The Mere Golf Resort and Spa in Cheshire has not one but two new additions to its team and both are award-winning.
The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year and Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards are renowned within the industry for seeking out some of the best talent in the industry and The Mere is delighted to have both winners on its greenkeeping team.
Course manager John Quinn says: “It’s great we can attract people at this level; we’re very proud to have two of the brightest talents in the industry working with us here.”
The awards, held on 17 and 18 of September, saw Daniel Ashelby and Danny Patten receiving their titles after a tough assessment process, which included an interview, presentation and examination.
With a bright future ahead for both young greenkeepers, Daniel and Danny are valuable additions to the 18-hole course set in a luxury resort, says John: “Both Daniel and Danny are fitting in with the team here really well. Daniel is a supervisor and the team are all really inspired by him and his enthusiasm. For Danny, it’s a bigger team and a new challenge, but he’s not been phased by it at all.”
He continues: “I know there’s a really bright future ahead for both of them. They’re both really driven, so I’ve no doubt that it won’t take them long to get to where they want to be.”
As his reward for winning, Daniel has won a six-week placement at the University of Massachusetts Winter School for Turf Managers, plus a trip to the Golf Industry Show in San Diego and a visit to the Toro factory in Minnesota. While Danny has won a two-week experience placement at Vidauban Golf Club in southern France, where he will experience the different methods of course management utilised at the exclusive venue. Plus, he receives a further all-expenses paid trip to ‘Continue to Learn’ at BTME and a Toro training course voucher.
John says: “It’s fantastic for us that Daniel and Danny get to have these international experiences. They will be bringing back to The Mere different viewpoints and more knowledge and experience that will only help enhance our golf offering.
“There’s a real misconception about greenkeeping and lots of people think that it’s just cutting grass, but there’s a lot more to it than that. It’s a science and there is always more to learn. By sponsoring these awards Toro and Reesink Turfcare help raise the profile of greenkeeping and show that it’s a skilled, professional industry. And it’s great that they encourage younger people and give them something to aspire to.”
David Cole managing director from Reesink concludes: “We are very proud of the status that the student award holds within the industry and the opportunity it has provided for career advancement over the years, plus how it benefits the clubs the winners work for. We look forward to seeing how Daniel and Danny progress in their careers.”