South East

Contact John

With outstanding experience in the golf industry, including in his role as assistant manager at West Surrey Golf Club, John works on behalf of BIGGA members in the South East Region, helping to provide learning opportunities and other incredible initiatives.

Contact Antony

I’ve been greenkeeping for 32 years and am currently course manager at Romford GC. For the last 20 years I’ve been on various BIGGA committees within Essex and East Anglia and am currently on the national board of BIGGA, investing my time in growing greenkeeping as a professional occupation.

Contact Paul

I started my greenkeeping career at West Malling GC as a summer casual in 1999. It was here that I completed my NVQ level 2.  

After 7 years I moved on to Wildernesse GC where I learned about tournament preparation including open qualifying. 

In 2013, I took the Deputy Head Greenkeeper position and completed my level 3. In 2014, I secured my first Head Greenkeeper position at Barnehurst GC before moving to my current role in January 2017.

I am currently undertaking my level 5 through Hadlow College, try to attend as many educational events and seminars as possible and I am active within the Kent Bigga section as chairperson. 

I am also a keen golfer that likes to compete in county and national events where possible.  

Contact George

I was inspired to become a greenkeeper after a wet visit to the World Matchplay at Wentworth in the mid-90s.

After my apprenticeship on the chalkdowns at Pyecombe, I moved on to Rookwood a parkland course in Horsham, where we were national runners up in the BIGGA Environmental competition.

Next, I pursued some tournament experience, similar to that which I had witnessed at Wentworth.
Four years at Celtic Manor, and a very wet Ryder Cup later, I returned to Sussex. Two positions later, I’m back on the chalkdowns, and 25 years later, I am the1st Assistant/Mechanic at The Dyke Golf Club, Brighton

Contact Antony

I’ve been greenkeeping for 32 years and am currently course manager at Romford GC. For the last 20 years I’ve been on various BIGGA committees within Essex and East Anglia and am currently on the national board of BIGGA, investing my time in growing greenkeeping as a professional occupation.

Contact Sam

My career in Greenkeeping started in 2012 when I joined The Grove Hotel as a casual summer worker. I came in with no knowledge of the industry and just imagined I would be cutting grass all day.  From day one I became obsessed with the job and every aspect that comes with managing a high quality sports turf surface.

Over my time at the Grove, I have worked my way through the ranks to become Head Greenkeeper in 2021. I am a firm believer in education and learning within golf course management, Completing a HNC and HND with Elmwood College whilst also becoming a scholar for the R+A.

I am proud to become a member of the South East board and look forward to helping with the progression and promotion of the greenkeeping profession.  

My name is Stefan Carter, Sustainable Championship Agronomist for the R&A. I have been working at the R&A since April 2025 and this role has already provided me with great opportunities to work with so many amazing Golf Clubs and people. My career started in greenkeeping in 2009, where I was first introduced to the profession at a local Golf Clubs to me in Leicester. Initially I enjoyed greenkeeping for the aspects such as working outside and working with machines. After several years, I undertook and completed my NVQ level 2 in Sportsturf Management. it wasn't until I was selected for the 2013 Open Championship support team through BIGGA where my perception on greenkeeping change forever. Coming from an average 18-hole Golf Club, to seeing grandstands, spectators and everything else that comes with Championship golf and greenkeeping opened my eyes to what I could be doing as a greenkeeper.   Upon returning from that Championship, I worked hard to achieve my short-term goals of working on the home team for a Championship. I volunteered at events such as the BMW PGA Championship and Amateur events hosted by the R&A, and in 2015, I joined The Wentworth Club team full time. My years spent at The Wentworth Club were invaluable to me as I was exposed to incredibly high standards, as well as new greenkeeping technologies and practices. I fully immersed myself into expanding my greenkeeping experiences. Some of that was academic with me completing my NVQ level 3 in Sportsturf management and reaching the national finals of the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the year, but also through additional volunteering opportunities including a wide array of international Championships as well as course renovation works at Le Golf National ahead of the 2018 Ryder Cup.  Through growing my reputation within the industry, I was referred for an internship at Augusta National Golf Club in 2017 which was and still remains one of my career highlights. Being part of such an amazing Golf Club and working as part of the home greenkeeping team for the Masters provided me with an even higher level of standards and expectations with my greenkeeping work. 

I returned to The Wentworth Club in 2018 as a Senior Greenkeeper on the West Course where I also started my FdSc in Sportsturf Science and Management online through Myerscough College to further expand my technical knowledge. During the following years I continued to build on my experiences both educationally through completing my BSc (Hons) in Sportsturf Science and Management at Myerscough college, whilst progressing to Head Greenkeeper and eventually Deputy Courses Manager at The Wentworth Club. Being in a position to be leading the home greenkeeping team and volunteers for multiple BMW PGA Championships was a surreal feeling at the age of 29 but was a good example of through hard work and determination in your career, you can achieve your goals.   In April 2025 I stepped away from the greenkeeping side of the industry and into the incredible role of Sustainable Championship Agronomist that I am in today. This move has allowed me to continue to develop and progress my career, whilst also providing opportunities to share my career and experiences to inspire the next generation of industry professionals.