Australian Turfgrass Management Journal - Volume 25.6

CELEBRATING THE EFFORTS OF AUSTRALIA’S SPORTS TURF MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS

ISSN 1442-2697

www.astma.com.au

VOLUME 25.6 NOV-DEC 2023

Trusting the process

Royal Queensland’s PGA three-peat

Careers on a roll Profiling the FTMI Class of 2023/24

A new level

The Lakes shines as Open co-host

An Open experience

Cook’s recipe for major tournament success

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Published by the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA) Editorial Brett Robinson Office: (03) 9548 8600 Mobile: 0434 144 779 Email: brett@astma.com.au

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Copyright © 2023 The ASTMA believes that material sourced and produced for Australian Turfgrass Management is accurate, but gives no warranty in relation thereto, and disclaims liability for all claims against the ASTMA, its subsidiary companies, its employees, agents or any other person which may arise from any person acting on the materials contained within. No portion, in whole or part, may be reproduced without the written permission of the ASTMA

The Australian Sports Turf Managers Association encourages all members to support these companies who support your association The Australian Sports Turf Managers Association encourages all members to support The Australian Sports Turf Managers Associationwho encourages all members to support these companies support your association these companies who support your association NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023 1

CONTENTS

8 COVER STORY

AN OPEN EXPERIENCE

8

For the 22nd time in its esteemed history, The Australian Golf Club in Sydney held the ISPS Handa Australian Open in November, co-hosting with The Lakes in the second year of the dual course, three-field tournament format.

For course superintendent Dan Cook (CSTM), who arrived at The Australian in the spring of 2021, it was one of the biggest weeks of his turf management career. As well as presenting the prestigious course in faultless condition, which drew widespread plaudits from players and pundits alike, tournament week was very much about the overall experience for Cook. Drawing from his time working at past tournaments, Cook picked out the best parts to make sure that his crew of 22 and the more than 60 volunteers enjoyed the week and were part of something memorable.

20

Cover: The 1st hole at The Australian Golf Club during the 2023 ISPS Handa Australian Open.

Photo: Brett Robinson.

26 FEATURES ALSO IN THIS EDITION… Foreword Thinking – Mark Unwin Best on ground – Socials Around the Trade Association Reports 2

4 6 66 70

The Australian’s new custodian The Lakes lifts the bar RQ’s PGA three-peat FTMI - Getting careers on a roll

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

14 20 26 32

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14

COLUMNS

JOHN NEYLAN PETER MCMAUGH AM JOHN FORREST KATE TORGERSEN BEN GIBSON

Gratitude

O

44 50 54 58 60

32

Contributors to Australian Turfgrass Management Journal Volume 25.6 (November-December 2023): Adobe Stock Images; Australian Golf Media; Nathan Bennett (TMSA); Dan Cook (CSTM, The Australian GC); Michael Ervin (The Lakes GC); John Forrest (Forrest and Forrest Horticultural Consultancy Services); FTMI Class of 2023-24; Jake Gibbs (CSTM, Elanora CC); Ben Gibson (The Toolbox Team); Leon Hennessy (NSWGCSA); Marlon Johnston (The Australian GC); Peter McMaugh AM (Turfgrass Scientific Services); Adam Mills (Royal Queensland GC); Anthony Mills (The Lakes GC); Mary Napier (VGCSA); John Neylan (Sporteng); Jackson Nicholls (The Lakes GC); Chris Searl (Shortees Golf); Kate Torgersen (Environmental Golf Solutions); Mark Unwin (ASTMA).

ver the two decades (gee, has it been that long…) as editor of this journal, there have been a few occasions where course superintendents have become extremely emotional in front of me. One had just lost his job. Another was recounting the moment he was told by doctors he had cancer. Another was processing the decimation wrought on his course by multiple floods. And another, who had just retired after serving more than 40 years at the one club, started to crack when reflecting upon that tenure and the lasting memories he would be leaving with. Then there was Dan Cook (CSTM).

Sitting in his office inside The Australian Golf Club maintenance facility at the recent ISPS Handa Australian Open, I’d had the privilege of interviewing Cook and taking up more than 75 minutes of his valuable time less than 24 hours out from the opening round. During that time we’d delved into his first two years in charge since arriving from Elanora Country Club, the changes he’d instituted and the unique approach he was taking with the set-up of his tournament crew.

More than 60 volunteers had descended on The Australian that week, including a number of Cook’s close friends from Australia and the USA. Wrapping things up, I asked Cook how he has finding the week and coping with the magnitude of being in charge for his first national Open. It was a pretty innocuous question, or so I thought, and I wasn’t quite ready for what happened next. Cook started answering the question by recalling some of his past experiences and the help he had received across his near threedecade career. He spoke about how Steven Newell (Victoria GC) and Hayden Mead (Kingston Heath GC) let him and assistants Shane George and Marlon Johnston shadow them during last year’s Open so they could get a handle on the new tournament format. He also recalled riding around Royal Melbourne with director of courses Richard Forsyth one afternoon during the 2019 Presidents Cup while he was hand-watering the famed Sutton’s mix greens, talking all things turf and golf in the process. It was at that point where Cook became visibly emotional. After taking a minute to compose himself, he continued…

“I’m just so grateful for the guys that have helped me to get where I am today. I know I can be a pest. Due to my learning stye, I have to be there in person, next to guys in the moment. I pester a lot of people and ask lots of silly questions. These guys, nationally and internationally, have always given me an open door which means so much to me. Some of these guys I know very well and have long lasting relationships with, others offer me this opportunity on just my first encounter!

“I’m not really an emotional guy, but when you start thinking about the relationships you have made over the years and the support you have received, it makes you truly grateful. And a lot of those people are here this week. We’ve worked together over the years, but more than that they have become close friends. I’ve been through thick and thin with some of them and I know I can call them at any time of the day or night and they’ll be there and have my back... This event and club are much bigger than me, but I am glad to experience it with old and new friends. For all of their efforts I am nothing but grateful and humbled and so fortunate to be part of a great industry.”

If there was ever any doubting what hosting the Open meant for Cook and the importance of the relationships and friendships that are forged working in an industry such as ours, it was encapsulated perfectly in that fleeting moment of vulnerability. The fact that Cook was able to prepare his course for the country’s biggest tournament with some of his closest mates riding shotgun made it all the more poignant. Together with a well-oiled crew and some meticulous planning they certainly delivered something special. Indeed, when you get comments like those from Europe Ryder Cup team member Robert MacIntyre – “Hands down the best conditioned golf course I have ever played” – you know you’ve done something good.

Having been fortunate to attend both the Open and PGA tournaments last month, all clubs and crews deserve a huge shout out. Anthony Mills at The Lakes, which co-hosted the Open, and his namesake Adam at Royal Queensland (PGA), raised the bar with their course presentation as well and helped deliver one of the biggest two weeks Australian golf has seen for some time. The galleries and television ratings across both were the best in years and proved just how popular the sport continues to become since the pandemic. In this edition we look back on those events and also delve into Cook’s first two years as The Australian’s new custodian.

As this is our final edition of 2023, I would like to thank all our contributors, advertisers and readers for their continued support. Looking back, it has been another year of huge highs (and some lows) and I have loved being able to share just a snapshot of the many fantastic stories from across the industry. I look forward to doing it all again in 2024. Enjoy the read…

Brett Robinson, Editor NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023

3

FOREWORD THINKING WITH MARK UNWIN, CEO

Passion, commitment and continually rising to the challenge

A

s I write the last Foreword Thinking update for the year, two points consistently stand out through my notes of events and updates throughout 2023.

The first of these is now harsh this country can be at times. Over the course of the year, various parts of the country suffered through floods, droughts, cyclones, pest infiltrations or swings in wildly unseasonal weather. All of this makes the role that turf managers do so critical, in somehow being required to manage all of this, adjust to all of this or rebuild after all of this, and yet deliver a standard of playing surface and maintain a level of professionalism that is (or should be) gratefully acknowledged by players, administrators and spectators.

Australian turf managers are indeed the envy of many other parts of the world.

The second is just how resilient, how specialised and how dedicated turf managers are. In facing another year of seemingly relentless trials in one form or another, the fact that stood out the most for me (again) was the spirit and solidarity of the people we have in this industry.

I would suggest that this theme is a common topic in my updates over the course of the past five or so years of being with the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA) and thinking through that I’d argue there is a clear reason for that. Throughout my working life and engaging with many industries, I’ve not been more privileged to meet and work with so many committed, hardworking and professional individuals, who genuinely care about their work, their teams and colleagues. As much as it may sound like a cliché, I count myself very lucky to be able to work in an industry where the people are so passionate and committed to what they do, despite all that is thrown at them.

2023 has also seen the industry face a growing challenge relating to staff attraction, with an increase in the volume of facilities looking to manage staff numbers, placing additional pressures on teams to manage and maintain surfaces that are, at the same time, facing an increase in demand for usage.

This last item forms a significant part of the association’s Strategic Plan for 2023-2027 and will be the primary focus of activities leading into the new year. The first of our activities relating to workforce attraction and retention is the recently announced turf industry staff engagement research project to be undertaken in conjunction with Melbourne’s La Trobe University, launching in early January. This is designed to be a large undertaking to support turf managers and employers in working through ways to help engage, recognise and reward turf management staff, with a presentation to be made to turf managers and club managers at the Australian Sports Turf Management Conference in Brisbane (17-20 June, 2024).

The Strategic Plan noted was another milestone for the association this year, in launching our five-year approach to continue supporting members and the industry, alongside several other notable activities.

Among these are the development and launch of a National Curators Accreditation Program backed by Cricket Australia, launching of the First Green program to engage with potential new apprentices and delivery of flagship programs such as the annual conference, the Future Turf Managers’ Initiative (see page 32 for the program’s latest intake) and Women in Turf Strategy work placement opportunities to name just a few.

Perhaps the largest initiative undertaken by the association in recent years was the registration as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to enable support for apprentices in Certificate III training (in SA) and the Diploma of Sports Turf Management for states and regions unable to access this level of qualification previously. With some 40-plus enrolments after the first few months of operation as an RTO, 2024 enrolments are looking to be significantly higher as classes return in early February for those looking to further their education and career. Feedback to date from students and employers alike has been very encouraging and while there are still some areas that we continue to work through, we’re looking forward to continuing to grow throughout the year ahead.

In closing off this update, I would like to extend a note of thanks for the support received from each of our trade partners, all of whom continue to actively support the industry.

This support and collaboration is truly valued by the association and the programs we are able to develop and deliver to the several thousand sports turf managers that we in turn support wouldn’t be possible without such assistance.

Lastly, but by no means least, I would also like to thank the ASTMA Board and the diligent and hardworking team at the association, who display a continual drive and motivation each day to work as hard as each of you do, in supporting members and helping to advance the industry. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a safe, happy and prosperous 2024.

The launch of the ASTMA’s Registered Training Organisation division was a key highlight of 2023

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AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

SOCIAL MEDIA

Best

on ground ATM showcases some of the best social media posts and pictures from around the sports turf industry in recent months.

PAMBULA-MERIMBULA GC “Look what just happened… Congratulations to 2nd year apprentice Rory McAlpin for winning US$10,000 for his magic photo in the Tru-Turf photo competition.” (Days after returning from Royal Queensland where he volunteered at the 2024 Australian PGA Championship, McAlpin’s stunning photo, top, was adjudged the overall winner of the ‘Show us your Tru-Turf’ global photography challenge which carried with it a tidy cash prize!)

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AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

KIM KENNEDY “Queens of the greens this week @ausopengolf. Some of the best fun I’ve had preparing a golf course. Huge thank you to the management team at The Australian for their trust and knowledge.

They wanted to make the week fun and I can definitely say it was nothing short of it!” (Kingston Heath volunteer Kim Kennedy and The Australian’s Cyndi Vanegas were key members of the back nine greens crew at this year’s ISPS Handa Australian Open.)

LIAM O’KEEFFE “It has been an absolute privilege to work alongside this great man over the last 20 years.” (Flemington racecourse manager Liam O’Keeffe got a ringside seat to what was champion jockey Damien Oliver’s final Melbourne Cup Carnival.)

PGA OF AUSTRALIA “Cam Smith and Marc Leishman are obsessed with their lawns, so we put them to the test at Suncorp Stadium…” (Suncorp ground manager Matthew Oliver had a few well-known apprentices cutting bullets ahead of the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship.)

NORTH SYDNEY COUNCIL “Pitch-ure perfect! (The North Sydney Oval team of Brad Morgan, Jacob McCormick, Lachlan Rainger, Shaun Eaton, Jordan Magro and Kieran Meurant scored a 10/10 ICC pitch rating after hosting a women’s T20I in October.)

MARLON JOHNSTON “Bring your dad to work day!” (It was a family affair at The Australian GC for the recent Open.

Assistant superintendent Marlon Johnston had dad Anthony riding shotgun on the final day.)

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023

7

2023 OPEN

An Open

experience T

he wait was worth it. When Dan Cook (CSTM) was announced as the new superintendent of The Australian Golf Club in July 2021, it made headlines across the industry. After 14 successful years at Elanora Country Club in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Cook was to make his way across the Harbour Bridge, taking the reins from Phil Beal who had guided the club for the previous 11 years, which included the major Jack Nicklaus course rebuild between 2012 and 2013.

Due to arrive at The Australian on 1 October, Cook not only had the prospect of getting his head around a new course but also the possibility of hosting an Australian Open.

The club had originally been scheduled to host its return that November, but due to the COVID pandemic that had been pushed out 8

to early 2022. Sure enough, just a fortnight after Cook had started his new role, Golf Australia announced it was abandoning plans to stage the event. With the Open heading to Melbourne in 2022, it meant The Australian wouldn’t host it again until late 2023.

In a way, that cancellation was fortuitous.

While there was no question the course would have been expertly presented if it had gone ahead, the additional time afforded Cook the opportunity to become familiar with the course and start to address the specific areas that the club wanted him to focus on (read the following article for more on that). Indeed, over the next two years, Cook would put his unique stamp on the Kensington course, making significant changes both on and off it.

All of which would ultimately be on show come November for the 2023 ISPS Handa

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

Australian Open, the second year of Golf Australia’s dual course experiment which would see The Australian host all three championship fields – men’s, women’s and all abilities. In preparation for the tournament, Cook and his assistants Shane George and Marlon Johnston had journeyed to Melbourne 12 months earlier to Victoria and Kingston Heath golf clubs, spending time with respective superintendents Steven Newell and Hayden Mead as they guided their teams.

Although it was to be his first Open in “the big seat”, Cook was by no means a tournament newbie. Far from it. Throughout his now near three-decade career, Cook has been involved, both as a crew member and an observer, in some of the biggest tournaments in world golf. It all started back during his Ohio Program internship when his time at Oak Hill

them into practice. While it was no doubt one of the biggest weeks of his career, Cook was also fully invested in making sure it was an enjoyable experience for the tournament crew.

To that end, no detail was spared as Cook and his senior management team orchestrated one of the more unique set ups that an Open has witnessed.

“Hands down the best conditioned golf course I have ever played.” That was how Team Europe Ryder Cup star Robert MacIntyre summed up The Australian Golf Club which hosted the 2023 ISPS Handa Australian Open in November. Pictured is the par five 5th

BEST ENVIRONMENT POSSIBLE

Handa Australian Open in November, co-hosting with neighbours The Lakes. For superintendent Dan Cook (CSTM), it was one of the biggest weeks of his turf management career and he pulled out all stops to make sure it was a memorable one for the tournament crew.

Country Club coincided with it hosting the 85th US PGA Championship in 2003. For a young greenkeeper just recently qualified, being part of the 150-strong crew that week left a lasting impression.

After finishing his time on the program and returning home for a period, the US would lure Cook back and a role at The Honors Course in Tennessee. Teaming up with fellow former Kingsmill employee Nelson Caron who was the assistant there, they assisted superintendent David Stone to present the course for the 2005 US Mid-Amateur Championship. It was after that tournament that Stone arranged for Cook to go on a tour of Augusta National where he was shown around the Masters course by director of golf Marsh Benson.

Ultimately, Cook would end up returning there a few months later, this time as a fully-fledged

member of superintendent Brad Owen’s crew and for the next two years lived out every young greenkeeper’s dream. He would eventually become the first Australian to rise to a management role (second assistant) at Augusta and for the 2007 Masters managed the iconic back nine greens.

After returning to Australia in 2007 to take up the superintendent role at Elanora, Cook’s association with the Masters didn’t end there.

Every year since, with the exception of the COVID years, Cook has returned to volunteer.

It’s his “annual tournament fix” and gives him the chance to catch up with the many friends he made during his time in the US. Having such a solid tournament pedigree, with the Australian Open coming to his course it gave Cook the opportunity to take all the learnings from those past experiences and put

WORDS AND PHOTOS: BRETT ROBINSON

For the 22nd time in its history, The Australian Golf Club held the ISPS

Cook admits he is a visual learner and when it comes to tournaments he likes being on the ground and in the moment. Over the years he’s worked at events where the crew have been all dressed in high-vis. He’s run around others, scaling camera towers trying to get ‘the’ photo when he should have been concentrating on his assigned duties. He’s eaten bacon and egg rolls for seven days straight – not the most nutritious when your body is out of sync – and felt the effects that fatigue can have due to a punishing tournament week schedule. For the Open, Cook was determined to provide an operating environment that would enable the crew to perform at their peak. That started with the volunteers – and a lot of them.

Most courses when hosting a tournament will put a call out for volunteers through industry channels. When the Open date was finally confirmed by Golf Australia at the end of May, Cook took a different approach. He told the crew to ask friends and family if they wanted to volunteer. Within a few weeks they already had a significant number putting their hand up. As an example, second assistant Josh Presland, who joined The Australian in April after initially coming to Australia from New Zealand in 2022, had two mates, Daniel Godek (superintendent at Redwood Park GC) and Brent Taupo (assistant at Muriwai GC), fly across the Tasman for the week.

Cook would also set aside a number of positions for the Australian Sports Turf

Concord’s Chris Howe rolls the 2nd approach

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023

9

2023 OPEN

Left: Superintendent Dan Cook talks stimping with volunteer Susana Oliveira; Right: Fortune Mdluli was one of 10 volunteers to come across each afternoon from NSW GC

Managers Association (ASTMA), the NSW Golf Course Superintendents Association (NSWGCSA) and Toro. Spending a week as part of the ASTMA’s Women in Turf Strategy Program were Susana Oliveira (The Grange GC, SA), Kim Kennedy (Kingston Heath GC, Vic), Helen Oliver (The Cut, WA) and Thelma Mason (City of Cockburn, WA).

Toro Australia, with whom The Australian signed a preferred supplier agreement recently, also supplied four volunteers. Senior sales manager Mark Johnson chaperoned three apprentices – Connor Flett (Barwon Heads GC, Vic), Zac Naismith (Goondiwindi GC, Qld) and Zac Semmens (Horizons GC, NSW) – who were selected from customer clubs. Austyn Layton (Wyong GC, NSW), who won the NSWGCSA’s Encouragement Award, also took his spot at The Australian.

Cook would end up having a volunteer cohort that numbered 60 for the week, taking to more than 80 the entire tournament team once the regular course crew were included.

Organising such a large crew was a huge challenge logistically, not in the least who was assigned to what machinery but also factoring in one very important aspect that Cook was adamant on including.

Hosting three championships in one and upwards of 260 golfers for the first two rounds alone, Cook knew it would be a long week of early starts and late finishes and therefore wanted to be able to give each crew member every second afternoon off. That was something he had picked up on during his visit to the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews in 2022 where there was a big sustainability push, particularly around labour.

With the help of course administration manager Becca Cody, who would play a key role behind the scenes, Cook devised a highly detailed work schedule for tournament week. While there were set teams across the front and back nines during the morning shift (which started at 3.30am), jobs were switched up in the afternoon. Those who were

mowing greens in the morning more than likely found themselves raking bunkers or divotting fairways in the afternoon and vice versa.

Which nine they were working on was also deliberately reversed so everyone could get the chance to see the whole property.

In addition, those people working together had their scheduled afternoons off together.

It was quite the logistical feat and the daily spreadsheet outlining jobs was an impressive piece of work in its own right, printed off at the local Officeworks every day and taking up nearly an entire noticeboard in the corridor of The Australian maintenance facility.

The level of detail also extended to Cody working closely with Chris Chapman and Craig Easton from GTS to source nutritious and healthier catering options to fuel the crew for the week. As well, photographer Chris Searl, who is part owner of Shortees par three course in Sydney’s northern suburbs, and videographer Blake LaBonte shadowed the crew all week. They captured them at work so they could focus on their jobs, with the plan to use the imagery as part of a thank you package and a future staff induction video.

“Our scheduling was very intense and a lot of planning went into it,” states Cook. “I’m a pretty rigid thinker and I like to know where I’m going and I like my people to know where they are going. I have been fortunate throughout my career to attend a lot of events and I’ve learned a lot from each one. We thought about the tournament a lot and wanted to make sure we had that level of detail in order to make it a really good overall experience for everyone.

“I tried to pick the best parts of every event and some of the ideas that I have seen. Becca then helped to put my crazy ideas together to make it a fun week. I really wanted everyone to remember the week. I’ve worked lots of events where I can’t even remember the winner Simplot USA’s John Doyle was one of a number of American volunteers to enjoy the week Down Under

10

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

because there has been that level of fatigue.

That’s why it was important we could give the crew every second afternoon off and I think it worked really well.

“For the overseas guys it meant they could go and explore other courses or do some touristy things. On Tuesday, Kim and Susana chose to stay back despite having the evening off and they came around the course with me.

We talked all manner of things to do with golf course management and turf. I have all the time in the world for people who want to learn and hopefully they got something out of that time and got an appreciation of how we do things here at The Australian.”

ONE DEGREE OF SEPARATION On a personal level, as part of the huge volunteer contingent, Cook had a number of people riding shotgun during the week who had played pivotal roles in shaping his career.

They included former colleagues from his time in the US, many of whom have become lifelong friends. They made the long trek Down Under for the week, many of them for the first time, to help out their mate.

Among those was long-time friend Caron who is now superintendent at Seminol Golf Club in Florida. As well as working closely together in the past, they also volunteer alongside each other at the Masters. As Cook says, they have “been through thick and thin together over the past 20 years” and it was an honour to have him along for the ride.

Caron headed a strong US contingent which also included Simplot USA’s John Doyle and Akoni Ganir, the latter a former assistant of eight years at Cypress Point and who Cook has spent a lot of time travelling with. Joining them was leading US irrigation consultant Paul Granger (Aqua Agronomic Solutions Inc.) who

Some 60 volunteers joined The Australian crew of 22 for the week of the 2023 ISPS Handa Australian Open

has designed the irrigation systems for nearly half of the US’s top 100 courses. Every year that Cook goes back to volunteer at Augusta, he stays at Granger’s house.

Another Augusta contact who answered the call was Bob Wolverton, director of agronomy at Fall Line Club. Fall Line is a new course development in the sandhills region of Georgia designed by OCM Golf. Boasting a lot of characteristics of the famed Melbourne Sandbelt, following his week volunteering at The Australian Wolverton visited a number of courses in Melbourne to look at their management practices ahead of his course opening some time in 2024.

From a technical perspective, Cook had some of the industry’s leading minds on the crew, among them Purdue University’s professor of horticulture Cale Bigelow and Asian Turfgrass Centre chief scientist and PACE Turf director Micah Woods. Just a month

before the Open, Bigelow, who heads Purdue’s turf program, was named a fellow of the American Society of Agronomy, their highest honour. Cook and Bigelow became acquainted through their involvement with the Masters.

Likewise self-confessed ‘turfgrass tourist’ Woods, who interned at Augusta in the 1990s and also returns to volunteer. He helped to facilitate another two volunteers from Keya Golf Club in Japan – their American superintendent Andrew McDaniel who speaks fluent Japanese and his assistant Satoshi Fujise.

While the internationals added a unique flavour to the week, Cook was also well supported by a host of local “rock stars”.

