AS SOCIATION REPORTS/NEWS
VGCSA
H
ere we are in June and having already reached the midway mark of 2022 we are hitting the ground running – so far, so good in terms of the VGCSA calendar of events and educational activities. At the recent VGCSA AGM held at Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club, we farewelled Kingston Heath superintendent Hayden Mead who served on the committee for five terms. Hayden was a great asset to the association with a wealth of knowledge, ideas and motivation towards new initiatives along the way. We are grateful for his contribution and wish him well in his future pursuits. At the AGM we were very pleased to welcome long-serving Ballarat Golf Club superintendent Jeff Powell onto the committee. We are looking forward to his expertise and input, both as a regional representative and superintendent with an extensive career in the industry. The full committee for the 2022-23 term is: l President: Shane Greenhill (Sorrento GC) l Vice president: Simon Muller (The Dunes) l Secretary: Travis Scott (Riversdale GC) l Treasurer: Adam Lamb (Barwon Heads GC) l Committee: Jeff Powell (Ballarat GC), Clint Raven (Yarra Yarra GC) and Tay Wilson (Kooringal GC). In early June, the VGCSA Course Staff Education meeting will take place at Rosebud Country Club. Concentrating on the topic of ‘career transitioning’, a mix of speaker presentations and panel will be exploring both preparation and process of moving towards and into a senior role. Thanks to all our guest speakers involved including Guy Chapple (WellPlayed Golf Business Consultancy), course superintendents Nicholas Douglas (Cranbourne GC), Sam Langford (Heidelberg GC), Nick Launer (Keysborough GC) and Geraldine O’Callaghan (Sandringham GC) and Rosebud Country Club host superintendent Ian Todd. Back in March and April, the VGCSA ran a series of training days in both irrigation and turf equipment management which were previously scheduled for 2021. We received both positive and productive feedback on each training day which will assist our forward planning for future sessions. In the meantime, a final irrigation training day will take place in the coming month for those previously enrolled who could not attend the March dates. 74
The 2022/23 VGCSA committee comprises (from left) Jeff Powell, Tay Wilson, Clint Raven, vice president Simon Muller, president Shane Greenhill, treasurer Adam Lamb and secretary Travis Scott
On 1-2 August we are looking forward to the long-awaited (third time lucky) VGCSA Country Meeting. After unfortunately needing to cancel two years in a row, we finally get to visit Murray Downs Golf & Country Club. We very much appreciate the club’s patience throughout. Alongside the main program, which includes guest speakers Richard Forsyth, Tim Warren, John Neylan and Mark Matehaere, we will be also running educational sessions for turf equipment technicians Steve Hewitt on day two. was bestowed VGCSA life membership
LIFE MEMBERSHIP
At the recent AGM it was the committee’s privilege to bestow life membership upon Thirteenth Beach Golf Links superintendent Steven Hewitt. Steve began his turf career as an apprentice at Warracknabeal Golf Club in Victoria’s west in 1990. Promoted to superintendent the day he was qualified, he eventually landed a 12-month placement at Barwon Heads Golf Club under Peter Frewin, filling in for one of the crew. He ended up staying on for six years before being appointed superintendent at the neighbouring Thirteenth Beach Golf Links in November 2000. Since then Steve has overseen the rise in prominence of the 36-hole Bellarine Peninsula facility which has become home of the worldacclaimed Vic Open. His life membership also acknowledged many years of involvement with the VGCSA. A member since 1994, Steve was on the committee between 2009 and 2018, including vice president for three years (2009-2011) and then president for another three years from 20112014. Speaking at the AGM Steve noted: “Receiving life
AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 24.3
membership is both an honour and privilege. I set out to volunteer without the expectation of receiving such recognition, so I am quite humbled by this gesture from the committee. “I initially committed to do a couple of years on the VGCSA committee to ‘do my part’, but it turned out to be many more, including being president, which was extremely rewarding. I always felt that I owed more to the VGCSA, as being on the committee actually improved who I am and how I manage the golf courses at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links. “The rewarding aspect for me is being part of a vibrant, financially successful association that provides education, networking opportunities and the ability to reach out to others. My time as a member of the association has provided those opportunities and continues to do so.” Steve was one of four VGCSA members to be acknowledged at the AGM. Commonwealth Golf Club’s Caleb Johnson was confirmed as the VGCSA’s Apprentice of the Year for 202122 and will now go on to contest the final of the ASTMA Graduate of the Year Award. Former VGCSA president Barry Proctor (Woodlands GC) collected the VGCSA Superintendent Recognition Award, while Turfcare Australia’s Mark Dougherty was bestowed the VGCSA Trade Recognition Award. Prior to the awards presentation and AGM, a strong field lined up to tackle Peninsula Kingswood’s North Course, with Woodlands Golf Club assistant superintendent Scott McKinnon taking home the Toro Cup, while Axedale Golf Club superintendent Chris Neville won the Bayer-sponsored Powell Trophy. McMahons’ Theo Maroulakos won the VGCSA Presidents Shield.
SHANE GREENHILL PRESIDENT, VGCSA 2022 VGCSA Toro Cup winner Scott McKinnon (right)