Tom Smart Sarah Attwood remodelled 18th fairway
ALL CHANGE AT BURY ST EDMUNDS GOLF CLUB
Tom Smart has joined as ‘ Course Manager’ at the beginning of the year. Tom, who grew up in West Sussex, discovered a passion for green keeping at his local course, working weekends and school holidays. Recognising that this was the career path he wanted to follow Tom undertook a Foundation Degree in Sports Turf Science at Writtle College, which included a work placement at The London Club. Soon after graduating he decided to do a 12 month internship at Pinehurst, USA, and following his return to the UK he worked at ‘The Wisley’, Surrey and Basingstoke Golf Clubs as Deputy-Head Green keeper. In 2016 Tom moved to East Anglia to take up the position of Head Green keeper at The Warren Golf and Country Club.
Tom has made an immediate impact at the club, overseeing improvements to the 1st and 18th Fairway bunkers, as well as recommending further changes to complement the on-going course development work. Work is also taking place to improve the first class 9 hole course. There is no doubt that Tom, and his team of first class green keepers, will continue to ensure that Bury St Edmunds remains one of the premier golf courses in East Anglia with a very warm welcome.
At the end of 2018, Sarah Attwood joined existing professionals Matt Alderton and Simon Byford as an assistant professional. Sarah, who started playing golf at the age of 12, is currently studying to become a qualified PGA professional and is working her way through an ‘on the job’ training programme from the PGA supported and guided by Matt and Simon.
Sarah already has an impressive CV, holding 4 course records in the Cambridgeshire area. As an amateur she won 3 Junior county titles and was third in the English Ladies Strokeplay event. Since turning professional she has competed in the Ricoh Women’s Open Qualifiers, and in 2014 she joined the Jamega Ladies UK tour winning her first event. The same year she was invited to compete in the Ladies European Masters where she made the cut and played alongside players such as Laura Davies, Melissa Reid and Charley Hull.
As part of her responsibilities at the club Sarah has taken over the running of the very successful ‘Pathway to Golf’. This three step programme, details of which can be found at www.mattalderton.co.uk , or by contacting the ‘Pro Shop’ on 01284 755978, is aimed at individuals who are completely new to golf, those who have played some golf, or those who have played in the past, but need a refresher before venturing out again.
Greens Staff Team March 2019
Nick, Tom, Chris, Geoff, Steve, Steve, Jamie, Martin & Matt
