Golf club honour greenkeeper

Long-serving greenkeeper Tam Sutherland has been rewarded for 29 years’ loyal service at The Westerwood Hotel and Golf Resort in Cumbernauld by having a bridge named in his honour to mark his retirement.

The club – a member of QHotels, the UK’s largest golf resort operator – has paid a lasting tribute to Tam by calling its dry stone wall bridge on the 18th hole of its golf course ‘The Tam Sutherland Bridge’.

The 68-year-old has been in charge of the greenkeeping team at The Westerwood since it opened in 1986 before deciding to call time on his career at the start of this month.

Situated close to the 18th green, a plaque on the bridge reads: ‘This bridge honours the hard work and dedication Tam has shown to the course during his 29-year tenure. Thank you, Tam, from your colleagues, friends and current and past members’.

Tam said: “The Westerwood has been a major part of my life for almost 30 years and I’m sad to leave. But I decided now was the right time to hang up my greenkeeping gloves and I’m very touched that a bridge has been built and named in my honour.”

Paul Bray, general manager at The Westerwood Hotel and Golf Resort, said: “Everyone at The Westerwood knows Tam and his face is well known to all our members. As someone who has been here since the resort opened, we wanted to do something special to mark his outstanding contribution and the bridge will be a long-standing tribute to the dedicated service he has given for nearly three decades.”