Australian Turfgrass Management Journal - Volume 25.2

Engaged

Engaged and

enlightened FTMI delegates rise to the challenge

and enlightened FTMI delegates rise to the challenge

Camaraderie and connection

Camaraderie and connection

The Athena ‘Women in Turf’ placement

The Athena ‘Women in Turf’ placement

Restorations and redevelopments Commonwealth and Royal Sydney

Restorations and redevelopments Commonwealth and Royal Sydney

Turf ‘n’ surf Peninsula perspective on life and leadership

Turf ‘n’ surf Peninsula perspective on life and leadership

Now

(Gaeumannomyces

8

LEAD STORY ENGAGED AND ENLIGHTENED 8

The Jacobsen-sponsored Future Turf Managers’ Initiative wrapped up for another year in early March, with the Class of 2022-2023 converging on the Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club in Melbourne. The 21-strong group, from Australia and New Zealand, were taken out of their comfort zones and wore their hearts on their sleeves as they embraced the many aspects of what it takes to progress their careers in the sports turf management industry.

Cover: The 12th hole at Portarlington Golf Club on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula. Portarlington is home to long-serving course superintendent Steve Burchett who is profiled in Ben Gibson’s management column this edition.

Photo: Portarlington GC/Brendan James.

Contributors to Australian Turfgrass Management Journal

Volume 25.2 (March-April 2023): Shane Baker (CSTM, GCSAWA); Nathan Bennett (CSTM, TMSA); Steve Burchett (Portarlington GC); Jarrod Castle (Rich River GC); Carly Elliot (Strathalbyn Racing Club); Tim Fankhauser (AGCSATech); John Forrest (Forrest and Forrest Horticultural Consultancy Services); FTMI Class of 2022/23; Ben Gibson (The Toolbox Team); Sophie Hamdorf (Royal Adelaide GC); Leon Hennessy (NSWGCSA); Tim Hoskinson (Green Options); Adam Lamb (Commonwealth GC); Tim Leat (Rich River GC); Vicki Liddington (City of Stirling); Adam Marchant (Royal Sydney GC); Maddison Mason (Yamba G&CC); Peter McMaugh AM (Turfgrass Scientific Services); John Neylan (Sporteng); Mary Napier (VGCSA); Geraldine O’Callaghan (Sandy Golf Links); Scott Reid (Launceston GC); Simon Snedden (ACTSTMA); Kate Torgersen (Environmental Golf Solutions); Mark Unwin (ASTMA); Craig Walker (TSTMA); Joshua Willard (Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort); Jenny Zadro (STA NSW/Turf NSW).

Savvy solutions

Superintendents and turf managers are a resourceful bunch and while usually that comes to the fore when managing their turf surfaces, many are now having to redirect that nous into other parts of their operations. Attracting and retaining staff is one such area and after having discussions with some superintendents recently it is interesting to see the different approaches being taken.

One interesting job advertisement to appear on the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association website in early March was from Hawks Nest Golf Club in the Hunter region of NSW. The ad was seeking not one, but two assistant superintendents who would alternate on a four-day on, four-day off roster. Conversing with Hawks Nest superintendent Ben Mills (CSTM) over email, he says the club has taken the unique step due to the current tough labour market.

“We are located an hour away from Newcastle in a holiday/retirement town with one of the oldest populations in Australia,” explains Mills. “With the cost of living, fuel prices and rental prices, let alone availability, it’s extremely difficult to find and retain staff. It has been a trend we have battled for quite a while now, so it was time to think outside the box and try something new.

“After doing a lot of research around the traps, I organised a workshop with all the Board members and general manager to discuss ways to not only recruit staff but also retain them. Together with the president we were able to come up with a few ideas, one of them being a four-day on, four-day off roster. It’s an approach that I certainly hadn’t heard of but one that sounds appealing.” Applications were due to close as this edition was going to print, so it will be interesting to track whether this strategy proves successful for the club.

Portarlington Golf Club superintendent Steve Burchett, who is profiled in Ben Gibson’s mustread column this edition (page 60), also sees merit in such an arrangement: “Recruitment is always challenging as we compete against the major trades. The future could look like reduced hours at the same pay rates and conditions – something like five six-hour days or a rotating roster of four days per week. This will probably be a reality in the corporate world in the not-too-distant future, so maybe this is one thought to make our industry look progressive and attractive. It would also free up time for side hustles or lifestyle choices.”

Going back a few months, in our article in the May-June 2022 edition on Huntingdale Golf Club superintendent Michael Freeman, over the past five years he has successfully employed local university students to fill gaps in his crew, training them up in all aspects of general course maintenance. While the more specialised tasks, such as chemical application and hand-watering, are left to the qualified staff, the students undertake all cutting duties, rake bunkers and help out with other labour-intensive work and projects.

“It’s a win-win situation,” explained Freeman in the article. “They’re young, intelligent, hardworking guys who are at university and in most cases have moved out of home so are looking to earn some extra money. We had to think outside the square so we tapped into the local universities and now some of the guys come to us simply through word of mouth. The solution has worked really well for us.”

Mark Parker at New South Wales Golf Club in Sydney has also gone down a similar path and in recent times has four casuals, typically university students, who work morning shifts during the summer months. This past season, and with COVID travel restrictions now a thing of the past, Parker also had six overseas casuals join his crew. Four came through Mark Matahaere’s Envoy Golf (two from Sweden, one from Canada and one from England), while two others came from a club in Sweden where a former Scottish intern of Parker’s some 15 years ago is now the superintendent. A bit of good fortune can also play a factor in the recruiting stakes, as was the case for Parker when he recently put on new apprentice Zara Shanks.

“One of the clubhouse staff had a niece living in Dubbo who was looking to get a golf course apprenticeship on the Gold Coast,” explains Parker. “I told her that if her niece had a couple of weeks spare to come down and we would train her up, as once she had done that she would be able to get a job anywhere because it’s so hard to find staff at the moment.

“Zara came down and we trained her up on cutting greens and raking bunkers etc. She loved it so much that when she heard we were taking on new apprentices she asked if she could apply which we of course said yes to. She moved to Sydney with her partner, who is an electrician, and it has worked out really well for us. Yes, it is easy to be pessimistic given the current market and we do complain about it, but you just have to keep trying – they are out there.” Enjoy the read…

Brett Robinson, Editor

FOREWORD THINKING WITH MARK UNWIN, CEO Association activities to the fore as strategic review begins

At the time of sitting down to write this update, it has been a busy fortnight for the team at the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA). During this time we wrapped up the latest instalment of the Jacobsen-sponsored Future Turf Managers’ Initiative (FTMI) and held the third of our Women in Turf Strategy work placement programs. The ASTMA Board also held a strategic planning session to look at and set association priorities for the next 3-5 years.

As always, the FTMI continues to exceed expectations, delivering a strong program to develop the leadership and professional skills of more than 20 emerging sports turf managers from across Australia and New Zealand. I was fortunate enough to present to this wonderful group and the level of engagement was terrific throughout.

Attendee feedback following the threeday session in Melbourne in early March highlighted that the level of interaction and learning delivered through the FTMI makes it one of the industry’s foremost programs to support the development of our industry’s emerging talent. Later in this edition we canvass this year’s FTMI delegates to gauge what concepts and messages they took away from the program and how they are incorporating those into their plans to further their careers.

Applications for the next FTMI intake will open in July/August following the Australian Sports Turf Management Conference in June. I strongly encourage any sports turf manager interested in furthering their professional development to keep updated with the program via the ASTMA website – www.astma. com.au.

As noted, March also saw the third work placement program as part of the association’s Women in Turf Strategy, with four female sports turf managers heading to Melbourne to work alongside Sandringham Golf Links

superintendent Geraldine O’Callaghan in preparing the venue for The Athena WPGA Tour event. Joining the program for this opportunity were both qualified and apprentice turf managers from sportsfields and grounds, racecourse management and golf course backgrounds, highlighting both the diversity of the program to support women in turf management and also the shared skills and knowledge across the industry.

As a nationally televised event, The Athena provided an outstanding platform to deliver a learning and development opportunity for those involved. It also showcased the ability of Gerri and her team in preparing the venue to such an outstanding level for the tournament. Our sincere thanks to Gerri for her continued support and involvement in the Women in Turf Strategy and for the opportunity she provided during the recent tournament. You can read more about it later in this edition.

Over the coming six months, the ASTMA will announce the next series of work placement opportunities under the Women in Turf Strategy, in addition to several further initiatives set to be rolled out. More details on these will be announced at the conference in Adelaide. Again, for those interested in finding out more about the Women in Turf Strategy and opportunities available, please visit the association website to keep updated.

VALUE AND RECOGNITION

In line with the quality venue produced at Sandringham for The Athena, several members have been in touch in recent weeks to discuss the growing sentiment toward the value of sports turf managers and the critical importance they provide to sport. Recent weeks have seen frequent commentary from media, players and administrators relating to the importance and quality of playing surfaces and pleasingly this is starting to translate to an increased level of awareness of the value of sports turf managers in providing quality, safe and exceptional playing surfaces.

While there remains a long way to go in all facilities recognising and valuing the contribution of their sports turf management teams, there have been numerous positive references made about sports turf managers presenting and delivering their facilities. Whether that has been the quality of cricket pitches at domestic and international level, the efforts by stadium teams to transition their grounds for the AFL/NRL seasons (some after hosting major concerts and undertaking substantial turf replacement) or the resounding feedback from golf’s governing bodies on the number one priority for player satisfaction –course conditioning – it highlights to me the increased understanding of the importance of our profession and what it contributes to sport.

By no means is the job done though. We need to ensure that advocacy and messaging continues to raise awareness and highlight the value of the industry. It is a positive reminder, however, that there are people who do see and appreciate the effort and energy put in by turf management professionals to present these quality sport and recreation facilities.

Unfortunately, not all facilities and committees embrace this way of thinking and we continue to hear from members who are placed in challenging circumstances due to conflicting priorities or derisory thinking from certain individuals. This simply highlights the need for our continued support and focus right across the industry to turn this manner of thinking and understanding around.

Emphasising the focus on this area, a clear priority to come out of the recent ASTMA Strategic Plan revision meeting was to continue advocating the importance and awareness of turf management professionals. We will share more information on the development and progress of our Strategic Plan revision at the upcoming conference, where the Board and I will present for review and discussion with members some of the future priorities, initiatives and approach over the coming years.

There was a terrific level of engagement among this year’s Future Turf Managers’ Initiative delegates

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ANDREA SZYMANSKI

“Casey Fields ready for the AFL pre-season practice match between Melbourne and Richmond. Very proud of the crew for all their hard work and dedication in the lead up to hosting the match. (City of Casey’s head of open space and city greening gives the Casey Fields crew a much-deserved shout out ahead of the practice match between the two AFL heavyweights.)

on ground Best

TE ARAI LINKS

“Only a 90-minute drive from the Auckland CBD, or 25 minutes by helicopter, and you’ll find yourself in another world.” (The stunning new Te Arai Links South Course in New Zealand was officially opened for full play in March. The Coore-Crenshaw design, sister course of the neighbouring Tara Iti, will be joined by the Tom Doak-designed North Course this October. Pictured is the par three 17th.)

NAPIER GOLF CLUB

“After seeing this post, I hope you never complain about the state of your greens at your local club, LOL.” (Napier Golf Club greenkeeper Phil Stafford still has a sense of humour despite Cyclone Gabrielle wreaking havoc on the course.)

JOHN DEERE

“It was a privilege to bring six of Australia’s leading female greenskeepers together for the TPS Murray River at Cobram Barooga Golf Club.” (Martyna Synak, Annabelle Southall, Penny Deehan, Kasey Williams, Brody Cooper and Lilly Dahtler were part of John Deere’s Women in Turf launch in February, joining superintendent Terry Vogel’s team for the duration of the tournament.)

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

PHOTO: RICKY ROBINSON PHOTOGRAPHY

TOM JENKIN

“Autumn renovation complete.” (After a heavy scarify, oversow and topdress, the ryegrass begins to emerge at Industree Group Stadium in Gosford.)