Among those were stalwarts of the NSW industry who Cook has come to rely upon and call friend over many years. They included the likes of Easton, Darby Muller and the Watts brothers, Paul (Shortees Golf) and Peter.

Superintendent at Muirfield Golf Club for the

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NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023

11

2023 OPEN

Kingston Heath volunteer Kim Kennedy led the back nine greens crew during tournament week

past 14 years and previously at Terrey Hills, it was Peter Watts who gave Cook his first taste of golf course management as a Year 10 work experience kid at Terrey Hills in the mid-1990s.

Cook’s former club Elanora was also well represented with the likes of director of grounds Jake Gibbs (who took over from Cook), superintendent Mark Ward and assistant Sam Rose part of the crew. Fellow NSW superintendents Cameron Smith (Bonnie Doon GC), Chris Howe (Concord GC), Aaron Taylor (Cronulla GC) and Hayden Westwood (The Grange GC) also got a guernsey.

Although not able to volunteer himself, New South Wales Golf Club superintendent Mark Parker played perhaps one of the more integral roles as part of the crew set up. Parker, who is gearing up for the reconstruction of all greens at the La Perouse course in the coming years, loaned no less than 10 of his staff to help out in the afternoons. Their presence was key in enabling Cook to give the other volunteers those alternate afternoons off.

“When we started looking for volunteers we went to the crew and asked for friends in

the industry and family if they wanted to be involved. We were full pretty quick,” explains Cook, who earlier in the week even had his mum and dad out on course for a look around. “Everyone was here through one degree of separation and from long-standing relationships that we have made through our careers. There were a lot of like-minded people helping and it made for a very fun and relaxed atmosphere.”

TURNING IT ON For the tournament, The Australian crew was split distinctly, with George and Johnston in charge of the front and back nine teams and overseeing quality control and final detail.

Second assistants Presland (front nine) and Vincent DaMarzo (back nine) were on course set up, with Muller and Smith assisting them.

The greens mowing crew, who walk-mowed the A1/A4 bentgrass greens at 2.5mm, numbered seven – a single and a pair on each nine with the respective teams led by James ‘Chops’ Lamb (front) and Kennedy (back). Long-serving crew member and local

Left: Royal Sydney volunteer Matt Ward cuts the approach on the 3rd; Right: Purdue University’s Cale Bigelow was part of the four-man ‘stimp and thump’ team collecting greens data throughout Open week

12

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

legend Scotty Cowell complemented them by taking care of the putter, chipper and Southern Driving Range.

Greens were cut morning and afternoon, with the exception of Wednesday when thunderstorms rolled through Sydney late.

Green speeds were at the required level as set by tournament director Trevor Herden, with Cook doing whatever was needed to achieve the required speeds. In some instances that meant single-, double- or even triple-cutting greens, with Cook preferring to control speed through mowing and not rely on rolling (the greens did receive a roll before the third and fourth rounds). Where the rollers did come out regularly was on the approaches. Cook loaned two Smithco ‘Tournament Plus’ rollers from Parker, with the approaches rolled to about 30 metres out from each green. Caron on a few occasions was even spotted stimping them!

The 6mm crew – who cut the Santa Ana couchgrass fairways and approaches – used two Toro 7000-Ds on each nine for the fairways, with Toro 3550s mowing approaches each side and 3400 triplexes doing the tighter areas and lap around greens. The Australian’s Kingsley McConnochie picked up the fairway laps and was the only person to go front nineback nine all week. The 15mm crew, using Toro 3100s, cut the one mower-width step cut (which Cook calls a surround cut) around each fairway which bled out around the greens.

Roughs were 51mm and the Grand Prix couchgrass tees were walk-mowed at 8mm.

The bunkers, which drew so much positive feedback all week, were prepared morning and afternoon by a team of eight on each nine.

Data collection on greens throughout the week was the domain of Cook’s international guests, with Woods, Granger, Bigelow and Caron ‘stimping and thumping’ (aka taking firmness readings).

“We brought everyone in on the Saturday before and did an 18-hole walk-through of the property divotting fairways,” explains Cook.

“We called the Sunday that followed our ‘Fumble Day’. Realistically we knew we were going to make errors and learn a lot quickly and make adjustments which we did. From that point, the staff and volunteers really turned it on for us.

“I cannot thank them enough. When you think about, it was the 106th running of the Open this year and if you average it out over the years with the crews who have prepared their course for this tournament, it’s a select group. I think we are all pretty lucky to have been part of an experience like this and for those that volunteered their time I hope they enjoyed the week and took away something from their time with us. I hope they made a bunch of new friends and contacts and got to indulge in a bit of the history that makes The Australian Golf Club such a great place.”

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2023 OPEN

The Australian’s

I

new custodian

t’s amazing how family can change your perspective on work and life in general.

When Dan Cook walked into Elanora Country Club in Sydney back in 2007, fresh off a two-year stint at Augusta National Golf Club, he didn’t have a wife or kids, was champing at the bit to take on his first superintendent posting in Australia and looking forward to putting into practice some of the skills he had garnered from his time in the US. During those first six years, Cook would live and breathe Elanora, devoting countless hours to making it a course the members could be proud of.

Fast forward to April 2021. Fourteen years along the journey at Elanora and things had changed significantly. While still very focussed on his career and producing the exemplary surfaces that his team had become renowned for, family had also come into the picture in a big way. In those intervening years he’d gotten married to wife Amanda (‘Mands’) and had two kids, Georgina and Sam, who were growing up quickly.

14

In the two years since taking over

as superintendent of The Australian Golf Club, Dan Cook has stamped his own unique management style on the Kensington course.

It was at that time the news broke that after 11 years in charge at The Australian Golf Club, then superintendent Phil Beal was stepping down, with the club beginning the hunt for his replacement. No ordinary golf club, The Australian is laden with history and tradition and has a membership that boasts some of the most influential figures in business and industry. With that comes some very high expectations and it takes a unique individual to present a facility that can satisfy those.

Beal had managed to successfully do that as well as oversee some of the most significant changes in the club’s history, none bigger than

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

the 2012-2013 Jack Nicklaus course rebuild.

He then prepared the course for four Australian Opens between 2014 and 2019, before making the decision to take a different branch in his career road. In departing the club, Beal was leaving it with a solid foundation in place.

Cook’s attraction to the vacant role was palpable and it started a significant process of due diligence on his behalf. It was an opportunity to work at the highest level of golf course maintenance and be custodian of one of the most venerable clubs in the country, which also happened to have a rich tournament history. Making such a decision, especially the prospect of starting afresh after a successful tenure at Elanora, was not one that Cook took lightly. Indeed, he agonised over it. He sought counsel from family and friends, among them long-term industry colleague Craig Easton from GTS, who he calls “his agronomic mind”, but at the end of the day it came down to a very moralistic premise which would, in his mind, give him the green light to do so.

THREE AREAS

WORDS AND PHOTOS: BRETT ROBINSON

“I was really happy with the consistent stand of grass inside the ropes, wall-to-wall. Shane George did a huge amount of work on the couch surfaces and should be very proud.” – Dan Cook, The Australian GC superintendent (right). Pictured is the 10th hole

“When The Australian job came up, I asked myself a couple of questions about where I was at,” reflects Cook. “I had been at an established club for 14 years with an incredible membership. Was I challenging myself? On a really moral level, I had a sixyear-old daughter and a three-year-old son at the time and my ethos to them, if I can teach them anything, is to challenge yourself and get out there and have a go. I saw this job as a

bit like talking the talk and walking the walk. It was about getting out of my comfort zone and trying something new and in a way being a role model to my kids.

“Elanora was an amazing experience from start to finish – the property, the membership, the team – and it was very hard to leave. I will always be grateful for the opportunity they offered me at a young age and the support and coaching I was offered from the membership leaders of the club.

“It was also a big decision because I knew what this job would entail. I had a lot of discussions with Mands and I asked her whether she was okay for me to sub out of some of my parenting responsibilities for the next couple of years, which she was. Without her support this would never have happened.

She allowed this opportunity to happen. She is the real deal and has given me unwavering support!”

Walking through the gates at The Australian on 1 October 2021, Cook wasted little time getting stuck in. As part of a thorough recruitment process, the club had given him a clear remit to target three specific areas – green speed and firmness, bunker playability and the landscape. Cook was open with the club during the interview process about what he thought was required to address those areas and how he would go about it. Among those were taking a very different approach to the way The Australian’s short-cut turf surfaces were managed, especially around renovations, undertaking some significant and required infrastructure improvement works and recalibrating the club’s direction in regards to the management of its landscape.

Aiding Cook’s endeavours was the appointment of a new senior management team who brought another fresh set to eyes to assess the property in its entirety. About six months after starting, Shane George joined as Cook’s assistant after a number of years as superintendent at The Links Shell Cove south of Wollongong. Marlon Johnston would arrive a few months later, also in an assistant role, after spending the previous few years as assistant at Terrey Hills. Second assistants Vincent DeMarzo and Josh Presland would also be added to the team.

Cook’s first priority was the turf – the A1/A4 bentgrass greens and Santa Ana couchgrass fairways and surrounds. During his time at Elanora, Cook had gained a reputation for being an intensive manager of his turf surfaces and crossing the Harbour Bridge wasn’t about to change that. With the greens, Cook would quickly institute some traditional renovation practices that he had become familiar and comfortable with over a long period at Elanora.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023

15

2023 OPEN used to more traditional renovation practices on their Wintergreen and Windsorgreen couchgrasses, heeding some advice from Ellerston superintendent Rod Hinwood that Santa Ana performed better the more it was worked, Cook took a lighter and more frequent approach to his short grass management, incorporating a more traditional fairway renovation annually.

For the recent Open, Cook ramped things up again with the grooming of fairways, undertaking a lot of spiral mowing in order to achieve the mowing heights and consistency and smoothness. For the whole season leading up to the Open, the fairways were kept at a remarkable 6mm in order to have the least amount of grass between the golf ball and the clubface to give the best contact for the elite field contesting the tournament. Indeed, tournament director Trevor Herden would comment during the week that in all his years he had never seen tighter couch fairways.

Speed and firmness of The Australian’s A1/A4 bentgrass greens were key parameters that Cook was asked to focus on when he started, along with recalibrating the management approach towards the course’s landscape areas

“I want to impact the most percentage area I can each year; there’s something about that that I can’t get away from on greens that need it. They were practices that I did quite freely at Elanora over a long period. My mindset was to intensify the renovation practices here along similar lines, but I probably didn’t appreciate how that would fit at a different club. The communication as to why we were doing it and the resources that the club needed to invest to achieve our goals is something I would have done better in hindsight. I would’ve invested more of my time getting that message across.

Once we started getting some traction with the results and the members could see how the greens were performing, getting that buy-in became a little easier.”

It was a similar story with the couch surfaces. When Cook arrived, BF1 (now referred to as fairway patch, Phialocephala bamuru) was running rampant across the entire property. With no cure as such, Cook spent a lot of time looking at ways to manage it. With that in mind, and again wanting to provide firmer and faster playing surfaces, Cook targeted fairway renovation practices.

Having come from Elanora where he was

INFRASTRUCTURE FOCUS

PHOTO: THE AUSTRALIAN GC

That included coring three times a year at close spacings and brooming in a lot of sand.

Such practices were certainly a lot more rigorous than The Australian’s membership had been used to and that did present a few challenges initially. Now two years into the role and with the benefit of hindsight, Cook admits he probably could have communicated his intentions a bit better to the membership, but the proof has been in the pudding, or the greens in this case, and those renovation practices have played a significant role in elevating their performance.

“I guess I’m addicted to pushing sand into greens profiles that require it in order to get performance,” quips Cook about his approach to greens renovations. “I can’t explain how important the renovation process is to my beliefs. We are trying to get our impacted area above 20 per cent a year, which involves a small tine at close spacings three times a year – August, January and April – and we push kiln-dried sand in by hand. It does take a lot of time and labour, but I feel for the biggest asset that the club has, besides the members, it’s worthwhile spending the time. After that investment the result will come.

16

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

Having actioned a number of agronomic changes and cultural practices early on, Cook’s focus then turned to some necessary infrastructure upgrades. These included the automation and efficiency of the irrigation system, pump station and bores, along with the installation of two dosing systems. Some major drainage works were also carried out on the 1st and 7th holes in addition to upgrading pathways and access routes between the North and South driving ranges. The upgrades required significant investment, but were integral to bring the club in line with its new direction and expected standards.

Earlier this year, the club signed a preferred supplier agreement with Toro Australia which included the implementation of the myTurf software program. That saw the installation of 80 wireless hour metres to track machinery usage automatically and also record all service history, scheduling and stock orders on a suitable platform. The club also invested in SpecConnect monitoring software to help collate and report greens moisture and firmness data collected through their Field Scout TDR350 and TruFirm devices. These instruments were also upgraded in the process to work in conjunction with the new software.

Without doubt the biggest infrastructure project, however, occurred over an intensive 17-week period this past winter. After enduring a 13-month period between 2021 and 2022 where the course copped 2.6m of rain, the shortcomings of the bunkers were apparent for all, with the membership voting overwhelmingly for a complete renovation.

Although being a long-term weakness of the “I’m addicted to pushing sand into profiles.” Cook has intensified greens renovation practices, coring three times a year and brooming in kiln-dried sand

PHOTO: THE AUSTRALIAN GC

club, that extended wet period had put an exclamation mark on their inherent issues.

Starting in mid-June and finishing mid-October, 76 bunkers would be completely refurbished with the installation of Matrix bunker liner.

Overseen by Cook and Atlas Golf owner Jim Norfolk, with construction foreman Josh Nicholson orchestrating daily operations, the process began by defining the shape of each new bunker edge and creating the new horizon line. All bunkers had a new vertical edge cut in and all turf, sand and existing drainage material was removed. After the bases were modified to increase the playable area and then graded, new drainage was installed along with a gravel layer. On top of that the Matrix bunker liner was installed, with the final component the importing of Benedict’s ‘Premium white’ bunker sand from Cowra.

That sand, which Cook played a major role in producing to spec through his association with Benedict over a 10-year period, has become widely used throughout the industry.

As a result of their overhaul, the playability of the bunkers has vastly improved and their look and smoothness certainly pop and frame the golf holes superbly. If you were to ask Cook which of all course improvement works has made the biggest difference, he is loath to choose. But he does admit to sleeping very soundly on the eve of the recent Open despite

The bunker refurb project saw Matrix bunker liner installed in 76 bunkers over a 17-week period this past winter

the course copping 20mm as storms rolled through Sydney. Were the bunkers not lined with Matrix, that may not have been the case.

“The performance of the bunkers can be attributed solely to the Matrix liner and the Benedict sand performing together in harmony,” states Cook. “With the onerous task of repairing bunkers after storm events eliminated, it has led to an improvement in staff morale. Not having to face this labourintensive and soul-destroying task has been a real positive for the team. It also means we can redirect labour into more meaningful tasks after any storm events.”

PEELING BACK THE LAYERS With regards to the landscape areas, the focus was on managing the landscape encroaching on the playing corridors first and foremost, improving areas of turf that lacked sufficient sunlight and enhancing areas of vegetation that had become overpopulated or were suffering from undesired species. The removal of limbs and crown-lifting different pockets of trees formed a significant part of the initial works, while the club invested in a tree spade to relocate species that weren’t in ideal locations. Noxious weed species were removed, as were any species that detracted

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023

17

2023 OPEN

Second assistant Josh Presland on course set up

James Cochran cuts the par five 14th fairway ahead of the opening round of the 2023 Open

from the original design intent and playability of the golf holes. More importantly, a dedicated maintenance schedule for all landscaped and native areas was implemented to provide a template going forward.

“The landscape has been an interesting aspect,” explains Cook. “The club has gone through a few iterations with it over the years.

We have done a lot of trimming in order to open up the playing corridors. This property has scale – 44 hectares of turf – and some of that was being lost with the encroachment of trees and the lack of a dedicated approach to landscape management.

“The architecture here is very good.

It’s a Jack Nicklaus ‘signature’ design built

by Chris Cochran. Once you start peeling the landscape back, removing the clutter and letting the golf course vistas and the architecture be the showpiece, this place starts talking to you. Chris makes an annual visit and provides his recommendations. We have taken those recommendations and amplified them a little because we know what he is trying to achieve. Keaton Lindsay, who is our dedicated

landscape team member, has done a lot of work. There’s a lot of landscape here for just one guy and he is a rock star.”

WALL-TO-WALL CONSISTENCY It was through all the above work that the platform was ultimately set for the crew to build upon for the return of the ISPS Handa Australian Open in November. After a thankfully mild and dry winter, all playing surfaces maintained their integrity through winter. Low rainfall (158mm June to August compared to 471mm for the same period the previous year) together with increased sunlight and higher soil temperatures, meant that Cook was able to carry a healthier stand of grass into spring.

The crew undertook renovations in late August and early September. That allowed eight weeks to condition and prepare the surfaces for the club championships which led directly into the Open. With a high level of presentation achieved, it was then a matter of holding that standard until the Open.

“I was really happy with the consistent stand of grass inside the ropes, wall-to-wall,”

The Australian’s impressive Santa Ana fairways were cut at 6mm for the Open, with a 15mm lap. Pictured is 12

18

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

reflects Cook on the surfaces they presented for the Open. “The crew put in a lot of work leading up and tournament week was the fruition of that. Shane did a huge amount of work on our 6mm (fairways and approaches) and 15mm (surround cut) couch surfaces. He produced an incredible and consistent quality of grass which he should be very proud of.

“The bunkers too were a real talking point. The bunker project was done at warp speed with 8000m2 of bunkering renovated in a 17-week period which left the finish work a little short. One of our crew, Connor Mizen, put his hand up and said he’d like to own that final work. Between himself and fellow crew member Max Green, they sorted out the bunkers and their finished shape. They had a lot of support during the Open to present them, but leading up those guys packed, rolled and shaped every face of every bunker.

“A lot of the focus and credit during a tournament goes towards the superintendent, which I don’t think is correct. For me the whole team is invaluable and without them my role doesn’t exist. I see myself as up the front driving the bus, but there are four other managers – Shane, Marlon, Josh and Vincent – who really push this thing around and then there’s the 18 other staff behind us that are the motor driving us forward.

“The senior guys all had their key areas.

Shane looked after our couch surfaces and the tournament bump in. Marlon looked after irrigation and daily scheduling of tasks leading in and both Vincent and Josh looked after our bentgrass surfaces in regards to moisture and making the most of the applications across all our surfaces. Those guys are first class operators and what you saw out there was a result of their skill and application. I was so grateful to have such a dynamic leadership team around me which helped to make the Open experience a really enjoyable one.”

2023 OPEN Increasing the back portion of the par three 7th green was one of a number of small course changes made to The Lakes earlier in 2023 ahead of the ISPS Handa Australian Open returning

The Lakes

lifts the bar T

he three Australian Opens that course superintendent Anthony Mills has prepared The Lakes Golf Club for since arriving there over a decade ago have all been unique in their own way. For his first, back in 2012, Mills inherited the course just months out from the tournament after being thrust into the top job three weeks after starting as the assistant.

It was a whirlwind period and just to put an exclamation mark on it, all hell broke loose during the tournament’s final round.

Before the final group containing leader John Senden had teed off, a southerly change blew in earlier than forecast and wreaked havoc. As 80kph winds buffeted the course, balls started rolling off greens, corporate marquees imploded and at 11.30am a camera tower behind the 18th green came crashing down into the greenside bunker, narrowly 20

missing the putting surface. Thirteen minutes later play was suspended and didn’t resume until just before 3pm, with Peter Senior making the championship-winning putt at 7.35pm. As he noted in his press conference afterwards, it was “one of the toughest days I have seen on a golf course.” For Senden, it wasn’t just tough but a horror story, losing the tournament after shooting a final round 10-over.

Fast forward to 2018 and with a full lead-in under his belt and the course dialled in to how he wanted it, it was an unforeseen off-course drama that would make this an Open for Mills to remember for some time. Recounting the events of that week some five years on still brings a broad smile to his face – especially the predicament that one former crew member found himself in after suffering an ‘accident’ while dressed in a full spray suit – but at the time it was far from funny.

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

Starting on the Monday of tournament week, over the next five days a mysterious illness swept through The Lakes crew. Around 15 staff out of a tournament crew of 55 were violently struck down, some for more than two days. It caused a logistical nightmare, with Mills and his senior staff hastily rescheduling runs and roles as the tournament got underway. Indeed, it wasn’t until Friday that Mills had a full complement of staff back.

For the return of the Open this past November, Mills thankfully didn’t have a repeat of any of the above episodes, but it would be a tournament that again was different. In the second year of Golf Australia’s experiment of hosting three championships across two courses, The Lakes played co-host alongside The Australian, holding the first two rounds as the 240-strong men’s and women’s fields alternated between the contrasting layouts.

The Lakes 3IC Martyna Synak on front nine set up during the practice rounds

Although hosting just the opening two rounds of the recent ISPS Handa Australian Open, writes ATM editor Brett Robinson.

While its neighbour just a few hundred metres up Southern Cross Drive was in full tournament garb, it was a much more modest set up at The Lakes. Aside from the spectator ropes and tee signage, you would hardly have known there was a tournament on at The Lakes. There were no camera towers which normally reside behind most greens, with Golf Australia making the call a week out from the start to forgo the six planned towers, instead deciding to use roving camera operators.

Despite the lean trappings, come the opening round of the 2023 ISPS Handa Australian Open, you knew well and truly there was a tournament on. With the marquee group of Cam Smith, newly-crowned Australian PGA champion Min Woo Lee and runner-up Rikuya Hoshino beginning their campaigns at 7.05am off the 10th, the galleries streamed in early on Thursday. They were also treated to Lee’s

two-time Major-winning sister Minjee teeing off directly behind, with the trio of Marc Leishman, Cameron Davis and Ryder Cup star Robert MacIntyre following.

The Lakes that was presented for them was certainly playing no second fiddle despite only hosting two rounds, with Mills and his expanded tournament crew sparing nothing to present it at its best. It certainly didn’t go unnoticed, with former PGA professional turned commentator Nick O’Hern posting on social media... “Everyone’s talking about how good The Australian is looking this week for the #AusOpenGolf and rightly so, but The Lakes is looking rather special as well!”

“I was very happy with the course we presented,” reflects Mills. “Even though it was a bit different having just the two rounds, we didn’t skimp one bit on our preparations and how we presented the playing surfaces. The

PHOTOS: BRETT ROBINSON

The Lakes by no means played second fiddle

Lakes crew member Mark Neil rolls the 6th green

club expected the quality to be there like a four-day event and as a crew we had our own expectations as well. We wanted to lift the bar again and I think all our turf surfaces were better than they were in 2018.”

CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENTS November’s Open was The Lakes’ eighth turn at hosting the men’s Open (its fourth since 2010) and the first time it had entertained a women’s Open field. Ahead of the last Open visit in 2018, the club had undertaken some significant course improvement works with the redevelopment of the driving range and practice facilities. That would again be the case in the lead-up to 2023, with Mills and his team undertaking a range of projects.

During an intensive one-month period in autumn, the club completed the first stage of OCM Golf’s new masterplan which will see a NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023

21

2023 OPEN

Royal Canberra’s Annabelle Southall was one of four ACT-based greenkeepers who volunteered at The Lakes

Cronulla Golf Club volunteer Graeme Wallis leads Lakes crew member Dave Smith as they cut the 14th fairway ahead of the second round. The kikuyu fairways were kept at 10mm for the Open

number of changes made over the coming years, the first major adjustments to the course since its 2005 redevelopment. The first stage of works encompassed; l Construction of new championship tees on the 2nd (increasing it by 25m to make it a 420m par four) and par five 8th (521m); l Building new concrete pathways around the 2nd tee and 8th green complexes; l Rebuilding and expanding the 3rd tee which included the removal of a number of fescue ‘islands’; l Widening the 5th championship tee by 20m2 and extending the long right-hand side fairway bunker by 25m (in doing so increasing the bunker area by about 200m2) to stop golfers trying to carry the bunker off the tee; l Linking the fairways between the 5th and 6th holes and reducing the size of the left-hand side fairway bunker on 5 to encourage golfers to hit further left and make the hole more of a dogleg; l Extending the back of the par three 7th green (see main photo previous page) by about 60m2 to increase pin placements; l Removing two small pot bunkers on the left- and right-hand side of the 8th fairway and constructing a larger single bunker (about 100m2 in area) on the right-hand side, making for a more strategic tee shot; l Extending the surround at the back of the 8th green; and l Reshaping the windblown sandy wastes on 2, 5 and 7; “It was a pretty busy period for the crew, but all the work bedded in well,” says Mills.

