regional profile regional profile
Axedale Golf Club is known for its short, yet challenging course which is set among beautiful River gum trees that are estimated to be 300 years old
Axedale
Golf Club,
As if being a regional superintendent isn’t a hard
enough job, Axedale Golf Club’s Glen Frewin has also had plenty of other life challenges thrown his way.
VIC
Superintendent: Glen Frewin (39). Family: Wife Barbara, kids Riley (6) and Connor (4). Period as a superintendent: 4.5 years. Association involvement: AGCSA (4.5 years), VGCSA. Turf management career: Barwon Heads Golf Club (turf management apprenticeship, 19962000); Axedale Golf Club (casual 2003-2004, parttime assistant superintendent 2004-2009, full-time superintendent 2009-present). Turf management qualifications: Turf Management Certificate (NMIT). Where in Australia is Axedale Golf Club and what is the town famous/known for? Axedale Golf Club is located in a small country town 20 kilometres east of Bendigo, Victoria along the banks of the Campaspe River. The club is known for its short, yet challenging course which is set among some beautiful old River gum trees that are estimated to be 300 years old. The course originally had sand scrape greens and over a two year period converted to grass greens which were opened in 1996. Many hours of voluntary labour were carried out by a group of willing members to implement the design plans of Kevin Hartley.
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Australian Turfgrass Management 16.6
Tell us your background in turf management. How did you start out in the industry and how did you end up at Axedale GC? My career in turf management started when I gained an apprenticeship at Barwon Heads Golf Club working under my cousin and then superintendent Peter Frewin. Having an interest in golf and the outdoors, I couldn’t knock back the opportunity. Unfortunately after completing my apprenticeship I had to resign and head back to Bendigo to begin dialysis. After three years studying I picked up casual work at Axedale Golf Club two days a week. In 2003 I had a kidney transplant and 12 months later was promoted to assistant superintendent under Andrew Bowles. In 2009 Andrew moved on and I was fortunate to be given the full-time superintendent role which I have held to this day. It sounds like you have had quite an ‘eventful’ life outside of turf management. As the saying goes, life wasn’t meant to be easy and I have had many issues over my entire life. I am also hearing impaired which provides many challenges on its own. With my kidney problems since birth (I had one removed when I was just three months old), I have learnt to be patient and not to worry too much. I have remained positive and have tried to get involved in as many activities as possible and in turn I think this has helped to shape the person I am today. I had a kidney transplant in June 2003 which I was grateful to receive from my neighbour Harry Long, a father of three who at that time was 50. Having been on home dialysis for 15 hours a week for three years (five hours, three times per week) the transplant certainly changed my life. I had a long