INVESTMENT IN GREENKEEPING STARS OF THE FUTURE

The Grove in Hertfordshire has announced two important promotions within its greenkeeping team to continue its long-running heritage of developing the golf industry’s stars of the future.

Since opening in 2003 a host of young talent have crafted their skills at the venue, under the leadership of golf course and estate manager, Phillip Chiverton, who has been at the forefront of The Grove's green-keeping operation for 20 years.

The latest greenkeepers to rise through the ranks of the young team are 27-year-olds Sam Reid and Callum Herbst. 

Sam is The Grove's new head greenkeeper, with immediate effect, and Callum is promoted to deputy head greenkeeper. Both joined The Grove in 2012, Herbst as an apprentice, and Reid as a casual worker, while studying at Buckinghamshire University.

Reid's rise to head greenkeeper status has seen him help prepare the championship course for The British Masters in 2016, achieve an R&A Greenkeeper Scholarship in 2018, and work with the course's world-renowned architect, Kyle Phillips, during an extensive bunker redesign and rebuild project in 2020.

Herbst's journey has included being a Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finalist, along with work experience during the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in the USA, and at the French Open at Le Golf National.

Commenting on the promotions, Phillip Chiverton, said: "In Sam and Callum we have two certain agronomy leaders of tomorrow. The Grove has always invested in young talent and we have a rich history of coaching greenkeepers through the early stages of their careers.

"While our day-to-day objectives always remain keeping The Grove in pristine condition all-year-round, it is also important we offer the next generation of greenkeeping stars a platform from which to succeed and prosper. Seeing young talent develop at The Grove and then go on to prosper in all corners of the globe is hugely rewarding."

A consistent development programme with scope for continual internal promotion has seen many of The Grove’s young stars go on to secure senior industry roles at other world-renowned golfing destinations, including Trump International Golf Links in Scotland, Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, San Roque Club in Spain and Abu Dhabi Golf Club, UAE.