Ashdown steward makes awards shortlist

The clubhouse manager at Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club in Sussex is among 12 regional finalists from English golf clubs who have been shortlisted for the title of the 2015 Fuller’s London Pride Steward of the Year.

19 Royal Ashdown club steward
Royal Ashdown’s clubhouse manager Matt Palmer has made the final 12 in the 2015 Fuller’s Steward of the Year competition

Matt Palmer has been at Royal Ashdown for less than 18 months, but in that time the 38 year old has already made enough of an impact at the club to progress through to the final round in the annual competition to find the country’s best club steward.

Palmer, who was previously clubhouse manager at The Berkshire Golf Club for over 14 years, said: “The most important factor was changing the staff’s perception,” he says. “I wanted to create an ‘Ashdown experience’ from the moment people arrive, where visitors feel like a member for the day, and everyone is made to feel welcome. The results show that everybody on my team has bought into that, and my selection for this prestigious award reflects every bit as much on them as it does on me.”

Now in its ninth year, the Steward of the Year competition is run jointly by England Golf and Chiswick-based brewery firm Fuller’s. The shortlisted stewards are all visited personally before four regional winners are selected, when they will be judged on their level of commitment, innovation, and standards of service and presentation.

Last year's Fullers' Steward of the Year was Samantha Hudson from Swaffham Golf Club in Norfolk
Last year’s Steward of the Year was Samantha Hudson from Swaffham Golf Club in Norfolk

The four finalists will go forward to a celebration lunch in the next few weeks, when the overall winner will be announced. As well as the trophy, the winner will receive a weekend break for two in London, staying at a Fuller’s hotel.

Joining Palmer in the shortlist are Michael Clark (Hankley Common); Simon and Karen Ward (Wilmslow) Steve Warren (Eaton); Kevin and Emma Brown (Sherborne); Will Gill (Otley); Kirsty Glaister (Stamford); Phil and Louise Maxwell (Radcliffe-on-Trent); Sam Read (Nuneaton); Stephen Riley (The Leicestershire);
Amanda Goodyear (Looe); and
Fiona Snook (Wareham).