“Those areas are now going through their first growing season and will continue to get better as they mature. The fairway and bunker surrounds knitted in well and we had the luxury of not needing to use the new championship tees until the tournament, so they had plenty of time to establish.”

The next phase of the OCM works will start next November with the green complexes on 4, 5 and 6, which reside in the far western corner of course, to be completely rebuilt. The greens will remain in the same location, but they will be altered to remedy a few issues that have become apparent since the 2005 works.

In the case of the 4th, a slight rise in front of the green, which causes balls to check up on the kikuyu approach, will be removed in order for balls to filter down onto the green.

The greenside bunkers will also be jazzed up.

The contours on both the 5th and 6th greens will be softened in order to create more area for pin placements, while additional bunkering will be added to the left-hand side of the 6th to deter golfers from playing down the 5th and hitting their second shots into the green.

Marco Caira (right) and Royal Sydney’s Jamie Moran cut the 14th green. The A4 greens were cut at 3mm

22

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

The biggest and most exciting change, however, will come in 2025 with the 11th and 17th greens (pictured right). Both greens reside next to each other on the edge of the major lake which is a prominent feature of most of the back nine holes. Currently there is a 35-metre gap between the two greens, with the surrounds of each flowing into one another across an area of around 600m2.

As part of their masterplan, OCM Golf want to combine the greens into a huge double green, keeping the 11th green where it currently sits and moving the 17th around to bring the water more into play for the approach shot into the green. Both greens are already substantial in size – the 11th is around 960m2 and 17th 780m2 (and that’s just the putting surface) – with the double green to be bigger still and connected at the back. There are no plans to have crossover pins at this point, but moving the 17th around will lengthen the hole and make it a more challenging par five.

In order to accommodate the green, the existing pump shed, which is housed behind mounding at the back of the two greens, and primary foot valve will need to be relocated.

TOURNAMENT COUNTDOWN Although not part of the masterplan works, there were a number of other projects that The Lakes crew focused their attention on in the months leading up to the 2023 Open. One of the unique features of The Lakes course is its thick fescue bunker and tee surrounds. As part of their regular program, the crew sprayed out the bunker surrounds to target any weeds and kikuyu, before seeding with fescue to fill in any gaps created by the herbicide.

Kikuyu encroachment into the A4 bentgrass greens was also a key focus over the autumn period, with the crew plugging out kikuyu with bentgrass taken from the club’s nursery green to help re-establish the collars.

Other works through winter included the raising of all green and green surrounds sprinkler heads and QCVs. The same was done on fairways and tees, with the team finishing up those works in the last couple of weeks before the tournament. Green edges were also lowered slightly on 6, 8 and 11 with the aim to restore the original shapes and allow water to flow off them better.

Another project that also got underway closer to the tournament was the rebuilding of the club’s bentgrass nursery. A third of the green was left untouched in case any established bentgrass was required in the lead-up to the tournament, with an excavator brought in to dig up the remainder of the green that had been stripped for various projects throughout the course. Once the waste was removed, a 90/10 soil was brought in to

As part of the upcoming masterplan works at The Lakes, the 11th green (foreground) and 17th green (background) will be joined to form a large double green

bring the levels back up, amendments added and rotary-hoed before being smoothed in preparation for seeding with pre-germinated A4 bentgrass.

As well as the various course works going on, The Lakes also held their club championships throughout October, with the final played less than five weeks out from the Open. No sooner had the 2023 champion been crowned on Sunday 22 October, that afternoon the crew were out on course starting renovations. Understandably due to the narrow window to allow the surfaces to recover, Mills opted for a lighter than normal approach, with the crew stepping up to pull some long hours to get it done as quickly as possible.

Dropping the usual practice of handscarifying greens, they were lightly verticut at -2mm in two directions before being cored.

Normally going with a 5/8” hollow tine in spring, Mills used 6mm Ninja tines instead to cause less disruption to the surface.

It was similar with the kikuyu fairways, with the VC60 scarifiers left in the shed.

Fairways were instead verticut at -4mm in one direction before being cored with 25mm hollow tines and spiral cut at 8mm. The Santa Ana couchgrass tees were cored with 12mm hollow tines and topdressed, as were the green surrounds which were also verticut at -4mm.

Applications of fertiliser and amendments

followed and together with regular dustings on the greens the surfaces bounced back perfectly, with a timely dump of 67mm in the first week of November assisting recovery.

In another change, following the club championships the club agreed to Mills’ request to rest the tees. With most of the tee areas to be used during the tournament because of the combined field, resting them for a four-week period meant they were in top condition come the opening round. It was one less management headache for Mills and he was extremely grateful to the club, and the members, for being so understanding.

“The staff put in a massive effort over all those months, especially after the end of our club championships,” says Mills. “The surfaces came back really well after our small renovation and were in a good position heading into the week of the tournament.

“We also had a good run with the weather.

We had a much drier and milder winter which was in contrast to the last couple of years.

We bounced out of dormancy really well and in fact we really didn’t go into full dormancy much given we are close to the coast here.

That resulted in less wear and tear on the playing surfaces over those months which enabled them to gain a head start as we counted down to our club championships and the Open.”

Volunteers Chris Redshaw (Pacific GC), left, and Ned Waddington (Avondale GC) cut the 8th tee at 10mm

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023

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2023 OPEN

Chris Beck and volunteer Connor Chandler (Lane Cove GC) cut the 15th green surround

ALL HANDS ON DECK After September and October netted just 45mm of rain, November (160mm) provided a few challenges weather-wise for Mills as the crew started to taper the course for the Open.

In addition to the aforementioned 67mm on 5 November, regular rain fell in the lead-up, including 35mm across lead-in week which took moisture management on the greens out of Mills’ hands a little.

On the eve of the tournament, the course copped 15mm as storms hit Sydney, while during the first round a downpour of 6mm in 15 minutes had the standby crew scrambling for squeegees as play was suspended for 30 minutes. In preparation for that weather hitting, known wetter areas around the course were Vertidrained on the Saturday with a penetrant also going out.

Cutting heights for Open week were 10mm on fairways, tees and green surrounds, with the greens at 3mm and collars 6mm. Greens were single cut and rolled every day, with a dry

cut once on the Monday afternoon. Due to the extra humidity around that time, the greens has carried a bit of growth, with Mills putting out an extra late application of Primo on the Sunday.

Green speeds, which had been a major bone of contention during the 2018 tournament (Mills wanted them quicker, Golf Australia wanted otherwise), were in a much better place this time and up around 10.5 on the stimpmeter. Due to The Lakes being more exposed to the elements as well as having more undulations on the greens, speeds were always going to be slightly less than The Australian during the week.

Like The Australian, The Lakes crew swelled significantly for Open week. Mills, along with assistant superintendents Jackson Nicholls and Michael Ervin, who both volunteered at last year’s Open co-host Kingston Heath, guided a team of around 50 for the tournament. That included 25 volunteers from 21 different clubs, including a good number from interstate, all of whom

stayed in three nearby shared houses organised by the club. In addition to 14 greenkeepers from across Sydney and NSW, the ACT had no less than four volunteers, including Federal Golf Club’s James Correll, ACTSTMA Graduate of the Year Riley Willcox (Gold Creek CC) and Royal Canberra duo Brandon Williams and Annabelle Southall.

Nicholls, who is part of the current intake for the Jacobsen-sponsored Future Turf Managers’ Initiative, was joined for the week by fellow delegate Isaac Wojewodka who is assistant superintendent at Camden Golf Club. As it transpired, one of the FTMI online sessions was scheduled during Open week, with both Nicholls and Wojewodka dialling in from The Lakes maintenance facility after their Tuesday morning preparations.

After volunteering at the LIV Golf Adelaide tournament earlier in the year, Avondale Golf Club duo Ned Waddington and Henry Bear backed up. Also going back-to-back was Chris Redshaw from Pacific Golf Club just south of Brisbane who only a week earlier was part of the PGA crew at Royal Queensland. On a fairway mower that week, Redshaw clocked some serious steps while at The Lakes, walkmowing tees alongside Waddington.

Having left the club in June 2022 to take the superintendent reins at neighbouring Eastlake Golf Club, former Lakes assistant Simon Blagg pitched in for the week, helping cut fairways in the morning before heading back across the fence to do his own course work. Killara Golf Club superintendent Ryan Fury and last year’s NSWGCSA Vince Church Graduate of the Year winner Jackson Lanning worked alternate mornings to mow the back nine fairways. Fellow northern suburbs superintendent David Stone (Pymble GC) helped with back nine course set up, while Lakes 3IC Martyna Synak took care of the front nine. Stonecutters Ridge superintendent David Aplitt also answered a late call from Mills for help and rolled greens every day.

“The volunteers always deserve a massive thank you,” says Mills. “I remember my talk to the crew on the last day of my first tournament here in 2012. I told them how all of my mates who work in other industries can’t believe that we get people volunteering their time, for a whole week without being paid, to come work at a tournament. They just don’t get it and say that something like that would never happen in their industries.

“That’s just what our industry is like and it’s why I am always grateful to those who make that commitment and give up their time. I hope that they get something out of the week and we certainly don’t want to flog them. It’s about enjoying their time with us but also having that focus and delivering as part of the team.”

Royal Canberra’s Brandon Williams cuts the 6th green

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AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

2023 PGA

RQ’s PGA

three-peat Hosting a third Fortinet Australian PGA Championship in 22 months and Royal Queensland course superintendent

T

Adam Mills cut a much more relaxed figure this time round writes ATM editor Brett Robinson.

rusting the process. As the adage goes, the more you do something the better you become at it and that was very much the case for Royal Queensland (RQ) superintendent Adam Mills as he guided his crew during the recent 2023 Fortinet Australian PGA Championship. It was their third PGA in 22 months and as they did with the previous events, they again meticulously adhered and fine-tuned their programs to help present the course which has, with each tournament, reaffirmed its status as one of the country’s great venues.

The PGA of Australia certainly couldn’t have wished for a better couple of years since making the decision to move the tournament north to Brisbane after a successful tenure on the Gold Coast. Like his counterpart Lincoln 26

Coombes and his crew did at RACV Royal Pines, Mills and his RQ team have continued to deliver a course that has provided some unique highlights which have only added to the tournament’s already rich history.

Despite COVID impacting the first RQ iteration (when the tournament was pushed out to a January timeslot in 2022), a recordbreaking 11-shot victory by Jed Morgan, a former member of Mills’ crew, set the tone perfectly. Last November, just 10 months after the first, it was Cam Smith who completed a triumphant homecoming after a breakout year which saw him secure The Open Championship at St Andrews.

While Smith failed to back up this November just gone, missing the cut and shedding tears on the RQ turf in the process, somewhat aptly it was another of Australia’s

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

homegrown stars who would take up the mantle. Min Woo Lee’s hugely popular maiden victory was memorable for many things, in particular his steadily-rising cult following coupled with some sublime shot-making, none more impressive than the chip-in for eagle on the par five 9th during the final round. And he lifted the Joe Kirkwood Cup after heading one of the strongest PGA fields seen in years, thanks to the tournament’s co-sanctioned status with the DP World Tour.

November’s PGA was the last of RQ’s contracted tournaments and with Lee’s name having only adorned the trophy for a few hours, the PGA of Australia quickly confirmed that it would be back there for a fourth come November 2024. The conditioning and challenging nature of the course, combined with impressive galleries and a fun atmosphere

The November 2023 Fortinet Australian PGA Championship was Royal Queensland’s third, with the PGA of Australia announcing shortly after that it will be returning in 2024. Pictured is the par three 17th ‘Party Hole’

The Royal Queensland tournament crew, sporting yellow caps for Friday’s second round ‘Yellow Day’ in remembrance of Jarrod Lyle, numbered 40 for this year’s PGA

everyone’s demeanour coming into the tournament. Everybody lifts and everybody’s thoughts are on doing a great job and presenting a great product. They have done that every year and we will continue to do that when it comes back again next year.”

PHOTOS: BRETT ROBINSON

ALL ROUND IMPROVEMENTS

(typified by the ‘Party Hole’ 17th, pictured above), all meant that RQ provided what PGA chief executive Gavin Kirkman termed the “perfect blend”, making it an easy decision to keep the tournament there for another year.

For Mills, the extension was just recognition of the crew’s efforts and they will again look forward to making those continual gains out on course as the tournament nears again.

“I really enjoyed this year’s tournament and the guys did a fantastic job,” reflects Mills, now in his sixth year as RQ superintendent. “I guess for me there was a little bit of a different feel. I certainly felt a lot more relaxed than the past two events. I don’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but it was probably to do with the fact that it was our third time round and being comfortable with and trusting in our processes.

“I’m so proud of my team and the volunteers who joined us, not just for this year’s tournament but for the ones previous as well. You certainly see an increase in

There were a number of areas of improvement, both on and off course, in the 12 months between the last two tournaments that Mills can specifically pinpoint. From a course perspective, the focus of any tournament is always on the condition and performance of the greens and this year Mills felt that they were able to elevate them.

That process started in the weeks following the November 2022 tournament, with the crew continuing their annual couch encroachment program. Every year a select number of greens are targeted, with the worst of the collar areas sprayed out, the turf and growing medium removed and fresh sand imported before clean 328 turf from the club’s nursey is laid. Greens 1, 10 and 11 were the focus this time, with the latter undergoing the most intensive work with almost the entire perimeter replaced.

As for cultural practices, Mills admits there were few changes, but having the experience of past tournaments under the belt meant the timings of applications were better. They also got a good chop out from the weather. After a very wet couple of years previously, Brisbane experienced a much milder and drier winter and despite a heavy golf schedule throughout those months, Mills says the the greens and course in general came through a lot better.

Carrying a greater grass coverage through winter proved advantageous as the three month period between August and October was very dry, with just 30mm of rain recorded.

That meant there was an increased reliance on the club’s average-quality recycled water source. On cue, however, about three weeks

before the tournament there was a 30mm dump to flush the profiles, while a few more falls in and around tournament week also aided and further improved their health.

Renovations were conducted nine weeks out from the PGA, with Mills again opting for a lighter approach targeting thatch levels. The greens were scarified before being cored with the high-speed 6mm Maredo coring heads which go about an inch into the surface. That was followed by targeted nutrient applications to help buffer the salts from the recycled water and regular dustings to improve firmness.

Fairway renovations too were dialled back and instead of coring like they did last year, Mills just scarified due to the timing of the tournament. Some areas did receive extra treatment (cross cutting) to remove an excess build-up of thatch that the Queensland blue

Luke Bonner, together with fellow RQ assistant Tim Peters, was again on course set up duties for the PGA

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023

27

2023 PGA

Gaurav Heblikar, from Wellington City Council in New Zealand, was one of 19 tournament volunteers

RQ superintendent Adam Mills stimps the 5th green following an afternoon cut, with Phil Beal watching on

couch likes to produce. One major difference as part of the renovations saw fairway cutting heights dropped from 11mm to 9mm. That was maintained through until the end of the tournament, which really helped to sharpen their presentation.

“I was very pleased with how the course presented this year,” reflects Mills. “I think we managed to get the greens to another level.

Their speed and firmness was right where we needed them to be at the start of the tournament and improved every day. Every year you want to improve and I think we have achieved that with each tournament to date.

But this year I think we took some big leaps with the greens and that was reflected in all the measurements and data we collect.

“With the ParryMeter (which measures vertical and lateral movement of the ball) we are chasing numbers in the low teens for lateral movement and under 40 for vertical movement. We were around the 14-15 and 40 marks for both at the start of the week and improved from there. With our Clegg Hammer readings, we base off a links style course so we are looking for around 130 gravities. On the Wednesday we were in the high 110s and got into the 120s during the tournament.

“The greens were really healthy and I certainly believe in having them as healthy as possible and being able to work them hard if I need to. Our green speeds were already at 11.5 before the tournament and they got a little quicker by the end which we managed with mostly single-cutting and rolling. We did a dry cut and a roll in the afternoon to iron out any surface inconsistencies.”

As well as the greens, another key area of focus for Mills in the months leading up were RQ’s extensive wasteland areas.

Those wet years previously mentioned had resulted in the loss of a lot of spinifex from the wastelands, while couch encroachment had also worsened. While the playing surfaces presented excellently for the 2022 PGA, Mills was dissatisfied with the condition and appearance of the wastelands and as a result made sure they were attended to ahead of the 2023 tournament.

“We really got into those wasteland areas, got a good edge around them and did a lot of planting,” explains Mills. “We decided to create a spinifex nursery, buying in tube stock and then planting them in larger pots and waiting for them to grow. In the past we always took spinifex from thicker areas and transplanted

throughout the course, but the success rate at best was about 25 per cent. Although they aren’t as big and bushy, the success rate of the tube stock has been a lot higher. We have planted about 400 spinifex over the past 12 months and you can see the difference.

“Because of the southeast Queensland conditions, the blue couch loves to run and you are constantly battling encroachment.

We also have Natal grass which the preemergents can’t stop, so we are constantly removing that and controlling the couch on the edges to improve aesthetics. We are also trialling carpabrotus (native pigface). It doesn’t run as much and has a bright pink flower which creates pops of colour throughout the wastelands. We have a small nursery of them and are gradually getting them out there.

I’m happy with the work we have done and looking forward to seeing those areas mature over the next couple of years.”

MEETING OF MINDS The improvements weren’t only confined to the course. For the past few years Phil Beal, former superintendent of The Australian Golf Club who has since become an industry consultant before recently joining Nuturf, has been a sounding board for Mills. He helped him navigate his first PGA and since then has also done a lot of work with the RQ crew. Having been at the pointy end and going through both the highs and lows that come with the job, Beal provides a unique perspective. As a result, his insight and guidance, whether from a superintendent or staff perspective, has been invaluable for Mills.

Over the past 12 months, and as part of that continual improvement push, communication has been a focal point for Mills.

In a bid to keep the crew’s ‘eye on the prize’, he instituted a weekly staff meeting to help improve communication and awareness across the 20-strong team.

“It’s something we started after last year’s tournament and working in conjunction with Phil,” says Mills. “It took a little while for the meetings to build momentum, but it has Noosa Springs volunteer Damian Spelta cuts the 5th green with one of RQ’s large Poincianas in bloom as an impressive backdrop against the Brisbane River

28

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

proven to be really positive and one of the best things we’ve started doing as a team.

It enables me to communicate consistent messages to the whole crew, rather than just certain members of staff, and bring the crew together in a collaborative environment. It allows me to decompress while also ensuring every member of the team is informed about the operations across the whole club, not just our team.”

The meetings are held 8.30am every Wednesday with Mills sending out an agenda beforehand which contains everything up for discussion. That could be anything from what events are on or coming up, extra course works that need to be undertaken or anything from an operational point of view. The meetings always finish up with a workplace health and safety component which the crew sign off on. That can encompass everything from the use of machinery and tools through to other areas such as mental health and managing workloads and stress which were a particular focus in the lead-up to the PGA due to the extra work and long hours.

“At the end of the meeting the crew has the opportunity to raise any issues or discuss anything that may be on their minds,” continues Mills. “It took a little while, but the guys are interacting more and more in the meetings which is great to see.

“The senior managers in particular (assistant Michael Todd and foremen Tim Peters and Luke Bonner) have come along in leaps and bounds. Our new maintenance facility has provided them with a lot of benefit where they have their own space to complete their administrative work. It allows us to work a lot more collaboratively and for me to delegate, which can be hard for any super to do, but I have all the faith in them.”

Long-serving RQ crew member Michael McDonaugh rolls the 6th green as volunteer Ray Lawrence stimps

TOURNAMENT FOCUS From a logistics perspective, having had three bites at the cherry so to speak also aids significantly when it comes to the roll out of the tournament crew for the week. In addition to the RQ crew, Mills was again this year well supported with a total of 19 volunteers joining from the Saturday beforehand, including 17 on course and two in the workshop. As Mills has come to appreciate, while the hard work the crew puts in during the lead-up provides the tournament platform, it’s the extra hands of the volunteers which helps to put the final polish on the presentation of the playing surfaces.

Mills again split the tournament crew into dedicated teams across both nines. Crew members Brett Nicol and Callum Olofia headed the fairway mowing teams respectively, with each comprising four Toro units. Two teams of three walk-mowed the greens, while two crews of four were assigned to the bunkers. As they did last year, Bonner and Peters were charged

with course set up, 30-year RQ veteran Michael McDonaugh and Gary Hughes shared the rolling duties across each nine, with Mills and Todd floating.

“If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it,” says Mills on his decision to run with a front nine/back nine set up. “It worked well for us last year and while you would like to give them a bit more variety, having the guys in those teams gives them a focal point for the week. We did all our cutting in the morning and with the extra hands we were getting through things pretty quickly.

The afternoons were a little more relaxed for the team – tidying things up, divotting fairways – which gave the guys a good opportunity to catch up and have a chat with each other.”

Local clubs were again quick to answer Mills’ call for assistance, including Redland Bay superintendent Dion Cope who returned for another year alongside former crewmate Chris Redshaw who is now at Pacific Golf Club.

Other Sunshine State volunteers included

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NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023

29

2023 PGA

EXPECTANT TIMES AS ROYAL QUEENSLAND LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

W

hile preparations for the 2023 Fortinet Australian PGA Championship consumed much of superintendent Adam Mills’ focus in the months before the tournament, behind the scenes the wheels were in motion regarding a number of major projects that are set to transform Royal Queensland in the coming years.

With the club named as host venue for golf during the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, becoming the first Australian course to attain that unique designation, the club is looking to invest significantly in improvement works. That will start with the development of a short course in 2025, before focusing on potential works to the championship course which, while still to be endorsed by the membership, will likely see the conversion of all playing surfaces to newer couchgrass varieties, along with an upgrade to the irrigation system and installation of porous liners in the bunkers.

Although the club lost six holes of the original championship layout due to the duplication of the Gateway Bridge in the mid-2000s, it still has custodianship of the 35-hectare parcel of land on the eastern side of the bridge. After considering a number of options, the club engaged OCM Golf to develop a short course containing a mix of par three and par four holes. The initial concept drawings also include a 4500m2 Himalayasstyle putting green and riverfront pavilion.

Course masterplan and irrigation designs have been completed, with work set to start during 2024 with the initial construction of an 18-megalitre storage dam.

“It’s a really exciting project for the club,” says Mills. “Course works are planned to start in 2025 with the aim to open in 2026. We have focused on preparing the land and tending to the large mature trees, such as figs. The intent is to make the new short course look like it has been there for years. The design is excellent and we can’t wait to see it come to life.”

In expectation of the upcoming works on both sides of the Gateway, in October Mills and the RQ crew embarked on the reconstruction of the club’s 19th hole which resides on a parcel of land next to the maintenance facility and between the 4th green and 5th tee. Just prior to the PGA, the green was fumigated with Draslovka’s EDN product and irrigation installed by ProLinks, while two different porous liners – Capillary Concrete and Bunker Drain – were installed in the three greenside bunkers (two of the bunkers are Capillary Concrete). Two weeks before Christmas the fairway and surrounds were fumigated and a week later the green was stolonised with TifEagle couchgrass.