FTMI CLASS OF 2022-2023

Christopher Baker Mount Compass GC, SA; Brenden Benad ex-The Australian GC, NSW; Sam Bennetts Australian Turf Club, NSW; Craig Chatillon Maroochy River

GC, Qld; James Correll Federal GC, ACT; Ben Engels Queensland Rugby Union, Qld; Matthew Foenander Keysborough

GC, Vic; Thomas Foster Sorrento GC, Vic;

Christopher Hefford Northbridge GC, NSW;

Joshua Henry Melbourne Cricket Club, Vic;

Mathew Isbester Royal Melbourne GC, Vic;

Dylan Keam Bundaberg GC, Qld; Matthew Kelly Redcliffe GC, Qld; Blair Kennelly

Royal Auckland and Grange GC, NZ; David Meadows Royal Adelaide GC, SA; Mark Mills Hastings GC, NZ; Chris Murphy St Clair GC, NZ; Ryan Schimanski Prince Alfred College, SA; Bobby Wallace Barwon Heads GC, Vic; Tim Walsh Haileybury College, Vic; Troy Watchorn Boroondara Council, Vic. Mentors: Liam Ash (Pennant Hills GC, NSW), Greg Askew (Lake Macquarie City Council, NSW), Brenton Clarke (Warrnambool GC, Vic) and Sam Davis (The Hills GC, NZ).

enlightened Engaged and

ATM editor Brett Robinson canvasses this year’s Future Turf Managers’ Initiative delegates to see what messages and concepts resonated.

The Jacobsen-sponsored Future Turf Managers’ Initiative wrapped up for another year in early March, with the Class of 20222023 meeting in Melbourne.

Across an intensive three-day program, the 21-strong group, together with four mentors and representatives from the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA) and Silver Partner Jacobsen, were involved in a

series of seminars ranging from diversity in the workplace, negotiating and influencing decisions, personality profiling and honing presentation skills, through to managing club and facility budgets, compiling a resume and preparing for job interviews.

Held at Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club for the second year running, the face-toface gathering complemented earlier online sessions which were held in November and

throughout January and February. Conducting presentations during both the online and faceto-face meetings were the likes of leadership, peak performance and behavioural expert Mark Carter, Jacobsen’s Karen Proctor and Peter Schumacher, The Toolbox Team managing director Ben Gibson, Illuminated Story director Carmen Sederino, Royal South Yarra general manager Stewart Fenton, ASTMA chief executive Mark Unwin and AGCSATech senior agronomist Bruce Macphee.

Proctor, who is Ransomes Jacobsen’s regional sales director (APAC), was one of the key drivers to bring the FTMI program Down Under after it’s initial success in the UK in 2013. After launching it in New Zealand in 2014 and then Australia in 2016, the FTMI has continued to grow in stature, with the calibre of delegates continuing to impress Proctor.

“Once again we witnessed the exceptionally high level of talent of our future sports turf managers in Australia and New Zealand,” says Proctor. “Over the three days the students embraced every element, constantly engaging and learning from each of the presenters, their mentors and each other. It is wonderful to see the friendships that are built

during this program and I congratulate them on participating to the fullest. I look forward to seeing their careers develop and them taking on their dream roles.

“Since the first FTMI in the region, Jacobsen and the ASTMA have worked tirelessly to ensure this program continually develops and goes from strength to strength. A heartfelt thank you to the mentors, who play a key part in supporting the students before, during and after the event; the FTMI wouldn’t be possible without them.”

For Proctor’s colleague Schumacher, it was his second year involved with the program since joining the company as regional sales manager for Australia and New Zealand. A former superintendent himself, Schumacher appreciates the need for programs like the FTMI to help guide those looking to take the next step in their careers.

“This year, like previous years, I was blown away by the quality and professionalism of the next generation of turf manager coming through,” says Schumacher. “Seeing these future leaders absorb the content during the online and face-to-face sessions, once again demonstrated to me that the sport-loving Australian and New Zealand public are indeed fortunate that our part of the world really does produce world best turf managers and, by extension, the best turf facilities.”

OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONES

The FTMI program is deliberately designed to challenge each delegate and equip them with the tools and skills to help overcome some of their own shortcomings. Acknowledging those and being prepared to put themselves out of their comfort zones and work on them is all part of the development process and a central component of the program’s teachings.

Public speaking is one such area. There are those that either revel in it, tolerate it or, like a number in this year’s FTMI cohort, do anything to get out of it. Carmen Sederino’s opening-day seminar on presentation skills and the art of public speaking and its many pitfalls was one which drew the most feedback from this year’s delegate group.

Being able to communicate effectively, whether to a small group of staff during a morning meeting or in front of a full committee at a club Board meeting, is such a critical skill to possess these days. Indeed, many of the delegates noted it was one aspect of the program that they would be working on moving forward, with the tips and tricks presented by Sederino giving them the confidence to tackle it head on.

“Public speaking for a lot of people can be a daunting experience,” says FTMI delegate Matthew Foenander, assistant superintendent at Keysborough Golf Club. “Carmen’s session certainly gave everyone a level of confidence to speak up and speak with passion. At the start of the FTMI it was discussed that it was all about getting out of your comfort zone and public speaking certainly does that. However, I think confidence was instilled in everyone and you pushed through the uncomfortableness of it and we were able to use the skills Carmen talked about and put them into practice.

PHOTOS: BRETT ROBINSON

Throughout the Future Turf Managers’ Initiative program delegates fully embraced the many aspects involved in taking the next step in their careers. Pictured is presenter Carmen Sederino talking to one of the four mentor groups

New Zealand FTMI delegate Mark Mills gets creative during one of the group activities

The FTMI Class of 2022-2023 at Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club in early March

“Mark (Unwin) also mentioned using tools in your hands to activate hand gestures. This was a valuable lesson in talking with purpose and delivering a message with authority and command, rather than having your hands in your pockets and talking down to your feet. Since the FTMI, I now carry a pen with me at all times for this very reason, to be more engaging during conversations with people.”

Sam Bennetts, from the Australian Turf Club in Sydney, was another to take plenty away from Sederino’s session: “I found it to be the most challenging part of the program and highlighted just how much I need to improve in this area moving forward. But now I feel that I have been provided with the tools to do so.

“It resonated with me throughout the whole FTMI that every necessary skill, whether it is public speaking, presenting, negotiating and influencing others, resume writing and interviewing, all have clear structures behind them. We were taught these structures which will allow us to communicate more effectively and provide confidence when faced with those real-world scenarios.”

FTMI CLASS OF 2022/23 – REFLECTIONS BRENDAN BENAD

Formerly of The Australian GC

“The highlight for me was the sheer amount of information and effort that went into the entire event and the time allocated for the progression of future managers in our industry. I exited the FTMI on the final day feeling motivated and ready to tackle my next challenge. I felt I learnt the tools required to back myself going forward.”

TOM FOSTER

Sorrento GC

“The highlight of the program was everyone’s passion and knowledge in their area of expertise which shone through with informative and engaging presentations. Having further conversations one-on-one or in small groups helped to dive deeper into areas of interest. I have gained some great friends and industry contacts through the program. Following on, I will be working on my public speaking and presentation skills and compiling and practicing some common interview questions and answers.”

BEN ENGLES

Queensland Rugby Union

“I took a lot away from Brooke Hanson’s speech about resilience and determination towards achieving a goal while overcoming challenges along the way. She really took us along a journey through the ups and downs of her life. Following on from the FTMI, I will continue to challenge myself by accepting new challenges and embracing opportunities

in the workplace which will allow me to grow in my journey to become a well-rounded turf manager and leader to my peers.”

JAMES CORRELL

Federal GC

“A big thing I wanted to get out of the FTMI was to improve my communication, in particular communicating tasks to staff or management as well as becoming more confident in how I do communicate. With the concepts explained to us during the FTMI, I will be continuing to improve this facet in order to become a better manager.”

For Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club’s Blair Kennelly, one of four New Zealand delegates in this year’s FTMI intake, Sederino’s message was simple and clear: “Carmen delivered a great presentation about capturing and engaging your audience through storytelling and the use of the three ‘pillars’ of effective presentation – being clear, confident and compelling. Presenting to a group of people is something that as turf managers we do daily, for example in our morning briefs to staff. These are an opportunity to convey information and engage team members before we begin the day and I feel that getting this right can lead to an improved workplace.”

LASTING IMPRESSIONS

Other presentations that resonated with delegates included those on the art of resume writing and tackling job interviews, personality profiling and negotiating and influencing decisions. The personality profiling talk was delivered by ASTMA chief executive Mark Unwin, which helped delegates identify the core personality traits of people across all

MATT KELLY

Redcliffe GC

“The highlight for me was being in a room with so many like-minded people with very similar goals. I will be working on my negotiation and presentation skills going forward which are valued skills moving into a superintendent’s role.”

MARK MILLS

Hastings GC

“The thing that resonated with me was the need to step out of your comfort zone. Brooke Hanson’s story was very inspiring. It resonated with me in both a professional and personal way. As a 39-year-old I changed professions from a golf pro to a sports turf manager so I was definitely taken out of my comfort zone. I also do long-distance running and this is extremely relevant there too. In the near future I will be more involved with budgeting at my club and I will be updating all my resume information and practicing my presentation skills, maybe in the mirror...”

DYLAN KEAM

Bundaberg GC

“I found the FTMI very valuable. The course has provided me with the opportunity to enhance my skills on a management level which I will be able to take to my workplace and begin to create a positive culture. In the short-term I will be focusing on my planning and negotiation skills when delivering future course plans. The highlight for me was the inspiring presentation from Brooke Hanson.”

“Motivated and ready to tackle my next challenge” –FTMI delegate Brenden Benad

Jacobsen’s Karen Proctor was a key driver in bringing the FTMI program Down Under

areas, whether they are managers, colleagues or those in their everyday lives. Being able to recognise the four key personality traits – Amiable, Expressive, Analytical and Driver – can greatly assist in understanding why a person may react in a certain way to various situations or decisions in the workplace.

“Mark’s talk really opened my eyes to the different ways people think, act and

react,” reflects Sorrento Golf Club assistant superintendent Tom Foster. “It left a lasting impression on me and will be a positive management tool that I will use throughout my career.” Adds Redcliffe Golf Club assistant superintendent Matt Kelly: “I really got a lot of out the personality profiling presentation and how to approach and be more understanding of the people around me.”

FTMI CLASS OF 2022/23 – REFLECTIONS

CRAIG CHATILLON

Maroochy River GC

“It was a fantastic couple of days in Melbourne and everyone seemed to get a great deal out of it. Everyone there were genuine, good people just wanting to move forward in their respective careers. The continuous message that seemed to resonate throughout all of the presentations was the importance of ‘structure’, whether that was report writing, presentations or anything really. Also, don’t be scared to put yourself out there and keep asking questions. If you fail, reset and repeat; you will get there if you want to get there, it’s all on you, no one else. I will be working on my people skills so I can try and get the best out of everyone at work, as well as fine-tune the basics of report writing and also be more involved with setting up course budgets.”

CHRIS BAKER

Mount Compass GC

“The highlight for me was the chance to meet, chat and get to know an amazing group of guys who all have a great wealth of knowledge and experience that they were all happy to share. In terms of my own development after the FTMI, I am improving my self-confidence and believing in myself more. I am definitely going to use many aspects from the FTMI sessions to help move both my career and myself into the future.”

DAVE MEADOWS

Royal Adelaide GC

“The one overarching concept I took away was the message of simply ‘never stand still’. Always be learning or looking to learn more, gain more experiences and push yourself to be the best person you can possibly be, both personally and professionally. As a result of the FTMI, I’m now more confident and have a better understanding of what it takes to be a good leader in this industry. It’s given me

Mark Carter, who will present at this year’s Australian Sports Turf Management Conference in Adelaide, spoke on how to negotiate and influence decisions, which dovetailed nicely with the presentations given by Unwin and Sederino. Together they struck a chord for Sydney-based FTMI delegate Brenden Benad.

