Jon set for ‘fifth Major’

Welshpool Golf Club’s Jon Gamble has been selected as one of just five British greenkeepers who will fly to the United States next year to prepare the world-famous Sawgrass Course for The Players Championship.

The Players Championship is hosted by the PGA Tour in Florida and is considered by many to be golf’s ‘fifth major’, with an $11m purse up for grabs.

Jon came through a rigorous selection process organised by the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) to be selected to take part in the John Deere TPC Sawgrass Volunteer Programme for 2019.

Each year John Deere invites BIGGA members to apply for the opportunity of a lifetime, joining the golf course maintenance team.

In total, five British BIGGA members have been selected to take part in the event. A sixth will be selected from the ranks of international members.

“I was thrilled to find out and can’t wait to get out there,” said Jon. “It was a tough selection process. To start with I had to go through an online application stage, and then shoot a video of how I got into greenkeeping, where I think the industry is going and how it could be improved. Finally, I had an interview in York with a panel of three people.”

Jon obviously impressed and will be enjoying an expenses-paid work trip next March to be one of 90 greenkeepers from 14 countries preparing the course for up to a week prior to its start.

Following the final day’s play, before heading home, the greenkeepers will get the opportunity to hit the 17th hole’s famous island green.

Next year The Players Championship will take place on March 14 to 17.