30

Royal Queensland’s 19th hole is in the process of being reconstructed to trial different couchgrasses as well as two different porous bunker liners. The green was stolonised with TifEagle the week before Christmas

Mid-January will see the fairway and surrounds stolonised with Tahoma 31 and Ironcutter couchgrasses. Those two varieties were selected after impressing during a 20-month in-house trial on the 19th tee. The tee was solid turfed with seven different varieties (the other couches included Agridark, TifTuf and Wintergreen, along with two zoysias – Sir Grange and Australis) and after about 18 months the Tahoma 31 and Ironcutter plots were taken out, increased in size to 25m2 and placed side by side for a direct comparison.

Around 1500m2 each of the two varieties will be grown in on the new 19th and assessed at RQ’s different mowing heights (fairway, tee and apron).

“Both varieties performed well in the initial trial, so it will be good to put them head-tohead on a bigger scale and see how they go,” says Mills. “Being in southeast Queensland, thatch accumulation is one of the big things we are looking at, as well as surface density.

Both claim they can be cut at 3mm and while I’m probably not going to do that, I do want to see how they perform at our various cutting heights. We are putting a lot of parameters around it and Paul Spencer (Turf Agronomics) has been doing the testing for us.

“There isn’t a huge difference between the two in regards to the parameters we have set. There are some growth characteristics that separate them and may be beneficial to producing great surfaces, but nothing that has jumped out so far. The whole focus is on trying to get the best surface we can for our members. I’d love to see one type of grass here – it would make maintenance easier and help us to raise the bar with our presentation.

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

After impressing during initial trials, Ironcutter and Tahoma 31 will be put through their paces on the fairways and surrounds of the reconstructed 19th

“As much as it’s a test of the grasses, it’s also giving us the chance to trial construction processes as well. For instance, can I be confident of getting rid of the couches we already have before looking to put any new couch down? Already we have had a lot coming back on the 19th after our nonselective applications.

“The irrigation system certainly needs to be upgraded along with drainage, but the big one is the bunkers and introducing a porous liner. These are what started the whole conversation with the course proper before we even considered looking at a potential grass change. We thought that if we were going to do all this work to fix up some of the major infrastructure, it would provide us with an opportunity to also look at that.”

– Brett Robinson

Patrick Killen (Maroochy River GC) and James Barnes (Pelican Waters GC) – both on the bunker crews – and Damian Spelta (Noosa Springs GC) and Peter Taylor (Bundaberg City Council) who mowed front nine greens.

Having hosted the Queensland PGA Championship a few weeks earlier, three Nudgee Golf Club staff made the short trip down the road. They included assistant superintendent Ray Lawrence and Harrison Lea who assisted the greens rolling team, while Ben Balderson was part of the front nine greens crew. As he always does, Toro’s Ben Marshall was back helping for the week alongside fellow area sales manager Neil Drummond, both being assigned to blowing fairways. Toro also supplied two apprentice mechanics to assist RQ turf technician Peter Hamilton. Greenway Turf Solutions staff kept the crew fed in the mornings, while Syngenta also supplied some resources.

A number of volunteers travelled from interstate, including Pambula-Merimbula Golf Club apprentices Riley Stokan and Rory McAlpin. Also coming from the NSW South Coast was Tura Beach’s Zac Wels. Oliver Davis came across from Royal Adelaide, following in the footsteps of fellow crewmate Markus Mader who volunteered last year, while Jackson Odell journeyed from Magenta Shores on the NSW Central Coast.

Winning the prize for coming the furthest was Gaurav Heblikar who is team leader of natural surfaces for Wellington City Council in New Zealand. A former employee of Jacks Point and Paraparaumu Beach, Heblikar was part of the back nine fairway mowing crew and revelled in the week at RQ. “It was an awesome experience, hectic week but the results were displayed on the tournament days which had the course looking pristine,” Heblikar posted

Above: The finishing touches being put to Royal Queensland’s iconic short par four 12th ahead of the opening round; Below: Lincoln Morgan, one of four RQ pennant players on Mills’ crew, cuts the 13th surround

on LinkedIn after returning home. “Big ups to Adam Mills and his team for all the awesome work they do every day producing such pure surfaces all year round!”

“Having the volunteers come in makes such a big difference for the whole aesthetics of the golf course,” states Mills. “We had a few more this year which helped us to get around quicker. We had a few apprentices here this year and they were fantastic. They were a good conscientious group who took instruction and direction well and hopefully the experience gave them something that will help them progress. I cannot thank them enough for devoting their time.

“The feedback we had from the DP World Tour was really good. They were great to deal with. They were rapt with the way the course presented for last November’s event and they

were even happier this year because I think we were able to go up another gear. I think it’s a real sign of respect to our team that they didn’t dictate things. We rarely heard from them.

They didn’t check up on what we were doing, they just let us do our job. All our plans were in place, were carried out successfully and I am very proud of what my team and the volunteers were able to produce.”

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PHOTO: BRETT ROBINSON

F TMI

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AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

Getting careers

on a roll

ATM profiles the intake of up-and-coming sports turf managers selected for the latest round of the

I

Jacobsen-sponsored Future Turf Managers’ Initiative.

n mid-October, the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA), in conjunction with Silver Partner Jacobsen, confirmed the 21 successful applicants for the next intake of the Future Turf Managers’ Initiative (FTMI). A total of 55 applications were received for the program which the ASTMA and Jacobsen have jointly run since 2016. The group began their FTMI journey in November with a series of introductory online sessions and will converge on Melbourne in mid-March 2024 for an endof-program three-day workshop.

Application numbers this year were up by more than 20 per cent on the previous year, again proving how much the FTMI is valued by those who want to equip themselves with the necessary skills to take the next step in their turf management careers. Pleasingly, the Class of 2023-24 includes two female sports turf managers – Jayde Robson and Tahlia Bruce – who have both been involved with work placement opportunities through the ASTMA’s Women in Turf Strategy over the past 12 months. Robson, a former STA Victoria Graduate of the Year Award winner, was part of the AFLW Showdown and FIFA Women’s World Cup placements, while Bruce was one of two to travel to Hobart last November for the WBBL placement at Blundstone Arena.

A number of experienced assistant superintendents have made the program this year, among them Kingston Heath Golf Club’s Tim Hamilton who played a major role in preparing the course for last year’s Australian Open. He is joined by Jackson Nicholls who did what Hamilton did 12 months ago in his role as assistant at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney which recently co-hosted the Open. Another to have plenty of tournament experience is Ryan Thompson who spent a couple of years as an assistant at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore before returning to Melbourne at the start of 2023 to take on the assistant role at Latrobe Golf Club.

Two of Melbourne’s elite schools are represented in the new intake, with Melbourne Opposite: Camden Golf Club’s Isaac Wojewodka recently volunteered at The Lakes Golf Club during the 2023 ISPS Handa Australian Open

Tahlia Bruce (left) joined with Kim Kennedy for last summer’s ASTMA Women in Turf Strategy WBBL work placement at Blundstone Arena in Hobart

FUTURE TURF MANAGERS’ INITIATIVE 2023-2024 Tahlia Bruce (Golf Central Brisbane) Jordan Burgess (Royal Wellington GC) Jeremy Collier (City of Ballarat) Luke Cooney (Melbourne Grammar) Joel Crimmins (Melbourne Grammar) Andrew Dalby (St Kevin’s College) Nicholas Fiddelaers (Green Acres GC) Matthew Forder (The Sands, Torquay) Tim Hamilton (Kingston Heath GC) Nick Harris (Sanctuary Cove G&CC) Liam Hewitson (St Clair GC) Brayden Luc (Avondale GC) Timothy Moore (Devonport CC) Jackson Nicholls (The Lakes GC) Dominic Pelusi (The Gabba) Jayde Robson (City of Ballarat) Nick Skicko (Metropolitan GC) Kurt Thiele (Cape Kidnappers) Ryan Thompson (Latrobe GC) Cody Tucker (Metropolitan GC) Issac Wojewodka (Camden GC)

Grammar School duo Luke Cooney and Joel Crimmins joining St Kevin’s College assistant groundsman Andrew Dalby. Cooney, originally from Perth, is a former STA WA Graduate of the Year Award winner and national finalist.

Metropolitan Golf Club can also lay claim to having two crew members selected in Nick Skicko and Cody Tucker.

In conjunction with the NZGCSA, three New Zealand greenkeepers are also part of this year’s program. They including Liam Hewitson from St Clair Golf Club in Dunedin who follows in the footsteps of his boss Chris Murphy who was part of last year’s cohort.

Also to make the journey across the Tasman in March will be Kurt Thiele from Cape Kidnappers and Jordan Burgess from Royal Wellington Golf Club. One of three assistants at Royal Wellington under John Spraggs, Burgess is the son of Brett Burgess, one of New Zealand’s foremost superintendents of his era and a former NZGCSA president who sadly passed away in 2014.

The 2023-24 FTMI sessions kicked off in mid-November with Jacobsen’s Karen Proctor joining the first session. During that, she highlighted the impressive volume and quality of this year’s applications and how sought after a place in the program has become. She stressed to all participants the importance of embracing the opportunity and learnings that will come from the FTMI and using those to further their careers, as have those who have previously gone through the program. Such sentiments were echoed by a number of the mentors who, as past FTMI participants, have gone on to take the next steps in their career, emphasising how the skills taught through the program and its mentorship have helped and still help them in their careers today.

This year’s four mentors include Brenton Clarke (Settlers Run, Vic – 2017 FTMI), Liam Ash (State Wide Turf Services, NSW – 2016 FTMI), Sam Davis (Queenstown GC, NZ – 2018 FTMI) and Matthew Oliver (Suncorp Stadium, Qld). The mentors play a key role in the program and guide the participants through the course and provide insights into how their careers have progressed and some of the key learnings they have made.

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LUKE COONEY

As assistant superintendent, Tim Moore plays a major role at Devonport CC, helping oversee the maintenance of three golf courses, bowls and croquet surfaces as well as a burgeoning turf renovation business

The ASTMA and Jacobsen congratulate the following who form the FTMI Class of 2023/24 and wish them all the best…

TAHLIA BRUCE Qualified greenkeeper Golf Central Brisbane, Qld Bruce started her career at Wynnum Golf Club in Brisbane’s bayside suburbs, completing her apprenticeship there and spending a further three years as a qualified greenkeeper. Just over a year ago she moved to Golf Central Brisbane Airport with the hope of moving into a leadership role. Bruce was one of two female sports turf managers to be chosen for the ASTMA’s Women in Turf Strategy WBBL work placement last November at Blundstone Arena in Hobart. In what was a career highlight to date, Bruce was able to prepare wickets and the outfield for a number of games as part of a WBBL hub under the guidance of head curator Marcus Pamplin.

Over the past six months, Bruce has been working alongside Kasee Marxsen who has taken over as superintendent at Golf Central and who is herself a former graduate of the FTMI program in 2022.

JORDAN BURGESS Assistant superintendent Royal Wellington Golf Club, NZ One of three FTMI delegates from New Zealand, Burgess has been immersed in golf course management for as long as he can remember. The son of Brett Burgess, one of New Zealand’s foremost superintendents and a past NZGCSA president who passed away in 2014, Burgess started his career doing work experience during his 34

last year of school. As a dream of playing golf professionally changed to preparing courses the game is played on, Burgess was offered an apprenticeship in early 2019 at Royal Wellington Golf Club under the tutelage of another of New Zealand’s leading superintendents John Spraggs.

Last September Burgess moved into an assistant superintendent role, one of three at Royal Wellington. With a passion for all aspects of professional sports turf management, Burgess recently took up the opportunity to volunteer at Sky Stadium in Wellington which played host to eight games across 14 days during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

JEREMY COLLIER Groundsman City of Ballarat/Mars Stadium, Vic Collier has been in the turf industry for 18 years and has been head groundsman at regional AFL venue Mars Stadium in Ballarat since its redevelopment in 2015.

Born and raised in the Victorian provincial city, Collier had a passion for cricket in his early years, one which would see him travel to England and play cricket. Upon returning home, he started as a landscape gardener before taking on a horticultural apprenticeship with the City of Ballarat. The council looked after all the turf wickets at that stage and Collier saw a great opportunity to combine his love of cricket and new found passion for turf before moving across to Mars Stadium.

Now with a Diploma of Sports Turf Management to his name, Collier also recently attained the ASTMA’s Certified Sports Turf Manager (CSTM) designation and is looking forward to furthering his skill set during the FTMI program.

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Groundsperson Melbourne Grammar School, Vic Cooney’s route into a sports turf management career was by no means conventional. While in the third year of studying accounting and financial planning at university, and not looking forward to the prospect of endless days in an office, an opportunity arose. As a keen cricketer at the time, the club he was playing for in North Perth needed a curator after their homesick English curator left with six weeks to go in the season. Cooney volunteered and was hooked. Not long after that season, he was offered a job at the University of Western Australia where he took on an apprenticeship under experienced turf manager John Airey.

Along the subsequent journey, Cooney has been fortunate to work and study at same of the best stadiums, universities and schools in the country, including a stint in the USA at Michigan State University after winning the STA Sports Turf Graduate of the Year Award in 2014. He has since gone on to complete his Diploma of Sports Turf Management and is currently working at Melbourne Grammar School under the tutelage of John Shannon, where he is part of a strong team of professional horticulturists and turf managers overseeing the prestigious school’s grounds and facilities.

JOEL CRIMMINS Groundsperson Melbourne Grammar School, Vic The second FTMI delegate from Melbourne Grammar School this year, Crimmins started in the turf industry as an apprentice at the University of Melbourne in 2008, spending five years working at one of Melbourne’s most picturesque venues which gave him a valuable insight into preparing top level wickets.

After completing his apprenticeship at the university, Crimmins moved into a role with Banyule City Council in the sports field department which involved looking after ovals and preparing cricket pitches during the summer. In 2014 he moved to Canada and over a two-year period worked at golf courses in Ontario and British Columbia, as well as acting as a turf consultant for the Toronto International Cricket Club.

After returning home, Crimmins secured a position at Melbourne Grammar School under Shannon who had previously taught him during his apprenticeship. Crimmins has now been with the school for seven years and oversees their Port Melbourne sporting complex which includes two ovals, tennis courts and numerous native gardens.

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ANDREW DALBY Assistant grounds manager St Kevins College, Vic Originally from Perth, Dalby got into the turf industry through his love of cricket. He initially undertook work experience at the WACA before transitioning into an apprenticeship under then head curator Richard Winter. During this time he was also fortunate to spend a couple of summers in the UK playing cricket and working as a groundsman.

Following Winter’s move east to Melbourne, after six years at the WACA Dalby would follow suit and worked at the Melbourne Cricket Club for four years. After his time there, he started working for Winter’s company Pitchcraft, spending time at Junction Oval, Marvel Stadium (where he prepared pitches during two BBL seasons) and Kardinia Park in Geelong. For the past six years Dalby has been at St Kevin’s College in Melbourne, where he has been the assistant grounds manager.

NICHOLAS FIDDELAERS Assistant superintendent Green Acres Golf Club, Vic Growing up on a dairy farm in Gippsland, Fiddelaers was a late starter to turf management, taking on a mature age apprenticeship at Kew Golf Club in 2016. In 2018 he moved across town to Huntingdale Golf Club under Michael Freeman where he completed his apprenticeship and Diploma of Sports Turf Management through Holmesglen TAFE. During his studies, Fiddelaers won the VGCSA Apprentice of the Year Award (2018) and also received the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Diploma Graduate in 2020.

In early 2021 he took on the role of foreman at Riversdale Golf Club before taking up the assistant’s role at Green Acres under superintendent James Stewart in July 2022. With a strong passion for design and construction, during his time at Green Acres Fiddelaers has had the chance to rebuild and reshape two practice greens.

MATTHEW FORDER Assistant superintendent The Sands, Torquay, Vic Hailing from England, Forder began his turf management career in 2012 at Marland Golf Club where he completed both his Level 2 and 3 Diplomas in Horticulture and Sportsturf, being awarded Intermediate Apprentice of the Year at Myerscough College in addition to being a finalist for the Toro Greenkeeper of the Year Award. An 18-month internship through The Ohio Program then 36

he took on in early 2021. Hamilton’s career highlight came last November when he played a key role in preparing the course for the 2022 ISPS Handa Australian Open.

NICK HARRIS

Ryan Thompson joined Melbourne’s Latrobe Golf Club at the start of 2023 after spending three years as an assistant superintendent at Sentosa in Singapore

followed where he worked at Pine Valley and Erin Hills which hosted the 2017 US Open.

From America he travelled to New Zealand and worked at Jacks Point in Queenstown and then headed to the Republic of Ireland where he worked at Trump International Golf Links.

Heading back Down Under, Forder landed at Kingston Heath Golf Club before being involved in the redevelopment of Lonsdale Links under the auspices of OCM Golf. After the completion of the Lonsdale project, he moved to nearby 13th Beach Golf Links as foreman, before taking on the assistant superintendent role at The Sands, Torquay.

TIM HAMILTON Assistant superintendent Kingston Heath Golf Club, Vic Hamilton grew up as a keen golfer living next to a nine-hole golf course in Brisbane where he used to help out on course and harboured aspirations of one day becoming a greenkeeper. Moving overseas to Spain and England for the best part of a decade put that idea on the backburner as he spent time in the hospitality industry, including working at an animal park where he helped to look after the facility’s birds of prey exhibit.

After returning to Australia, Hamilton decided on a career change and pursued his interest in turf management with 18-month stints at Heritage Golf and Country Club and Commonwealth Golf Club. In October 2018 he joined the crew at Kingston Heath Golf Club and over the past five years worked his way up to the assistant superintendent role which

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Second assistant superintendent Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club, Qld The second of this year’s FTMI group to originally hail from the UK, Harris started his career in 1999 as an apprentice at top Camberley Heath, whose members once included King George VI! After seven years there, in 2006 he travelled to Australia during which time he worked for various landscaping companies and golf clubs, including The Lakes Golf Club where he completed his assessment as a skilled tradesman to gain permanent residency.

After returning to the UK to work as a project manager for a landscaping company in London, in 2015 Harris was back Down Under. He worked briefly at Emerald Lakes on the Gold Coast before taking on the assistant superintendent role at Palmerston Golf and Country Club in the Northern Territory.

Staying there for a couple of years, he helped prepare the course for multiple NT PGA Championships and also spent some time as an assistant for Programmed Turnpoint at Darwin Golf Club.

Harris then picked up a foreman/3IC role at Wentworth Club in the UK, being part of the crew that prepared the course for a number of major tournaments, among them the BMW PGA Championships, a Gary Player Invitational and The Justin Rose Ladies Series Final. He also went to The Bahamas to work at The Tiger Woods World Hero Challenge. Since 2022 Harris has been back in Australia where he is now the second assistant at Sanctuary Cove.

LIAM HEWITSON Assistant superintendent St Clair Golf Club, NZ Growing up in a small town in the South Island of New Zealand, a love for the outdoors and sports led Hewitson to enrol in the turf management course at Otago Polytech. Initially interested in sportsfields and stadiums, Hewitson’s first job placement was at New Zealand Cricket in Lincoln where he honed his fine turf skills and developed a love for producing high quality surfaces.

After finishing his studies, a job opportunity came up at St Clair Golf Club in Dunedin. As well as allowing him to be closer to family, it also gave him the chance to nurture a different set of turf management skills. Hewitson has been at St Clair just over six years and has risen to be the assistant, learning all aspects of the job as part of a small team.

BRAYDEN LUC Assistant superintendent Avondale Golf Club, NSW Luc was just 16 when he took on an apprenticeship at Fairfield Golf Course in western Sydney. With a liking of the outdoors, those initial years uncovered a passion for sports turf management, one which was furthered when he went to North Ryde Golf Club for 12 months as a tradesman after completing his apprenticeship. His next move was to Ryde Parramatta Golf Club for a threeyear period as 3IC, before being appointed as assistant superintendent at Avondale Golf Club under superintendent Rob Biddle.

“It is an incredible honour to be selected for the FTMI,” says Luc. “I have seen a lot of well-respected industry leaders complete the program and have heard nothing but positive feedback. I’m hoping the program will equip me with the skills I will need for my future endeavours as a golf course superintendent.”

TIM MOORE Assistant superintendent Devonport Country Club, Tas Moore kicked off his turf management career in 2010 when he gained employment with a regional cricket club where he was responsible for growing, maintaining and developing seven central and 14 practice ryegrass wickets. In 2013, he joined Devonport Golf Club where he was part of a small three-person team responsible for all aspects of turf maintenance on the golf course. In 2019, the club merged with a nearby bowls and croquet club to form Devonport Country Club (DCC) which sparked a raft of redevelopment works, including the

construction of three bowling greens, two croquet lawns and a new country club facility.

With the appointment of a new superintendent as well, Moore stepped into the assistant superintendent role and over the past four years has seen the Devonport team grow to 10 staff, including seven apprentices who he helps to supervise, train and mentor. The business has grown exponentially within that time and the DCC team now manages two 18-hole golf courses (Devonport and Ulverstone), a nine-hole golf course (Port Sorell), a bowls club (Latrobe) as well as a successful turf renovation business.

JACKSON NICHOLLS Assistant superintendent The Lakes Golf Club, NSW Twenty-six-year-old Nicholls is approaching a decade in the industry and recently was centre stage helping prepare The Lakes for the 2023 ISPS Handa Australian Open. Nicholls’ career began at Macarthur Grange Country Club in 2013, but after spending just over a year there moved to The Lakes where to took an apprenticeship under superintendent Anthony Mills. Nicholls would go on to complete a Diploma of Sports Turf Management through Ryde TAFE. This year’s Open was Nicholls’ third, having volunteered at the 2017 tournament at The Australian and then being part of The Lakes team for the 2018 event. After that, Nicholls was promoted to 3IC, spending the next two years learning from The Lakes management team that included then assistants Aaron Taylor and Simon Blagg, both past graduates of the FTMI. In late 2020, Nicholls was promoted to assistant superintendent at The Lakes, one of two assistants under Mills.

DOMINIC PELUSI Senior groundsperson The Gabba, Qld Raised in Tenterfield in northern New South Wales, in 2017 Pelusi ventured north to Brisbane after gaining an apprenticeship at the Brisbane Metropolitan Touch Football Association. Working under experienced grounds manager Rob Watkins, Pelusi was instilled with a passion for sports turf which has since seen him move on to one of the country’s most iconic venues.

After his apprenticeship, Pelusi joined the crew at The Gabba. Under the guidance of grounds manager David Sandurski and assistant grounds manager Nathan Rowley, Pelusi has had the perfect learning environment given the venue caters for both International and domestic cricket as well as AFL. Pelusi was adjudged the STA Queensland Graduate of the Year in 2021 and represented the association in the national final of the Sports Turf Graduate of the Year Award in 2022. Pelusi is currently a senior groundsperson at The Gabba where he is responsible for the preparation and maintenance of the practice facilities.

JAYDE ROBSON Sports turf manager City of Ballarat, Vic After spending eight years in retail management, a desire to work outdoors saw Robson make the switch to pursue a career in sports turf management. She started an apprenticeship with Citywide Service Solutions in 2016 and was part of the team which maintained local sports facilities for the City of Melton on the outskirts of Melbourne.

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F TMI After completing her apprenticeship she was awarded the STA Victoria Graduate of the Year Award and went on to further her education by completing a Certificate III in Horticulture through The Gordon TAFE. In 2021, Robson took an experienced groundsperson role at the City of Ballarat. This role entails a wide variety of work, but her main duties include carrying out renovation programs and preparing grounds for use by the City’s regular sporting clubs and groups as well as one off events.

During her time with the City of Ballarat she received a scholarship from AUSGAP which helped to fund her Diploma in Horticulture course. Last year, Robson took part in the ASTMA’s first Women in Turf Strategy work placement during the AFLW Showdown event at Adelaide Oval and was also part of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup placement.

superintendent at Latrobe Golf Club in Melbourne, approached Thompson with a chance to return to Melbourne as his assistant.

Arriving just weeks after two major floods had smashed the course and necessitated the conversion of all fairways to couchgrass, Thompson played a key role in preparing the course for its inaugural hosting of the WPGA’s Melbourne International in January.

