Ballarat Golf Club greenskeepers Will Koopmans and Keegan Mead have been part of a team working on the Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, USA in preparation for the Presidents Cup.
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The brilliant opportunity is part of the Ohio program, which sees Australian greenskeepers spend 12 months in the US.
The pair finished their apprenticeships in Ballarat, Koopmans also being named the Australian apprentice of the year, and are now continuing to build on their craft.
Both men have helped prepare and manicure the course ahead of the prestigious Presidents Cup, which starts this week. Preparations entail bringing the course to its highest standard, preparing the pace of the greens and ensuring the course is ready to host some of the world’s best golfers. They will then remain on-course throughout the tournament and maintain it of a night.
Ballarat Golf Club course superintendent Jeff Powell said it was a great opportunity for them.
“Very good for the resume, that’s for sure,” Powell said.
Powell said one day the Koopmans and Mead, both quality golfers in their own right, hoped to take charge of a course in Australia.
“Their ambitions are to eventually be in charge of a golf course over here somewhere.”
Koopmans will return home after the tournament while Mead will stay for the remainder of the year.