“The message that resonated with me the most was a quote from Mark Carter – ‘What is hard today will one day be your warm up’,” says Benad. “This has really changed my mindset in terms of presentation skills, job applications, public speaking and so on because I have learnt to allow myself the time to learn the art of these aspects – practice them and I will get there.

“Going forward, I will be taking extra steps in practicing mock job interviews and creating presentations suited to specific roles. I will also be practicing some of the negotiating techniques that I took from Mark Carter’s presentation along with understanding the different personality traits.”

the skills to communicate better with staff and more direction to plan my career and work toward some achievable goals.”

TIM WALSH

Haileybury College

“It was an amazing experience and I learnt many valuable lessons during the whole program. I also made some great friendships with the others and will continue to build on these throughout my career. I want to give a special mention to my mentor Greg Askew. He is a remarkable man who shows genuine care, empathy and respect openly which are traits that I hope to emulate in my career. It is refreshing to hear a man be comfortable enough to show these emotions and be willing to share them. Thanks Greg.”

MATTHEW FOENANDER

Keysborough GC

“I’m proud to say I’m a FTMI graduate. With over 60 per cent of graduates taking a position of leadership in the first 18 months of completing the program, the numbers speak for themselves. For me, the program strengthens a pillar within my career, with each pillar representing different attributes which I hold value to. These pillars hold me to the turf manager that I am today and by completing programs like the FTMI only strengthens these pillars and assists me moving forward with my career.”

Maroochy River Golf Club assistant superintendent Craig Chatillon

A former FTMI graduate himself, superintendent Brenton Clarke was one of four mentors who helped guide their groups through the intricacies involved with taking the next step in their careers

INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS

When COVID hit a few years ago, it heralded the era of the online meeting. The last FTMI to be held wholly face-to-face was in 2020, just a few weeks before the country was plunged into the first of many pandemic lockdowns. While the FTMI program was put on ice in 2021, when it returned the ASTMA and Jacobsen transitioned the program to a hybrid format, with delegates initially involved in a series of online sessions before gathering together for a final group session in Melbourne.

Whether through circumstance or by design, the mixed format continues to be a hit, with Mark Mills (Hastings Golf Club, NZ) and James Correll (Federal Golf Club) agreeing the online sessions provided a perfect opportunity to get to know their fellow delegates and mentors ahead of the face-to-face meeting.

“Having our small mentored groups and Zoom meetings was a fabulous idea because when we arrived in Melbourne we already knew some other people there,” says Mills. “It was great because we were much more relaxed as a result and I think that showed in the level of discussions we had.”

Adds Correll, who was teamed up with mentor Liam Ash and fellow delegates Mathew Isbester, Kelly, Foenander and Foster: “The highlight of the FTMI for me was our mentor group coming together in Melbourne, putting together all our online sessions and working as a group to find management and leadership ideas moving forward. We all had valuable input which made us gel well as a mentor group. Liam was a great mentor and passed on his experiences so we could work on ours.”

Foenander was also an advocate of the mixed format: “My highlight was the amount of relevant content the FTMI covered in such great detail, the sort of stuff they don’t teach

you at trade school but which is now vital if you are an aspiring turf manager. Being able to network and work closely with a group of people over an extended period of time, meant that you felt comfortable during the face-toface sessions and were able to bounce ideas off each other easily.”

Forming new friendships was also a key aspect of the program and all delegates mentioned that one of the best things they took away was simply meeting like-minded turf managers who not only have a passion for what they do but are driven to better themselves and continually develop.

“On a broad scale there were two highlights for me,” explains Royal Adelaide foreman Dave Meadows. “It challenged my thinking and got me to consider parts of my job and career that I’d not thought of before. The other was simply the people I met; such a sensational group of delegates who I have made some long-term friendships with.”

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Adds Ben Engels, who originally hails from New Zealand and is now head groundsman at Ballymore in Brisbane: “Getting to meet and connect with fellow turf managers from around the country was my most rewarding experience from the FTMI. After moving to Australia from New Zealand two years ago, I did not know anyone associated with turf management, so being on this program has really allowed me to network with many inspired individuals within our industry.”

HANSON STEALS THE SHOW

One of the special highlights of the Melbourne gathering came on the final evening when the group was fortunate to hear from former Olympic swimmer turned motivational speaker Brooke Hanson OAM. Hanson made her debut for the Australian Swimming Team at the 1994 Commonwealth Games before going on to represent Australia over 25 times at major international championships.

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FTMI delegate Sam Bennetts during one of the group activity discussions

In 2004 she fulfilled a childhood dream when, after missing two Olympic teams in 1996 and 2000, she won Olympic gold and silver medals in Athens. She also created history at the 2004 World Short Course Championships where she won a record six gold medals. Hanson spoke to the group on resilience and leadership which resonated with a number of the delegates, in particular the heart-wrenching story of the loss of her second born child Jack.

“It is hard to single out one moment as all presenters and participants were amazing, but Brooke’s story was one I will always remember,” says Kennelly. “Her story of overcoming adversity both professionally and personally was truly inspiring. Her message really drove home how as individuals you need to take responsibility for where your life heads and what the journey looks like. Anyone can do anything if they put their mind to it.”

Adds Mount Compass Golf Club assistant superintendent Chris Baker: “Brooke’s sheer

determination to get back up and keep going after the two missed Olympics, even with others telling her to give up, was inspiring. The message I got from her talk was that it doesn’t matter how tough things get or what people tell you, it’s ultimately up to you to try your best, put in the effort and aim for your goals.”

EMBRACING THE CHALLENGE

Since the FTMI has been running in Australia and New Zealand, upwards of 150 delegates have now gone through the program. Having organised every one of the Australian FTMI gatherings and seen how much the delegates get out of the experience, ASTMA events and education manager Simone Staples continues to enjoy the enthusiasm and engagement that the program instils.

“All the delegates over the three days actively participated to make sure they got everything possible out of each session,” says Staples. “Throughout the event they rose to

challenges, wore their hearts on their sleeves and fully embraced the many aspects involved with leadership.

“The program could not be delivered without a lot of support. Mentors Liam, Sam, Greg and Brenton were fantastic. They willingly gave their time over the past six months to steer their groups through the intricacies involved with taking the next step in their career, as they have done so following their involvement with the program. The ongoing commitment to the FTMI worldwide by Ransomes Jacobsen is amazing and a big thank you must go to Karen Proctor and Peter Schumacher for supporting us in delivering the FTMI to our industry leaders of tomorrow.”

Royal South Yarra head curator Ant Lewis took FTMI delegates on a tour of the impressive lawn tennis facility

The level of engagement and depth of discussions was a highlight of this year’s FTMI. Pictured are delegates Mathew Isbester (right) and Matthew Foenander

FTMI delegates, like Bundaberg’s Dylan Keam, literally rolled up their sleeves during the program

FTMI presenter Mark Carter gave delegates some expert tips on how to negotiate and influence decisions

Blair Kennelly was one of four New Zealand FTMI delegates as part of this year’s 21-strong intake

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PHOTOS: BRETT ROBINSON AND GERRI O’CALLAGHAN

With Sandringham Golf Links superintendent Gerri O’Callaghan (centre) at the start of The Athena Women in Turf work placement are (from left) Vicki Liddington, Carly Elliot, Sophie Hamdorf and Maddison Mason

connection Camaraderie and

After successfully hosting opportunities at Adelaide Oval and Blundstone Arena in 2022, the latest in the ASTMA’s Women in Turf Strategy work placement programs was held at Sandringham Golf Links in early March. Four female sports turf managers from across the country joined Sandringham superintendent Gerri O’Callaghan and her crew as they prepared the course for The Athena tournament, the WPGA’s unique two-day $30,000 Tour event.

Selected for The Athena placement were Carly Elliot (Strathalbyn Racing Club, SA), Sophie Hamdorf (Royal Adelaide Golf Club, SA), Vicki Liddington (City of Stirling, WA) and Maddison Mason (Yamba Golf and Country Club, NSW). The quartet came from varying turf backgrounds – golf, racing and local government – but hit it off effortlessly across the four-day placement which included the two days of the tournament.

After arriving in Melbourne and being inducted on site and given a tour, the group set about undertaking general course maintenance tasks ahead of the tournament which began on the Saturday. They were predominantly on presentation detail which included whipper snipping, blowing debris, divotting fairways, boarding bunkers and brooming faces. Hamdorf and Mason got the opportunity to cut greens, with Hamdorf prepping two of the four greens that were in play on the Sunday. Elliot and Liddington also got the chance to change holes and set pins, while Elliot got her first go on a bunker rake which she handled with aplomb.

“It was a really rewarding experience for me to host them as part of this great initiative,” reflects O’Callaghan, who has been Sandringham superintendent since November 2021. “They were a fantastic group and the week was all about experiencing something a little different and also networking with other women in the turf industry. It was the first time for some of them working with other women

in this chosen field and the camaraderie was evident from day one. I was very proud of the boys on my team that also embraced the experience.

“There were many highlights over the four days but a few stood out. Seeing Carly learn to use the Sand Pro for the first time and Sophie operating an electric Flex mower was great to see and they did a great job. A real highlight was also having a tour of Royal Melbourne with director of courses Richard Forsyth. I hope they all learnt some management and leadership practices that they will be able to incorporate into their roles and that the connections they gained will help build their confidence to further their own careers.”

AN INSPIRATION

For Hamdorf, who became Royal Adelaide’s first qualified female greenkeeper after completing her apprenticeship last November, The Athena placement was all about expanding on her skills and networking with fellow female greenkeepers. It was also a perfect opportunity to see how one of Australia’s most passionate superintendents ran her ship first-hand.

“The whole time working alongside Gerri was the highlight for me,” says Hamdorf, who

was a course volunteer at Victoria Golf Club during last December’s ISPS Handa Australian Open. “I feel so grateful that I got to learn from someone as passionate and knowledgeable as Gerri. I look up to her so much.

“I really enjoyed the Athena placement and felt very welcome from the minute I got there. Everyone at Sandringham had so much time for me and the girls involved in the program. We made so many connections and learnt so much under the guidance of such incredible people as Gerri and Richard, while also having the opportunity to step up and impart our own experiences and expertise from the different backgrounds we came from.”

Already with a Certificate III in Horticulture and Landscape Construction under her belt, Mason is currently in the third year of her turf management apprenticeship at Yamba and has designs on one day becoming a course superintendent. The Athena placement afforded her the rare chance to see how one of the best in the business went about her trade.

“Getting to know Gerri and watching her lead her team in preparation for the Athena was the absolute highlight of this experience,” says Mason. “The two things that stuck with me the most were how supportive Gerri was as a leader of her team and the efficiency with

ATM editor Brett Robinson looks back on the third ASTMA Women in Turf Strategy work placement opportunity held during the WPGA’s Athena tournament at Sandringham Golf Links.

Sophie Hamdorf, Royal Adelaide Golf Club’s first qualified female greenkeeper, had the opportunity to cut greens for The Athena two-day event

which the whole crew went about preparing the course. It was great to see.

“I found it amazing working with other women in the industry and to hear their experiences. It was a great opportunity being able to work with such an amazing team preparing the course for the Athena tournament and has given me some valuable experience and knowledge that I have taken back with me to Yamba.”

A DIFFERENT TAKE

For Elliot, who started an apprenticeship at Strathalbyn Racing Club south of Adelaide nine months ago, the Athena placement represented an opportunity to experience a different sector of the turf industry. Travelling interstate and seeing golf course management at such a high professional level during a major event proved to be a real eye-opener.

“The Athena placement was amazing and I got to see turf management at its finest,” says Elliot. “I learnt a huge amount regarding the differences between golf course turf management as opposed to a managing a racetrack. It was also a really good way to network and meet other people within the turf industry, especially women.

“Seeing how professional, passionate and hard-working Gerri and her team were was inspiring and refreshing to see. I cannot speak highly enough of Gerri as a superintendent and all her staff who genuinely went above and beyond to make us feel really welcome and a part of the team. Working with Gerri reinforced how effective management, policies, procedures, organisation and safe work practices can have a huge benefit to how a business runs and how a team can work together positively as a whole.”