CODY TUCKER

NICK SKICKO Senior greenkeeper Metropolitan Golf Club, Vic After moving back to Australia from Canada and a career in the ski industry, Skicko started working casually at Moe Golf Club before undertaking an apprenticeship there. After completing his studies, he then accepted the assistant superintendent position at Garfield Golf Club.

After five years there, Skicko decided to broaden his horizons and test his skills on the Melbourne Sandbelt, taking on a qualified position at Metropolitan Golf Club in 2020.

During his time at Metropolitan, Skicko has established the ‘Metro Masters’ competition which is exclusively for staff members. The competition takes place either on the front nine or the back nine, with the winner awarded the ‘Metro Masters’ jacket.

KURT THIELE Foreman Cape Kidnappers, NZ Thiele’s interest for sports turf began at a young age playing various sports and progressed when he started volunteering at local sporting venues where he played cricket, football and golf. Before focusing on sports turf, he travelled and worked in various industries including hospitality, tourism, construction and agriculture. Such a diverse background equipped him with transferable skills and the ability to collaborate with teams of all sizes.

Going on to complete his Level 3 and 4 qualifications, over the past five years Thiele has transitioned from the role of a groundsman to that of foreman at Cape Kidnappers. During that time Thiele has been involved in a number of significant projects, including full-course renovations of greens, fairways and surrounds.

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Kingston Heath assistant Tim Hamilton (left) played a major role during last year’s Australian Open

He has also been involved with renovations for tees, bunkers and trees, with some of these projects still in progress. In addition, he contributed to greens renovations at sister course Kauri Cliffs and also provided support to Waipukarau Golf Course, where he worked with volunteers to maintain the 18-hole country course throughout the COVID-19 period.

RYAN THOMPSON Assistant superintendent Latrobe Golf Club, Vic A keen cricketer during his early years, upon completing school Thompson enquired about working on cricket wickets but instead ended up taking on an apprenticeship at Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club in Melbourne where he developed a liking for golf course management. In the second year of his apprenticeship, then Sanctuary Lakes assistant superintendent Nathan Turner organised a volunteer experience at Congressional Country Club, USA. This included the lead-up and week of the US PGA Tour’s Quicken Loans Tournament, where Thompson managed moisture on the back nine greens. An Ohio Program internship duly followed, where he enjoyed placements at Muirfield Village, Austin Country Club and Merion Golf Club.

Returning home, Thompson joined Peninsula Kingswood as a qualified greenkeeper before an opportunity arose to move to Singapore as an assistant superintendent at Sentosa Golf Club. It proved a once-in-a-lifetime experience working in a challenging climate, producing tournamentready conditions every day, while preparing for multiple televised events. In late 2022, Turner, who had subsequently been appointed

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

Foreman Metropolitan Golf Club, Vic Growing up in country South Australia, Tucker moved to Adelaide at the start of 2016 to take on an apprenticeship at Royal Adelaide Golf Club. While there, Tucker was part of the team that prepared the course for the 2017 and 2020 Women’s Australian Opens, leading the fairway crews at both tournaments. 2018 was a big year for Tucker, first volunteering at The Open Championship at Carnoustie in addition to an eight-week placement on the Old Course in St Andrews in Scotland, before returning home to volunteer at the World Cup of Golf at Metropolitan Golf Club. In 2019 he spent another four months working in Northern Ireland at Royal Portrush which also hosted the Open Championship.

After completing his apprenticeship at Royal Adelaide, Tucker moved to Metropolitan in 2020 where he has since risen to be foreman. During that time he has completed his Diploma through Melbourne Polytechnic and is looking at other study options to continue his development.

ISAAC WOJEWODKA Assistant superintendent Camden Golf Club, NSW Wojewodka has spent his entire 13-year turf management career at Camden Golf Club just south of Sydney. His journey at Camden began as a labourer before completing an apprenticeship and rising to be assistant superintendent underneath Justin Bradbury. During that time Wojewodka has completed various sports turf and irrigation management courses which helped him gain the requisite skills and knowledge and was also a recent recipient of the Rotary Club Pride of Workmanship Award.

As someone who has benefited from the guidance of experienced turf managers, Wojewodka is committed to supporting the growth of future turf managers. Currently undertaking his Diploma, Wojewodka believes in sharing his knowledge and experience to help others succeed in the field. He recently volunteered at The Lakes Golf Club during the 2023 ISPS Handa Australian Open.

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Toro Turf Tour

LOCATION: THE NATIONAL GOLF CLUB, VIC COURSE MANAGER: LEIGH YANNER SUPERINTENDENTS: SCOTT CALDER (OLD COURSE), TONY GORDON (MOONAH AND GUNNAMATTA COURSES) AND SIMON PAGE (LONG ISLAND)

Based at The National’s Cape Schanck site are (from left) golf course manager Leigh Yanner and superintendents Tony Gordon (Moonah and Gunnamatta courses) and Scott Calder (Old Course)

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The National’s Long Island course in Melbourne’s southeast is overseen by superintendent Simon Page

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hen you think of iconic Au s t r a l i a n golfing establishments, The National Golf Club immediately comes to mind. Offering 72-holes of exceptional golf across two sites – three courses at Cape Schanck on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula and, more recently, the addition of Long Island in Melbourne’s southeast – The National sets the bar high across every facet of the golfing experience.

The National has a fascinating history dating back to 1985 when, during that year’s Masters tournament at Huntingdale, the club was first launched to the public. In the years that would follow, the Robert Trent Jones Jr-designed Old Course would be carved out of the heaving natural landscape of the Cape Schanck site, opening in 1988 and immediately establishing itself as one of the most dramatic and unique courses ever seen in Australia.

Following further land acquisition, by 2000 The National had grown to three courses, with the opening of the Greg Norman-designed

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Moonah Course and the Thomson Wolveridge Perrett-designed Ocean Course. The latter was significantly overhauled by Tom Doak between 2018 and 2019 and rebadged as the Gunnamatta Course, while in 2014 the club merged with Long Island Country Club in Frankston to become the only club in the country to offer four championship courses to its membership, all of which rank inside Australia’s top 60.

While each course boasts its own unique character and style, there is one thing that is uniform across all of them – the exemplary quality and presentation of the playing surfaces. Charged with ensuring The National’s 3200 members experience some of the best turf conditioning in the country is golf course manager Leigh Yanner. With over three decades in the business, including the past 16 at The National, Yanner ranks as one of the industry’s most respected and knowledgeable superintendents. He is assisted by an equally experienced team of lieutenants that include Scott Calder (Old Course), Tony Gordon

(Moonah and Gunnamatta courses) and Simon Page (Long Island). Together they oversee a course and landscape team that numbers 52 across the four courses, which includes a workshop team of three at Cape Schanck and one at Long Island. It is a big team for a big operation, with Yanner relying on everyone’s skill, passion and leadership to produce the goods 365-days-a-year.

The three Cape Schanck courses sprawl across 320 hectares of some of the best golfing terrain you’ll find in the country. The Old Course is without question the most dramatic, containing iconic holes such as the par three 7th where golfers tee off over a huge ravine to a massive green which has Bass Strait as a backdrop. The 10th-14th double green weighs in at 3500m2 and takes one staff member 70 minutes to cut with a walk-behind mower, the longest run alone measuring 115 metres.

It’s a bold course in every respect and so are its turf surfaces – three hectares of Mackenzie bentgrass greens (that includes three practice greens), 14 hectares of Santa Ana couchgrass fairways and four hectares of tees and tee surrounds. Around each green there is a couch/ fescue mix, while that section of the property also houses a three-hectare driving range with ryegrass tee and Legend couchgrass fairway.

On the other side of The National clubhouse reside the Moonah and Gunnamatta courses.

The Moonah, arguably the championship course of the three, boasts 3.5 hectares of A4 bentgrass greens and surrounds, 18 hectares of couchgrass fairways oversown with fescue and 1.5 hectares of Wintergreen tees. The Gunnamatta course has 1.2 hectares of A1/Pure Distinction bentgrass greens, 4.2 hectares of fine fescue surrounds, 22 hectares of Wintergreen fairways and 2.2 hectares of Wintergreen tees.

Then there are the bunkers – 101 on the Old, 89 on the Moonah and 60 on Gunnamatta.

Long Island, which is more a traditional Melbourne Sandbelt style course, has just embarked on a major redevelopment by OCM Golf and upon completion will have new Pure Distinction bentgrass greens along with Santa ana couchgrass tees and fairways.

The powerful Reelmaster 5610 fairway units are uniquely equipped to handle The National’s undulating surfaces

With Toro’s ability to constantly innovate, not to mention the unparalleled quality of their equipment, Yanner knows that in Toro he has a partner whose solutions perfectly fit the needs of The National’s substantial turf operations.

“The National has a great partnership with Toro, and that includes everything from machinery to irrigation,” states Yanner. “For the first few years I was here we were under a pre-existing contract with our machinery and had a mixed brand shed. When we switched over and became ‘The National’, we saw the value and benefit in becoming a onebrand shed. Toro has the widest variety of turf equipment in the market – everything from mowers, sprayers, renovation equipment, irrigation sprinklers and control systems.

Unlike their competitors, they do everything, and we are dealing with them directly and not having to go through a franchise.”

The Toro inventory across all four courses is pretty substantial as you’d expect, with each course using specific equipment tailored to their unique demands. For example, the

Reelmaster® 3550-D five-gang surrounds mower is used solely on the Gunnamatta’s 6mm fescue surrounds, while the Reelmaster® 7000-D, with its 49hp engine and 3.2m width of cut, makes quick work of the Gunnamatta’s expansive Wintergreen couch surfaces.

Due to their more exposed location, the Gunnamatta and Moonah courses have a dedicated Multi Pro® 5800 which Gordon says has helped to transform spraying practices due to its wider coverage area and shrouded boom. “It’s one of the most important pieces of equipment we have,” states Gordon. “The wind is such a big factor here on the peninsula, so having the 5800 with the shroud enables us to get out on days even when it’s marginal for spraying. The computerised controller also makes it super easy to use.”

The Multi Pro 5800 comes equipped with Toro’s ExcelaRate™ Rate Control System developed exclusively for turf applications. It delivers features that no other controller offers including simplified calibration, multiple application rates and a special boost feature.

UNIQUE OPERATION, UNIQUE SOLUTIONS Given the size of its turf management operations and the distinct characteristics of each course, The National requires a unique set up when it comes to its maintenance fleet. For the past 12 years Toro has played a critical role in ensuring that Yanner and his team deliver the exacting standards that are demanded, with that relationship going from strength to strength.

The Greensmaster Flex 1021 greens mowers are the most recent addition to The National’s Cape Schanck site

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ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT

The National - Toro Inventory Old Course: 4 x Greensmaster® TriFlex™ 3400, 5 x Greensmaster® Flex™ 1021, Greensmaster® 1600, 3 x Reelmaster® 5610-D, Reelmaster® 3100-D Sidewinder®, Groundsmaster® 4000-D, Groundsmaster® 3300-D, 2 x Workman® HDX sprayer, 2 x Sand Pro® 3040, 8 x Workman® MDX, Workman® HDX with dusting units, Pro Force® Debris Blower

The Greensmaster TriFlex 3400s are among the real workhorses of The National’s machinery fleet

Moonah/Gunnamatta Courses: 9 x Greensmaster® TriFlex™ 3400, 5 x Greensmaster® Flex™ 1021, 4 x Greensmaster® Flex™ 2100, 6 x Reelmaster® 5610-D, Reelmaster® 7000D, Reelmaster® 3550-D, Reelmaster® 3100D Sidewinder®, Groundsmaster® 4000-D, Groundsmaster® 3280-D, 2 x Workman® HDX sprayer, Multi Pro® 5800, Sand Pro® 3040, 15 x Workman® MDX, Workman® HDX with dusting units, Pro Force® Debris Blower

The Multi Pro 5800’s wide coverage and shrouded boom has transformed spraying practices at The National

Other features of the 5800 include rugged spray booms (6.25m width), hydrostatic drive system and a 1136-litre tank with an industryexclusive six-diaphragm pump.

Where Toro’s equipment truly comes into its own, however, is the ability to handle the unique terrain, particularly at the Cape Schanck site. Some of the more extreme slopes and undulations can be found on the Old Course, especially the tee surrounds, along with the some of the fairways on the Moonah and Gunnamatta courses. All triplex units (both Greensmaster® and Reelmaster® models) are all three-wheel-drive to handle the tough terrain, while Flex head cutting units are standard across all greens mowers.

The National has a fleet of 15 Greensmaster® TriFlex® 3400s (13 at Cape Schanck and two at Long Island) for use on tees, tee surrounds and greens surrounds. Both Calder and Gordon note that the 3400 is a solid and reliable workhorse and holds up exceptionally well given the size of the Cape Schanck site and the amount of work they have to get through. The 3400’s faster transportation speed (16.1kph) 42

allows operators to stay ahead of golfers, while the tool-free, quick-change cutting units mean height of cut adjustments can be made in a matter of minutes.

While the Long Island course uses Reelmaster® 5510s on their fairways, the Cape Schanck courses rely on the more powerful Reelmaster® 5610 units. The 5610 has a larger 44.2hp Kubota diesel engine (compared to 35.5hp on the 5510) which provides the extra grunt needed to tackle the site’s undulating fairways. That additional power also comes in handy at fairway renovation time when dethatching heads are used on the 5610s, making it a truly versatile machine. Built to handle heavy workloads, the 5610’s enhanced climbing ability is made possible by the CrossTrax® all-wheel drive system. If one of the front tyres begins to slip, power is transferred to the opposite rear tyre for optimum traction.

“When we were looking around for our new mowers, we tested a lot of machines, both Toro and their competitors,” explains Calder, who like Yanner has been at The National for the past 16 years. “Because of our terrain,

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

Long Island: 2 x Greensmaster® TriFlex™ 3400, 4 x Greensmaster® eFlex™ 1021, 3 x Reelmaster® 5510-D, Groundsmaster® 4000-D, Groundsmaster® 3280-D, 2 x Workman® HDX sprayer, Sand Pro® 3040 and 5040, 10 x Workman® MDX, Workman® HDX w dusting units, Pro Force® Debris Blower we needed to make sure that the units would be able to handle our slopes and that the cutting heads would sit on the ground over the undulations as much as possible and provide the quality of cut we need. We tested greens and fairways units and Toro always came out on top in that respect.”

One such unit which has subsequently become an integral part of The National fleet is the Greensmaster® Flex™ 1021. Toro’s newest flex-head pedestrian greens mower, the 1021 has been completely re-engineered to bring operator and mower into perfect harmony.

Multiple innovations, including an industryfirst telescoping handle, come together to deliver unparalleled cut quality and consistent playability on every green. The National has 10 1021 units with a five/five split between the Old and Gunnamatta/Moonah courses.

Adjustable to five distinct positions, the 1021’s telescoping handle has been engineered to accommodate operators of different heights.

For Gordon, who stands at 198cm, or 6’5”, the machine has been a revelation and another example of Toro’s innovative approach.

LEADING THE WAY In addition to an impressive array of machinery, The National also relies on Toro’s industryleading irrigation solutions to help manage its most precious asset.

The Old Course has a Lynx VP satellite system, with each hole having its own satellite which is radio-controlled from the main computer. Although the in-ground infrastructure is 16 years old, the Lynx control system enables Calder to closely monitor and control all aspects of the irrigation system’s performance from the office or remotely via a mobile device. He can drill down on individual sprinklers and control output percentages of each, which is a huge bonus considering the topography of the site and the impact that the wind can have on moisture levels. Add to that he also has peace of mind knowing that Toro’s National Support Network (NSN) is just a phone call away should any problems arise.

As part of the recent redevelopment of the Gunnamatta Course, The National took the opportunity to make a significant investment in the new course’s irrigation infrastructure. As Yanner quips, the Gunnamatta irrigation system is “the Rolls Royce”, designed specifically to cater for the significant elevation changes across the course and utilising Toro’s most recent and innovative irrigation technology.

Features of Gunnamatta system include backto-back Infinity Series sprinklers around greens and surrounds, hard-edged fairways and banks of T7 rotors to ensure that only the areas that need water are getting water.

All sprinklers have Infinity heads which boast the innovative Smart Access® feature that allows users quick and easy access to internal components, including solenoids, pilot valves, 2-wire control modules and wire splices. The Trujectory main nozzle provides exceptional performance at the 25° standard angle position and offers great flexibility with the ability to

alter the trajectory in 1° increments from 7°-30°.

Adjust from the top of the sprinkler in seconds, wet or dry. With an eye to the future, the Smart Access® compartment is also designed for future upgrades as new technologies become available.

Also boasting a Lynx central control system, the Gunnamatta course was one of the first in Australia to utilise Toro’s new Smart Hub technology. This new type of field controller combines the flexibility of satellite controllers with the cost savings of a 2-wire/ decoder system. Each Smart Hub can control up to 1000 sprinklers, compared to 64 per traditional satellite controller.

A key feature of the Smart Hub system is that once the irrigation information for the night has been downloaded, even if the central computer goes down, all the information can run from the hub like a traditional satellite. The Gunnamatta course has five Smart Hubs out in the field and such has been its success the club will be installing the technology as part of the Long Island course redevelopment.

It’s that sort of technology, together with Toro’s industry-leading reliability, product quality and after sales service and support, that makes Toro the perfect solution for The National. As Gordon sums up: “Like The National, Toro strives to be inventive and is always looking to innovate with the design and technology of their equipment. They are a company that specifically makes turf machinery; they don’t make other things and adapt the turf machinery to other platforms.

They design and build the unit for what it is intended for and to that end Toro equipment, to my eye, has always been much more userfriendly to operate and better ergonomically.”

Concludes Calder: “Toro understands the industry and the direction it’s going. They move with the times and are always looking to improve, especially the innovation with their mowing equipment and drive to get a better quality of cut, no matter what the surface or undulation. Toro continually meet our goals in that space and that is why we continue to use them.”

PHOTO: WILLIAM WATT

“Being able to adjust the handle to suit my height means that for the first time in my career I no longer kick the back of the machine every time I’m cutting greens,” exclaims Gordon.

“The paddle to increase or decrease the throttle speed is also a nice touch and makes it much easier to control.”

Adds Calder: “Certainly the ergonomics of Toro machinery over the years has greatly improved. Whether it’s the new handle on the 1021, the greater leg room in the new Workman utilities or the increased comfort levels operating the bigger ride-on mowers, Toro always listens to their customer’s feedback and improves their machinery as a result.”

The Gunnamatta course utilises Toro’s innovative Lynx Smart Hub technology and Infinity sprinklers

With more than 240 bunkers across the three Cape Schanck courses, the Sand Pro® 3040s get a regular workout

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023

43

JOHN NEYL AN

Assessing organic

amendments

ATM expert columnist John Neylan outlines some recent work to assess the characteristics and performance of

I

organic amendments used in sports turf profiles.

noted in my article in ATM Volume 25.2 (March-April 2023, ‘Testing times’, p44-48) that there was a lack of availability of coir fibre and peat moss that was creating issues where amendments were required to increase the water holding capacity of sands for sports turf construction projects.

Many sands used to construct golf greens and sports fields have a low capillary porosity (moisture retention) and need the addition of an amendment to ensure the capillary porosity is within the optimum range (i.e. 15-25 per cent by volume at 30cm tension). The two main organic amendments typically used are coir fibre and peat moss which have an organic matter content of at least 85 per cent by weight (USGA 2018).

With several construction projects over the past 18-24 months there has been a reported shortage of coir fibre and peat moss and what is available has become very expensive.

Consequently, there has been a search for a viable alternative.

44

Compost is being frequently recommended for various turf-related projects, including the improvement of high clay content soils, increasing moisture retention, improving the soil microbial activity and even for counteracting the influence of nematodes. As previously noted, there is a lack of understanding of what is compost, what the Australian Standards are, what is the appropriate testing and how it could be incorporated into a turf profile.

The use of compost as an alternative has received mixed responses from contractors.

The main concern is the inconsistency of the compost and in particular the presence of large particles and non-composted plant material such as twigs and bark. From an agronomic perspective, the question has been whether there are accepted criteria for compost and an understanding of how it can be used in a sand profile.

The USGA Recommendations for a Method of Putting Green Construction (2018

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

Revision) has been a guiding light for the methodology and quality control aspects of building sand-based profiles and fortunately they have considered the use of compost as an alternative form of organic matter.

Citing the information on the addition of organic matter from the USGA guidelines, they state that compost may be considered as an organic amendment if the product is composted through the thermophilic stage to the mesophilic maturation stage. The compost should be aged for one year to assure that it is fully mature. In addition, a rootzone mixture amended with compost must meet the physical performance parameters outlined in the guidelines (i.e. capillary porosity, aeration porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity).

The guidelines highlight the problem with composts in that they can vary by source and from batch to batch within a source. Therefore, extreme caution must be exercised when using compost in rootzone mixtures and must meet the following parameters:

Samples (from left) of compost, sphagnum peat moss and coir fibre. A shortage of the latter two has led to compost being proposed more as an alternative organic amendment in turf profiles l l

l l

l l

95-100 per cent passing a 6.4mm sieve; Organic matter content ≥ 50 per cent as determined by ASTM D2974, Method C; Carbon-nitrogen ratio between 15:1-30:1; Solvita Compost Maturity Index of 7-8 (https://solvita.com/compost/); Electrical conductivity ≤ 6dS/m; pH between 4-8;

Proven to be non-phytotoxic; Meet or exceed ceiling concentrations and pollutant concentrations as specified by US EPA Class A standard. l Any test report on compost must be less than one month old and represent the actual compost that will be used to amend the rootzone mixture.

In Australia there is a Standard that details the criteria for composts, soil conditioners and mulches (AS 4454-2012 AMD 2:2018).

The Standard specifies the requirements l l

TABLE 1: SAND ANALYSIS Sieve (mm) 2.0 1.0 0.5 0.25 0.15 0.053 <0.053 Hydraulic conductivity 16 drops (mm/hr) Hydraulic conductivity 32 drops (mm/hr) Total porosity (%v/v) Capillary porosity (%v/v) Aeration porosity (%v/v) Bulk Density (t/m3)

Sand 0 0 18 67 15 0 0 868 787 45.2 16.9 28.3 1.45

for organic products that are to be used to amend the physical and chemical properties of natural or artificial soils and growing media.

The Standard is very comprehensive and applies to organic products and mixtures of organic products that have been treated by pasteurizing or composting procedures as defined by the Standard.

The objective of the Australian Standard is to provide the minimum requirements for the physical, chemical and biological properties of composts, soil conditioners, mulches and

TABLE 2: AMENDMENTS AND APPLICATION RATE Treatment

Volume mixed Comment with sand (%v/v) Unamended Sand only Compost (AS 4454-2012 AMD 2:2018) 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 Variable volumes to determine

optimum rate Coir fibre (90% organic matter) 5 and 10 Typical rates of application with

5% by volume the preferred rate

due to cost Processed poultry manure (PM) 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 Has been used where the

capillary porosity is marginally

low (13-15% v/v) and a short term increase in capillary

porosity is required during turf establishment Biochar 10 Research indicates that 10% is

the preferred rate

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023

45

JOHN NEYL AN vermicast. The purpose is to minimise the adverse impacts on the environment and public health.

The Australian Standard for compost is quite broad and there is little or no data to support its use or otherwise. Given there is a large supply of compost, it was identified by agronomists at Sporteng in Melbourne there was a need to undertake some testing to determine what quantity was required to effectively improve the capillary porosity (moisture retention) and the potential impact on the saturated hydraulic conductivity.

A laboratory testing program was undertaken where various amendments were added to a sand typically used in sports turf construction projects including: l Compost to AS 4454-2012 Standard. l Coir fibre as the industry standard amendment. Coir fibre is produced from the husks of coconuts and compared to other typical natural fibres it has a higher lignin (about 45 per cent) and lower cellulose and hemicellulose content that offers various properties, such as resilience, strength and resistance to

PHOTO: STOCK.ADOBE.COM/FIELDOFVISION

LABORATORY TESTING OF ORGANIC AMENDMENTS

Compost can be used as an alternative to coir fibre and peat moss, however, detailed testing and adherence to the Australian Standard is essential

weathering. The advantage is that the material is slow to break down and remains as a functional component of the rootzone.

