditions for membership and global guests while preparing for an impending Open. After combatting the 40 mph winds, we visited the historic clubhouse, where we were treated with a captivating account of the course’s history and its part in bringing the predominantly Scottish sport to Britain.
In near-perfect fashion, the best was truly saved for last. Our final destination was only a few miles up the road, at a lesser-known course named Wallasey. This club may not have had the fame associated with hosting world renowned tournaments, but it was steeped in golf history and featured breathtaking coastal views and rolling fescue-covered dunes. Wallasey is the home of the Stableford golf format (established in 1932 by member Dr. Frank Stableford). It also has the only signed portrait of famed US golfer Bobby Jones, who qualified at Wallasey in 1930 on his way to win the Open at Royal Liverpool. Leading the charge of Wallasey’s resurgence is course manager John Mcloughlin. During our visit, Mcloughlin took time to instill the importance of developing an adept and self-motivated team.
The final views over the swaying grasses of Wallasey out towards the Irish Sea were perfectly bittersweet. The opportunity to be a part of the Bernhard Academy Links to Success delegation is one I’ll never forget, only matched by the excitement I felt in bringing back all I learned.
Cole Miedema is the assistant golf course superintendent at Overtake Golf & Country Club in Medina, Wash., and is a two-year member of GCSAA.