Burnham & Berrow Golf Club‘s greenkeeping team has been honoured with the prestigious Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year award at the 2026 BIGGA Awards.
The accolade recognises the outstanding dedication, expertise and tireless efforts of the Somerset-based club’s greenkeeping staff in maintaining world-class playing conditions across its two layouts – the Championship Course, ranked 29th in the Top 100 golf courses in GB&I, and the much-improved Channel Course.
This national recognition reaffirms Burnham & Berrow’s position as one of England’s finest links golf destinations and a proud host venue for The Open Final Qualifying Series.
“This award is a tremendous honour for our entire team and reflects the exceptional standards we strive to maintain every single day,” said Barney Coleman, General Manager of Burnham & Berrow Golf Club. “Our greenkeeping staff work tirelessly in all conditions to ensure that every visitor and member enjoys an authentic links experience that meets the highest expectations. This recognition from BIGGA is thoroughly deserved and we couldn’t be prouder of what has been achieved.”
Under the expert leadership of Courses Manager Liam Pigden, the greenkeeping team has implemented an innovative and sustainable approach to course management that balances tradition with modern agronomy. Recent months have seen significant winter improvement projects completed across both courses, with particular focus on enhancing the playing experience on the Channel Course.
“As a team, we are absolutely delighted to be recognised for the hard work, determination, and passion we put into the course. After the challenges of the past few years, winning this award makes it all worthwhile and truly reflects the strength and dedication of our exceptional team,” said Liam.
“Our strategy focuses on providing consistent, high-quality playing surfaces year-round whilst respecting the natural links environment. The winter projects we’ve undertaken, particularly the extensive work on the Channel Course, demonstrate our ambition to offer two outstanding golf experiences. From drainage improvements to course renovations, every decision is made with the player experience at the forefront of our thinking. This award validates our approach and motivates us to continue raising the bar.”
The Channel Course improvements represent a significant milestone for the club, transforming what was already described as ‘one of the hidden gems of the south west’ into an even more compelling nine-hole experience that complements the Championship layout perfectly.
Adrian Deakins, Chairman of Greens, praised the team’s unwavering commitment throughout the year: “The club, and more specifically our greenkeeping team, is thrilled to have been recognised and honoured with this award, as it endorses the marvellous innovation, skills, adversity, investment and hard work put into the management of the land over recent years for the benefit of the membership and the club. Our outgoing Courses Manager, Richard Whyman, retired from his role at the end of July and the award comes as a fitting tribute to his last Championship following 22 years at the club.”