Biochar – refers to the carbon-rich materials (charcoal) produced from the slow pyrolysis (heating in the absence of oxygen) of biomass. Research has shown

l

TABLE 3: COMPOST EFFECT ON POROSITY, HC Parameter Total porosity (%v/v) Capillary porosity (%v/v) Aeration porosity (%v/v) Bulk density (g/cm3) Hydraulic conductivity @16 drops (mm/hr) Hydraulic conductivity @32 drops (mm/hr)

Unamended sand 45.2 15.6 29.6 1.451 868

2.5% compost 47.7 16.0 31.7 1.387 540

5% compost 46.1 16.1 30 1.428 645

7.5% compost 47.3 15.6 31.7 1.397 529

10% compost 49.3 17.5 31.9 1.343 448

787

427

531

446

330

TABLE 4: COIR FIBRE, BIOCHAR EFFECT ON POROSITY, HC Parameter Total porosity (%v/v) Capillary porosity (%v/v) Aeration porosity (%v/v) Bulk density (g/cm3) Hydraulic conductivity @ 16 drops (mm/hr) Hydraulic conductivity @ 32 drops (mm/hr)

Unamended sand 45.2 15.6 29.6 1.451 868

10% biochar 41.5 24.8 16.8 1.549 555

5% coir fibre 50.1 15.8 34.3 1.322 792

10% coir fibre 52.6 17.8 34.9 1.256 666

787

429

657

491

TABLE 5: POULTRY MANURE (PM) EFFECT ON POROSITY, HC Parameter Total porosity (%v/v) Capillary porosity (%v/v) Aeration porosity (%v/v) Bulk density (g/cm3) Hydraulic conductivity @ 16 drops (mm/hr) Hydraulic conductivity @ 32 drops (mm/hr) 46

2% PM 37.3 13.5 23.8 1.662 425

5% PM 40.9 13.3 27.6 1.567 373

7.5% PM 38.8 16.3 22.5 1.623 270

10% PM 42.5 16.4 26.1 1.524 236

357

270

150

106

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

that the addition of biochar increases water and nutrient retention, however, the addition of biochar will also reduce the drainage rate. The optimum amount of biochar to add to a sand is reported as being 10 per cent by volume. l Granulated processed poultry manure – a composted poultry manure that has been available to the horticultural industry for about 50 years.

The sand used for the testing was a typical washed construction sand and its characteristics are detailed in Table 1 (see previous page). Table 2 (also previous page) details the amendment type and volume added which is based on industry best practice and where research is available. The sand and amendments were mixed in the laboratory (CivilTest P/L) and tested according to the McIntyre and Jakobsen (1998) methods for: l Saturated hydraulic conductivity at 16 and 32 drops; l Capillary and aeration porosity at 30cm tension; and l Loss on ignition to determine organic matter content of the compost.

RESULTS The results of the testing are detailed in Tables 3-5 (left) and Figures 1-3 (following page) and can be summarised as follows: Compost l The percent organic matter in the compost was 70.1 per cent based on a loss on ignition test at 550oC. This meets the requirements of the USGA guidelines of a minimum of 50 per cent. l Inconsistent effect on capillary porosity at 2.5-7.5 per cent addition. l About a two per cent increase in capillary porosity at the 10 per cent addition. l Fifty per cent decrease in the hydraulic conductivity at 10 per cent by volume.

JOHN NEYL AN

CONCLUSIONS

Coir fibre and biochar l Coir fibre increased the capillary porosity at the 10 per cent addition. The coir fibre also increased the aeration porosity and is likely to be related to the particle size that is creating a more open soil matrix and therefore increasing the micropores. l The biochar caused a dramatic increase in the capillary porosity of about 9 per cent and there was a substantial reduction in the aeration porosity. The biochar, being a very fine material, is increasing the 48

proportion of fine particles which increases micropores and reduces macropores. l The addition of both the coir fibre and biochar caused a reduction in the hydraulic conductivity.

Processed poultry manure l The addition of the processed poultry manure didn’t increase moisture retention until it was added at 7.5 per cent. l As volume increased, there was a reduction in the hydraulic conductivity due to the increase in fines.

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

The results of this laboratory testing were in part surprising and highlighted that we often assume certain things will occur at all times.

An example is that the use of coir fibre has assumed that when it is added at five per cent by volume that the capillary porosity will increase by about 2.5 per cent. These results indicate that this may not necessarily be so.

This then raises the question as to why?

It may be due to the particle size altering the porosity relationships (i.e. macropores versus micropores) and in fact increasing the microporosity at the expense of small pore spaces. This has also occurred with sand amendments that have a large particle size, such as zeolite and porous ceramic beads.

The processed poultry manure results are consistent with past test results in that there is a critical point where its addition decreases the macroporosity to the point where the hydraulic conductivity is substantially reduced. The processed poultry manure certainly has a part to play and typically we would use it at about 10-15 tonnes/hectare blended through the top 150mm of the profile where the sand has a capillary porosity between 13-15 per cent by volume.

The main question is whether we can use compost as an alternative to coir fibre and peat moss? The short answer is a tentative ‘yes’, however, detailed testing and adherence to the Australian Standard (AS 4454-2012) is essential. The USGA guidelines must also be used for the turf rootzone specific application.

The critical criteria that must be adhered to are as follows: l Meets all of the test standards detailed in the Australian Standard; l The organic matter content is >50%; l The particle size is less than 16mm; l The compost is mature and proven to be so; l The testing reflects the compost to be used in the project. l Undertake laboratory testing by blending the compost with the selected sand and testing capillary porosity, aeration porosity and compacted hydraulic conductivity.

The big take home message from all this is that turf managers must be adaptable and not disregard any new thought or product or method of operation. While this is the case, it doesn’t mean that we don’t undertake the appropriate research and testing so that we have the best technical information available before we make a final decision.

As I have stated many times, when it comes to growing medium for sports turf applications – test, test and test again.

Make sure that all the appropriate tests are undertaken, including particle size distribution, porosity at 30cm suction and saturated hydraulic conductivity.

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PETER McMAUGH AM

A climate of

respect Industry icon Peter McMaugh AM ruminates on the industry’s talent drain, the importance of earning and commanding respect

A

and rewarding talent when it is earned.

t the Australian Sports Turf Management Conference in Adelaide this past June, the industry had the very good fortune to have Dr Nathan Walker from Oklahoma State University as a guest speaker. Dr Walker is one of what I call the ‘new’ guys on the block, yet here he is at a young 53 years of age looking forward to eagerly retiring at 59! This is a phenomenon which I see increasingly among researchers, whether they are in academia or in industry. Is this a new phenomenon or is it something we have seen before and why do we lose these talented people from the industry so early?

Every individual always has their own agenda as to why they do things and what they want from their life experience. Every time I read a story of restless feet in this journal, there is almost always somewhere in the history the goad of getting out of an unrewarding situation.

I know that I ‘retired’ in 1978. It wasn’t because I did not like what I was doing, but because I didn’t like the people I was working for with their totally unreasonable demands on my personal time and their unwillingness to provide the resources to do my job properly.

This has a great deal to do with the committee or board situation, which is used to provide the administrative templates for ‘the club’ to function. It has never ceased to amaze me how otherwise successful men (in particular) seem to leave their brains outside as soon as they enter the clubroom door.

Once inside, their ego takes over and swamps their commonsense.

Academia might on the surface seem to be a little different, but there is a pecking 50

order within that system that controls the advancement of careers and it is very hard to try to step outside it. Ponder these words from an excitingly intelligent female academic in the USA who applied for tenure at her university in secret. Why? ‘Don’t think that tenure isn’t political. When I mention that I am not a straight white man, some of my readers are unhappy.

When I earned tenure, I became the first black woman in global history to do so in either particle theory or the critical cosmology’. She made a politically wise choice. She didn’t want political or social prejudice to become an issue for her in her employment.

If you are in academia today you are constantly under pressure to do more with less. This is a pattern we see repeated time and time again in the golf world. It didn’t start in the 2020s. It was alive and well 45 years ago! At that time the club manager in NSW under the award was paid in proportion to the staff budget they managed. Their constant demand was to bring the course budget under their control. This meant that many an arbitrary decision was made which reflected negatively on course maintenance. I know this probably varied from state to state at that time and maybe still does. The current evidence seems to be that a very similar situation is alive and well today.

EARNING RESPECT In the 1970s John Odell, then at Concord Golf Club, came to me to discuss how to get the image of the course superintendent to be better respected in the industry. When I came into the industry most of the staff at both bowling clubs and golf courses had a dress standard of thongs and Stubbies

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

– the blue singlet was optional. Most of the superintendents I knew went to greens meetings in their work gear.

My advice to John was very simple. If you want respect then you have to demand it, then you have to earn it. In a conversation with a senior and very well respected superintendent recently I was reminded that he, as an apprentice used to his thongs and Stubbies, was taken on a TAFE student excursion to Concord and had his first experience of seeing all the staff in matching uniforms and work boots. Certainly no thongs.

The relevance of this is very important for your own self-esteem and personal strength.

For the current adult generation, including the Prime Minister, ties may be old hat. When I was operational in Dr Peter Martin’s Masters of Turf Management course, I never experienced any student presenting other than well dressed.

I’m sure if they had they would have been

immediately marked down. Recently at a ceremony where I received a very prestigious award, my wife and I were the only two people formally dressed. I was quite frankly appalled that a professional institute would accept jeans and sneakers as suitable attire. My mother would not have considered it seemly!

One of the major lessons I learned when I was trained as a teacher (twice) was that you had to walk into that classroom and take possession of it. You have to own that space or you will not have the respect of your students.

This equally applies to your course, your office, your shed, your staff. Having a harmonious relationship with your team is a very important part of business management, but you can’t have harmony without respect. It is very important that staff understand that in a chain of command there has to be respect and if they don’t respect you, you then can’t show them the respect that they deserve.

One of the superintendents that I most admired and now long gone was Ray Strachan, formerly of Carnarvon Golf Club in Sydney. In a conversation once, he said to me, “The most valuable person (MVP) on my staff is that guy who just came into the office to sign off.” He was a deaf mute adult who was prepared to sit on a mower all day long and never complain. He had a job he appreciated and he did his best to do it to perfection.

There is no doubt that some routine jobs get very boring. Life on a golf course or a farm usually has a generous dose of the unexpected but you have to accept that those boring hours of routine mowing are part of the job. It is the same in research. If you think weighing and watering two hundred pots twice a week is glamorous and rewarding, think again. Then with all that data entered into a data logger (if you are lucky) the drudge of the statistical analysis begins.

In academia and its artificial world, the phrase ‘publish or perish’ is fiendishly true.

Your value to your institution is in whether your papers are referred to by others. If they have a low referral rate your position, which almost inevitably today is a contract with an end date on it, will not be renewed. These are all the reasons why I am glad that my career was never in academia and why I have published very few scientific papers. Those I have published have real value.

UNDER CONSTANT EXAMINATION For better or for worse, in your job as a course superintendent you are doing a job examination every day and by and large you have a rather indifferent and unsympathetic audience. They pay their fees, they expect to play and they expect to play on the Augusta they have seen on TV. If they play a poor round of golf, it isn’t their fault – it was the poor NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023

51

PETER McMAUGH AM green speeds, despite the fact that the average golfer wouldn’t know whether the green was putting at 11 seconds or 11 feet. It is meaningless for them. But if they complain to management they get listened to preferentially and you get asked to explain.

If after a storm has disrupted play and the bunkers hold water for a couple of hours, or even more, and play is suspended for over half an hour, the players start getting tetchy.

Who gets the blame? No prize for guessing who. This is why, for whatever reason, every time you start a new job you should make a detailed survey of your course, complete with photos, which documents what you started with. It says the bunkers are not drained and need to be. You need to have your employers acknowledge what they have, not what they wish for. The ‘wish for’ is their job not yours until they can give you the financial resourcing to bring their wish to life.

Your contract with your employer has to be a two-way street and that has to be reflected in the contract document you and your employer sign together when you start. These comments may seem a little contrary to the spirit of harmony you seek in your workplace, but the hard-nosed realism is that what you want as a two-way street can very quickly become a oneway one if you have a horrible weather stretch which places the club under financial stress.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS Enter from stage left the chairman of greens.

Most clubs, for better or worse, have an elected greens committee, the members of which generally consider that they thereby have had a divine infusion of knowledge on all matters of course maintenance. This time-honoured anachronism is one thing any decently constructed club should not have.

What they should have is at the most a panel of three which constitute a ‘course liaison

In their role, superintendents are doing a job examination every day and by and large they have a rather indifferent and unsympathetic audience

“It is your job as a superintendent to take your new greens chairman in hand and convince him, as your ‘best friend’, that your ideas are his ideas. Then you have to point him in the right direction, give him a gentle push and set him to work on the committee on your behalf.”

You can’t expect to have a long career at a club where you have an adversarial relationship with a greens chairman, because they won’t paint a pretty picture of you at a general committee level.

The same basic concepts apply to your relationship with the club secretary/manager. It

}The industry needs to think hard about how it can retain its talented operators... True talent should be truly rewarded.~

- Peter McMaugh AM

committee’, whose job it is to liaise with the superintendent and to be a conduit between the main committee and the course staff. Why have I said three when one could be ample… mostly because if you have one there can often be circumstances when he/she may not be available for any one of many reasons.

The qualities that this person needs to have are many, but patience and good communication skills are very high on the list.

An ability to judge and help a superintendent with priority lists is also a good start. Once again, I will refer back to Ray Strachan whose philosophy on greens chairmen was a classic.

52

is very important that part of your engagement contract with the club clearly defines the responsibilities of both on your positions. The occasional social game of golf with a foursome of captain, president, club manager and yourself won’t normally go astray either.

RETAINING TALENT If you have been at a club for a prolonged period of time there is always the danger that you can be seen as ‘part of the furniture’ and especially if you experience a new secretary/ manager they may want to treat you as such. I vividly remember back in the 1970s receiving a

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

phone call from the manager of a high profile Sydney eastern suburbs club who asked me to visit after he had created a disaster by instructing his ‘curator’ to spray the greens with endothal. I received a furious call from him – “McMaugh you better get your arse out here, you’ve killed all our bloody bentgrass”. When I attended, I found that all the ‘bloody bentgrass’ he thought he had was in fact Poa annua!

The curator was exonerated, but the manager could not leave it there. I answered a second request to visit only to be told, “I think [our curator] has passed his ‘use by’ date. I don’t think he is up to speed with the latest technology. I think we need a change and I want you to find me the right man for the job.” My reply was not what he expected…

“Where are your drawings of your irrigation shift system?” “We don’t have any,” he responded.

“That’s because they are all in [the curator’s] head,” I replied. “He is the most valuable staff member you have. I agree that he is not up to speed on current technology, but I think you might be surprised that if you put the suggestion to him that you want to bring someone new over the top, that he might in fact be quite relieved, so long as he knows that he will still be on the same conditions he is now and retains his house.”

When this was put to the curator, he eagerly agreed. As it was, I knew just the man for the job, a fine up and coming turf manager who had come to Sydney and completed his studies at TAFE. When he applied for a 2IC role at a course in the northwestern suburbs he asked me to put in a good word for him. I did better than that and rang the club and told them he was applying. Their reply was “Peter, if you recommend him, the job is his”. He would end up there for three years before the aforementioned role became available which he was made for. He had the tact and the temperament needed at that particular club.

I have gone into this story in some detail because it illustrates quite a few principles which need to be respected in the relationships between clubs and staff. It also illustrates that there is more than one way to skin a cat when it comes to sorting out delicate situations. It might have been the first time I gave that advice, but it certainly wasn’t the last.

What I am trying to say here is that the industry needs to think hard about how it can retain its talented operators. If you don’t create a climate of respect then there will never be smooth sailing. I am not saying that incompetence should be rewarded, rather that true talent should be truly rewarded.

As a final comment on this, I would like you to read your Code of Ethics. It is a document that should reflect on the aspects of this article. You should be your own judge of whether it does or not. For me I think it needs an overhaul. But that is your job, not mine.

JOHN FORREST

home On a recent holiday to Indonesia, ATM columnist John Forrest took the opportunity to visit Laguna Golf Bintan,

O

home to course superintendent Gema Junyo.

ne of the aspects of the turf industry that has always fascinated me is the different way that golf course superintendents around the world manage their courses and the various challenges they have to overcome in order to produce their playing surfaces.

As we well know, no two golf courses are the same, but superintendents, no matter which country they are in, are united by a common

goal to produce the best surfaces possible within the limitations of their resources and the climate they operate in.

Recently, my wife and I travelled to Bintan Island in Indonesia, which is about a 65-minute ferry ride on a high-speed catamaran south of Singapore. We had been looking for a peaceful island getaway and a good friend born in Singapore suggested we should check it out.

Bintan Island is part of the Riau archipelago

of Indonesia and is the largest of 3200 islands in the group. It was somewhere that we had never heard of and it also allowed us the opportunity to take in Singapore along the way.

As I looked into it further, it soon became apparent that it was also a place where many Singaporeans travelled to for a game of golf. I knew there were some excellent golf courses on the island and it just so happened that Laguna Golf Bintan was one of those and a 10-minute drive from where we were staying.

Not long after arriving on the island, I jumped in a taxi to the course to see if I could book an early tee time the following morning.

The entrance to the course is on an incline winding up through tropical jungle. As the clubhouse came into view, a driving range appeared on the right-hand side with a view over the opening nine and start of the second nine. Lagoons were a feature of the first nine, with the course bounded by jungle vegetation.

I introduced myself to the manager and booked the first tee time in the morning. I also asked if I could catch up with the course superintendent after my round, if he had time.

The view from the Laguna clubhouse with the 9th green (foreground) and 10th green in the distance. A large lagoon features prominently on the front nine

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AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

PHOTOS: JOHN FORREST

Island

Opposite: Gema Junyo, pictured here on the 17th tee, has been course superintendent at Laguna Golf Bintan in Indonesia for the past two years

Sure enough, after my round the following day, an impressive young man by the name of Gema Junyo met me at the clubhouse and showed me around the course. In many ways, Junyo is similar to superintendents I have met over the years in Australia. He has an absolute passion for turf management and an ambition that will make him a leader in the golf course industry there in the years to come.

Golf has been a major part of Junyo’s life since the age of five. He was introduced to the game by his father who works with Jebsen & Jessen Technology as a senior sales executive and irrigation project manager. He is currently working on two major projects – Trump International Golf Lido in Sukabumi and Doho Gudang Garam Golf in Kediri.

Visits to golf courses at a young age instilled a burning desire within Junyo to become a golf course superintendent. He finished school in 2011 and the following year started a Bachelor in Agriculture degree at one of Indonesia’s leading universities, Brawijaya, with a focus on soil science.

After graduating, in January 2017 his first opportunity on a golf course arose as an agronomist at Damai Indah Golf at the BSD course designed by Jack Nicklaus. In early 2018, Junyo moved to Manado, the capital city of the Indonesian province of North Sulawesi, to take on the assistant superintendent role at Paradise Golf & Beach Resort. After a year he was promoted to the position of superintendent, a role he held for two years.

After a further year as superintendent at the Imperial Klub Golf in Jakarta, Junyo then took over the superintendent role at Laguna Golf Bintan and has been in that position

The approach into the 16th green at Laguna Golf Bintan with the South China Sea as an idyllic backdrop

for the past two years. At some point in the future, his ambition is to become a golf course consultant.

LAGOONS AND JUNGLE Laguna Golf Bintan is an 18-hole, 60-hectare, par 72 golf course that is part of the Laguna Golf Group which also operates courses in Thailand (Phuket) and Vietnam (Lang Co).

Initially designed by Greg Norman, the course was redesigned by Laguna and reopened in November 2016, winning the Best Renovated Course of the Year at the Asian Golf Awards.

The front nine starts with unique sea views on holes 2-4, before heading back inland. A number of holes (6-8) are wrapped around a large lagoon, before the front nine finishes with a winding uphill par four towards the clubhouse. On the second nine, holes 10 and 11 run along the lagoon’s edge, before the 12th starts a series of four holes that navigate you through an undulating terrain with punishing jungle vegetation on both sides of the fairways.

Natural rock formations and outcrops appear on several back nine holes and provide a stunning feature and visual variation. The par four 16th plays through the jungle back towards the water, with the South China Sea acting as a tranquil backdrop to the green.

The signature 17th hole is a par three where golfers are challenged to play directly over the rock formations from a tee perched right on the ocean’s edge. The final hole is uphill to the clubhouse with the ocean as a backdrop on the tee.

The Laguna Golf Bintan greens are Tifdwarf couchgrass and fairways a mix of Zoysia matrella and Tifway couchgrass. The zoysia is preferred as it produces a much tighter surface. It is vital to get both varieties to dominate in order to maintain good drainage on the fairways, otherwise weeds such as sedges and the like will encroach and take over. Among the weeds that Junyo has to continually combat are chickweed, spotted spurge, nutgrass sedge (Cyperus rotundas), goosegrass (Eleusine indica – what we call

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JOHN FORREST At times, water is run through the sand to help reduce the fines before being put out on course. Organics in the profile increase water holding capacity and with rainfall in a wet month being around the 300mm mark, dilution of that layer is essential.

Bunker sand is very different from greens or topdressing sand as it is coarse and is sometimes put through a 2mm screen before use. The slightly coarser sand is vital to allow the water to flow into the bunker drainage systems. Coarse sand in the bunkers can end up on the greens as golfers play their shots.

Mower blades can be dulled and the particles can be abrasive on the turf leaf creating potential disease entry points.

The Laguna Golf Bintan greens are Tifdwarf and the fairways a Zoysia matrella/Tifway couchgrass mix

crowsfoot in Australia), crabgrass and buffalo grass (Bouteloua dactyloides).

Drainage is critical across the course due to the differing topographies. Higher water tables and limited fall impact the front nine and the start of the back nine, whereas holes 12-15 are among the jungle where the ground is sloped, creating areas where surface flows need to be controlled.

Temperatures on Bintan Island are similar year-round, with only a 4-5 degree difference between day-time and night-time temperatures.

Humidity varies very little for long periods, from a low of 83 per cent to a high of 87 per cent.

As you’d expect, rainfall can be pretty extreme, with the course measuring rainfall on two holes – the inland 7th and coastal 16th. In the past year, records show an average of 2494.25mm had fallen across the course, with a more than 180mm difference between the 7th (2402mm) and 16th (2586.5mm).

Due to the humidity and frequent high rainfall, disease is a constant battle, in particular dollar spot. Such conditions make it difficult to keep moisture levels in the leaf canopy low, with other diseases such as curvularia spp, mini ring (rhizoctonia zeae) and fairy ring adding to the management challenges for Junyo.

SOILS AND SANDS

GREENS FOCUS

The Bintan course is constructed on Hapludox soil, which has a combination of sand, silt and clay percentages suitable for horticulture and a bulk density of around 1.32 which is good for root growth (see Table 1 below for soil analysis data). Compaction under frequent rainfall can impact infiltration, with aeration a key practice to offset this. Clay and silt components are higher than what you would find in a typical golf course construction, meaning surface and subsurface drainage is critical.

During my visit, Junyo was having trouble with plant health issues on several greens. The Tifdwarf was losing density and thinning which required small areas to be re-turfed. After some investigation, billbug was discovered and they were subsequently treated. The treatment appeared successful with dead adults appearing on the greens surface. Larvae appeared controlled and were the main target as they were doing the main damage.

In some places, however, the greens were still struggling. A nematode test was undertaken to determine if these were causing any issue. Results showed a range present, including lance, stunt and lesion nematodes, but they were well below threshold levels. It was thought that the billbug larvae were the primary issue, with the nematodes a secondary issue impacting root recovery.

