Navigating the pandemic
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40 COLUMNS TERRY MUIR JOHN NEYLAN PETER MCMAUGH JOHN FORREST KATE TORGERSEN VICKI CROWE
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34 Contributors to Australian Turfgrass Management Volume 22.2 (March-April 2020): Andrew Anderson (Metropolitan GC); Leo Barber (Paraparaumu Beach GC); Nathan Bennett (Royal Adelaide GC/SAGCSA); Nathan Bradbury (NSWGCSA); David Brand (Brand Media & Consulting); Vicki Crowe (PGA of Australia); Rowan Daymond (The Grange GC); Nic Douglas (Spring Valley GC); Elliott Dowling (USGA); Bryan Dunn (UTAS Stadium); Idris Evans (Western Australian GC); Tim Fankhauser (ASTMA); John Forrest (Forrest and Forrest Horticultural Consultancy Services); Ryan Fury (Killara GC); Andrew Glen (KDV Sport); Patrick Gross (USGA); Rob Halsall (Golf & Buying Services); Phil Hill (TSTMA); Steve Hodson (NZGCSA); Brian Hyde (Hazell Bros); Dave Mason (Metropolitan GC); Paul McLean (GCSAQ); Matt McLeod (Cobram-Barooga GC); Peter McMaugh (Turfgrass Scientific Services); Melbourne Polytechnic; Terry Muir (epar); Keally Nankervis (ASTMA); John Neylan (SportEng); Luke Partridge (Manly GC); Barry Proctor (VGCSA); Rob Savedra (Wesley College); John Spraggs (Royal Wellington GC, NZ); Travis Stillman (Rossdale GC); Kate Torgersen (Environmental Golf Solutions); Steve Tuckett (ASTMA); Mark Unwin (AGCSA); FTMI Class of 2020 and mentors.
s this really happening? Seriously!? I’m sure everyone is still trying to make sense of where we are currently at as the COVID-19 pandemic has strangled, and continues to strangle, the world. First and foremost I hope that you are healthy, your families are coping as best as possible and for those of us who are home-schooling kids, well, we all deserve a medal don’t we! Having to deal with maths again after 27 years has reaffirmed the excellent decision I made years ago to pursue a career dealing with letters, not numbers… The world has changed so markedly in the space of a few months and what was once normal will not likely be for many to come. As with every industry, the sports turf management profession has had to roll with the punches in a continually changing, and often confusing, operating environment. Fortunately in some states golf has remained playable, despite conjecture, which has enabled clubs to keep their heads above water, just. Others, such as those in Victoria, have been forced to shut their gates completely. While staffing and resources have been significantly impacted, for the most part our industry has continued to operate as best it can within the restrictions imposed. Turf mangers have been resoundingly resourceful and innovative during such a time (as you will read in this edition), but now that they have adjusted to their new day-to-day regimes, thoughts are starting to wander to the road ahead and what the possible long-term impacts will be. As Stewart Fenton, CEO of Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club, noted at the Jacobsensponsored FTMI in March, clubs are in a position that they have never been before and rather than be reactive they need to be proactive. And that goes for superintendents and turf managers as well. Now, more than ever, they need to be standing up and being an active participant as clubs and facilities navigate their way out of the pandemic. The course/turf facility is, after all, its greatest asset and any reduction in its quality will make any recovery all the more difficult. What has been heartening to watch throughout all of this is the way we have adapted to a new environment, embraced technology and carried on as best as possible with a sense of humour, an innate quality that most turf managers possess. Take ASTMA member Leo Barber for instance, the dual superintendent and general manager at New Zealand’s prestigious Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club just north of Wellington. Barber has used his online presence to get creative via a number of means, hilariously documenting his self-imposed isolation after returning from the FTMI where he was a mentor and then starring in a series of videos on how to renovate your home lawn, delightfully titled ‘Lockdown lawn renos with Leo’. More seriously, however, he also used his time in isolation to record a series of interviews with prominent golfing personalities, which he shared with his members to keep them informed and connected during NZ’s month-long lockdown. They make for great viewing, but it was the comments of former Kiwi professional turned course designer Greg Turner that resonated most about the current situation and how golf is ideally placed post-COVID-19 to take advantage… “Everybody has got a bit of a fright,” Turner commented to Barber. “We’ve been thrown out of our comfort zone in terms of being able to go anywhere and do anything we want. So that could make us a little more thoughtful about what we do and how we live our lives in our own back yard, and in a funny way that might work out really well for golf clubs. Even in these uncertain times, golf is one of those games that makes you slow down a bit and involves exercise, camaraderie and social interaction. Maybe this having to slow down, brought about by the coronavirus, will make us realise we don’t have to live life at breakneck speed all the time. Maybe it will give us time to pause and actually realise there is great value in the three, four or five hours spent on the golf course from a health and wellbeing perspective. It may help golf clubs, especially those that have been struggling, to build on their relationships with golfers a bit more.” Enjoy the read, stay safe and stay sane…
Brett Robinson, Editor MARCH-APRIL 2020
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