Tim Leat is heading to the US in March to work for one of the largest golf championships in the world.
Photo by
Ryan Bellingham
A greenkeeper from Rich River Golf Club has been selected to work at a prestigious United States golf tournament in March.
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Assistant superintendent Tim Leat will represent the British and International Golf Greenkeeper Association for The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Florida.
Mr Leat is one of 10 BIGGA members selected for the honour and is the only international member to receive a scholarship to attend the championship.
BIGGA has about 5500 members who are mostly based in the UK and Europe and is the largest golf greenkeeper association outside the US.
John Deere will foot the bill for his visit to the US, where Mr Leat will spend 10 days on the Florida course before and during the largest tournament outside the majors.
Mr Leat has had previous experience working internationally for golf championships as a volunteer.
Photo by
Ryan Bellingham
“It’s huge. They call it the fifth major — it’s the fifth-biggest golf tournament in the world,” Mr Leat said.
While it won’t be his first time working on an international championship stage, being chosen for this tournament is a milestone for Mr Leat.
“I’ve always wanted to do a PGA Tour-sanctioned event. That’s the pinnacle,” he said.
“It’s kind of hard to believe. I feel very fortunate and privileged.”
In 2016 and 2017, Mr Leat volunteered to work for Open Championship events in the UK at the Royal Troon and Royal Birkdale golf clubs.
The application process for the upcoming championship was a little daunting, Mr Leat said, but he believed a mix of factors helped to secure his spot.
“I’m really passionate about it. I love golf and I love turf management,” he said.
“Turf management in Australia is really highly regarded, particularly in the UK and the US ... we can go over there and do everything that’s required.”
Mr Leat pictured on Rich River Golf Club’s 18th hole.
Photo by
Ryan Bellingham
For the past 15 years, Mr Leat has looked after Rich River’s 80 or so hectares of manicured turf, which is now maintained each day by 19 greenkeeper staff.
Although it’s a big job, he enjoys the teamwork and staff training aspects of his role and is avid about greenkeeping, even while off the clock.
“I mow my lawn three or four times a week at home and I’ve got 11 cylinder mowers,” Mr Leat said.
“I just love it and could never imagine doing anything else.”
Mr Leat said greenkeeping was becoming a lost trade worldwide and that it could be difficult to attract new people to the industry.
Despite the profession’s smaller pool of workers, he hopes to show those just starting out where the industry could take them.
“We’ve got five apprentices on staff and I just want to show them it’s a big world out there,” Mr Leat said.
Before heading to the States in March, Mr Leat will travel to England in January to attend a BIGGA conference where this year’s championship representatives will be announced.
After the championships he plans to meet friends in California and tee off at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
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