A greenkeeper heading down the second hole at Ipswich Golf Club on a misty morning has been revealed as the overall winner of BIGGA’s 2022 Photographic Competition sponsored by Syngenta.
Ipswich greenkeeper and BIGGA member Joe Simpson’s image was the unanimous choice among the competition judges and also received the most likes when put to a public vote across BIGGA’s social media accounts.
BIGGA’s annual photographic competition is a celebration of the wonderful golfing landscape and the role greenkeepers play in shaping it for golfers and the wider public to enjoy. Twelve images were selected in total for the annual BIGGA calendar, with golf courses represented including a nine-hole course on the north coast of Scotland through to next year’s Open Championship venue.
As overall competition winner, Simpson has won an Insta360 Ultra HD action camera worth £429.99 and a framed print of his image to be presented at BTME 2023, the greenkeeping community’s annual gathering in January.
Three category winners were also chosen, with Tom Wright of Clevedon Golf Club winning the Greenkeeping category, Craig Sinclair of Camberley Heath Golf Club winning the Wildlife category and Martyn Taylor of Wallasey Golf Club winning the Landscape category. Each of the category winners receive a £150 Love2Shop voucher.
Simpson is now a two-time champion, having previously won the competition in 2020. He said: “I’m really surprised to have won as I thought the quality of all the photographs that got shortlisted was fantastic with some really strong contenders.
“I think it’s a fantastic competition and I love entering and try to encourage others to enter as well. Greenkeepers are really lucky because we’re up in the early hours and get to see some fantastic sights and this competition is an opportunity to share them.”
All 12 images selected to form the BIGGA desktop calendar can be viewed on the BIGGA website.
