AS SOCIATION REPORTS
NSWGCSA
T
he NSWGCSA was lucky enough to finally hold the 2020 Elite Sand and Soil Rube Walkerden Trophy Event on 15 February at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney. The course was in tournament like condition with green speeds high and the wind playing havoc. Well done to superintendent Anthony Mills and fellow crew members Simon Blagg, Jackson Nicholls and Jack Lewis on presenting the course the way it was. The day saw 124 golfers meet at 8.30am for breakfast and registration before a 10am shotgun start, followed by 135 attending lunch and presentation in the clubhouse at 3pm. It was great to see everyone enjoying a laugh after what has been a real battle over the past 12 months. Special thanks needs to go to Elite Sand and Soil, Bayer, Dad & Dave’s Turf, Greenway Turf Solutions and Augusta Golf Cars EZGO for their sponsorship. Without this support a venue like The Lakes would be out of the question. I must say it was very refreshing to see the support from The Lakes Golf Club management team of Andrew Kirkman (general manager) and David Scott (assistant general manager) who went above and beyond to support the day and industry. Winners on the day were… l Rube Walkerden Trophy: Dominic Yates (Oatlands Golf Club) with 34 points; l Presidents Trophy (scratch): Scott Harris (Narooma Golf Club) with 27 points; l Peter Ingram Trophy (Trade): Stephen Foster (LandHQ) with 36 points; l GTS Cup (2BB): Dane Thatcher and Matt Shuttleworth; l NTP 7th ($1000 Floratine Products from Turfcare): Nick Willkie; l NTP 9th ($1000 Visa card from Australian Turf Analysis): Luke Diserens;
ON THE MOVE... CHRIS ADAMES: From Victoria GC, Vic to foreman Riversdale GC, Vic. BRAD CAREY: From foreman to assistant superintendent Riversdale GC, Vic. JARROD CASTLE: After eight years as assistant superintendent and a total of 15 years at Kingston Heath GC, Castle has taken over as superintendent at Rich River GC, NSW. NICHOLAS FIDDELAERS: The former VGCSA Graduate of the Year has moved from Huntingdale GC, Vic to be one of two new 72
Outstanding Performance and Dedication Award (sponsored by Waterwise Consulting): Kurt Schulenburg (Long Reef GC); l Outstanding Achievement Award (sponsored by Living Turf): Mark Spraggs (Foster Tuncurry GC); and l Superintendent of the Year Award (sponsored by Australian Turf Projects): Craig Molloy (Cypress Lakes Golf & Country Club). Craig, Mark and Kurt have all won an education trip to the GIS conference in America or equivalent once travel is back to some sort of a normality. The NSWGCSA also officially presented Mal Harris from Northbridge Golf Club life membership of the association. Mal has served over 30 years at Northbridge GC and was also a NSWGCSA Board member for nine years in the education portfolio before stepping down in 2019. Very well-deserved Mal. l
NSWGCSA Superintendent of the Year Award recipient Craig Molloy (right) being congratulated by president Nathan Bradbury
NTP 15th ($1000 Foliamax products from Nuturf): Dominic Yates; l NTP 18th ($1000 Hydrolink products from Globe Australia): Jackson Nicholls; l Longest drive 11th hole ($1000 products from Living Turf): Justin Bradbury; and l Lucky Door Prize ($2000 worth of sand or soil mix from Elite Sand & Soil): Brad Huender. The 2020 NSWGCSA annual awards were also presented at the lunch with the following winners honoured in front of their peers: l Vince Church Award – Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by JT Turf): Kurt Peters (Newcastle GC); l
foremen appointed at Riversdale GC, Vic. TIM HAMILTON: From foreman to assistant superintendent Kingston Heath GC, Vic. SAM LANGFORD: The Yarra Yarra Golf Club assistant superintendent has been appointed the new superintendent at Heidelberg Golf Club, the former home of his Yarra Yarra boss Clint Raven. STEVE LEWIS: Announced his impending retirement from Royal Hobart Golf Club just prior to Christmas. Lewis, who has been at the club for over 42 years, 35 as superintendent, will finish up on 5 April.
AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 23.1
POTABLE WATER SURVEY The NSWGCSA is currently completing a survey across the state on potable water use. This has been supported by Golf NSW with our intention to find out how many clubs rely on potable water and to what amount. With this information the Board will complete a document to present to the Minister for Water, Property and Housing, hoping to get some fair and decent guidelines around water restrictions put in place. The initial meeting at Parliament House was very encouraging and hopefully clubs can support by completing the short survey.
NATHAN BRADBURY PRESIDENT, NSWGCSA BEN NORTON-SMITH: The former Longyard Golf Club superintendent has been appointed as superintendent of the Forster course at Forster Tuncurry GC, NSW. BRETT SKINNER: From assistant superintendent Howlong Golf Resort, NSW to superintendent Corowa GC, NSW. MARK STANLEY: After spending the previous three years as superintendent at the new Soma Bay course in Egypt, Stanley has returned home to take on the role of superintendent at Redcliffe GC, Qld where he has spent two previous stints during his career.