Medal winner forced to return prize...Just for a while
Medal winner forced to return prize...Just for a while
By Geoff Fox
A GREENKEEPER from Guernsey who fought off stiff competition from across the UK to scoop a top award has had to hand it back.
That's because Marcus Hamon, who won a Medal of Excellence from City and Guilds for the standard of his NVQ Level 3 portfolio in Sports Turf, has been selected to attend a special presentation ceremony at Buckingham Palace next month where Prince Philip will re-unite him with his award.
Marcus, who was registered with City & Guilds by the Greenkeepers Training Committee, was appointed head greenkeeper of the Royal Guernsey Golf Club after attaining his Level 3. He was one of only 100 people from over three quarters of a million eligible candidates to win a City & Guilds Medal for Excellence for his outstanding performance on the Sports Turf course.
"It's been quite a whirlwind," said Marcus, who will be one of just a dozen of the Medal of Excellence winners to meet Prince Philip. "The awards ceremony was really good, especially as I only got to the ceremony with minutes to spare after a delay at the airport!"
According to the City & Guilds judging panel: "Marcus is a great achiever who has demonstrated highly developed skills, an outstanding knowledge of their subject as well as innovation and originality."
Marcus was delighted with his accolade, presented to him by Kerry Pollard MP at the City & Guilds' regional awards ceremony aboard the HMS Belfast on the River Thames in central London.
The Medal of Excellence has been cited as a clear repayment of the faith the golf club demonstrated in Marcus - who had no formal qualifications - when they decided to train him up in 2000. They wanted to help him achieve his Level 2 and Level 3 to enable him to become head greenkeeper.
To aid the process, golf course adviser Peter Jones, of Peter Jones Associates Ltd, was brought in on a temporary basis to assist in developing Marcus's technical and managerial skills as his work-based trainer. As a GTC Liaison Officer Peter was fully aware of how NVQ's were to be delivered on the job - and the benefits of them.
Peter said: "From an employer's perspective, Marcus has clearly demonstrated how vital education is. Further, his commitment to work based-training is a superb example of how education in the work place can be so mutually beneficial. The club now have the man they wanted, complete with the right qualifications, while Marcus's portfolio was, quite rightly, picked out by the judges as something brimming with quality material.
"Work based learning is an incredibly good motivator, as candidates are able to put the theory into practice and vice versa. From a golf club perspective, there are no losers, only winners - medal winners in Marcus's case."
For further information contact David Golding on 01347 838640 or email golf@the-gtc.co.uk.
The Greenkeepers Training Committee (GTC)
1.The Greenkeepers Training Committee is dedicated to improving and promoting the education and training of all golf greenkeepers to allow ambitious and enthusiastic greenkeepers to work towards becoming greenkeeping management professionals.
2.City & Guilds Medals of Excellence were awarded to 100 people specialising in a broad range of subjects from catering and hospitality and IT to care and creative studies.
3.City & Guilds is the UK's leading provider of vocational qualifications. Established in 1878 it was awarded Royal Charter status in 1900.
4.City & Guilds awards over one million certificates every year and offers 500 qualifications in 22 occupational sectors in over 100 countries worldwide.