FIVE SCHOLARSHIP WINNING GREENKEEPERS REVEALED

PICTURED ABOVE: Reay greenkeeper Jason Norwood has been selected as an ICL Scholar

BIGGA and ICL have revealed the five participants of the eighth ICL Continue to Learn Scholarship. 
 
From a remote links course on the north coast of Scotland to a nine-hole championship venue close to central London, BIGGA say the scholars for 2024 accurately represent the diverse greenkeeping industry and how anyone can make a great career for themselves by grasping the opportunities made available via membership. 
 
The five successful members have been invited to attend Continue to Learn at BTME, taking place in Harrogate, in January 2024. 
 
The ICL Continue to Learn Scholars for 2024 are: 

• Chris Hale, deputy course manager, Taunton & Pickeridge Golf Club
• Sam Norman, assistant greenkeeper, Abbey Hill Golf Club
• Kate Stillwell, course superintendent, West London Golf Centre
• Jason Norwood, greenkeeper, Reay Golf Club
• Jamie Caswell, Blue Course supervisor, Frilford Heath Golf Club 

To earn a scholarship, BIGGA members must demonstrate a commitment to developing their own professional abilities by engaging with the association's Continuing Professional Development scheme. Whether through in-person learning, reading the association’s monthly journal, or by accessing resources on the association’s website, members can participate in thousands of learning opportunities, all aimed at improving their professional abilities.

Jason Norwood has previously enjoyed success, having been crowned the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year in 2019 and participating in the The Open Volunteer Support Team and the Future Turf Managers Initiative. The Reay greenkeeper said, “Living in the far north of Scotland, there is a lack of educational events that you would find in other areas of the UK. Being a lone greenkeeper, this proves challenging to get the time away from maintaining the golf course without it impacting the rest of the working week. The ICL Scholarship will enable me to access the best educational event in the greenkeeping calendar.” 
 
Kate Stillwell is course superintendent at West London Golf Centre, a nine-hole championship golf course just five miles from Wembley Stadium. She said, “I feel very fortunate to have been accepted as there is a huge wealth of knowledge to take advantage of at BTME that I can bring back to share with the team. There is huge importance in continuing to educate ourselves on advances in technology, techniques and knowledge within the groundscare industry. There have been contacts I have made for life at BTME and my hope is to carry on sharing and spreading the knowledge, bringing new people into the industry.”