BIGGA’s golfing Major made its way to Devon in 2023 with the spectacular Saunton Golf Club playing host to our largest annual golf event.
The BIGGA National Championship sponsored by Origin Amenity Solutions was held in its usual two-day format, with members in with a chance of getting their hands on the BIGGA National Challenge Trophy (strokeplay) and Challenge Cup (Stableford).
Both of Saunton's championship courses are listed in the UK's Top 100 golf courses and BIGGA members got to sample these historic links for an incredibly low price, with a gala dinner and lunch on both days included in the cost.
Prize winners
Overall
BIGGA National Championship Challenge Trophy
1st Tom Lowe, Woodhall Spa Golf Club
2nd Ryan Bone, The Wisley
3rd Joshua Caffyn, Barton-on-Sea Golf Club
4th Robert Boxall, Liphook Golf Club
5th Tom Stanley, Wath Golf Club
BIGGA National Championship Challenge Cup
1st Ryan Bone, The Wisley, 75 points
2nd Richard Ponsford, Clevedon Golf Club, 70 points
BIGGA National Championship Regional Cup
Ryan Bone, The Wisley; Anthony Duffield, Ham Manor Golf Club; James Lynch, West Sussex Golf Club, Ali Gessous, Roehampton Club
Affiliate
Derek Cunliffee, Origin Amenity Solutions
'I've been greenkeeping for just over two years now and I absolutely love it. I'm absolutely ecstatic, I don't really know what to say. If I'm honest I felt the tension down the stretch! I don't think I have any words, I'm blown away.'
Challenge Trophy winner
Round One
Division 1 (<5 handicap) Ryan Bone, The Wisley, 38 points
Division 2 (6-12 handicap) Eddy Oliver, Liphook Golf Club, 32 points
Division 3 (13< handicap) Richard Ponsford, Clevedon Golf Club, 34 points
Nearest the pin prizes Tony Thacker, Oly Browning (x2), Danny Stock, John Simmonds
Round Two
Division 1 (<5 handicap) AJ Loveday, Romford Golf Club, 32 points
Division 2 (6-12 handicap) Jonathan Evans, Ramsdale Park Golf Centre, 35 points
Division 3 (13< handicap) David Warner, Woking Golf Club, 40 points
Nearest the pin prizes Mark Jarrett, Danny Carter, Dan Branson
'I’ve been playing pretty terribly of late, so even just winning one prize would have been fantastic, so to come away with a trophy and a few prizes is fantastic! I’ll be back next year, I recommend it to anybody, to play fantastic courses like these with your peers is a fantastic way to meet new people.'
Challenge Cup winner
About the BIGGA National
There are no handicap limitations in place, meaning BIGGA members of any golfing standard canparticipate, and with entry costing just £100 including two rounds at Saunton Golf Club, lunch on both days and an evening meal, the event is an incredible value-for-money opportunity to sample one of the most historic courses in the South West.
Participants can access a preferential hotel rate with Brend Hotels using the code 'BIGGA Nationals 23'.
The prize pot amounts to in excess of £2,000, with prizes up for grabs for every standard of golfer, including:
BIGGA National Championship Challenge Trophy
Awarded to the best strokeplay score across two rounds
BIGGA National Championship Challenge Cup
Awarded to the best combined Stableford score across two rounds
BIGGA National Championship Regional Cup
Awarded to the four entrants from a single region who return the best combined Stableford score on the opening day.
Previous BIGGA National champions
| 1987 | Verulam | Mel Guy |
| 1988 | Ayr Belleisle | Edwin Walsh |
| 1989 | Lyme Regis | Paul Newcombe |
| 1990 | Ganton | Gerald Bruce |
| 1991 | Royal St Davids | Barry Holt |
| 1992 | Littlestone | Richard Barker |
| 1993 | Dunbar | Malcolm Latham |
| 1994 | Dartmouth | Malcolm Latham |
| 1995 | Old St Annes | Shaun Richards |
| 1996 | Seacroft | James Dair |
| 1997 | Cooden Beach | Steve Sullivan |
| 1999 | Carden Park | Anthony James |
| 2000 | Old St Annes / Fairhaven | Dustin Houghton |
| 2001 | Southport & Ainsdale/Birkdale | Chris Bell |
| 2002 | Hillside/Hesketh | Ian Semple |
| 2003 | Hollinwell /Coxmoor | Chris Lomas |
| 2004 | Aldwoodley | Graeme Macdonald |
| 2005 | Worksop/Sherwood Forest | Noel Crawford |
| 2006 | Burton on Trent | Anthony Mclure |
| 2007 | Dundonald | David Simpson |
| 2008 | East Sussex National | David Simpson |
| 2009 | Burnham & Berrow | Derek McJannet |
| 2010 | The Berkshire | Paul Frith |
| 2011 | West Lancashire | Jason Hunt |
| 2012 | Irvine Bogside | Oliver Browning |
| 2013 | Frilford Heath | Gordon Sangster |
| 2014 | Liphook | Gordon Sangster |
| 2015 | Fulford | James Rowling |
| 2016 | Bowood Golf & Country Club | Gary Burgess |
| 2017 | Verulam (30th Anniversary) | Christopher Lamb |
| 2018 | Gullane Golf Club | David Simpson |
| 2019 | Formby Golf Club | Llion Kerry |
| 2021 | Royal Mid-Surrey | Matt Haynes |
| 2022 | Enville Golf Club | James Lynch |
| 2023 | Saunton Golf Club | Tom Lowe |
