INTERNS INTERNS
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Home Three Australian assistant superintendents got the opportunity of a lifetime after being chosen to be part of Toro Australia’s inaugural Assistant Superintendent St Andrews Internship in July.
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he Home of Golf, St Andrews, is a mecca for any greenkeeper or turf manager and for three Australian assistant superintendents they fulfilled a career-long dream recently by getting the opportunity to work on the most hallowed turf in the game. In July, Stuart Campbell (Maroochy River Golf Club, Qld), David Hurst (Cromer Golf Club, NSW) and Liam Scott (Keysborough Golf Club, Vic) journeyed to Scotland after being selected as participants in AGCSA Platinum Partner Toro’s inaugural Assistant Superintendent St Andrews Internship. The trio travelled to St Andrews Links at the start of July and had the opportunity to work at both the Junior and Senior Open. They also took in The Open Championship held at Carnoustie Golf Links, got a chance to shadow the course managers and spent time with the learning and development officer. They were part of the grounds crew for the Junior Open which was held on the Harry S. Colt-designed Eden Course, one of seven courses maintained by St Andrews Links. The Junior Open is aimed at junior players (ages 16 and under) and held over 54 holes. In the week leading up to the 2018 event, the course was the driest it had been in many years due to above average summer temperatures. This led to reduced cutting regimes and allowed the crew to focus on the finer details of course presentation. The Senior British Open was held on the Old Course for the first time in the championship’s history.
AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 20.6
“Our time on the Old Course was spent during the preparation for the lead up to the tournament,” says Campbell. “Tasks included hand-mowing greens, changing holes for the practice rounds, levelling bunkers and some last-minute touch-ups. The Old Course is always in a condition that is so close to perfect that it only takes the smallest of tweaks to have it prepared for any major championship.” The rest of the interns’ time was spread out over the other courses that make up the Links which include; l The New Course (the second course built at the Home of Golf, designed by Old Tom Morris in 1895); l The Jubilee Course (the Links’ third championship course, opened in 1897); l The Strathtyrum Course (opened in 1993); l The Castle Course (opened in 2008, the newest addition to the Links stable); and l The Balgove Course (nine-hole course opened in 1987). All three assistants agree that working at St Andrews was amazing. The courses are well staffed with personnel being able to give certain tasks their undivided attention. “The tournament organisation there is fantastic,” says Hurst. “The pre-planning that goes into major events is meticulous, covering all jobs and maintenance tasks for the day’s play. Changing weather conditions were the only reason for changes