Woburn welcomes back Fulbrook students

Two years after their first visit, students of Fulbrook School were invited back to Woburn Golf Club to put their STEM skills to the test.

During the visit, 40 Year 10 and 11 students navigated five specialist learning stations around one of England’s most prestigious golf courses.

Gavin Sowden is Woburn’s environmental and health and safety officer, and has overseen both First Green events at the club. After the success of the previous trip, it was only a matter of time before the club hosted the event again.

“The first event in 2024 was great, so we were keen to do another one,” he said. “We started planning back in February with the 13 lesson plans First Green have to offer, and with the teachers, identified a handful of stations that we could present for the pupils.”

The trip highlighted the range of career pathways available within greenkeeping, including roles the students might not previously have considered.

“Out of the 40 students, only four had ever been to a golf club before, so for many it was a first introduction to the game itself,” added Gavin. “But the one thing we noticed is that they were really engaged and interested. They were fascinated by what the greenkeepers do and what the club does.”

The day’s learning aligned with the school curriculum and demonstrated how STEM learning directly relates to working life on a golf course.

“We want to show that the things you learn in school can be interesting and they can be used in the workplace,” Gavin explained. “Each group was accompanied by a teacher who reminded the students how what they learned in school was being applied on the course.”

Each learning station was presented by an apprentice, echoing Woburn’s desire to provide opportunities for young people involved in the profession.

 

“One of the reasons we host these sessions is so that one day a student that attended a First Green event will give us a call and say they’re interested in a career in greenkeeping at the club,” said Gavin.

“These opportunities give a fantastic insight into a career in greenkeeping. There’s a lot more of them now than there has ever been. I hope they see that if you get into greenkeeping, there’s lots of pathways and we don’t just focus on one area.”