This week, golf is back on our work schedule; this time, the focus shifts to the increasingly popular women’s game when the best players in the world will compete in the AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath in the South of England.

Many eyes will be on Celine Boutier to see if she can win for a third successive week after impressive wins in the Evian Championship in France and again at the weekend, where she triumphed at Dundonald Links in the Women’s Scottish Open.

But nowadays, it’s not just about the golf at large championships; many other activities occur around the course and in the Festival Fan Village. Many activities focus on attracting people to golf, especially young people.

But, the R&A are not solely focused on golf-related attractions to bring in a new generation of golfers. For the first time, live music will feature as part of a new, enhanced fan experience that aims to attract new and diverse audiences to the Championship to enjoy women’s golf at the highest level. BRIT Award winner Ellie Goulding will entertain fans on Saturday, 12 August following the close of play.

Spectrum will provide an extensive range of services at Walton Heath; we are cleaning in the public villages, sponsor and partner’s structures, hospitality areas, and the areas set aside for players, contractors, officials and technical personnel. And, of course, at the concert area where Ellie Goulding will be entertaining what is anticipated to be a large crowd of golf and music fans. We will be responsible for litter picking, window cleaning, hygiene services, and replenishing consumables, and in partnership with the R&A, we will provide free sanitary products during the event.

Spectrum’s Operations Director, Rebecca Bell, said about this week’s event: “We are excited to be at Walton Heath for several reasons; it’s another high-profile event for the women’s game which is going from strength to strength worldwide. It’s also an opportunity for us to work with the R&A again, having done so at the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool a few weeks ago.

“We are also able to bring the benefit of our experience at music events in a genuine way when we provide our services on Saturday at the Ellie Goulding concert, which is part of the event. It’s encouraging to be part of these women’s events that, thanks to the innovative approach of the R&A, are attracting more and more fans and raising golf’s appeal to a wide audience.” 

Below are some pictures around the course taken during the preparations.