The 2021 winners
Matthew Milligan of Rudding Park Golf Club, right, is the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award 2021 winner, while Rhian Barton of The Wisley Golf Club is the young winner. Congratulations to both!
Student GreenKeeper
of the Year Awards
Get more
from your career
The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards provides you with the opportunity to expand your experience by meeting and competing with the best.
Student award
Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year winner will receive: An eight-week all expenses paid Toro Scholarship, including a
six-week residential turf management study course at the University of Massachusetts, a trip to the Golf Industry Show and a visit to the Toro factory.
Endorser of the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year will receive: A trip to the Golf Industry Show in the USA, including flights, hotel, education and show accreditation.
Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year runner up will receive: A trip to Continue to Learn at BTME, including four days of education, five nights hotel accommodation, travel and £125 expenses, plus a Toro training voucher for a course of their choice.
Young award
Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award winner will receive: A two-week all expenses paid work experience placement at the exclusive Vidauban Golf Club in the South of France, plus a trip to Continue to Learn at BTME and a Toro training voucher for a course of their choice.
Endorser of the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year will receive: A trip to Vidauban Golf Club for the last two days of their student’s placement, including flights and hotel.
Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year runner up will receive: A trip to Continue to Learn at BTME, including two days of education, three nights hotel accommodation, travel and £75 expenses, plus a Toro training voucher for a course of their choice.
Student greenkeepers triumph
at renowned Toro awards
After a two-day final at Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales, Matthew Milligan of Rudding Park Golf Club was announced as the 32nd winner of the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award, and Rhian Barton of The Wisley Golf Club the fifth and first female winner of the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award.
We knew this year’s award was going to be special. Being back after last year’s lockdown absence with a fantastic calibre of finalists in the grand setting of Celtic Manor Resort, plus a course walk around the Twenty Ten Ryder Cup course and after-dinner speech, both by Jim McKenzie MBE, made it one to remember before we’d even conducted the finals.
David Cole
Managing director of Reesink Turfcare
All the finalists showed how much promise there is and how much there is to celebrate in the next generation of greenkeepers. So, it is a huge achievement for the winners, Matt for the main award and Rhian for the young award, to have triumphed. I know both will make sure they maximise the opportunities presented by their educational, international prizes.
David Cole
Managing director of Reesink Turfcare
The Celtic Manor Resort provided a breathtaking venue for this year’s finals and we continue to be incredibly grateful to Toro and Reesink Turfcare for providing this career-defining opportunity for our most ambitious and talented student members.
Sami Strutt
Head of Learning and Development at BIGGA
Who can apply?
- Any greenkeeping student who is undertaking one of the listed qualifications in the UK and Ireland (at the time of application):
- Level 2 Work-based Diploma - Greenkeeper / SVQ
- Level 2 Certificate in Golf Greenkeeping
- Level 3 Work-based Diploma - Greenkeeper / SVQ
- Level 2 Diploma / National Certificate (NC)
- Level 3 Subsidiary / Extended Diploma
- Young Award students must also be aged 21 years or under at time of application
Important dates
- Closing date for entries: 31st May 2022
- Regional interviews: 4th - 8th and 11th - 15th July 2022
- Final: 5th - 6th September 2022
Why apply?
- Acknowledged as the highlight of the student greenkeeper’s year the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards provides you with the opportunity to expand your experience by meeting and competing with the best
- You could win an eight-week scholarship to the USA in January/February the following year (including a six-week residential turf management study course at the University of Massachusetts, a trip to the Golf Industry Show and a visit to the Toro factory)
- You could win a trip to Continue to Learn at BTME (including 4 days of education, hotel, travel and up to £125 expenses)
- You could win a two-week work experience placement at the world-exclusive Vidauban Golf Club in the south of France
- All Awards finalists will be given BIGGA membership for one year (following on from the expiry date of their current memberships)
- Increase your skills and knowledge to enhance your professional development
- The opportunity to network with your peers and build lasting relationships
- It's easy to apply. Simply complete the BIGGA online application form.
Toro student greenkeeper of the year awards
An insight from Reesink Turfcare's managing director David Cole on what the awards mean...
AWARDS TIMELINE1989 - Present day
The highlight of the student greenkeeper's year, the Awards have provided young professionals with the opportunity to expand their experience by meeting and competing with the best since 1989.
View timeline
Students can put themselves forward for the Awards with college tutors, assessors or employers endorsing their application. Please note, all applications must be submitted online at BIGGA
CONTACT FORM
Please complete the form below to register an interest in next year's Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards.
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