REGIONAL PROFILE REGIONAL PROFILE
Howlong Golf Resort is one of a number of fantastic golfing establishments along the Murray River and attracts in excess of 52,000 rounds a year. It has been home to course superintendent Paul Irvine since 2013
Howlong Golf Resort, NSW You can take the boy out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the boy. After seven years honing his skills in Melbourne, in 2013 Paul Irvine returned to the Murray River to take over as course superintendent at Howlong Golf Resort.
Superintendent: Paul Irvine, 38. Nickname: Irv, Swirve. Family: Fiancé Shandell, dog Ollie (3yo Border collie). Period as a superintendent: 3.5 years. Association involvement: AGCSA (8 years), VGCSA, VGA, STA ACT. Turf management career: Murray Downs Golf and Country Club (apprenticeship, 1994-1998), Rich River Golf Club (greenkeeper 1999-2000), Finley Golf Club (head greenkeeper, 2001-2006), Kew Golf Club (senior greenkeeper, 2006-2007), Kingston Links (assistant superintendent, 2007-2008), Royal Melbourne Golf Club (senior greenkeeper and foreman, 2008-2013), Howlong Golf Resort (superintendent 2013-present). Qualifications: Cert III Turf Management (Trade Certificate) & Cert IV Sports Turf Management (Diploma). Social media: Twitter @HowlongSuper. Where in Australia is Howlong Golf Resort? Howlong is a small sleepy town located 28 kilometres
from Albury/Wodonga on the Murray River. The town consists of a lot of elderly couples who have relocated from larger centres to chase the better weather and cheaper housing prices, as well as younger families. The club offers a 32-room resort style motel, a choice of two dining areas, 78 poker machines, TAB and large outdoor area overlooking the golf course, as well as bowls and croquet. The region is well known for its close proximity to the Rutherglen wineries with the likes of Campbells, Bullers, All Saints and Rutherglen Estate within a 15km radius. Tell us a bit about your background and how you came to be a superintendent. It was certainly my love for golf that got me into the trade. The outdoor working environment combined with machinery usage and manual labour was an appealing factor. I did work experience at Murray Downs Golf Club and after my VCE started my apprenticeship working under Richard Forsyth (that’s some 22 years ago). The real turning point in my career was shifting to Melbourne and working on some highly respected private and public courses. This stint really set me up for where I am now and I believe working on courses from both ends of the spectrum teaches you to keep all options open. I knew I was always just passing through Melbourne and when the position came up at Howlong Golf Resort I leapt at it.
The Howlong Golf Resort crew, from left, Jason McGrath, John Anderson (assistant superintendent), Jessy Wilson, Richard Matheson, Bill Danby, Joel Mansell and Paul Irvine (superintendent) 50
AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 18.5