Liddington travelled from Perth for the placement, where she is an assistant supervisor at the City of Stirling, one of the largest local government areas in the state. In that role she oversees the day-today operations of staff to maintain over 700 hectares of irrigated sports fields and active and passive recreational reserves. Among those is a public golf course, although it was some time since she had worked on one prior to the Athena placement.

“It had been a while since I last worked on a golf course and it was great to learn from Gerri what it takes to prepare one for a quality tournament,” says Liddington. “Watching Gerri confidently work and organise her part of the event was an experience in itself. Her knowledge, communication and enthusiasm shone through and she is an inspiration to women in turf and a credit to Sandy.

Left: The Athena work placement gave Strathalbyn Racing Club apprentice Carly Elliot (left) an opportunity to learn from one of the best in O’Callaghan (right)

Right: Yamba Golf & Country Club third year apprentice Maddison Mason puts the Sand Pro through its paces during course set up

Left: The Athena placement was all about experiencing something a little different and giving the participants an opportunity to connect with other women in the turf industry Right: Hamdorf (right) says the highlight for her was getting to work alongside O’Callaghan (left) and witness her passion for the profession and leadership qualities

Redcliffe Dolphins Stadium planted with TifTuf

“From a leadership perspective, the team were very respectful of Gerri and it showed with the team going above and beyond for her. The respect and adaptability of the team to accommodate us was outstanding and appreciated by all of us.

“The experience overall was amazing. The hype in the lead up to the tournament made you strive to do your best and seeing the athletes play on something you helped prepare gave you a special feeling. I enjoyed working with the other women and it was interesting to hear the different perspectives and procedures they all have at their place of work and their experiences in the turf industry.”

NEW CONNECTIONS

A key component of the ASTMA’s Women in Turf Strategy work placement programs is bringing together female sports turf managers to not only broaden their skills but to also

connect with one another. All four who undertook the Athena placement relished that opportunity to expand their industry network.

“Opportunities like this are so incredibly important,” says Elliot. “To be able to meet fellow women in turf, make connections and bounce ideas and experiences off one another was invaluable. It can be a bit lonely as a woman in this industry at times, especially when you’re from a country town. It was good to feel like part of a team of women working our way through our own individual turf management journeys. I really do hope these initiatives continue as I would love to participate in more!

“It was absolutely amazing meeting the other girls. Doing this event with complete strangers in an unfamiliar environment was something that was very much out of my comfort zone, but I am so incredibly glad I pushed myself and applied for the opportunity.

Words cannot express how worthwhile it was for me and hopefully the other girls too. It was great to share experiences with the girls, talk about our workplaces, how we are received as females in the industry and where we’d like to go with turf in the future.”

Adds Hamdorf: “These initiatives are important to let young women know they are capable and supported as the next generation of sports turf managers. We all got along really well and bonded over so much more than just our common passion or turf.

“I now know I have connections and friends for life from those few days in Melbourne. I feel very lucky to have formed connections with everyone I met there and proud to have represented the small percentage of women in turf. It has given me renewed confidence in myself as a female turf manager and I now know that I am supported and valued wherever it is that I go.”

As an added bonus, the quartet assisted with carrying the scoreboards during the tournament’s final round Vicki Liddington sets the pin on the final Athena hole

Above: Grace Lennon (red shirt) celebrates her $30,000 Athena tournament win with O’Callaghan, Sandringham foreman Jack Lavery and the Athena work placement crew

Left: Mason (left) and Elliot whipper-snipping some of the out-of-play areas at Sandringham ahead of The Athena tournament

PROVEN. POWERFUL. PERFECTED.

JOIN THE CHARGE WITH THE ECLIPSE 360 EL.ITE

excellence Regional

ATM looks back on some recent tournaments which again highlighted the calibre of Australia’s regional golf courses and the skill of their maintenance teams.

The East Course at Rich River Golf Club in Moama successfully hosted the 2023 PLAY TODAY NSW Open Golf Championship in mid-March, with course superintendent Jarrod Castle guiding his crew in what was his first PGA Tour of Australasia tournament in charge.

The Open put an exclamation mark on what has been a hectic two-year period for Castle, who took over as superintendent of the 36-hole facility in February 2021. He arrived at the club after a 15-year stint at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, including four years as foreman and more than eight as assistant superintendent under Hayden Mead.

Since starting at Rich River, Castle has overseen some major projects that the club has embarked upon to improve playing

conditions across its East and West courses. The principal focus of these works, which started prior to Castle’s arrival, has been the installation of a new irrigation system on both 18s. The East Course installation was completed in the winter/spring of 2021, while the West is nearing completion.

With effectively two full growing seasons on the East Course under the new irrigation system, Castle and his team have been able to dramatically lift the standard of the playing surfaces which was certainly on display during the Open. They have been able to grow in a number of areas beyond the fairway cut lines which had previously been quite barren. With everything now under full irrigation, a lot more width has been achieved on the fairways, while fine-cut areas between fairways, greens and tees have also been linked together.

Along with the irrigation upgrade, the bunkers on the East Course have also undergone a dramatic overhaul along with some minor design changes to a number of holes. The bunkers have been completely rebuilt and re-positioned and now have a Kustom Bind drainage system. Bunkering style has also changed, with the previous round, pot-style bunkers removed and the new bunkers taking inspiration from the Melbourne Sandbelt.

With those changes to the East complete and works still ongoing on the West, last December Golf NSW announced that its 92-year-old Open championship, part of the PGA Tour of Australasia, would be heading to the club in March 2023. It would effectively give Castle and his crew just 12 weeks to alter their programs and dial in the East Course for the

$400,000 tournament, as well as work around the irrigation installation works still in progress on the West Course.

From a tournament perspective, fortunately Castle could call upon plenty of previous experience from his years in Melbourne. He was foreman when Kingston Heath hosted the 2009 Australian Masters (the year Tiger Woods won) and was assistant for the 2012 Masters and 2016 World Cup of Golf.

He could also rely on the experience of assistants Justin Crowe and Tim Leat. Crowe relocated to the region shortly after Castle took over, bringing with him years of experience having been Michael Freeman’s right-hand man at Huntingdale Golf Club. Leat, on the other hand, has been a key member of the Rich River crew for more than a decade and in his earlier years there travelled to the UK to spend time at St Andrews and also volunteer at the 2016 and 2017 Open Championships.

TOURNAMENT FOCUS

With the tournament date confirmed, Castle, together with Crowe and Leat, quickly turned their attention to adjusting their works programs and schedules, working back from the tournament start date to ensure everything was aligned come round one on 16 March.

Preparations began to ramp up in the early part of January, with a focus on repairing bare areas and scarring that had been created on the East Course due to the irrigation works. These had been left due to installation works continuing on the West Course which hadn’t allowed the crew time to attend to prior to the tournament being announced.

Castle says they also went really hard fertilising a number of rough areas on the East Course that had been sprigged with couchgrass during November and December to ensure they were up to standard, with high nitrogen applications fortnightly to get them up for the tournament.

“It was quite a balancing act with our labour resources in the lead-up,” reflects Castle. “We were wanting to spend all of our time on the East Course, but the reality was we were still installing the new irrigation to the West Course during the summer period,

which required many hours. This project led all the way up to a week out from the event and needless to say our irrigation tech David Foskett was knacked by the end of it.

“We were also very busy during the postChristmas period, with about 1000 rounds of golf played each week on the East Course, so getting things done was extremely difficult. At the start of February our preparations started to go up a gear with a considerable amount of overtime completed.”

From early January through to tournament week, Castle dusted greens fortnightly, with a final dusting taking place 10 days prior. The greens were also under growth regulation, with a final application taking place on the Sunday before tournament week. All couch surfaces received a growth regulator/liquid iron application five days out from the start of the week. That involved a last-minute dash to a freight warehouse in Shepparton to collect some missing product. After previous issues with delivery, Castle decided to make the twohour round trip himself to ensure they had the product to put out in time.

Although it was a mild summer up on the Murray River compared to past years, it was also quite dry. In the six weeks leading into

Rich River Golf Club’s East Course hosted the 2023 NSW Open in mid-March

PHOTO: TIM LEAT

PHOTO: TIM LEAT

The Rich River GC tournament crew, with course superintendent Jarrod Castle third from left

PHOTO: GOLF NSW

The Rich River East Course greens were cut with walk-behinds at 2.75mm for the tournament

the event, the course received no rain, a stark contrast to previous months where there had been widespread rain and subsequent flooding along the river. As if on cue, the course received a very timely 5mm the Sunday before which freshened the place up.

Three weeks out from the event, the club was told it would also be hosting pre-qualifying for the tournament on Monday 13 March, with a total of eight spots up for grabs for the main event. With this being a mini tournament in itself, Castle had to make sure the course was tournament ready by the Monday, with the Tuesday being a practice round. Making things a little trickier, the East Course clocked up 1400 rounds of golf the week prior to the tournament, which made it challenging to put the finishing touches on the course.

Tournament week itself ran very smoothly and all the work that Castle and his crew had put in came up trumps. They did have one minor hiccup though on the Thursday night when the irrigation pumps went down. Luckily the greens cycle had already been completed, with the couch surfaces the only ones to miss. The weather was also on their side for three of the four rounds, with the Saturday the only day that created a little concern. Temperatures

of 38 degrees and a howling northerly wind put everyone on edge, but the surfaces held up well.

All fine-cut surfaces were mown each morning, while the crew also hand watered where necessary. Greens were cut at 2.75mm and rolled each morning, with green speed around the 12-foot mark. All couch surfaces were cut at 10mm. The evening shift consisted of hand watering, filling divots, blowing and preparing the surfaces for the following morning prep, along with course setup and cutting of the surfaces on the West Course which was still open for social golf during the tournament. No prep work was performed on the West Course in the mornings as all staff were on hand for tournament prep on the East.

In what proved to be a fitting finish to Castle’s first tournament in charge, Victorian professional David Micheluzzi came from five shots back to take the title on a dramatic Sunday. The 26-year-old fired a final round sixunder 65 to finish at 20-under, two shots clear of Queenslander Kade McBride who had led after the third round. In doing so, Micheluzzi secured the Kel Nagle Cup and $72,000 prize cheque and with it the Tour’s Order of Merit title in what was his third win this season.

“Rich River had always hoped to secure an event such as the NSW Open and we were extremely excited to be selected to host it,” says Castle. “When news broke that it was coming here, the course team, myself included, were extremely excited and it definitely put a spring in everyone’s step. We have put a lot of work into both courses over the past two years, in particular the East, so it felt like a big reward for all the effort that the team had put in. With the majority of the staff here never being involved in an event of this size, it was a real eye-opener and one they really enjoyed.”

WILLARD’S WILD START

While conditions favoured Castle for his maiden tournament in charge, it was very much the opposite for Joshua Willard who certainly won’t forget his first in a hurry. Willard had moved up from assistant to superintendent at Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort last June following the departure of Craig Molloy to Barwon Heads and was looking forward to preparing the course for his first tournament at the helm – the PGA Tour of Australasia’s TPS Hunter Valley from 23-26 February.

A dry and warm lead-in during February made for some challenging times and was in stark contrast to what Willard had experienced 12 months earlier when the course hosted the inaugural TPS event. In 2022, over a 17-day period in February, the Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort course received 219mm, 150mm above the monthly average. The first nine days of March saw another 168mm fall, making it near impossible for the crew to cut surrounds, fairways and rough areas.

In total contrast, the weeks leading up to the 2023 event saw consecutive days of 35-plus degrees and high humidity which placed the greens under significant disease pressure. Due to the conditions, Willard raised the cutting heights of tees and fairways, while an outbreak of adult stem weevil on the greens also caused some concerns. Despite those issues, preparations had proceeded as planned and run smoothly, but all that changed on the eve of the tournament.

Starting on the morning of the Wednesday Pro-Am, over an eight-hour period the course was lashed with 110mm of rain as a major weather cell descended on the Hunter Valley region. Putting surfaces were quickly awash, the undulating fairways had rivers running across them, while the course’s large steepfaced bunkers were completely washed down and full of water.

