The final It is perhaps the most select band of ereenkeep- Toro Award for Excellence in Director of BIGGA. ers to be found anywere - only four members strong Greenkeeping Roll of Honour Each finalist will already have been judged at but with the collective knowledge and talents of country level* and had their course visited by an army. That number will be added to by one 2001 - Who will be named as our winner? Walter and Bruce. 2000 - lain Ritchie - Portmarnock GC when the panel of judges meets to decide upon * David and Huw both won through in the com- 1999- Brian Turner - Sunningdale GC the 2001 winner of the Toro Award for Excellence 1998 - John Coleman - Abbeydale GC bined England and Wales final. in Greenkeeping. 1997 - Ian McMillan - Hankley Common GC It will not be an easy task because already the The Prize four finalists have been through an arduous selec- The Interview Panel The winner will receive a Toro Workman 21 (X) tion process just to reach this stage and when one The final interview panel will consist of Walter Utility Vehicle, plus a trip to the States to visit the of Alan Purdie, Crail Golfing Society; David Woods; former Courses Superintendent at St GCSAA Conference and Show in Orlando, Florida, Murdoch MG, Liphook GC; Huw Morgan, Andrews Links; Bob Buckingham, Toro's European and the Toro Headquarters in Minneapolis and Wildernesse GC, or Alan Strachan, Royal County Sales Manager; Graham Dale, Managing Director, California next February. The winner's team will Down GC, is announced as the 2001 winner he Lelv (UK) Ltd; Bruce Jamieson, Toro Consultant also receive £250. will become a very worthy member of what will and former Director of Agronomy of the PGA The three runners-up will each win a then become the Famous Five. European Tour and Neil Thomas, Executive Greensmaster l(XX) Pedestrian Mower.

Alan Strachan David Murdoch MG Huw Morgan Alan Purdie Royal County Down GC Liphook Golf Club Wildernesse Club Crail Golfing Society

Alan is 34 years old and has been Course David is 32 and has been Head Huw is 35 and has been Course Manager Alan is 44 and has been Head Manager at The Royal County Down Golf Greenkeeper at Liphook since 1995. at the heath and woodland Wildernesse Greenkeeper at Crail Golfing Society Club for the past six years. He started work as a 16 year-old on a YTS Club in Sevenoaks, Kent, since '93. Prior since 1991. Prior to that he was Head Born in Scotland, Alan has been in the scheme at Dunnikier Park GC in Kirkcaldy, to that he had been at Fairwood Park GC, Greenkeeper at the Eden (links) Course at industry for 16 years. He has held the in 1985 before moving to Dunfermline parkland course in South Wales, between for 3 years after moving there Deputy Head Greenkeeper position on Golf Club as an apprentice a year later 1985 and '90 where he was Course following an eleven-year stint as both three of the best links courses on the east before moving on to become Deputy Head Manager before moving to become Assistant Head and latterly Head coast of Scotland, these being Montrose, Greenkeeper at Dunfermline in '91. Course Manager at Southerndown Golf Greenkeeper at Broomiknowe Golf Club, a Royal Dornoch and . He moved to Old Thorms Golf and Club, a links course. He remained at moorland course. His greenkeeping A keen member of the Country Club in Hampshire later that Southerndown for three years before experience has covered courses of most Superintendents Association of Ireland he same year. In '93 he moved to Liphook in moving to his present club. persuasions including Links, Parkland, is currently on the National Executive. Hampshire as Deputy Head Greenkeeper He is currently waiting to sit the Master Moorland and the Hills course at He has also been a member of BIGGA for and became Head Greenkeeper in '95. Greenkeeper exam and is studying an Lothianburn GC, where he started his the past 12 years. He became a Master Greenkeeper in May HNC Distance Learning Course with greenkeeping career. RCDGC is situated in an ASSI, an ANOB 1999. Elmwood College. Alan's hobbies include playing off 2 at St and a SAC, and the management His hobbies are golf, football and rugby. Andrews, where he is a member, collecting programme involves minimum spraying of He is married to Salli-Anne and they have golf memorabilia books and supporting his chemicals. three sons. beloved 'Heart of Midlothian' football Alan is a keen golfer, playing to a handicap team. of 8 and is married to Pauline with two Married to Margaret for 24 years, their children, Gregor (9) and Eilidh (6). daughter, Cara (20) is currently studying an Art degree, while their son, Craig (18) is a greenkeeper at the Old Course, St Andrews.