CAREERS
Surrey
sabbatical M
y name is Brenton Clarke and I’m an assistant superintendent working at Blackwood Golf Club in the Adelaide Hills. I have had a real passion for sports turf management from my early days as an apprentice here at Blackwood and have always strived to better myself and continually learn, something which is vital in our ever-changing industry. After I completed my Certificate III in Sports Turf Management, I ventured into landscape gardening and design before working for the family business where I further developed leadership, staff management and mentoring skills. But golf was where my heart lay, so in early 2015 I decided to venture across the border to Victoria where I secured the foreman’s position at Box Hill Golf Club. My time at Box Hill, working under superintendent Josh Leyland, was invigorating and I was immersed in a range of course improvement projects, among them three new greens in the space of 14 months. I lived over the fence from the course and took every opportunity to take on extra work and provide assistance over the summer period. During my time in Melbourne I also completed my Diploma in Sports Turf Management and volunteered at the 2016 ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf at Kingston Heath. 54
The Royal Automobile Club crew oversees two ‘downland’ style 18-hole courses just outside of London
The turf industry can afford practitioners of all levels multiple opportunities to broaden their skill set as they climb the career ladder. For Brenton Clarke it took him to the UK for six months and a placement at one of the world’s most exclusive clubs. After nearly three years in Melbourne, I decided it was time to head back to Croweater state and it just so happened the Blackwood assistant’s role was available. I realised I was somewhat going to lose the advantages and opportunities that I had in Melbourne education-wise, especially as tertiary study options in Adelaide are limited and the job market is much smaller. However, I’m the sort of person that likes to think outside the box a little and I soon had a few ideas on how to expand my horizons. Prior to leaving Box Hill, in 2017 I was fortunate enough to be part of the Future
AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 21.5
Turf Managers’ Initiative (FTMI) held during the Australian Turfgrass Conference at Twin Waters. Conducted by the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (then AGCSA) in conjunction with its Gold Partner Jacobsen, it was during the FTMI that I met Lee Strutt from the Royal Automobile Club in the UK. As well as being a keynote presenter during the conference, Lee was also one of the expert speakers brought in to conduct sessions for the FTMI. Those who attended the 2017 conference will know Lee and his credentials. Needless to say he is possibly the most educated horticulturalist in golf in all of the UK and throughout a storied career has developed an incredible list of friends and industry connections the world over. He has presented at numerous conferences and seminars and on top of his agronomic expertise is just a really good bloke. Through our conversations he informed me there was a junior greenkeeper position available at his course. I was originally trying to get one of the other staff on our crew to apply to help him further his own career. When he decided it wasn’t for him, I questioned him “Why not?” He turned the question around on me and asked, “Why don’t you do it?” I soon found myself answering that very question and this past