Once the rain stopped later that afternoon, Willard and his crew began the arduous task of pumping out bunkers and reinstating them.

Rich River’s East Course has undergone a raft of improvement works in recent years. A new irrigation system was installed, while the bunkers were completely rebuilt with a new Kustom Bind drainage system

PHOTO: TIM LEAT

PHOTO: TIM LEAT

Tournament week itself ran very smoothly and all the work that the Rich River crew had put in came up trumps for the NSW Open

In consultation with tournament organisers, the crew concentrated on getting the greenside bunkers back into play for the beginning of the first round on Thursday morning.

Work on the fairway bunkers began the following day, with the crew toiling away late into Thursday evening to have them back in play for the second round. Martin Crowe, superintendent at The Vintage, loaned a bunker rake machine which was greatly appreciated and aided in getting all bunkers back in play for Friday.

Having not received any significant rain for all of February, the course dried up quickly in time for what proved to be a dramatic weekend’s play. Starting the final round eight strokes off the lead, Victorian Brett Coletta shot a course record nine-under 61 to put him in a playoff with third round leader Lincoln Tighe. It would take four trips down the 18th hole to finally separate the pair, Colletta going on to collect his first Tour win since the 2016 Queensland Open.

“The entire crew did an outstanding job given the circumstances on the Wednesday morning,” reflects Willard. “It was tough watching all the hard work we had done in the lead-up to the event literally being washed away in a few hours on the eve of the tournament. But the way the guys responded was super and by the Sunday afternoon all of their efforts were on show for what turned out to be a grandstand finish.”

PERFECT SEND OFF

In the same week that Willard and his crew were preparing their course for the TPS event, their counterparts at Launceston Golf Club were playing host to the 2023 Tasmanian Open. In what would prove to be the perfect swansong for superintendent Scott Reid

(CSTM), the course came up beautifully as the tournament returned to the professional ranks for the first time in more than three decades. The storied championship, which was first played in 1913, was included as part of the PGA of Australia’s adidas PGA Pro-Am series, the first time since 1992 that it had been contested as a professional event. With a $35,000 prize purse up for grabs, the Open saw men and women professional and amateur golfers gracing the Launceston fairways, along with a field of all ability players vying for the Tasmanian Inclusive Championship title. Somewhat ironically, it would be Heidelberg Golf Club amateur Toby Walker who would end up taking the main title, beating home Queensland professional William Bruyeres by four strokes.

Situated in the suburb of Kings Meadows, Launceston Golf Club is a tight, predominately eucalyptus tree-lined course. Reid, who has been course superintendent there since 2019, is one of five full-timers on staff who maintain

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the 19-hole layout. Among those is assistant superintendent Mack Blazely who last year was the Tasmanian representative in the final of the ASTMA Graduate of the Year Award, sponsored by Toro. Reid is also assisted by a handful of long-serving and knowledgeable volunteers who play a key role in helping to present the course at a high standard.

Preparations for the Open began weeks in advance, with this summer’s weather arriving later than usual after damp and cool conditions had prevailed for the first half of December. From then on Launceston experienced warm to hot conditions, with just 31mm of rain in January and a further 12mm in February leading up to the tournament. Fortuitously, the day after the tournament had finished the course received a perfectly-timed 13mm.

Tournament week started on the Wednesday with an 11am shotgun start ProAm which served as a dress rehearsal for the main event to follow. Reid and his crew settled in well and all their prior planning made for

After a very dry lead-in, Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort copped 110mm on the eve of the TPS Hunter Valley event

PHOTO: JOSH WILLARD

smooth sailing. The morning crew swelled to 11, with nearly all of the club’s machinery fleet out on course.

“It was great to look at a hole with machinery and people all working together in the dark to achieve a great result,” says Reid, who was part of the 2019 Future Turf Managers’ Initiative intake. “I was fortunate to be part of the tournament crew at Kingston Heath Golf Club for the 2022 Australian Open last December. That showed me what a team could achieve, so I set about implementing what I saw and learnt on a scale that we could pull off.”

Through Richard Lancaster at TasTAFE, Reid gained two sports turf management apprentices from the new 7 Mile Beach course development in Hobart for three days to assist with morning preparations. Lachie Boorsboom and Sam Sartori travelled north to help out and Reid says they took to tournament prep very well. After an induction and some training on Wednesday afternoon, Boorsboom mowed

greens for the remaining two days, while Sartori proved invaluable and did a fantastic job on the bunker rake. “They were a massive help and hopefully gained some valuable experience,” notes Reid. “I must thank Anthony Toogood and 7 Mile Beach for letting them go for the few days.”

Dene Mackay, from local John Deere dealership Midland Tractors, helped out with the loan of a 2750 PrecisionCut mower that was used to cut green surrounds for the week. This meant Reid could lower surrounds heights to 8mm while keeping the tees at 10mm (these areas are usually cut with the same machine). Friday and Saturday morning also saw Adam Spargo from Living Turf come in to assist with preparations, and on Saturday he organised a BBQ breakfast for the crew after they had completed their final round work.

“The effort that the crew and volunteers put in for the week showed in the presentation and playability of the course,” says Reid. “With a spell of warm weather in the 30s for Friday

and Saturday, the crew were out with hoses following play to chase any hotspots and keep the greens playing well.

“The tournament ran very smoothly and we received very positive feedback from both players and spectators. We also had great support from the members – from retirees who have been helping out on the course for 30 years to a member who came and asked if he could hand water greens over summer – which we were very grateful for.”

As mentioned, in the days after the tournament had concluded, Reid tendered his resignation at Launceston after accepting a role with TasTAFE as a sports turf management teacher, where he will help nurture the state’s next crop of sports turf managers.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Launceston Golf Club and cannot thank my crew for their efforts and support over that period. I’m not lost to the industry, just moving sideways a little for a better work-family lifestyle.”

Despite the Wednesday deluge, the Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort course dried up quickly in time for what proved to be a grandstand finish on Sunday, with the tournament decided after a dramatic four-hole playoff

OAKS CYPRESS LAKES

PHOTOS: JOSH WILLARD

It was a long few days for the Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort crew as they reinstated damaged bunkers

The effort that the Launceston GC crew and volunteers put in for the week of the Tasmanian Open showed in the presentation and playability of the course

The Launceston Golf Club tournament crew comprised (back row, from left) Gary Colgrave (volunteer), Jeffrey Chapman (volunteer), Scott Reid (superintendent), Sam Sartori (7 Mile Beach), Adam Smith, Lachie Boorsboom (7 Mile Beach) and (front row, from left) Steve Zanon, Mack Blazely (assistant) and Dylan Kingston

LAUNCESTON

GC PHOTOS: SCOTT REID

Character building

In 1926, Commonwealth Golf Club (CGC) captain Charles Lane travelled to the USA to spend time with Walter Travis and Joe Kirkwood and then on to the UK, spending time with Harry Colt to gain a better understanding of the fine art of golf course architecture.

Upon his return to the club, Lane embarked on a full greens rebuild later that same year. In classic ‘push-up’ style, the greens were based on the excavation of bunker material onto the green areas. Between 1934-1938, Sloan Morpeth redesigned and built all 18 greens and up until the current restoration works most of Commonwealth’s greens largely remained unchanged, apart from the usual build up caused by thatch accumulation, topdressing and sand splash.

In 2019, the club undertook a review of all areas of the course, with many reports

compiled to pinpoint the required work to elevate the course. Although vegetation development was identified in the 2017-21 strategic review as a high priority, the CGC committee believed it was the course itself that required restoration and at least considered concurrently with the vegetation, especially given that it was many aspects of the vegetation that was impacting the turf surfaces and course playability.

Other key points to be addressed in the course restoration were to rectify 30-year-old greens built on a sand profile with a drainage rate of 950mm/hr, enhance course conditioning, relocation of the course maintenance sheds, address deficiencies with weaker holes and replace the irrigation system.

In 2020, Renaissance Golf Design was appointed as the club’s architect, with Brian Slawnik as principal architect for our works.

Tom Doak visited the course in mid-February this year and was really pleased with the changes and results so far. He was actively involved in the early stages of the planning and certainly had his fingerprints over the concept plan that was accepted by the committee. Brian was on site throughout the first tranche of works and saw out the completion of 10 greens and one practice chipping green.

The other motivating factor behind the club’s decision to invest millions of dollars in the course was in part driven by the pressure to keep up with developments that many other Melbourne Sandbelt courses have undertaken in recent times. Among those include the North and South courses at Peninsula-Kingswood Country Golf Club and the ongoing works at Yarra Yarra. Several other major projects are also imminent including Huntingdale and The National’s Long Island course.

Course manager Adam Lamb looks back on the first stage of Commonwealth Golf Club’s course restoration project.

VEGETATION MASTER PLAN

Following the 2017-2021 strategic review, a vegetation master plan was identified as an area that required attention to raise the aesthetic appeal of the course. Harley Kruse was commissioned to prepare a Vegetation and Landscape Principals and Guidelines document and this led to the discussions around the potential opportunity to also review aspects related to the course.

Like a lot of Australian courses built in the early 1900s, well-intended but perhaps misguided planting led to many non-native trees introduced over a long period of time. Large trees, native and non-native, were either planted too close to the lines of play and greens and in areas that created shade issues and moisture competition to the fine-cut turf.

During the restoration planning stage of the course, the vegetation principles document

was a large contributing factor that helped identify areas on the course where trees were either affecting turf conditions or limiting how a hole could be played or possibly expanded.

With the golf course restorations work becoming a focus, the vegetation document was adopted by club. The document has not only been used to help the course management team and committee decisions, but also provide guiding principles for the planning process by the club’s vegetation architect, Paul Mogford, who has been working closely with Brian to finetune the course restoration detail with consideration to the vegetation areas.

TWO TRANCHE PLAN

It was decided the course restoration works would be divided into two tranches. Because the course layout doesn’t set up well for a project to be undertaken over an entire nine all at once, the first stage of works were made up holes from both front and back nines. These included greens 2-5 and 13-18, which are all within the northern half of the course, along with the chipping green.

The holes at the southern end of the course, including the 19th green and a temporary green on the 13th, made up a temporary nine-hole course which the members played twice. To add some variability, each of the nines were played from different tee locations. The 1st hole, which will be included in the upcoming stage two tranche, was out of play during the stage one works and was used as a practice green. The 1st fairway was set up as a short five-hole course with holes cut in, while the 18th fairway was utilised as a mid-length practice fairway.

Between assistant course manager Hamish Buckingham, foreman Scott Fullarton

and the Commonwealth course team, they all worked exceptionally well and have gained a lot out of the experience to date. Stage one was completed within a tight but achievable timeframe and luckily without too many major disruptions.

All staff were heavily involved in the workload and ensuring the project flowed from one process to the next. The team were super busy lifting and laying turf, forming and consolidating all new bunker edges, fine shaping areas before seeding and turfing, keeping contractors on track and ensuring that all works were carried out to the highest standard possible.

The demand on our mechanic Adam Thompson during the construction period

PHOTOS: ADAM LAMB/COMMONWEALTH GC

Starting last August, Commonwealth Golf Club in Melbourne embarked on the first stage of its greens project. Ten greens, including the 15th pictured, were fully reconstructed

An average depth of 600mm was removed from each green and two-metre collar, with a new sand imported

Renaissance Golf Design’s Brian Slawnik, principal architect for the project, shoots some levels on the 17th green prior to the restoration works

was intense. Regular day-to-day machinery maintenance alone is often challenging enough, but having extra machines out on course, plenty of topdressing sand going through cylinders and objects pinging reels and bedknives, plans had to adapt quickly. The frequency of which to repair and adjust machines promptly is enough to test the patience of anyone, but fortunately for us Adam was brilliant and very forgiving.

DIGGING DEEP

Earthmoving contractors McMahons utilised survey data (collected and recorded by Gary Thomas) and their UTS equipment to ensure the contours and slopes were reinstated into the greens. This was seen as a critical detail by Brian to maintain the character of Commonwealth’s greens and he made only a few very subtle changes to some sand build up and extensions of some flat areas to gain extra pin locations.

