AS SOCIATION REPORTS
GCSAWA
PHOTO: PATRICK CASEY
I
t has been a long and tough summer for superintendents in Perth. Going from the wettest November on record, we then went about 70 days without a drop of rain! On top of that there were constant high temperatures in the mid to high 30s, while strong winds blowing in from the east for days on end really dried out surfaces and made a mess with the amount of tree debris. Some supers were recording Pan numbers up around 17mm a day at the peak! Then one week in early February changed everything, for both the good and bad. A tropical storm made its way down the coast from the Kimberly all the way to the south coast, causing flooding inland from Carnarvon, which is the state’s main source of vegetables and tropical fruits such as bananas, mangoes, grapes and watermelon. Kalgoorlie received over 100mm, its best rainfall in over two years, while Perth broke its summer drought with close to 50mm over a three-day period. Those rains around Perth were not just a relief for superintendents but more importantly for firefighters and residents in Perth’s north east where a massive fire was burning. Over 11,000 hectares were burnt and 86 homes lost. The Vines Resort and surrounding suburbs
Kalgoorlie Golf Course received its best rainfall in two years following a 99mm event in early February, but it made a mess of the Graham Marsh-designed layout
were evacuated but luckily no further damage was caused. From there we went into a five-day lockdown due to COVID. It was the first such instance since March 2020. Last year social golf was still permitted, but this time all courses were closed for the week with staff allowed to keep working. Thanks to the ASTMA’s Mark Unwin for the communication and clarity on restrictions and continuously vouching for the importance of the industry in regards to being essential workers. Many courses took advantage of no golfers and took the
opportunity to undertake fairway renovations and bunker works. The 2021 WA Golf Industry Awards Night is to be held on 26 March. Over 400 attendees will gather to help honour the 17 different award winners. The social and event calendar for the coming year is just getting the final touches where we aim to host an event each month of the non-peak season (MarchNovember).
SHANE BAKER PRESIDENT, GCSAWA
SAGCSA
D
espite COVID-19, the SA golf industry is managing to operate under substantially pre-COVID-19 regimes, with the exception of limited or no interstate or overseas visitors utilising our courses and facilities. Whether this situation continues is uncertain and subject to rapid change given emerging mutant COVID virus strains. Since our last report, SA has recorded a couple of 40oC days interspersed with mild but windy conditions. Late January saw many parts of the state record greater than 25mm of rain, a welcome albeit rather concentrated event. COVID-19 notwithstanding, the SAGCSA committee will formulate the members’ events programme for 2021 at its February meeting and look forward to being able to offer a full and varied offering in the near future. The SAGCSA would like acknowledge our esteemed colleague Ivan Swinstead, course superintendent at the Tea Tree Gully Golf Club, who after 44 years in the industry has decided to retire. Ivan left the Riverland family fruit block and commenced his greenkeeping 70
After 44 years in the industry, including 35 years as Tea Tree Gully Golf Club superintendent, Ivan Swinstead is set to retire later this year
career at Berri Golf Club in 1978. He then left for ‘the big smoke’ and The Grange Golf Club in 1981 before joining Tea Tree Gully Golf Club
AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 23.1
as leading hand in 1985, being promoted to superintendent in 1986. Throughout his career Ivan has gained the respect of his peers and staff, his club’s board and members for his approachable and friendly personality which he seamlessly integrated with a dedicated, adaptable and professional approach to all facets of the ever-evolving expectations, demands and challenges presented to superintendents over his 35 year tenure. Ivan will start accrued leave on 26 March and officially ‘put the cue in the rack’ on 28 October 2021. We wish Ivan and Leanne all the best in their mutual retirements and look forward to remaining in contact with him socially or at any SAGCSA events he may wish to attend. We trust all superintendents, their staff and clubs nationally will be able to return to a nonCOVID interrupted ‘new normal’ in the near future.
NATHAN BENNETT PRESIDENT, SAGCSA