The R&A Championship Agronomy Programme Roll of Honour

The R&A Championship Agronomy Programme sees 10 BIGGA members selected to join the greenkeeping teams at elite championships throughout the summer, including The Open and Women's Open.

Participants

2025

In 2025, the participants will attend the following events:

  • The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush
  • The Senior Open at Sunningdale
  • The AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl
  • The Amateur Championship at Royal St George's and Royal Cinque Ports
  • The Women's Amateur Championship at Nairn

The team is:

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Dean Baily

Deputy Course Manager at Heswall Golf Club

Dean (33) is deputy course manager at Heswall Golf Club on the Wirrall but has travelled extensively throughout his career.

He previously worked at Gleneagles in Scotland, as a groundsperson at the All England Tennis and Croquet Club (Wimbledon) and abroad at Ingaro Golf Club in Sweden and Jacks Point Golf Club in New Zealand. He also spent over a year as an assistant groundsperson at Chelsea Football Club.

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Steven Connolly

Course Manager at Ansty Golf Centre

With 27 years’ worth of experience, Steven (46) is the course manager at Get Golfing Ansty Golf Club, where he has transformed the fortunes of the facility while also working towards his Master Greenkeeper certificate.

During his time on this programme, he will be able to draw upon significant experience having worked at the Spanish Open, British Masters and PGA European Seniors at The Belfry. Steven has also been course manager for major events including the National Schools Championship and English Amateur championships.

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Kyle Gauld

Assistant Greenkeeper at Whitecraigs Golf Club

Kyle (22) is an assistant greenkeeper at Whitecraigs Golf Club near Glasgow.

Despite only working in the golf industry three years, Kyle has fully-embraced the opportunities it presents and under the tutelage of Course Manager Andy Wilson has completed an apprenticeship and gained several qualifications that are useful to his chosen career. In 2024 he also participated in BIGGA’s final Open Volunteer Support Team.

A keen golfer, Kyle previously worked at Mearns Castle Golf Academy, where he was responsible for maintaining the driving range area.

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Jack Hall

Senior Greenkeeper at Kilworth Springs Golf Club

Jack (31) is senior greenkeeper at Kilworth Springs Golf Club, having previously worked at several golf clubs including Stratford Oaks, Northampton, Lutterworth and Cold Ashby.

He plays golf to a handicap of 3 and has a degree in tournament golf earned at the University of St Mark & St John in Plymouth. Jack has also gained tournament experience volunteering as part of the BMW PGA Volunteer Support Team at Wentworth Club in 2019 and 2022 among other elite professional championships.

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Adam Matthews

Deputy Courses Manager at Minchinhampton Golf Club

Adam (39) has been a member of the greens team at Minchinhampton Golf Club for over 20 years. A former football referee, Adam also took charge of Championship matches and has visited more than 70 Premier League and Football League grounds across the UK.

Adam has spent his entire adult working life at Minchinhampton and following a five-year spell as golf courses manager, in 2024 Adam made the decision to step into the deputy courses manager role.

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Geoff Seath

Deputy Head Greenkeeper at Broadstone Golf Club

Splitting his career between Australia and England’s south coast, Geoffrey (39) is currently deputy head greenkeeper at Broadstone Golf Club. He has gained outstanding experience in the UK, having previously worked at The Wisley, Queenwood and Coombe Hill golf clubs in Surrey and prior to that he worked near Sydney at Twin Creeks Golf Club and in Sydney University’s sports department.

Geoffrey also sampled greenkeeping Stateside by participating in the Ohio State Program, where he worked at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club and TPC Sawgrass for the 2018 Players Championship.

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Duncan Sieling

Deputy Course Manager at The Richmond Golf Club

The deputy course manager at The Richmond Golf Club, Duncan (47) has over 25 years of experience ranging from private members’ clubs to championship resorts.

Playing to a handicap of 1, Duncan is a talented golfer who has already experienced working at championships in Ireland, Australia, Germany and the United States, where he joined the agronomy team for The Players Championship in 2013. He is also part of the matchday groundstaff at Luton Town FC.

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Christopher Szoradi

First Assistant at Manchester Golf Club

A first assistant greenkeeper at Manchester Golf Club, Chris (24) is currently studying towards his Level 3 Advanced Golf Greenkeeping qualification at Askham Bryan College.

Chris is fortunate to have had some outstanding bosses, both in Jonny Roberts at Manchester and previously Michael Gibbons at Disley Golf Club, with both keen to develop their team and encouraging them to get involved with BIGGA’s career-development opportunities.

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Bradley Taylor

Assistant Greenkeeper at Beau Desert Golf Club

Another football referee, Bradley (27) serves in the United Counties League and as an assistant referee in the National League System. Since May 2024 he has worked as an assistant greenkeeper at Beau Desert Golf Club, following a successful spell at The Belfry.

He already has extensive tournament experience, having volunteered at the Betfred British Masters, HSBC Abu Dhabi Championships and the Cazoo Welsh Open and in 2025 participated in the ICL Continue to Learn Scholarship.

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Ethan Walker

Asstant Greenkeeper at Enville Golf Club

An assistant greenkeeper at Enville Golf Club since October 2024, Ethan (26) is another to have gained significant tournament experience while working at The Belfry.

He has already experience four British Masters, as well as joining the greenkeeping teams at the Genesis Scottish Open in 2022 and the PGA Tour Championship at East Lake.

 

Find out more about The R&A Championship Agronomy Programme here.

This programme is just one of a wide range of initiatives intended to broaden the knowledge and expertise of BIGGA members. Find out more about how BIGGA membership can support you and your team here.

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