JAMIE Hughes has made a remarkable journey from the greens of Lyme Regis Golf Club to the USPGA Championship in New York.

Hughes, greenkeeper at Lyme, has been an active and enthusiastic member of the team for 10 years.

At last year’s Open at Carnoustie, Jamie found out about the opportunity of helping out at PGA competitions.

Along with over 200 others Jamie sent off his application listing qualifications, experience, volunteer work history and details of what this experience could do for him.

After four weeks he found out that he was one of 10 people from all over the UK who will be going to the second major championship of the golfing year at Bethpage Black golf course in Farmingdale, New York.

This is a huge event, giving him a fantastic opportunity to see how these prestigious golf courses set up for the biggest events on the tour.

He sets off on Saturday, May 11 spending a week out there.

Details of the exact work are not known beforehand but the work will involve two daily shifts from 3-7am and 5-9pm. Accommodation has been provided at a local university, not far from the golf course where the volunteers will be fed and watered for the duration.

For Hughes, this is one of the incredible experiences within his industry that is too good to pass up.

He said: “I feel not only will it be a fantastic experience for me as a golf fan, but it will also open my eyes to how these types of courses set up for such events.

“I’m sure I will learn many new tips and methods that I can bring back to Lyme Regis Golf Club and use in the future.

“These trips allow me to meet a whole range of different greenkeepers that one day I can call on for advice, or maybe give it, on certain aspects of our ever-changing industry.

“I would personally like to thank everyone involved at Lyme for being so supportive along the way during this process and helping out where they can, especially to my colleagues who will be covering my work while I am away.

“I really appreciate everything, so thank you.”