A large amount of material was cut from the greens. A 150mm-200mm thatch layer

was removed, then the 300mm sand profile was stockpiled for tee/fairway/surrounds topdressing before final removal of the 100mm gravel layer. The thatch layer and gravel were taken to the northern end of the practice fairway and used to raise a low area. Excess material was also used to build three target greens on the practice fairway.

An average depth of 600mm was removed from each green and two-metre collar and new sand imported to a depth of 450mm. The sand base beneath the greens was pretty much the pure native sand, with drainage rate tests undertaken on each green base to determine if drainage was required. All tests indicated that the rate was at least 100mm/hour and the native sand depth was at least 500mm. This sub-base layer was also turned over by McMahons using a 20-tonne excavator.

Sam Myott, from STRI Australia, assisted the club during the planning phase to source and recommend a suitable sand for the club to build the new greens with. Several sand suppliers and specifications were considered

and reviewed, with the club ultimately wanting a sand that was going to best represent and present a Sandbelt style green – a firm, but not necessarily rock-hard surface.

Burdetts were the recommended supplier who could meet the sand specification of 100-150mm/hr drainage rate range. Other aspects of the sand that were considered included particle shape and size and silt/clay content, with the Burdetts sand fairly angular and having a silt/clay content around 1-2 per cent. From the testing undertaken, a typical Sandbelt-type sand has a silt/clay content figure of 2-4 per cent and a low drainage rate, so there was a very fine line to ensure we didn’t go too high with the silt/clay content where the infiltration rate would be significantly reduced, or too low and risk not having that firmness.

Burdetts made up several blends and these were tested by STRI and a recommendation was made to the ratio blend that would give us the 100-150mm/hr range. The sand blending proved to be challenging as the raw material changed slightly and wet vs dry conditions also seemed to cause some variations in the blending/testing process, but credit goes to Burdetts who have provided the club with a very consistent material.

Other contractors we had working during the stage one tranche included;

l Think Water installed the new irrigation system, with a second pumping station planned for the fairway, tee and surrounds line. This will mean the existing pump station will run the greens system. The control system is Rain Bird IC and CirrusPro with a mix of 700, 900 and 8000 Series heads used.

l Australian Seed and Turf hydroseeded all greens and supplied and laid large areas of Santa Ana turf.

l Melbourne Tree Works removed trees and ground stumps.

l Draslovka Services fumigated the chipping green.

PURE GREENS

Pure Distinction creeping bentgrass was chosen by the club as the preferred grass for the new greens and it’s a variety that is hard to go past considering the surfaces that

Greens were hydroseeded with Pure Distinction bentgrass by Australian Seed and Turf. Pictured is the 15th

Fungicide applications were made just two weeks after seeding to target pythium and rhizoctonia

The large revegetation area behind the 2nd green and in between the 3rd and 17th fairways

Peninsula-Kingswood Country Golf Club and Victoria Golf Club are producing. All 10 greens in stage one were seeded by mid-October and continued to develop well right through until their opening in February.

Following advice from superintendents Glenn Stuart (Peninsula-Kingswood), Steven Newell (Victoria), Leigh Yanner (The National) and Tay Wilson (Kooringal GC), who have all recently grown in Pure Distinction, fungicide applications were made as early as possible to all greens. The first application on each green was made just two weeks after seeding, with a follow up application a week later and then fortnightly over the next month, specifically targeting pythium and rhizoctonia diseases.

A mix of organic liquids and granular fertilisers were applied during establishment, with the greens receiving their first cut at 4mm around five weeks after seeding. Current mowing height is 3mm and greens are rolled if they aren’t mown.

From a weather perspective, the first season to grow in the Pure Distinction bentgrass was great, although we had to be very diligent with our early preventative fungicide program. We had a little rhizoctonia emerge here and there which you would expect on any new greens. The wet spring period created some challenges but helped us identify areas where drainage had to be rectified, while the dry conditions without much humidity throughout summer allowed us to control the moisture in the new greens. In saying that, we certainly would have taken a little more summer rain to ease the pressure.

ENHANCING CHARACTER

As mentioned earlier, vegetation was a key area identified in the strategic review six years ago for enhancement and in a way has given the club a kick start to develop a plan.

The development of the vegetation areas has not been forgotten while the focus was on the course restoration work. Paul and Brian spent hours together looking for areas across the course to gain future development opportunities, specifically between holes and to ultimately enhance the course character.

Overall, the first stage of works was, as Brian termed it, about “knocking off some low hanging fruit”. Stage two is where things will get “dialled up a little” and all the bigger changes will be undertaken. With the relocation of the course maintenance facility between holes 10 and 12 in late 2021, it creates the opportunity to open an area of the course previously pretty tucked in.

Greens 7, 10 and 12 will be pushed a little closer together, creating the feel they are linked which is very common through the northern half of the course (think greens 4 and 14, 5 and 13). The 1st green and approach area will receive a major makeover and the

7th, 10th, 12th and 19th greens will all be redesigned. The 11th green, notorious for its severe back-to-front fall, will also be softened.

Tranche one started late August 2022 and we opened the new greens on 15 February 2023. Feedback from members to date has been very positive and they are enjoying playing on the new putting surfaces. Tranche two is planned to start in late-August with the greens to be open for play early 2024.

The demand on turf technician Adam Thompson and machinery during the construction period was intense

The new greens were dusted fortnightly during grow-in

The new greens were given their first cut at 4mm around five weeks after seeding. Greens pictured are being cut seven weeks after seeding and since opening are being maintained at 3mm

The first 10 greens, pictured is the 2nd, opened in mid-February, with the second stage to begin this August

green light Royal Sydney’s

The Royal Sydney Golf Club holds a special place in Australia’s sporting landscape. Just on 130 years old, it is one of the most unique sporting clubs in the country, boasting world-class turf surfaces that cater for golf, tennis, bowls and croquet, as well as myriad other sports and recreational activities that a 6000-strong membership enjoys.

At the club’s heart is its 18-hole Championship Course which resides on the famed Rose Bay site in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. The course is woven intimately into the fabric of the sport of golf in Australia, having hosted a total of 15 Australian Opens. Its first was back in 1906 and in the years since has seen the greats of the game stride its fairways, with the likes of Gary Player, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth going on to hold aloft the Stonehaven Cup on the 18th green.

And it’s not just the greats of golf to have graced the club. Its impressive tennis courts – 11 of them turf – have hosted a Federation Cup tie in the early 2000s, while in 2011 it was chosen to host Australia’s Davis Cup tie

against Switzerland, with the likes of Roger Federer going toe-to-toe with Lleyton Hewitt.

The Royal Sydney site is the largest area of managed landscape in Sydney’s Woollahra municipality, covering nearly 60 hectares. Managing it is a massive undertaking for Royal Sydney’s turf management team, led expertly by course superintendent Adam Marchant, and one that has started to become increasingly challenging, in particular with regards to the Championship Course.

Due to a number of reasons, over the past three decades the strategic intent of the course has been diminishing, with neither the landscape nor the golf course able to be managed and presented in the most optimal way. Management challenges include dense, congested playing corridors where trees restrict airflow and create heavy shade, failing drainage and irrigation systems and poor sand quality in the bunkers. This has seen infestation by undesirable grasses, the loss of turf and tree root invasion on greens, tees and fairways. Additionally, the course is experiencing a growing number of tree failures, with 300 lost in the past five years alone.

Although subjective, the Championship Course’s status in the biennial rankings has also taken a hit. Over the last 30 years it has dropped from 4th (in 1991) to 52nd (in 2022) in Australian Golf Digest’s Australia’s Top 100 Courses, a ranking also mirrored in Golf Australia Magazine which has it currently 56th.

In a bid to address the above concerns, in the mid-2010s the club formulated its ‘Strategic Plan 2030’ document. The central focus of it

After one of the most comprehensive Development

Application processes the industry has seen, the redevelopment of Royal Sydney Golf Club’s Championship Course is set to proceed.

Royal Sydney’s original trial green, bunker and landscape plantings have served as a template for members to get a feel for the impending redevelopment which will start in January 2024

WORDS: BRETT ROBINSON, ADAM MARCHANT. PHOTOS: ROYAL SYDNEY GC

was the necessity to address, in a holistic way, the golf design and landscaping challenges that were contributing to the course’s deterioration. This imperative informed the decision to commission a course re-design by world-renowned golf course architect Gil Hanse and landscape architect Harley Kruse.

In 2016, Hanse would visit Royal Sydney on a number of occasions, including when it hosted the Australian Open that November. Already well-known and respected within the industry, Hanse’s name had been thrust into the global spotlight that year with The Olympic Golf Course in Rio de Janeiro which was the stage for golf’s return to the Olympics after 112 years. Indeed, it would be the same week that the Rio course made its debut that Royal Sydney announced it had appointed Hanse in what would be his first Australian assignment.

Over the next two-and-a-half years the club worked closely with Hanse to finalise plans. Hanse took on the feedback from members and what resulted was a fantastic design that was then voted on at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) in 2019. The EGM attracted 1348 members and the result was a resounding yes with over 80 per cent voting in favour of implementing his design.

In October 2019 the club lodged its first Development Application (DA) and for the next 18 months was involved in extensive consultation with Woollahra Municipal Council. During this time the club worked tirelessly with council and their consultants and as part of that process made a series of amendments to alleviate some of their concerns.

In April 2021 the club officially lodged an amended DA to council which would be assessed by the Local Planning Panel, with a recommendation from the council to approve the project. Despite that recommendation, at a hearing on 30 March 2022, the panel decided to refuse the application. The club appealed to the NSW Land and Environment Court and after a lengthy conciliation process was given a hearing date of 1 December 2022.

MAJOR VICTORY

Almost six years after Hanse’s initial appointment and concept drawings were tabled with the club, Royal Sydney announced with much delight that its DA appeal had been upheld and project consent had been granted following the completion of a conciliation process with the council.

Over the previous six months the club had worked closely with the council and made a number of further changes to the DA to incorporate council and local community feedback on the landscape and ecological aspects of the course restoration project. The amended DA clearly identifies how biodiversity across the course will be vastly improved by the enhanced restoration plans and provides

further details on important water management and drainage solution improvements.

“In working extensively with Woollahra Council and heeding the feedback of the local community since the original DA lodgement in late 2019, we have produced what can be considered the most exhaustively detailed golf course renovation plans in Australian history,” says Royal Sydney president Chris Chapman. “At more than 1000 pages and including numerous expert reports on matters ranging from ecology and horticulture to flood planning and the extensive civil works involved, no stone has been left unturned and absolutely nothing has been left to chance – nor will it be. Given the comprehensive nature of the DA, all the environmental benefits promised by the restoration will be delivered.”

For Marchant, who has been course superintendent since early 2018 and at the club for nearly two decades, the news of the development getting the go-ahead was a huge boost. He and his crew are now looking

forward to working alongside Hanse and Kruse and playing a key role in what will be one of the biggest projects in the club’s proud history.

“We were over the moon when we received the news,” says Marchant. “We have a great team here and I am extremely happy for them that they will get the chance to experience a project of this scale. It’s rare for someone in my role to have the opportunity to work with one of the world’s best golf course architects. To get to see Gil’s genius at work close up and to soon be playing a pivotal role in reshaping a course on a mass scale is something I am really looking forward to. The next few years are going to be truly special.”

COMPLETE REBUILD

Following the DA consent being granted, on 20 February 2023 the club held another EGM to confirm final costings, with 83.52 per cent of members voting in favour. The redevelopment is expected to start in January 2024, with the Championship Course to be closed for 14

The new Royal Sydney bunkers will feature a natural sod revetted edge, porous liner and a new bunker sand

A primary objective of the redesign is to make the Royal Sydney property one of the most important sanctuaries of native flora and fauna in Sydney’s eastern suburbs

ROYAL SYDNEY EXPANDS ITS TURF CARE NERVE CENTRE AHEAD OF REDEVELOPMENT

While Royal Sydney was going through the exhaustive process of amending and consulting with council over its Championship Course Development Application, it was able to proceed with another key component of its ‘Strategic Plan 2030’ document – the redevelopment of the maintenance facility.

