THE head greenkeeper at Bowood's Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort has been nominated as a finalist in the Golf Environment Awards 2018.

Jaey Goodchild will attend the award ceremony in Harrogate, Yorkshire on Wednesday where is one of four nominees in the Operation Pollinator grouping, which applauds golf clubs which "consistently deliver outstanding ecological habitat creation and management."

The annual awards recognise what a golf course has achieved and how its achievements benefit the surrounding environment and local ecology.

"A modern, agronomical approach is taken to the turf management of our golf course with the highest demands of a top gold course balanced alongside consideration for our particular environment", Mr Goodchild explained. "For instance, we focus on nutritional ways to reduce pesticide use on the greens, and are mindful of the plentiful wildlife that roam near to and beyond the course.

"It is not simply a case of keeping the turf in the finest condition for our golfers, but respecting too the nearby natural habitats. We can be proud of the way that the course at Bowood harmonises with nature."

Bowood's Head Golf Pro, Paul McLean, said: "The behind-the-scenes work undertaken by Jaey Goodchild and his team is perhaps a secret ingredient to the success of Bowood's 18-hole-championship course and that of our coaches and players.

"We are thrilled that it's now the turn of Jaey Goodchild will be recognised in his particular arena of expertise and we wish him success in next week's Golf Environment Awards."