Club waiting to hear if it has best greens

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In 2022 Astbury Golf Club experienced many wonderful highlights. It was the club’s centenary year and generated many outstanding memories, from the historic golf day to the summer ball and numerous other great events (ITALICS writes Dominic McAllister).

One of the biggest events was the Cheshire Matchplay Championships, played over four days to widespread acclaim by both players and county officials.

As a result, 2023 has a lot to live up to and it is off to a great start.

The British and International Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has announced the finalists of the greenkeeping project of the year sponsored by Sports Turf Data Solutions. Astbury Golf Club is a top three finalist. It is listed against two excellent Scottish courses, Prestwick, birthplace of the first Open Championship in 1860 and Strathaven Golf Club that has hosted numerous county and national events in its 113-year history.

With more than 2,800 eligible golf clubs in the UK Astbury Golf Club is already a winner but it would be nice to take the top prize. The winner will be announced at the BIGGA Welcome Celebration at Harrogate on 24th January.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Andy Brougham, Astbury’s head greenkeeper supported by Alan Percival as chairman of greens, continues every day to improve the appearance and playability of the excellent parkland course. Leading the team of Richard Royle, Nick Byron, Ross Giles, Sam Copeland Jack Stagg and Anthony Davies, work is being carried out on the fourth tee, the eighth and ninth greenside bunkers and drainage on the sixth, eighth and 14th fairways all of which will be ready for the start of the playing season.

(Photo: AGC).