With a staff of 45 and in excess of 300 pieces of equipment, the existing maintenance facility needed to be looked at. As superintendent Adam Marchant notes, with more staff and more machinery there were illogical work patterns and the opportunity for the facility to run efficiently and safely was getting harder to manage. This, as well as some legislation changes around the underground storage of fuel, would ultimately drive the need for change.

Marchant was extremely fortunate to have a ‘project control group’ formed made up of Royal Sydney members who had experience in this field. They proved instrumental in getting approval for the project internally and then assisted with the Development Application through Woollahra Council. This group, along with the entire membership, really understood the need for the upgrade and the benefits that it would provide the club. Most importantly, it

reaffirmed their view that staff safety and club compliance were a high priority.

The new facility needed to be designed in a way that would take into consideration future developments, so it was important that it was functional with the existing building and also had the ability to tie into a new building at some point in the future. To ensure this, course architect Gil Hanse was asked to look at the entire site to make sure he was comfortable that it was in the correct location. The club then ensured that it maximised space for the new facility by placing it on the boundary of the nine-hole Centenary Course.

The nursery green adjacent to the existing maintenance building was ultimately chosen for the new building which covers a 1088m2 footprint (64 meters long x 17 meters wide). This includes an additional machinery storage section measuring 765m2 (45m x 17m). A new washdown facility (that houses an ESD Waste 2 Water unit), new irrigation store, drying room for wet weather gear and new fertiliser store make up the remainder of the new area. A new 12,000L above-ground concrete fuel tank (6000L diesel, 3500L unleaded and 2500L 2-stroke) was also installed.

By relocating machinery to the new shed, it freed up a significant amount of space in the existing shed to accommodate some major changes. The turf technician’s workshop was

extended and a standalone room designed for repairs to course furniture and the like constructed. Of most significance, however, is the addition of a dedicated spray room. This houses the club’s four spray rigs (two Toro 1750s and two Toro 5800s) and is equipped with overhead fill points. All chemicals are stored in the room, it has a huge mixing bench and is fully automated to allow it to be locked at all times.

Construction of the new shed began in February 2020 and despite some nervous moments due to COVID, it was completed that September on time and on budget. Marchant says the expansion of the compound has been greatly received and has allowed him and his team to be much more efficient in their day-today turf management operations.

The Royal Sydney Golf Club maintenance facility was expanded in 2020 with a new 1088m2 structure constructed on the club’s former nursery green. The new shed has an additional 765m2 machinery storage area, a washdown facility, irrigation store, fertiliser store and drying room for wet weather gear

The existing shed now has a dedicated spray room (left) and course furniture workshop (above), while a new 12,000L above-ground fuel tank (right) has been installed

The new washdown area with ESD Waste 2 Water unit

months and re-opened on 1 March 2025. The construction timeline is based on Hanse’s availability and also maximises the summer growing window at the back end of the works. The club will remain open during the works, with the nine-hole Centenary Course and Northern Area (which houses the club’s tennis, bowls and croquet facilities) available to the members.

Marchant and his crew will undertake preparatory works starting this October which will include the construction of a new irrigation dam, pump station and pump house. The new dam, which will be located on the southern side of the maintenance facility, will have a capacity of 8.5ML. Prior to that, in July a new electrical substation will be installed to supply the maintenance facility and new pump station.

All current underground infrastructure will be removed with new infrastructure installed, including irrigation, stormwater, drainage and electrical. The electrical conduit network will ensure that there is provision for fans and SubAir units at every green. The irrigation system will be substantially increased to ensure that more heads can be run at once to assist with the washing in of products ahead of play. There will also be a potable water loop around every green to allow for hand watering with potable water if there are ever any issues with the pump station and irrigation supply.

“It is a complete rebuild and not one bit of grass on the current Championship Course stays,” says Marchant. “The scale of this work from a design point of view means that every part of the Championship Course will be shaped by Gil and his team and it will all work together. Having the course closed and not working back into any current turfed areas will allow a seamless tie in process and yield a great result.”

NATURAL LAYOUT

From a course layout perspective, Hanse’s design will see the routing completely change, however, the playing corridors will remain relatively similar. His design has added a lot more angles and the shape in the ground will move quite a lot to allow some strategy and classic ‘risk-reward’ style of golf.

One of the most significant changes will be to the current 8th and 9th holes. This turns two par 4s into a 515m par 5 (the new 15th) which will showcase some of the great topography that exists on that section of the property. The current par 5 7th will make way for two short par 4s (to be holes 13 and 14), while further routing changes will allow for the 9th hole to return back to the clubhouse, playing along a similar corridor to the present 16th hole.

Conceptually, Hanse’s design contemplates four different teeing grounds for each hole to create variety on a day-to-day basis and cater for golfers of all ages and golfing abilities.

“As Gil mentioned in his early visits, the property features some wonderful contours along the boundary and the sandy nature of the site lends itself to a more traditional, less parkland-like aesthetic,” notes Marchant. “His guiding philosophy is making sure the course fits into the natural landscape.

“He is very excited by the entire design, however, has mentioned that holes 15-18 will be something truly special. While first and foremost the new course is being designed for the enjoyment of all members, he is excited with the prospect of seeing a tournament played and won down that closing stretch.”

The redevelopment will see the planting of around 500,000 plants, shrubs and native grasses featuring different hues, textures and year-round flowering, all of which will more than triple the floral biodiversity of the site

PURE SURFACES

From a greens construction point of view, Royal Sydney will move away from the previous ‘push up’ style and go with a perched water table profile. This will allow the club to add the necessary infrastructure in the ground to accommodate a SubAir system which it has been trialling over the past five years. It will also allow Marchant and his team to better manage moisture, which has been a challenge at times on the older ‘push up’ style greens.

Royal Sydney’s greens are currently Penn G2 bentgrass/Poa annua which will be converted to Pure Distinction. Again, the club has been trialling a number of grass varieties over the last five years, with the Pure Distinction a standout according to Marchant. (See Gary Beehag’s article about the club’s trial green and SubAir system in ATM Volume 20.1, Jan-Feb 2018, p32-36 – Ed.)

“When we installed the SubAir system on our trial green in 2017, we also sowed Pure Distinction and an A1/A4 blend to compare,” explains Marchant. “In the years since, the Pure Distinction has really shown its quality. I love its tight sward and it can handle harsh conditions as well as anything I have seen. It’s exciting to know we will soon be back to working with a pure bentgrass putting surface.”

With its warm-season surfaces (tees, fairways and surrounds), Royal Sydney will convert all these to Santa Ana couchgrass. The Championship Course currently has Wintergreen fairways and surrounds and Santa Ana tees. All the new Santa Ana is currently being grown by Graeme Colless and the team at Dad & Dave’s Turf production farm, with all couch areas (about 25ha) to be solid turfed.

Marchant says the decision to solid turf was made due to Sydney’s unpredictable rainfall, the sensitivity of the site in relation to dust and to protect the project’s timeline and ensure the course is ready to open come 1 March 2025.

Bunkers have always been a contentious topic at Royal Sydney, as they are at many courses, with a lot of work occurring over the years to ensure consistency and playability. As part of the new design, all bunkers will have a porous aggregate liner installed and new imported sand. Which liner product will be used is still to be finalised, while the club is currently trialling three different bunker sands. The new bunkers will have a natural sod revetted edge.

LANDSCAPE FOCUS

A primary objective of the redesign is to make the Royal Sydney property one of the most important sanctuaries of native flora and fauna in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Currently, there are 30 different species of trees, plants, shrubs and grasses across the course. This will be increased to over 100 different native species (some rare and endangered) with the planting of around 500,000 plants, shrubs and native grasses featuring different hues, textures and year-round flowering, all of which will more than triple floral biodiversity on the site. Importantly, it will bring back the ecological connectivity that has been lost due to the decline in the critical understorey planting.

It is proposed that 595 trees will be initially removed from the property and replaced with 2187 new trees of very diverse native species, resulting in a net increase of 1592 trees. Many of the new trees are currently being grown

in various nurseries for planting during the works. The trees removed will be replaced by Australian natives, including species such as Sydney peppermint, scribbly gum, red bloodwood, angophora, coastal banksia, old man banksia, swamp mahogany, swamp sheoak and broad-leaved paperbark.

The principles of the new design include improved biodiversity, restored bushland, control of aggressive and invasive flora species, provision of wildlife corridors providing habitat for birds, insects and other fauna species and a meaningful contribution to the broader community’s understanding and valuing of biodiversity.

The project provides an unparalleled opportunity to implement approaches to the restoration and maintenance of coastal heathland environments in urban Sydney, including seed collection and natural regeneration experiments. As part of that, some 14ha of fertilised, mown turf will be given up and restored as areas of naturalised landscape of coastal heath, the endangered eastern suburbs banksia scrub and native grasslands. The changes will also result in a 20 per cent reduction in water use, as well as a major reduction in chemical and fertiliser use.

“What will be achieved here at Royal Sydney environmentally and ecologically will be fantastic,” sums up Marchant. “The landscape has always been a central component to this redevelopment. For the club to be able to demonstrate to our communities that golf course management is responsible, can add value to the environment and play a strong educational role is a really exciting prospect.”

Gil Hanse’s new design will see the routing completely change, however, playing corridors will remain relatively similar. The closing stretch, 15-18, will be “truly special”

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full flow Cairns GC in

When I arrived at Cairns Golf Club in October 2017, I had already had a tour of the course and knew that the existing irrigation system was poor. However, after a couple of months in my new role as course superintendent, it was clear that I had underestimated my judgement – it needed a massive overhaul.

It was by far and away the worst system I had worked with in my career to that point and, realistically, 30 years behind in terms of technology. Most of what was in the ground was manually controlled and the undersized PVC pipe (mostly 40-80mm, even down to 25mm in places) was failing regularly. There were no variable frequency drives (VFDs) on the pumps, no filtration, the irrigation dam was full of duckweed and we were spending a significant amount of time on repairs. Throughout my first six months at the club, we were also spending a substantial amount

of time cleaning out sprinklers from the duckweed that was getting pulled through the suction lines (that’s another story in itself). Needless to say, it was bad.

During my early days as superintendent, there was some discussion around installing a two-wire path with a central controller to the existing hardware. I quickly knew this wasn’t even worth considering. Throwing good money after bad wouldn’t help and wasn’t something I was prepared to put my name to. The entire system needed to be replaced, including the pump shed.

It really is hard to explain just how bad it was, but for some perspective we were spending about 60-70 hours weekly during the dry season (20-23 per cent of our labour budget) operating and repairing the system. Despite all our efforts, we were still losing turf on fairways and barely keeping pace with all the hand watering required on greens. Something needed to happen...

30 years in the making… between October 2021 and September 2022, Cairns Golf Club installed a new $1.4 million irrigation system and pump station which has made a dramatic difference to efficiencies and sustainability

EARLY DISCUSSIONS

Club general manager Matt Bolton and the Board were somewhat aware of the issues with the system. They knew it was bad and some of the challenges we faced but, understandably, lacked a full appreciation of the heartache it was causing us. I knew I needed to find a way to highlight the cost savings and conditioning improvements we would reap from a new system. As such, I began a period of documentation.

This period began by recording hours spent and costs associated with the existing system. Each week I would send this through to Matt and he would communicate it to the Board. When it became clear that we were effectively banging our heads against a wall, as well as flushing huge amounts of money down the proverbial toilet with what we had in the ground, interest in the project rapidly grew.

Once it was clear that I had everyone’s attention, I began to collate some rough

A new irrigation system is one of the biggest investments a golf club or sports turf facility can make. Former Cairns Golf Club superintendent Tim Hoskinson looks back on the process to install a

PHOTOS: TIM HOSKINSON

numbers together for pricing on a new system. I outlined several options for the club, which included installing the entire project in one go, as well as staging the project over numerous years. At one point, to work within budgetary constraints, we were considering just doing the greens and tees, as well as the new pump shed and mainlines. Following this, we would begin installing the fairways in-house. Thankfully, with the golf course already in a sustained period of growth, COVID sent revenue soaring.

