Master greenkeeper expands role at Crown Golf
The UK’s largest golf club owner and operator has appointed a new group course manager to supervise its portfolio of 38 courses across 25 sites.
Master greenkeeper Mike Bush, 39, was previously course manager at St Mellion International resort since 2003, where he will continue to be based.
Bush said: “I am excited to start 2015 with this new role. My overriding priorities are to develop our large team of greens staff and to continue to improve golf course quality across the Crown Golf estate.”
Despite having been in the role as caretaker since September, Bush’s appointment only became official on January 1.
‘I know the standards required for elite golf’ He will manage the group’s course managers, including setting strategy and maintenance plans for each club, plus will head up the group’s national accounts and machinery purchasing activities.
In 2007 he led the St Mellion team in preparing the resort’s Nicklaus Signature course for its most recent European Tour event, the Midas Group English Seniors Open.
Bush added: “I know the standards required for elite golf at European Tour level, as befits one of Europe’s best-loved golf resorts, and I am looking forward to helping each of our teams achieve the maximum possible playing quality at their own course.
“Every golf course is different and it is rewarding to see a club like Eccleston Park improve its course conditioning year after year, until it is performing at the very top of its game.”
Crown Golf’s chief operating officer Stephen Towers said the appointment was well-deserved and that Mike had been doing “stellar work” for over a decade.
He added: “Despite his relatively young age, Mike is a talented, proven and highly-qualified sports turf professional. His exceptional agronomic and course management skills will be key in developing our future green keeping strategy, maintaining and delivering consistently excellent turf quality for members and guests.”
BIGGA’s Jim Croxton also acknowledged the appointment, saying: “Mike has demonstrated a commitment to personal development throughout his green keeping career and it is hugely gratifying to see his hard work recognised in this way by his employers. The master greenkeeper award is widely considered to be the foremost achievement in the profession and we at BIGGA are extremely proud of Mike and wish him well in this challenging role.”
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