THE GROVE INVESTS IN GREENKEEPING STARS OF THE FUTURE
(Hertfordshire, UK, November 11, 2021) The Grove, Hertfordshire’s ultimate country escape, today announces two important promotions within its greenkeeping team to continue its long-running heritage of developing the golf industry’s stars of the future.
Since opening in 2003 a host of young talent have crafted their skills at the Top 100-ranked venue, under the leadership of Golf Course and Estate Manager, Phillip Chiverton, who has been at the forefront of The Grove’s greenkeeping operation for 20 years.
The latest greenkeepers to rise through the ranks of the young team are 27-year-olds Sam Reid and Callum Herbst.
Sam is The Grove’s new Head Greenkeeper, with immediate effect, and Callum is promoted to Deputy Head Greenkeeper. Both joined The Grove in 2012, Herbst as an apprentice, and Reid as a casual worker, while studying at Buckinghamshire University.
Reid’s rise to Head Greenkeeper status has seen him help prepare the championship course for The British Masters in 2016, achieve an R&A Greenkeeper Scholarship in 2018, and work with the course’s world-renowned architect, Kyle Phillips, during an extensive bunker redesign and rebuild project in 2020.
Herbst’s journey has included being a Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finalist, along with work experience during the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in the USA, and at the French Open at Le Golf National.
Commenting on the promotions, Phillip Chiverton, said: “In Sam and Callum we have two certain agronomy leaders of tomorrow. The Grove has always invested in young talent and we have a rich history of coaching greenkeepers through the early stages of their careers.”
A consistent development programme with scope for continual internal promotion has seen many of The Grove’s young stars go on to secure senior industry roles at other world-renowned golfing destinations, including Trump International Golf Links in Scotland, Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, San Roque Club in Spain and Abu Dhabi Golf Club, UAE.
“While our day-to-day objectives always remain keeping The Grove in pristine condition all-year-round – something our customers consistently recognise us for – it is also important we offer the next generation of greenkeeping stars a platform from which to succeed and prosper. Seeing young talent develop at The Grove and then go on to prosper in all corners of the globe is hugely rewarding.”
The Grove proudly covets its position as a premium open-to-all leisure facility and one of the UK’s Top 100 golf resorts, just 18 miles from central London.
The 18-hole parkland golf course, the only venue in the UK to have hosted a World Golf Championship event in 2006, won by Tiger Woods, continues to receive critical acclaim and was recently ranked within Europe’s Top 100 Modern Courses, by Golf World.
The World Golf Awards has also recognised The Grove as ‘England’s Best Golf Hotel 2021’.
The Grove’s 18th-century Mansion houses 26 rooms, suites and lounges decorated with a 21st-century spin on vintage glamour. There’s also the thoroughly modern West Wing with a further 189 deluxe, superior and family rooms. Many of these rooms have balconies/terraces looking over the immaculate Formal Gardens.
For further information: www.thegrove.co.uk
Greenkeeper Profiles:
Sam Reid
Joined The Grove in May 2012 as a casual worker, while attending Buckinghamshire University.
2014 Joined as Assistant Greenkeeper
2015 Level 3 Qualified
2016 Senior Greenkeeper – Part of the team preparing the course for The British Masters
2017 Started Higher National Certificate with Elmwood College
2018 Promoted to First Assistant
2018 R&A Greenkeeper Scholarship Programme (focus on sustainability of golf courses and natural original landscape)
2020 Worked with Kyle Phillips throughout bunker redesign and rebuild at The Grove
2020 Started Higher National Diploma with Elmwood College
2021 Head Greenkeeper
Callum Herbst
Started as an apprentice at The Grove in April 2012.
2013 Level 2 Qualified
2014 Level 3 Qualified & promoted to Senior Greenkeeper position
2014 Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow (work experience)
2014 Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year – Regional Finalist
2016 French Open at Le Golf National (work experience)
2016 First Assistant and hosted British Masters
2018 Harrow School as Groundsman
2021 Deputy Head Greenkeeper
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Picture caption: Part of the award-winning greenkeeping team at The Grove – (left to right) Stephen Haire, Callum Herbst, Golf Course and Estate Manager Phillip Chiverton, Sam Reid, and Neil Corley.
Press release issued by LANDMARK, on behalf of The Grove.
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John McKenzie
LANDMARK
Tel: +44 (0) 1780 752790
E-mail: john@landmark-media.com
Notes for Editors:
The Grove
The Grove is situated in 300 acres of historic Hertfordshire countryside. It remains the only UK venue to have hosted a World Golf Championship event, won by Tiger Woods in 2006, and features a Kyle Phillips-designed 18-hole course, luxury five-star hotel and spa.
Open-to-all, The Grove’s parkland golf course is famed for its all-year-round pristine playing conditions, and consistently features in many influential Top 100 rankings, including those produced by Golf Monthly and Golf World Magazines and the Top100golfcourses.co.uk website.
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