Wentworth course chief Kennedy retiring

CHRIS Kennedy, the Scot who has been Golf Courses Manager at Wentworth for the past 22 years, is retiring this summer after preparing the West Course at the Surrey venue for one final BMW PGA Championship.

Kennedy, who moved to Wentworth from Haggs Castle, where he worked for 20 years, is being succeeded by fellow Scot Kenny Mackay, the current Director of Golf Courses at The Belfry.

“It has been a privilege and a pleasure to have been Golf Courses Manager for the last 22 years at Wentworth Club,” said Kennedy.

“Wentworth is a special golfing venue with three wonderful courses, all different. Working with the Tour for the PGA Championship is always the highlight of the year and all the boys have worked very hard over the years to help make the event so great.”

Kennedy’s tenure has seen him prepare the Wentworth courses for more than 50 European Tour events. In recent years, he has worked closely with Ernie Els on the changes made to the Harry Colt-designed West Course by the South African.

“Chris has been an exceptional member of the team here and overseen significant development of all our golf courses,” said Julian Small, chief executive of Wentworth Club.

“I don’t think there is a Golf Course Manager in the world that can match Chris’s record in preparing golf courses for professional tournaments.”

Mackay, who has also worked at The London Club, Hanbury Manor and Forest of Arden, will move to Wentworth at the end of April and work alongside Kennedy until he departs on 29 June. “I am joining a world-class venue with a superb tournament history,” said Mackay.