COURSES
Staying in the
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evin Bartlett and Cameron Smith did it. So too did the likes of Michael Tuck, Brent Harvey, Darren Lockyer and Paul Gallen. Staying at the one club throughout your entire professional career is quite an achievement and definitely a badge of honour. While not in the same realm as professional AFL or rugby league, remaining at the one club in the golf course management profession is also a serious accomplishment, especially given the fickle beast that clubs can be even in the most prosperous of times. 8
It may have been out of the tournament spotlight for a number of years now, but behind the scenes Huntingdale Golf Club is still pushing its claim as one of Melbourne’s premier Sandbelt facilities. ATM editor Brett Robinson catches up with long-serving course superintendent Michael Freeman who is set to notch up a major milestone later this year. This December, Michael Freeman, course superintendent of Huntingdale Golf Club on the Melbourne Sandbelt, is set to reach a milestone that not many in the industry can lay claim to. This summer will see him tick over 40 years at the club, including the past 22 in charge. It was the start of the 1982/83 summer when a 17-year-old Freeman peddled his bike through the gates of Huntingdale for the very first time to start his apprenticeship. In doing so he followed in the footsteps of his father Lawrence who for 23 years worked at Yarra Yarra Golf Club, including 19 as
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superintendent. Between them, the Freemans have notched up an incredible 65 years’ service to the Australian golf course industry. In the ensuing four decades at Huntingdale, Freeman has pretty much seen it all, both the highs and the lows. He was involved in 27 of the 31 Australian Masters that Huntingdale became synonymous with hosting, including being in charge of eight. He still clearly recalls his first Masters in 1983 and watching Greg Norman collect the second of his six Gold Jackets. He has seen, and overseen, numerous course construction and