Ultimate Job in Golf - the final interview

Although most golfers will remember the famous Duel in the Sun between golfing legends, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson only a select few were privy to the Duel in the Dark which took place at the Celtic Manor on 29th January 2010.

Following more than 8,000 applications and several rounds of interviews the scene was finally set for the final interview of the Ultimate Job in Golf. Taking place at the fantastic 2010 Course at the Celtic Manor Resort in South Wales, just 20 were selected to take part in the 18 hole tournament to decide the winner.

Despite the competitors having to negotiate their way round the intimidating 7,400 yard layout, the standard was very high and after 18 holes two were tied on 36 stapleford points. With the par-five 18th chosen to host the sudden-death playoff, the two players couldn’t be separated after solid pars. So it was decided, with the light fading, they would go back to 150 yards and stage a nearest the pin – one shot, one job!
With the pressure mounting, Chris Wandell, hit a sweetly-struck 7-iron to within 12 feet to claim the Ultimate Job in Golf, the Claret Jug and the accolades of the surrounding crowd. His victory, was all the more impressive given his final four holes which included 11 points to secure his place in the playoff.

Following his playoff victory, Chris said “I was astonished to have made it through the 8,000 applicants and am now overwhelmed to have won the dream job. I never thought I’d have the opportunity to travel around the world playing the best courses on the planet. It was a bit like Watson’s and Nicklaus’s duel in the sun out there, but just in the dark!”

Chris, who hails from the United States and has recently completed an MBA at London Business School is now the winner of the Ultimate Job in Golf and will enjoy a 12-month contract, £50,000 salary and will spend the next 12 months playing and travelling the globe reviewing and blogging golf holiday destinations for Your Golf Travel.

With an itinerary to finalise, Chris will firstly travel to Augusta National to watch the US Masters in April. Following on from that, further rounds are planned at Pebble Beach, Sawgrass, St. Andrews and other golf holiday destinations. Over the course of the next year, Chris will get to play hundreds of holes and travel thousands of miles, we just hope it will be of benefit to his 11 handicap!

We wish Chris well in his travels for 2010, we’ll be sure to keep you updated on his adventures!