REGIONAL PROFILE REGIONAL PROFILE
For the past 15 years course superintendent Bill Daunt and the crew at Shepparton Golf Club have presented the course to a level which has drawn praise from across the membership. Pictured is the 7th green looking back up the fairway
Shepparton GC, VIC Shepparton Golf Club has been home to course superintendent Billy Daunt for nearly 15 years. Here he gives ATM an insight into his course and maintenance operations.
Superintendent: Bill Daunt (48). Nickname: Billy. Family: Wife Robyn, children Tiana, Danica and Jemma. Years as a superintendent: 16. Association involvement: VGCSA and AGCSA 16 years. Turf management career: Green Acres Golf Club (groundsman 1989), Peninsula Country Golf Club (groundsman and progressing to superintendent 1990-2001), SISTEMS Horticulture (site supervisor for grounds and garden maintenance at RAAF Williams Laverton and RAAF Point Cook 20012002), Shepparton Golf Club (superintendent 2002-present). Qualifications: Associate Diploma in Horticulture, Associate Diploma in Turf Management.
The Shepparton crew (from left) Sam Davies, Shannon O’Brien, Rhiley Lau and superintendent Bill Daunt. Absent is David Wilkie 58
AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 19.1
Where in Australia is Shepparton Golf Club? Shepparton is located alongside the Goulburn River two hours north of Melbourne in the heart of the Goulburn Valley. It is known nationally and internationally for its fruit growing and dairy industry. The town hosts many sporting events including tennis tournaments, Shepparton marathon, challenge triathlon, Victorian bowls championships and various horse events. The golf club is the home club of PGA professional Jarrod Lyle. Tell us a bit about your background and how you came to be a superintendent. My family is from an agricultural background and I was interested in working with the land and soil but not necessarily in that field. I undertook work placement at the golf clubs in Mount Gambier as part of a horticultural course and enjoyed the experience. I then studied horticulture in Wagga Wagga and did volunteer work at Wagga Wagga and Wangaratta golf clubs. Moving to Melbourne to gain employment on a golf course, Green Acres provided me with an opportunity, before moving to Peninsula Country Golf Club which was a great experience with the resources both financially and academically. Leaving Peninsula I then worked for a private contractor in the grounds maintenance industry before taking on the position at Shepparton. Who were some of your early mentors and what did they teach you? David Nickson, the then superintendent at Peninsula, was an early mentor whose quest for knowledge highlighted the fact that there is so much to learn, there is always room for improvement, be prepared for change and don’t take everything at face value.