Plugs were taken and even though the surface had not recovered fully, white roots could be observed, indicating that the greens were on the road to recovery even though several weak areas could be observed. The greens putted truly, but the height of cut had been lifted from 3.4mm to 5mm on the worst areas. A few weeks after visiting, Junyo sent me photos of those affected greens which had subsequently recovered and had an excellent coverage of grass.

One observation that Junyo has made in his time at Laguna is that the greens require more nitrogen than other courses he has worked on previously. This has seen rates go from 19.5kg N/ha/month to 48-59kg N/ha/ month, with the sand profiles of the greens and high rainfall causing greater leaching.

Timing and amounts of nutrient applications

TABLE 1: BINTAN HAPLUDOX SOIL Parameter Bulk density (g-m3) Sand % Silt % Clay % Soil organic carbon % pH

Min. 1.15 32 20 9 0.3

Max. 1.35 39 52 46 0.39

Ave. 1.32 35 35.67 29.33 0.34

5.14

5.8

5.45

One difficulty on an island is getting a consistent sand supply, with Junyo sourcing a local sand. It is a lucky dip on what will arrive, with the sand having higher than ideal clay and salt content. The high rainfall flushes the salts, but the clay can be problematic for the greens.

Thick jungle vegetation bounds holes 12-15, creating a distinct microclimate from the rest of the course

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AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

Natural rock outcrops feature on the back nine holes

are critical with the well-known adage of little and often being key. As the rainfall data highlighted earlier shows, monthly totals over the past 12 months varied by 184.5mm between the two greens where rainfall is recorded. The most significant variation during that time was 92mm, highlighting the varying microenvironments across the course.

MEMORABLE VISIT Visiting Laguna Golf Bintan was an enjoyable experience. It is a golf course that tests a golfer’s skill and is set within a beautifully varying landscape that encourages one to return. The local people were friendly and invested in you having a memorable day.

Meeting Junyo and driving around his course was enlightening and is another example of why the turf industry is great to be part of. He had achieved his dream of becoming a superintendent, but also harbours ambitions of progressing further in the industry.

It was great to see what he was achieving, what he was proud of and the areas where he was working hard to strive for improvement.

It was impressive to see a young man of just 30 running a crew of 31 people, looking to advance management practices while improving his technical knowledge and producing the best surfaces he can.

Drainage is critical across the course due to differing topographies. Holes 12-15 (pictured is 15) are routed through the jungle where the ground is sloped, creating areas where surface flows need to be controlled

Pest pressures can be high due to the climate, with a recent outbreak of billbug causing damage to a few greens

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ENVIRONMENT

Golf’s paradigm

G

olf, a sport often associated with meticulously landscaped greens and lush fairways, has undergone a remarkable transformation in its relationship with the environment. While historically criticised for excessive water usage, chemical treatments and habitat destruction, golf courses worldwide, notably in Australia, have pivoted towards sustainability and ecological conservation.

Over the past few years, the golf industry has witnessed a significant change.

Embracing sustainability, many courses have initiated practices aligning with environmental conservation. This paradigm shift reflects a commitment to restore and preserve natural habitats, transitioning previously maintained areas into indigenous plant reserves that foster wildlife and restore ecosystems.

These changes have yielded astonishing biodiversity benefits. Studies by reputable universities like the University of Melbourne and Griffith University affirm that golf courses, particularly in urban areas, significantly contribute to biodiversity. The retention of expansive green spaces like golf courses has 58

shift

ATM environmental columnist Kate Torgersen writes about how golf is leading the way in fostering harmony between sport and environmental conservation. proven pivotal in supporting a diverse range of fauna species, often surpassing nearby residential areas and smaller parks.

Despite efforts to promote this shift within the industry, there remains a prevailing belief that golf is exclusively for the privileged and contributes to wasted green spaces.

This misconception has led or is leading to numerous closures or reductions in golf course sizes. This impact is especially being felt by public golf courses, which serve as the foundation of the industry by offering inclusivity and enabling everyone to partake in the game.

Just recently we have seen two very wellpublicised examples where public golf courses are under major threat – Oakleigh Golf Course

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

in Melbourne’s south east and Moore Park in central Sydney – which has caused an outcry across the industry. In the case of Oakleigh, the local Monash Council wants to convert the nine-hole course, which has been in play since the 1970s and now attracts more than 30,000 rounds annually, into a park. Similarly, the NSW Government wants to carve up Moore Park, one of the country’s busiest and most successful public access facilities, reducing the course to just nine holes and turning the other nine into a park. In both instances Golf Australia and the wider golf industry have come out strongly against such proposals, with the environmental benefits that golf courses provide playing a central role in the argument to keeping these spaces available for golf.

Such announcements came out around the time that the Australian Golf Industry Council also released its 2023 Community Benefits of Golf in Australia report. Compiled by urban and public policy consultancy SGS Economics & Planning, the report details the significant benefits of golf through quantified data, with the revelation that the sport provides $3.3 billion in total annual benefits

Golf courses are often important havens for threatened and endangered plant communities, such as Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub in Sydney

to the Australian community, economy and environment. Of particular interest, were the statistics relating to the environmental benefits of golf. It is the first time that a dollar figure has been put on this aspect, with the report estimating the total environmental benefit per year to be in the vicinity of $890 million. That was broken down into five key areas – flora and fauna biodiversity ($354m), urban cooling ($257m), flood and stormwater management ($159m), water filtration and purification ($114m) and carbon sequestration ($6m).

The environmental benefits of golf courses are without doubt significant and something the industry needs to strongly promote.

REWILDING GOLF COURSES Golf courses have embraced environmental stewardship by implementing advanced water management techniques, reducing chemical usage and adopting eco-friendly maintenance routines. This commitment not only conserves resources but also contributes to stormwater management, improved water quality and reduced carbon footprints.

A key strategy adopted by many golf courses is ‘rewilding’ – a process involving the selective return of sections of courses to a more natural state, reintroducing native vegetation and creating wildlife habitats.

This innovative approach transforms these landscapes into thriving ecosystems that benefit future communities.

Public golf courses especially have a unique opportunity to shape not only the environmental management of these courses but also shape the new generation of golfers who learn how to play and appreciate the greenspace they play on. By dedicating areas to rewilding, golf courses can become biodiversity hotspots, offering opportunities for local flora and fauna to flourish. Often these areas obtain more management than neighbouring bushland reserves, therefore increasing their environmental value.

These rewilded zones can provide essential ecosystem services, such as improved water retention, enhanced soil health and increased biodiversity, contributing to a healthier environment for surrounding communities. These transformed spaces offer residents and visitors the chance to reconnect with nature, fostering a sense of stewardship and appreciation for the natural world while promoting sustainability for future generations.

Glenelg Golf Club is leading the industry with its focus on community education and engagement, highlighting the benefits their golf course environment provides

understanding of the natural environment among golfers and local communities. These initiatives not only raise awareness about conservation but also highlight the role golf courses play in preserving local biodiversity.

Many indigenous plant nurseries and local councils often collect seeds and cuttings from golf courses to ensure the protection and preservation of many indigenous species that are declining due to urbanisation. Courses these days are now locating signs throughout (see main photo opposite) to educate on the projects and species they are introducing, enhancing or protecting. Syngenta’s Operation Pollinator, a program that has been around overseas for decades, was introduced into Australia last year with an amazing response by local golf courses wanting to be involved.

Many courses throughout Australia serve as multifaceted community assets, offering more than just a space for golf. These expansive green spaces are increasingly recognised for their diverse contributions to the broader community. Beyond hosting golfing activities, golf courses serve as recreational

havens, providing opportunities for various outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, picnics and family outings. These open spaces become gathering points, fostering social connections and community engagement.

Moreover, golf courses often host events ranging from charity fundraisers and community festivals to educational programs and nature walks. They serve as venues for community events, creating a sense of belonging and offering a shared space for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Additionally, some courses incorporate amenities like restaurants, fitness facilities and nature trails, expanding their appeal and utility to a wider audience, thereby enhancing their role as vibrant community hubs.

Public golf courses, in particular, play an essential role in communities by offering inclusive spaces, promoting physical activity and contributing to mental well-being. These courses serve as green lungs within urban areas, mitigating the urban heat island effect and providing spaces for various outdoor activities beyond golf.

Several success stories, such as Glenelg Golf Club in Adelaide and Woodend Golf Club in Victoria, highlight exemplary initiatives undertaken by private and public golf courses.

These projects involve the community, promote biodiversity and underscore the integration of sustainable practices into golf course management.

The evolving relationship between golf and nature signifies a promising future where golf courses not only offer recreational opportunities but also function as vital ecosystems that support biodiversity, environmental health and inclusive community spaces. This harmonious coexistence sets a precedent for other sports to follow suit in promoting environmental conservation and sustainability.

ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION Community engagement is another vital aspect. Golf courses organise educational programs, nature walks and wildlife tours, fostering a deeper appreciation and

By dedicating areas to rewilding, golf courses can become biodiversity hotspots for local flora and fauna

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Tom Fahey has been head curator at Manuka Oval in Canberra since April 2021

L EADERSHIP

Elanora

calling Since arriving in Australia from England in 2005, Jake Gibbs (CSTM) has progressed to be one of this country’s leading superintendents. Ben Gibson looks at his journey which currently sees him as the director of grounds at

W

hen you take a look at Jake Gibbs’ CV, it is hard not to be impressed. Originally from Cambridgeshire in the rural heartland of England, Gibbs decided to broaden his horizons and in 2005 travelled Down Under to see where the greenkeeping trade could take him. A summer working at Manly Golf Club, under then superintendent Michael Bradbery, would ultimately turn into a sponsored position at another well-known northern suburbs establishment, Elanora Country Club, and effectively the die was cast.

In the near two decades since, Gibbs has steadily climbed the ranks and along the way has added some impressive establishments to a strong resume. Among them are the likes of Royal Sydney and New South Wales golf clubs, where he held assistant roles, and Royal Canberra where he was superintendent for two years.

After spending much of his formative years in Australia at Elanora (seven to be precise), it was somewhat fitting that the club would again come into the reckoning further along Gibbs’ career path. With his former boss Dan Cook 60

Elanora Country Club in Sydney. heading across the Harbour Bridge to take on the prized role of superintendent at The Australian Golf Club in the spring of 2021, it opened up the door for his former assistant to make a return.

A private members club bordered by the Garigal National Park to the west and affording stunning views across the famed

CAREER PROFILE JAKE GIBBS Oct 2021 – present: Director of grounds, Elanora CC, NSW Sep 2019 – Oct 2021: Superintendent, Royal Canberra GC, ACT Sep 2018 – Sep 2019: Assistant superintendent, New South Wales GC Oct 2017 – Sep 2018: Territory manager, Bayer Environmental Science Nov 2015 – Oct 2017: Assistant superintendent, Royal Sydney GC, NSW Feb 2013 – April 2015: Superintendent, Wollongong GC, NSW Feb 2006 – Feb 2013: Elanora CC, NSW (finished as assistant superintendent)

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

northern beaches to the east, Elanora is one of Sydney’s most exclusive country club establishments. As director of grounds, Gibbs oversees a team of 22 that maintains the club’s 18-hole championship golf course, two bowling greens and croquet, tennis and golf practice facilities. Having just notched up his second year in charge, and fresh from volunteering at the 2023 ISPS Handa Australian Open, we caught up with the 37-year-old to reflect on his journey to date and look at his approach to the modern-day course superintendent role…

You have had a really interesting journey in turf. Where did it all begin and what got you started? My journey began in the UK in 2005 at a parkland golf course in Cambridgeshire called Brampton Park Golf Club. When I left school, I knew that I wanted to work outdoors.

I grew up on a dairy farm before the family left the industry, so working outside with nature and agricultural machinery was in my DNA. After school, I enrolled in a Diploma of Horticulture, but I needed to figure out what sector. The diploma, which was done through Shuttleworth College, was perfect as it covered all aspects from amenity through to

Opposite: Since October 2021 Jake Gibbs has been director of grounds at Elanora Country Club in Sydney

commercial horticulture. During the summer holidays, I worked at Brampton assisting the course team with different course maintenance processes and loved the work and the team of five. Upon completing my diploma, the club offered me a full-time greenkeeping role.

You have worked at some of the big names in the east coast turf industry – Royal Sydney, Royal Canberra, New South Wales and Elanora Country Club. What do you find are some of the benefits of working with these clubs and what are some of the challenges? Yes, I have been extremely fortunate to work at some great clubs since coming to Australia in 2005. The opportunity to work at these fantastic facilities has helped develop me as a greenkeeper today. All of these like-minded golf clubs aspire to be the best and ensure they deliver an outstanding product for their members to enjoy day-in, day-out. I love the challenge of always trying to improve and looking for marginal gains across the property with a focus on the small details.

There is no doubt that member expectation is high at all of these facilities, and the one constant pressure is the expectation around the consistency of the playing surfaces, but being able to influence the planning and then executing to achieve positive outcomes is the challenge that I really enjoy.

It can be really interesting to watch a turf manager take over a new chapter and a new role. There are lots of great leaders across the industry with very different leadership styles and approaches to team culture.

How do you approach this at a new club?

How do you balance the team transition from established habits and routines, to bring everyone toward your vision for the site? Initially, from observing the team to fully understanding habits and routines and absorbing it all, what they are doing well and what can be improved. I then start to engage with key personnel, get feedback from them and then start to implement processes based on my observations and feedback received.

I like to establish a weekly routine of having a team meeting on a Monday where I can vocalise ideas and thoughts and start the dialogue for change as needed. I am certainly not looking to rock the boat straight away, but building on the good elements of the team is a positive way to proceed while strengthening the weaknesses and improving the overall operation.

Reconstructed in 2004, Elanora Country Club is one of Sydney’s finest 18-hole championship golf courses

You have been director of grounds at Elanora now for the past two years. How is your senior leadership team structured to look after such a diverse property to the standards that you do? For me, having a clear management structure in place is key. I find that I am juggling a lot of balls and look at my leadership team to be there if one of those balls is dropped. At Elanora, the management team consists of myself as director of grounds, Mark Ward (golf course superintendent), Sam Rose (assistant superintendent), Daniel Swainston (foreman), Luke Storey (bowls foreman) and Dave Ruiz (mechanic). In terms of standards, we have a daily meeting and a weekly roundtable. It’s important to me that the leadership group contribute their observations and feedback about the team and what they are seeing around the property as they are the ones that ultimately help execute the plans. I look to my management team to look after the elements that they are responsible for.

How would you describe your leadership style? I need to lead by example. Being professional in my approach with interactions with the membership and all staff adds to the

credibility and the image that the role has at the club and one I want to continue. I am considerate in my approach through planning and, importantly, being proactive rather than reactive helps me lead the team efficiently.

One strength of yours is definitely member communication with regular ‘behind the scenes’ videos on your operations that the club uploads to YouTube. How has this impacted member relationships and how have these videos been received? Were you uncomfortable when you started doing this?

Yes! I was uncomfortable at first but I found it is the best tool to communicate because people don’t read these days. We started doing the videos not long after I started here. I can get a lot of information across in a one-minute video rather than a one-page article that gets lost at the bottom of a club newsletter. I try to make a consistent effort to acknowledge the members while I am out working on the property, even a simple wave and hello to build rapport is important. I think the members are grateful for information on what’s happening on the property and I like to be open and share what we as a team are doing.

Between 2015 and 2017 Gibbs was assistant at Royal Sydney Golf Club. Here he is pictured with then fellow assistant, now superintendent, Adam Marchant during the 2016 Australian Open

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L EADERSHIP

Sydney is very much home for Gibbs, with his family – wife Kara, kids Harry (7) and Ellie (5) and their German short pointer Molly – enjoying the northern beaches lifestyle

Who has influenced your turf management career and what impact have they had? The first person was Nick Meehan at Brampton Park in the UK. He ran a five-man crew and was a great mentor. He was more than happy to show a 17-year-old the ropes and made me feel part of the team. I then came to Australia on a working holiday visa in 2005, where then Elanora superintendent Peter Schumacher started the process to sponsor me. Then Dan Cook came to Elanora and he invested in me and elevated my skills and those of the entire team with his drive and enthusiasm to produce one of the best members golf courses in the country.

Others to have had a big influence include NSW GC superintendent Mark Parker whose commitment and enthusiasm is infectious.

I also have great appreciation for Leigh Hingston, general manager at Wollongong Golf Club, who gave me my first superintendent role when I took over the course in early 2013 and was there for a two-year period. Matt Olson, formerly the general manager of Royal Canberra Golf Club, now currently at The Lakes, took a chance on me when I had never been superintendent of a Group 1 course before and Cathy Neagle (current Elanora general manager) who had the confidence

to appoint me as director of grounds. This sounds like an Oscars acceptance speech, but there have been so many good people who have influenced me throughout my career. I would also like to mention Steve Marsden, Justin Bradbury, Adam Marchant, Ryan Stores and Mark Ward who are also great colleagues.

What is on the radar for Elanora Country Club? The club’s centenary is in 2029 and there are many ideas in the pipeline but nothing concrete yet. I am always on the lookout to gain efficiency within the team and searching for marginal gains across the property, without compromising on the quality of the product. At the moment we have been rebuilding select tees around the course including the 3rd and 15th and are currently mid-project with the 5th, 8th and 13th. These new tees have a larger footprint to support the additional play that we have experienced at Elanora over the last few years post-COVID and will improve turf quality for members.

What is at the top of your priority list as director of grounds? In the current climate, staff retention and creating a culture where the crew are happy, engaged and developing is key for me. The team has a long history of

socialising and playing for different ‘jackets’ (like the Masters green jacket) which line the corridor of the maintenance shed (see photos next page). This was a great initiative by Dan Cook and a great way of socialising and team bonding. Currently we have three jackets which are contested annually – par three champion, lawn bowls champion and tennis champion.

Have you done any turf travel/work experience and how did that impact you and your career? Yes, I am really lucky to come off the back of an amazing trip to the USA with Dan Cook, Mark Parker, Mark Ward and Aaron Fluke (NSW GC). We visited a wide range of golf courses from the West Coast across to the East Coast. It was such a thrill to spend time at these world-class facilities and see their operations up close, inspiring considerations on improving what we deliver to the members moving forward. I am already planning another trip to the USA, heading up to the northeast of the country to experience some of the old historic private clubs as the conditioning and member experience is revered in this part of the world. I am hoping to capture a better understanding of that and then implement the attainable elements here at Elanora.

You often talk about your family (and dog Molly!). After moving from Sydney to Canberra and then back to Sydney again, you have recently bought a house. Is Sydney home now? We love being back in Sydney and living on the northern beaches.

My wife Kara is a Sydney girl, so it is a homecoming relocating from Canberra. It’s the

Gibbs oversees a team of 22 that maintains Elanora’s 18-hole championship golf course, two bowling greens and croquet, tennis and golf practice facilities

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AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

PENN A + PURE ECLIPS E

A+ Creeping Bentgrass

With A1 currently out of stock, A+, a 50/50 mix of A1 and Pure Eclipse, is an ideal replacement for oversowing A1 surfaces. Available through our distributors Greenway Turf Solutions and Oasis Turf.

Key Features:

Maintenance:

•

Great resistance to red leaf spot

•

Good disease resistance

•

Great spring green-up

•

Dark green colour

A+ Creeping Bentgrass is tough and hardy, requiring less water and fertiliser than other creeping bentgrass varieties, typically resulting in an easier management regimen for the superintendent. Properly maintained, A+ provides a very highquality playing surface that thrives on low mowing and results in excellent playability.

•

High density

In general, the amount of fertilizer applied should be

A+, a mixture of a Penn A bentgrass and Pure Eclipse, combines the strengths of two of the most proven bentgrass varieties creating a blend with broad genetic diversity that will produce the highest quality putting surface. A+ delivers a striking dark green colour and fine leaf texture that produces a beautiful playing surface. With a dense, upright and aggressive growth habit, it also features an exceptional ability to compete against Poa annua.

50 g of nitrogen per 100 square metres every 14 days +/-, depending on approximate growth, clippings, and performance. The yearly amount of nitrogen will be from 1-2 kg, phosphorous 1-1.5 kg, and potassium 3-5 kg per 100 square metres. As far as micro-nutrient amounts, this should be checked via tissue tests during the growing season and again with a soil test in early spring.

Sowing Rates

Recommended establishment sowing rate is 700-800 g /100 m2 Recommended oversowing rate is 500 g /100 m2

Experts from earth to turf.

NEW ZEALAND 0800 PGW TURF info@pggwrightsonturf.co.nz pggwrightsonturf.com/nz

AUSTR ALIA 1800 DURATURF info@pggwrightsonturf.com.au pggwrightsonturf.com/au

facebook.com/pggwrightsonturf

L EADERSHIP small things, such as the ability to go to the beach on the weekend. We are feeling part of the community with the kids (Harry, 7 and Ellie, 5) starting their schooling. We are often juggling various social and sporting activities, dancing, kids parties on any given day so, yes, it does feel like home.

How do you balance turf, family and looking after yourself? There’s no doubt it’s challenging at times, but I try to strike a balance. One of the techniques that works really well for me is to turn email notifications off after a certain time, generally after 5pm until 4am the next day. This helps as I am not reacting every time the phone pings from an email. I also turn notifications off on the weekend. This doesn’t mean I don’t check emails periodically, but it does mean I am focused on the family and I am in the moment and not distracted at the right time. Having a good leadership team to share the load with is also critical. It gives me comfort to know that everything is in safe hands when I am not on site.

I enjoy picking the kids up from school once a week and they get a kick out of dad picking them up. Kara and I also try to get out regularly for a date night which is always fun.

I think the biggest thing I have learned so far about being in charge of a facility is applying a ‘swings and roundabouts’ approach to the demands of the role. The ability to push hard when required and knowing when to back off and focus on the family when the opportunity is there. I would ask myself, “Do I need to be working on a weekend in July if I have had 20mm of rain and a top temperature of 18oC and the weekend roster is full?” The answer is probably not, but in the summer when the

The Elanora crew has a long history of socialising and playing for different ‘Jackets’ (tennis, golf and bowls)

events are coming thick and fast then I am all in from dawn until dusk.

What do you like to do outside of work? Do you have any hobbies? I have a very active two-year-old German short pointer Molly who I regularly take for a run, which is great for her and me. Over the past year I have also been doing Pilates which has helped the body and is very different to anything I have done before.

I have recently joined Mona Vale Golf Club and I try to get out for a hit once every couple of weeks which I am really enjoying.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I have been at Elanora Country Club for two years, so I hope to be continually developing and enjoying the role as much as I do now.

Hopefully, I can assist the club in progressing

Elanora Country Club will celebrate its centenary in 2029

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AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

the strategic plan to improve the offering to the membership and staff. I have always been comfortable with accepting life as a rollercoaster and knowing that things can twist and turn along the way, so I am just trying to embrace the journey and learn and improve from experiences along the way.

What advice would you give younger staff just starting out in the industry? The turf industry is a great one full of passionate people. I would encourage young staff to stick with it early on and work hard to progress into leadership roles where they can have longterm and rewarding careers. There is no doubt that we will see the industry evolve over the next few decades, with autonomous equipment and more efficient technologies coming into it, so it is an exciting time to be part of it.

AROUND THE TRADE

JOHN DEERE HELPING KICK GOALS FOR WOMEN IN TURF

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alented female turf specialists from across Australia played a critical behind-the-scenes role in one of the world’s biggest sporting events recently, supporting the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium team to prepare for several matches, including the Matildas’ group game against Canada.

John Deere’s Women in Turf Program joined with the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA) and Brandt Australia, in conjunction with Melbourne & Olympic Parks, to provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a group of women including apprentices through to experienced managers, selected to bring their expertise to a pitch of exacting international standards.

John Deere and Brandt jointly sponsored three women who took part in the program – Sally Benwell (superintendent of Centenary Park Golf Course and sports ovals at Frankston City Council), Georgie Chandler (production assistant at HG Turf Group) and Codi Long (parks and gardens apprentice at Greater Bendigo Council). Benwell leads a team of 16 men responsible for maintaining 68 sporting grounds plus an 18-hole golf course.

After a 23-year career working with only males, she said the Women in Turf program was a great opportunity to network with like-minded women with a passion for turf.

“Receiving the call from John Deere to participate in the program was quite a shock, 66

Georgie Chandler was part of the HG Turf production team growing the HERO hybrid surface which was used at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

but I’m glad I took this opportunity because it’s been a huge highlight of my career so far,” says Benwell. “The program is crucial because women only make up a little over one per cent of the turf industry. It’s great to see our role being highlighted and more women being encouraged to pursue it as a career path, because it’s a very enjoyable and rewarding job. Usually I do my job with no-one watching,

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

so it was quite daunting to work in a full stadium with a huge crowd. The atmosphere was amazing though and it’s something I’ll never forget.”

Benwell acknowledged the invaluable mentorship of the men she has worked with over her career, but admitted she has faced some quite unusual barriers. “When I started out, there wasn’t even female workwear or boots available, so I wore men’s gear for about 15 years! We’ve certainly come a long way and, like any industry, if you work hard and take opportunities like this you can go anywhere.”

John Deere launched its Women in Turf Program earlier in 2023 at the TPS Murray River golf tournament, with six female volunteers working alongside staff at Cobram Barooga Golf Club to prepare the course for the event. John Deere Australia and New Zealand golf and sports turf account manager, Tim Gammage, says the program was an important initiative to support more women joining Australia’s prosperous golf and sports turf management sector.

“The program creates equal opportunities, offers personal development for the participants and really highlights the role women play in the industry,” says Gammage.

“This was an amazing opportunity for these women to work at the highest level, preparing the turf for the best international female soccer players in the world.”

Opposite: Participants in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Women in Turf Program at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, sponsored by John Deere and in conjunction with the ASTMA, were (from left) Sally Benwell, Codi Long and Georgie Chandler

Beyond line marking, repairing divots and setting up the goals, the Women in Turf program extended to producing the grass for the matches. Chandler was part of the team at HG Turf involved in preparing the turf at a farm in rural Victoria and harvesting it before it was transported and laid at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in the lead-up to the World Cup. “It’s very satisfying being part of the team that delivered the turf for such a big international tournament,” says Chandler.

“We used a hybrid turf made up of natural and synthetic grass, which gives a more consistently smooth surface to play on.”

With her full-time role being in parks and gardens, the Women in Turf event was Long’s first exposure to sports turf management. “It was very different to my day-to-day, but a great learning experience to see everything that goes into preparing a world-class sporting field,” says Long. “I now have a network of women in the turf industry thanks to this program. I really enjoyed hearing their stories about how they’ve reached this point in their careers.”

NEW RYEGRASS VARIETIES ASTMA Bronze partner Advanced Seed has recently launched a couple of new ryegrass seed varieties into the Australian market – Sparkmaster and Sportsman Blend.

A new turf type perennial ryegrass, Sparkmaster is a USA-developed variety bred for fast establishment and excellent winter activity. It is designed for high use areas in sportsfields and golf courses and is a perfect overseeding option.

Sportsman is an economical blend of perennial ryegrass designed for broadacre application. Boasting a dark green colour, it is quick to germinate, has excellent winter activity and is ideal for overseeding warm-season grass. Sportsman Blend can be mowed as low as 10mm, however, the recommended mowing height in most applications is 25mm.

For more information and to view the tech sheet for each of these new ryegrass varieties, visit www.adseed.com.au.

TURF ID GUIDE APP UPDATE ASTMA Silver Partner Envu has updated its comprehensive Turf ID Guide app which offers detailed insights into turf weeds, diseases and insects that occur in turf surfaces across Australia. Featuring high-resolution photographs that offer a

magnified perspective of each weed, disease and insect, the Turf ID Guide ensures quick and efficient identification, enabling users to take prompt and effective action in addressing turf issues.

One of the unique features of the app, which is available for free download on both iOS and Android devices, is its personalised identification support. In situations where turf problems present challenges in identification, users can simply capture and email photographs directly to Envu, receiving personalised assistance tailored to their specific needs from Envu’s team of technical experts. Beyond identification, the Turf ID Guide offers expert advice on the situation, occurrence and treatment for each turf problem. Users also receive recommendations for Envu products, complete with active ingredient rates.

While the app is specifically tailored for turf managers, including golf course superintendents, Envu expects general turf enthusiasts will also see benefit in the app.

The app’s intuitive design and user-friendly features make it accessible to anyone seeking advanced insights into turf management. In addition to identification and advice, the app provides convenient links to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and product labels for turf products.

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www.astma.com.au/agcsatech NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023

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AROUND THE TRADE

SCARLET TRIO INSECTICIDE A FIRST FOR AUSTRALIA Brisbane-based Indigo Specialty Products has just launched an insecticide designed and labelled for the eradication of ground pearl – ProForce Scarlet Trio Advanced insecticide.

Indigo business development manager Tim Kennedy says that not only is Scarlet Trio a first for Australia, but it is also one of only two insecticides in the world labelled for ground pearl. He says since launching the product in Australia, customer feedback has been excellent with great results being achieved.

Ground pearl, also known as Margarodes spp., is a tiny insect that has proven to be a problem on bowling greens and other turf areas in Australia. These pests are more commonly found in warmer regions, particularly in the coastal areas of Queensland, New South Wales and other northern states, however, there are now reports that even southern states are experiencing these pests.

Ground pearls can be detrimental to turfgrass health and the quality of bowling greens in particular. They are insects that infest the soil and feed on the roots of grasses and have a protective, hard, pearl-like covering

INDUSTRY APPOINTMENTS ROYAL TAKES ON NEW ENVU ASIA-PACIFIC ROLE ASTMA Silver Partner Envu has announced the appointment of James Royal (pictured) as the Turf & Ornamentals Product Manager for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, effective form 1 January 2024. Royal joined the business in 2016 as Market Manager – Turf & Ornamentals for the Australia and New Zealand region.

During his tenure, he has played a pivotal role in transforming the market landscape, exemplified by his leadership and vision.

Under his guidance, the Turf & Ornamental team has grown significantly from a single market manager to a robust unit of four customer-facing roles. The team has also launched seven groundbreaking products for the Turf & Ornamental portfolio, including Specticle, Reserve Stressgard, Exteris Stressgard, Signature Xtra Stressgard, Indemnify, Dedicate Forte Stressgard and Tetrino, a pipeline of product that has addressed a number of major challenges faced by turf managers across Australia.

“James has made an invaluable contribution to the Envu business since joining us in 2016,” says Martin Ball, Head of ANZ Cluster and Managing Director Australia.

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Ground pearls can be detrimental to turfgrass health and the quality of bowling greens in particular

which makes them difficult for many natural predators, including birds, to consume. Their feeding activity weakens the grass, making it more susceptible to stress, drought and other environmental factors. Ground pearls thrive in warm and humid conditions, which are common in many parts of Australia. These insects are most active during the summer and can cause severe damage to turfgrass during this period.

Scarlet Trio Advanced is a unique insecticide formulation containing 116g/L clothianidin, 83g/L clofentezine and 13g/L abamectin. In addition to ground pearl, Scarlet

“He has played a lead role in the growth journey of the Turf & Ornamental segment and has built an incredible team to support this key business unit. This new role provides James with a fantastic opportunity to broaden his experience and work with other leading regions within the turf space, benefiting both ANZ and the regional business.”

In his new role, Royal will expand his focus on innovation and pipeline development to the region: “I look forward to this new challenge, working with Envu teams across the Asia Pacific region,” says Royal.

“As part of a global portfolio management team, my focus will be to drive the introduction of exciting and innovative new solutions for our customers in APAC, building on the already strong portfolio Envu has in the Turf & Ornamentals segment.” Royal will continue to be contactable via 0408 903 252 or via email james.royal@envu.com.

ABEL, PEART JOIN LIVING TURF ASTMA Silver Partner Living Turf has recently welcomed Peter Abel and Andrew Peart to the team as the company celebrates its 20th anniversary. Peart (pictured right)

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

Trio Advanced is also registered for the broadspectrum control of billbug, African black beetle, Argentinian scarab, Argentine stem weevil, couch fly, couch mite and mole cricket in all recreational turf management situations.

“Mid-season results from the targeted program of ProForce Scarlet Trio Advanced insecticide applications conducted to date at Club Tweed have shown great promise,” says Colin McPherson, head greenkeeper at Club Tweed on the Gold Coast and president of the Queensland Bowling Greenkeepers Association. “We have seen a large reduction in ground pearl numbers in treated greens which have been monitored since July. I look forward to seeing how we end up at the end of summer after a full season of using it in our insecticide program.”

In addition to using Scarlet Trio Advanced insecticide, Kennedy also recommends turf managers look at a range of cultural practices to help deal with ground pearl issues at their facility. These include improving soil aeration to discourage infestations, avoiding over-irrigation to reduce favourable conditions, choosing more resistant grass varieties and developing an integrated pest management plan.

For more information on Scarlet Trio Advanced insecticide and to download the label, visit https://indigospecialty.com.au/ insecticides/.

joins as an agronomist and will assist the Living Turf technical services team in research, product and service development, consulting, training and education. Peart has been involved in the turf industry for over 25 years, holding past roles with Evergreen Turf and Turfgrass Technology in Melbourne, before joining with John Neylan at AGCSATech where he was employed for 15 years. Peart’s time there was heavily invested in research, undertaking many Horticulture Australia Ltd contract trials, while also providing numerous golf clubs and councils with agronomic advice with regards to improving their playing surfaces. Peart can be contacted on 0490 793 289 or email apeart@livingturf.com.

Abel (pictured left) joins Living Turf’s Queensland team as a technical sales representative, continuing to serve a territory from Yamba to south Brisbane as he has done for the past 20-odd years. Originally from Tasmania, over the years Abel held course superintendent roles at Leonay and Bardwell Valley golf clubs before moving to Queensland in 2001. His sales pedigree and industry relationships are a welcome addition to Living Turf’s growing team. Abel can be contacted on 0409 200 700 or email pabel@ livingturf.com.

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AS SOCIATION REPORTS/NEWS

TMSA

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PHOTOS: DAVID BRAND

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urf Management South Australia has certainly had a busy first year of incorporation with an action-packed calendar of meetings and events, highlighted by the inaugural Turf Seminar held at The Grange Golf Club in late September. There were over 100 in attendance and we would like to acknowledge our speakers and sponsors who attended on the day and supported the event. See the previous edition of Australian Turfgrass Management Journal (Volume 25.5) for a full run down of the day.

In late October, TMSA was thrilled to be part of the South Australian Golf Industry Awards held at the Hilton Hotel in Adelaide.

The Grange Golf Club was the big winner on the night, with the LIV Golf Adelaide host club collecting four major awards. That included the prestigious South Australian Club of the Year Award, while course superintendent Rowan Daymond won the TMSA Excellence in Turf Management Award, sponsored by John Deere and Metropolitan Machinery.

Rowan and his Grange crew, plus 25 volunteers, took centre stage back in April when they hosted the first LIV Golf event in Australia. In what proved a huge week for the club and Australian golf, more than 77,000 fans streamed through the gates for the tournament. With just five months’ notice, which included a massive infrastructure build around the par three 12th West hole, Rowan and his crew were lauded for the conditioning and presentation of the composite tournament course made up effectively of the back nine of both the East and West courses. Rowan talked on the event at our September seminar which provided a great insight into this major event.

The tournament will be returning in 2024 from 26-28 April.

One of the standout award winners was Sophie Hamdorf from Royal Adelaide Golf Club, who was officially presented the TMSA Graduate of the Year Award, sponsored by Nuturf. Receiving the award officially rounded off a big year for Royal Adelaide’s first qualified female greenkeeper, who in June represented TMSA in the final of ASTMA Graduate of the Year Award, sponsored by Toro, at the National Turf Industry Awards. As well as volunteering at last year’s ISPS Handa Australian Open at Victoria Golf Club, Sophie was also part of the ASTMA’s Women in Turf Strategy work placement at The Athena tournament held at Sandringham Golf Links in early March.

And while on the subject of awards, the environmental accolades keep coming for Glenelg Golf Club after it again collected the Environmental Awareness award at the Clubs SA 2023 Clubs and Community Awards held a week earlier. It is the second year in a row that superintendent Tim Warren (CSTM) and biodiversity manager Monina Gilbey have

Above: TMSA Excellence in Turf Management Award winner Rowan Daymond (centre) with award sponsors Chad Norsworthy (Metropolitan Machinery) and Tim Gammage (John Deere). Right: TMSA Graduate of the Year winner Sophie Hamdorf with Luke Partridge from award sponsor Nuturf

received the award, with Clubs SA noting that Glenelg had again demonstrated a wide array of approaches to sustainability.

Posting on LinkedIn shortly after receiving the award, Tim noted: “A great achievement by all at the Glenelg Golf Club, validating the solid work from the team as well as the fantastic support we get from management and committee. Super proud of the work from Monina Gilbey, Ben Rolton and Harry Morbey from our hort team, as well as our kitchen staff over the past 12 months making this award possible.”

The final TMSA event of 2023 was the inaugural Annual General Meeting which was on 23 November. A new committee was duly elected and I look forward to working with them over the coming 12 months. The full committee for 2023/24 comprises: l President: Nathan Bennett (Royal Adelaide GC) l Vice-President: Tim Warren (Glenelg GC) l Treasurer: Richard James (Kooyonga GC) l Secretary: Peter Foreman (Adelaide Oval SMA) l Committee: Justin Groves (SA Jockey Club), Damian Hough (Adelaide Oval SMA), Jordan Sherratt (South Lakes GC) and Sam Smith (Willunga GC) Following the AGM, members took the opportunity to celebrate our first anniversary and we thank all those who were able to join us. I would like to take this opportunity to wish our members, sponsors and industry colleagues a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

NATHAN BENNETT PRESIDENT, TMSA

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

ON THE MOVE… ANDREW ANDERSON: From assistant superintendent Metropolitan GC, Vic to superintendent Ranfurlie Golf Course, Vic. LIAM ASH: Resigned as superintendent Pennant Hills GC, NSW to take on a role with State Wide Turf Services, NSW. ROB BLOOM: From assistant superintendent Pelican Waters GC, Qld to a turf sales consultant role with Fernland.

MITCHELL BROOKS: Resigned as superintendent Castle Hill CC, NSW. GRAEME DAVIDSON: After four years as assistant superintendent at Glenelg GC, SA, Davidson has moved to Melbourne and taken on a foreman role at Victoria GC. SHANE HEANEY: From superintendent Ocean Shores, NSW to superintendent Bonville Golf Resort, NSW. SAM LANGFORD: From superintendent Heidelberg GC, Vic to superintendent Woodlands GC, Vic. MICK PASCOE: The former Noosa Golf Club superintendent has been appointed director of agronomy for Trump International Golf Club in Lido, Indonesia.

CHRIS PENNELL: Appointed superintendent Sawtell GC, NSW. MATTHEW SANDERY: From head of facilities Northern Territory Cricket to head curator Dubai International Stadium and ICC Academy, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

LUKE TELFORD: From Green Options to superintendent North Ryde GC, NSW.

VGCSA

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ith 2023 drawing to a close, the VGCSA is grateful to all our participating host clubs and sponsors who contributed to the year’s success. The association looks forward to a productive 2024, with our general meetings program taking place at the following venues: l 14 March: Education Meeting (Huntingdale and Metropolitan GCs) l 29 April: VGCSA 97th Annual General Meeting (Yarra Yarra GC) l 4 June: Course Staff Education Meeting (Southern GC) l 29-30 July: Country Meeting (Cobram Barooga GC)

12 September: Education Meeting (Latrobe GC) The VGCSA will also be scheduling a series of specialised training days across the year, with the program to be launched to members in late summer/autumn 2024. As with each year, the VGCSA committee and CEO are convening in February for a concerted planning day. A fresh start to the year, it is an optimum time to finesse the year’s activities program.

Nominations recently closed for the VGCSA Apprentice of the Year Award. We are also very pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2024

VGCSA-John Deere/Brandt Scholarship. Our ongoing partnership with John Deere and Brandt will provide the terrific opportunity for both the VGCSA Apprentice of the Year and Scholarship winner to attend a one-week work experience residency at Te Arai Links and Tara Iti Golf Club, New Zealand. The winners will be announced in February/March.

Best wishes to everyone for the upcoming season. We hope the summer will be gentler than forecasted.

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MARY NAPIER CEO, VGCSA

NUDGEE’S NIGHT AT QUEENSLAND GOLF INDUSTRY AWARDS PHOTO: KURT THOMSON/AUSTRALIAN GOLF MEDIA

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udgee Golf Club was the big winner at the 2023 Queensland Golf Industry Awards night held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on 19 October. The Brisbane club snared a total of five awards, including the prestigious 2023 Golf Club of the Year Award, while two members of the course management team – superintendent Peter Culross and former assistant superintendent Scott McComas – picked up GCSAQ awards.

In front of a total of 460 guests from all areas of the Queensland golf industry, Culross was bestowed the Superintendents Environment and Safety Excellence Award, while McComas, who has recently taken on his first superintendent posting at Noosa Golf Club, received the Golf Course Assistant Superintendents Recognition Award, presented

by Greenway Turf Solutions.

McComas topped a finalists field that included fellow assistant superintendents Isabelle Hogarth (North Pine GC), Angus Linnell (Palmer Gold Coast) and Jesse McGilvray (Palmer Colonial), while Culross picked up his award ahead of Glenn Beauclerc (Oxley GC) and Ben Grylewicz (Indooroopilly GC).

GCSAQ award winners Scott McComas (left) and Peter Culross (right)

Beauclerc didn’t go away empty handed as Oxley also snared multiple awards on the evening. Superintendent there since 2018, Beauclerc received the Superintendents Achievement Award, presented by Living Turf, while general manager Aaron Muirhead picked up the GMA’s Distinguished Manager Award. Beauclerc beat home a strong field that included Graeme Andrews (Tamborine Mountain GC), Dion Cope (Redland Bay GC), Culross, David Mason (Brisbane GC), Todd

McNamee (Mt Coolum GC) and Paul McLean (Sanctuary Cove G&CC).

Burleigh Golf Club superintendent and industry stalwart Darryl Edwards was honoured for his many years of service with the Superintendents Industry Recognition Award, presented by RDO Equipment, edging out Paul Bevan (Greenway Turf Solutions) and Dave Morrison (Racing Queensland).

The GCSAQ Apprentice of the Year Award, presented by Toro Australia, went the way of Ethan Vickery from Rowes Bay Golf Club in Townsville. Vickery will now represent the GCSAQ in the final of next year’s ASTMA Graduate of the Year Award to be judged at the Australian Sports Turf Management Conference in Brisbane.

A fortnight after winning their awards, Nudgee successfully hosted the Queensland PGA Championship for the third time in 22 months. The crew overcame a challenging lead-in battling dry conditions to present the Kurrai course that would witness a unique slice of history. Starting eight shots off the lead at the start of the day, a closing round 5-under 67 propelled Victoria’s Phoenix Campbell to the title, becoming the first amateur to win the tournament.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023

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AS SOCIATION REPORTS/NEWS

NSWGCSA

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t’s always busy leading into Christmas and this year has been no exception.

Aside from the work that our members do in preparation for their respective club championships and day-to-day course maintenance, we’ve had two major annual events – The Elite Sand & Soil Rube Walkerden Day and the NSW Golf Industry Awards.

The 2023 Elite Sand & Soil Rube Walkerden Day was held at Royal Sydney on Monday 16 October, with 120 members, life members and trade partners attending.

This year marked the 50th anniversary of the Rube Walkerden Golf Trophy as part of the association’s annual golf championship, which was first staged in March 1973 at Royal Sydney. It was fitting that we held our 2023 event there to mark this auspicious occasion.

The day started with our AGM, followed by golf, lunch and presentations. It was great that we were able to play Royal Sydney before it undergoes a major redevelopment next year under the auspices of course architect Gil Hanse. It was also great that host superintendent Adam Marchant was on hand to talk about the impending works with everyone over lunch.

Thank you to Elite Sand & Soil for being the major sponsor and to Envu for sponsoring the Rube Walkerden Trophy which was won this year by Northbridge Golf Club superintendent Luke Diserens. Next year we will be holding the day in November at Pymble Golf Club which will be celebrating its centenary year. It will provide a great chance to view the major course works which have taken place there over the past couple of years.

At the AGM we advised members that Peter Donkers had decided to retire as association vice-president. Peter’s unstinting work and commitment to our industry over the years should be applauded. He has been a stalwart throughout his years and I would like to thank him for his service to our industry and the association. Terrey Hills superintendent and current committee member Gareth Hammond has moved into the vice-president role. The full committee for the coming 12 months is: l President: Leon Hennessy (Cromer GC) l Vice-president: Gareth Hammond (Terrey Hills G&CC) l Treasurer: David Stone (Pymble GC) l Committee: Jake Gibbs (Elanora CC), Pat Wilson (Pambula Merimbula GC), James Newell (Magenta Shores G&CC) l Alison Jones (administration) and Mandy Henry (marketing and communications) For the first time since COVID, our 2023 awards were combined with Golf NSW, PGA of Australia, Jack Newton Junior Golf and Golf Management Australia, with the NSW Golf Industry Awards held on 6 November at Crown Barangaroo. Around 250 guests 72

NSWGCSA Superintendent of the Year Award recipient Mal Harris with wife Peta at the NSW Awards

celebrated the outstanding achievements of club professionals, course superintendents, managers, volunteers and athletes.

NSWGCSA life member and former longserving Northbridge Golf Club superintendent Malcolm Harris signed off his career in the best possible manner when he received the NSWGCSA’s Superintendent of the Year Award. Mal received the Australian Turf Projects-sponsored award for a stellar career which has spanned more than 40 years.

Awarded life membership of the association in late 2020, Mal began his turf management career as an apprentice at Northbridge Golf Club in 1982 and after completing took over as superintendent.

During his years at Northbridge, Mal rebuilt every tee on the course and undertook extensive bushland regeneration projects.

A member of the NSWGCSA for nearly 40 years, Mal’s contribution outside of his role at Northbridge has also been immense.

He worked extensively with TAFE NSW in educating young turf managers, many becoming leaders in their fields. He also served nine years on the NSWGCSA Board, holding the ‘Education’ portfolio.

Also honoured on the night were Lakeside Golf Club Camden superintendent Dean Hopper and Cromer Golf Club assistant superintendent Charlie Bolte. Dean, who has been superintendent at Lakeside for over a decade, won the NSWGCSA Outstanding Achievement Award, sponsored by Living Turf.

Dean has been central to Lakeside’s major course reconstruction, including 18 greens, four new holes and an entire irrigation system.

Charlie collected the NSWGCSA Assistant Superintendent of the Year Award, sponsored

by Waterwise Consulting. He has excelled in managing the daily responsibilities of the Cromer course team and been central to several key projects, including reconstructing the short game area. The NSWGCSA

AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 25.6

Dean Hopper, from Lakeside Golf Club Camden, won the NSWGCSA Outstanding Achievement Award

Cromer GC’s Charlie Bolte collected the NSWGCSA Assistant Superintendent of the Year Award

congratulates Mal, Dean and Charlie on their wins and the achievements that contributed to their awards.

The two big awards on the night – the Metropolitan Club of the Year and Country Club of the Year – went the way of Sydney’s Long Reef Golf Club and Charlestown Golf Club near Newcastle. Peter Donkers was among those representing Long Reef on the evening to collect the metropolitan award.

Likewise, Charlestown superintendent Matthew Fealy and assistant superintendent Daniel Hendrie were on hand to help accept the country award after what has been a big couple of years for the club. With a $2 million high-tech driving range recently opened, the club has seen an influx of players. The club has also just embarked on the first stage of course masterplan works which include new greens complexes on 10, 11 and 16 and a redesigned 11th fairway.

LEON HENNESSY PRESIDENT, NSWGCSA

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