When we sat down and worked through all the options, it became clear that the best plan of attack was to complete as much of the project as we could in one go. The added benefit of having the machinery and installation crew on site reduced the mobilisation costs significantly. With all the math done, the club decided to take out a loan option for up to $1 million to finance the cost of the project. In the end, the club only drew this down to around $150,000.

SYSTEM DESIGN

I persuaded the club to engage a knowledgeable irrigation designer, specifically someone who knew golf. This person ended up being David Hanby from Hydropumping. David had completed many course designs, was an expert on pumps, knew the Cairns area intimately and understood golf. He came for a site visit with me, at which time we spent half a day touring around the golf course discussing options. I already had a good idea of what I thought we needed, but David was an excellent sounding board.

There was some concern from the Board around the cost of the design, but I can 100 per cent say that the fees we paid for the design and consultation have well and truly come back throughout the duration of the project. David’s expertise acted as an insurance policy to avoid the pitfalls many clubs make while trying to save costs. When you consider that an irrigation designer’s fees comprise around one per cent of total project costs, it’s an investment that I think is a no-brainer for a project of this magnitude.

While I consider myself well versed with irrigation, especially after the project, I still wouldn’t consider taking on a project of this scale without some input from an independent designer. David’s experience helped with so many little details that, unless you do this kind of work on a regular basis, is near impossible to have sufficient knowledge to not miss something important.

A couple of things, in particular stand out from our extensive design process...

l The system was slightly over-engineered from a hardware perspective. This gave me the ability to remove any additional components once we got to marking it on the ground. The main thing I wanted to avoid was a huge bill for variations, which is common on projects of this size. Through our extensive design process, we eliminated all but one variation in relation to project quantities. This was mainly due to my fastidious nature when I elected to install an additional 250mm mainline valve. This meant that our main trunk line, which ran across a culvert, could be isolated should the culvert fail during severe rainfall.

l We removed some outlying sprinklers that effectively watered rough or tee carries. Due to our distinct wet and dry seasons, we knew that while many of these areas

will decline during the dry, they will eventually bounce back during the wet. I saw this as an opportunity to save around $80K from the project price, as well as contribute positively to sustainability. It also allows contrast between the short cut and rough areas during the dry season.

l There was never any discussion around block systems. Everything was valve-inhead. When we did the math around the potential savings and our weather patterns, valve-in-head was the only way to go.

l Back-to-back sprinklers around our greens were really my main ‘non-negotiable’. Again, due to our weather patterns, it was critical that we were able to water greens during certain times of the year without adding water to our surrounds. This all tied in to turf quality and sustainability.

Old vs new. The existing irrigation infrastructure (left) was undersized PVC pipe, mostly 40-80mm but even smaller in places. New pipework is all poly and while costing more will extend the life of the system significantly

The mainline trencher in action with 125mm poly ready to go in. Despite some delays with the weather, the project was delivered within budget

l We took the opportunity to complete other projects that would be a minimal investment while the holes were closed and the ground was open. This included an upgrade to our potable water loop. We also installed some additional drainage while the holes were closed and the excavator was on site, which reduced the long-term impact on our members and improved the course further.

l We decided on a concrete block pump shed, even though it cost slightly more. I know it will last a lot longer than a Colourbond shed. Particularly with the heat of our climate, a concrete building will remain far cooler, allows for better ventilation and will undoubtably extend the life of the pumps. It’ll also better withstand the occasional cyclone that decides to blow through…

PUMP SHED

Due to the size and disrepair of the existing pump shed, we knew we needed a completely new building. This gave us the opportunity to select an alternate site which was more suitable. We elected to build the new pump shed on an equivalent sized dam, but one that was deeper with a smaller surface area than the existing dam. It also ensured we would no longer be drawing water from the dam on our feature hole. With the increased pumping capacity, it was going to look ugly when we drew down the water level any lower than around 1m from the top of the existing dam.

While we really didn’t have enough water storage in either of those damns, the high rainfall climate (lasting around five months of the year) coupled with unlimited effluent water from the treatment plant 500m down the road, meant we could pour the funds straight

into the project. There is a design and plans to extend the new dam in the future, but the current situation meant the best use of the funds were into the hardware.

Through a suggestion from Matt, we tweaked our plans slightly to relocate the location of the pump station to the other side of the dam. This will ensure the dam can be expanded indefinitely in the future, without any impact on existing infrastructure.

RED OR GREEN?

I was always a Toro guy. Out of seven courses that I have worked at, six were Toro. For due diligence though we explored all options. We trialled Toro Infinity and Rain Bird 752 rotors on our driving range. We also engaged one of our board members, who was a project manager, to sit with myself and Matt to consider the pros and cons of each manufacturer. At the end of the day, I wanted to know that whatever we put in the ground would stand the test of time.

For us, we ended up going with Rain Bird, as I felt it was the best fit for our requirements and climate. Their IC system has been around a fair while and has a good reputation. Regardless of what you know and have worked with in the past, I would encourage anyone who is considering an upgrade to create your own list. This exploration phase included plenty of phone calls, emails and site visits. When you consider you are investing close to $1.5m of the club’s money, a few days of extra research is a small price to ensure you get it right the first time.

PVC OR POLY?

Originally, due to budgetary constraints, we had the tender prices in PVC with poly laterals. But with the developing COVID situation and the golf course trading extremely well, we went

The new pump shed (pictured top of opposite page) and intake line was constructed on a different dam, one that was deeper and with a smaller surface area than the existing dam

All the laterals were installed via a Ditch Witch plough with little to no damage to turf surfaces. Aquaflow was chosen to install the new system

back to all tendering companies to obtain a poly price. In the end, it came in around $70K more to do the entire project in poly.

As I alluded to earlier, it wasn’t all about price and I presented a business case to the Board for poly. This included ease of work, no concrete thrust blocks, not needing to sand around the entire mainline (just unsuitable soil type/rocky areas) and longevity. When we considered everything collectively, the decision was made to go poly. I have no doubt this was the correct decision and will extend the life of the system significantly.

TENDER PROCESS

Because of the lengthy timeframe to get the project to this point, I knew the project intimately. When it came time, we put the project out to three reputable companies for their pricing, although I would definitely consider more if you lived in a metropolitan area and have the option. I would note, however, that I would never include a company who I didn’t have any interest in completing the project. This puts you at risk of said company tendering the lowest price, at which point your Board may tell you to take it. As the saying goes “A poor man pays twice” and I believe this is very apt for this situation.

While cost was a very significant determinant for who completed the project, it wasn’t always the way. If I could present a business case to Matt and the Board for selecting a more expensive option, they were always happy to explore it. Regardless of who you choose, extensive reference checking on their work is critical.

INSTALLATION

While COVID was great for revenue, it threw a spanner in the works with the rapidly rising prices of all pipes and components. We were certainly lucky to agree to terms at the right time and have all contracts signed before the knock-on availability impacts really took hold. To mitigate the regular price rises, we had all the materials delivered to site prior to

the project commencement to lock in pricing. While this wasn’t our ideal situation, it certainly saved the club a significant amount of money. In the past, suppliers would generally agree to hold a price point for a particular item for the project and you would order it as needed. Because of raw material price rises and availability issues, this was not an option.

Although I had a fair idea of what I wanted and the way I thought the project should proceed, COVID has taught us to be more flexible. If you are open to change and a better process, this can save the club significant money through the project, as well as create a better system that you will ultimately end up enjoying.

With some delays to the start of the project, the pump shed was completed in midNovember 2021. This left us with a looming wet season, which was sure to create its own challenges. In discussion with installers Aquaflow, we elected to concentrate on the mainline with the potential to use the plough when it was a bit wet. The last thing we wanted to do was to try and open trenches during poor weather on our clay soil profile. In retrospect, while this option had merit, if I had our time again I would simply have gone hole by hole. The main thing was to not

open trenches if any forecast rain was likely to impact the project. Every time we open trenched, I wanted to be sure that Aquaflow could have the pipe installed and backfilled prior to any rain.

Before we got into the trenching, I had a good number of spare fittings in stock for the old system, as I knew we would require them. Due to the alternate location of the new pump shed, it allowed us to run the new and old systems in tandem. This would mean that a lot of the pipes we hit we would need to repair. As we worked through certain areas we either repaired the pipes where necessary or capped them off and they became obsolete. Trying to run the new and old systems together was a significant challenge.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

While the entire project was contracted out, the most important part of the project was overseeing the install. I was very comfortable with having Aquaflow as our installer, but it was important that they understood what my expectations were for the project, in particular, the finishing. I wanted to see everything that went into the ground.

Having open, regular and clear conversations with Rob Loftus,

Aquaflow’s

The new 250mm mainline (centre) with some of the old 20mm PVC infrastructure (right)

Back-to-back sprinklers around greens was Hoskinson’s main ‘non-negotiable’

A new concrete block pump shed was built which will better withstand the extreme Cairns climate

The new Grundfos pump system comprises three 22kW vertical multistage pumps, an 11kW jockey pump and 250mm suction line with Filtaworx filter

owner, helped ensure we got on the same page quickly. If I had any concerns at all, I immediately raised these with Rob. While I didn’t want to get to the point of being overly picky and put them offside, it was important that the golf club ended up with the result that they paid for.

Compromise was also something that both parties worked well with. If you are willing to scratch each other’s back, it helps develop your relationship. If either party is simply going to say, “That is not in the contract”, it can lead to frosty relations. While you clearly must stick to the scope of the works, squabbling over small items doesn’t work. At the end of the day, you want both parties to win out of the project; the golf course wants a great system and the irrigation installer wants to turn a profit.

At the end of the job, I was extremely satisfied with the result. Prior to the final payment, I signed off on all aspects of the project. This included reviewing all specification documents to ensure everything was completed to a satisfactory standard and

nothing was overlooked. Make sure you get all accompanying manuals and a detailed handover. You don’t want your contractor to leave site until you have a complete understanding of all the new componentry that has been installed.

LESSONS LEARNED

As with any project of this magnitude, there were plenty of learnings along the way. For me the key takeaways were;

l Use hole closures to complete additional course works wherever possible.

l Know you are going to need to allocate additional labour resources to the project. If the club is in a solid financial position, additional staffing may be an option to ensure other areas of the course do not decline during the project.

l Communicate heavily to the membership. When they can see the progression, as well as the benefits to their course, they are far more likely to tolerate any disruptions. Communication in advance

shows you are organised and golfers are more accepting of delays that are out of your hands.

l Ideally allocate one skilled team member to oversee the project. In our case with a smaller team, this was me as I was the only one with the skillset to fully understand the project. My assistant looked after the remainder of the course. For larger clubs, an assistant, foreperson or irrigation tech may have the skillset required. This would be an ideal scenario to allow the superintendent to continue to focus on the remainder of the facility, while still checking in at regular intervals on the project’s progression.

Overall, it was a massive effort by everyone and the hours, at times, were long. It was immensely challenging throughout, but the result was impressive and rewarding. I can honestly say that there is very little I would change if we had our time again, which is comforting. I was also extremely proud that, despite the weather delays (we had 2.4 metres of rain throughout the installation), the project was delivered within budget.

Whether you are a superintendent, assistant, club general manager or other team member within the facility, I truly hope some of the above information is of help. It was an incredible 12 months at Cairns Golf Club and armed with some of the above tips I hope you too can get your project across the line.

AT A GLANCE – CAIRNS GC IRRIGATION PROJECT

Total cost: Approx. $1.4m.

System designer/consultant: David Hanby (Hydropumping).

Installation timeframe: October 2021 to September 2022.

Installation project managers: Aquaflow (Rob Loftus) and Tim Hoskinson (Cairns GC).

On site dams: One (8ML).

Water sources: Treated effluent (approx. 1ML/day availability).

Previous system: Manually controlled, undersized PVC pipe (mostly 40-80mm, even down to 25mm in places), failing regularly, no central control, inground timers.

New system: Rain Bird IC central control.

Pipework: Poly (280mm, 250mm, 180mm, 125mm and 63mm), 28km total pipework including 40mm potable loop upgrade.

Sprinklers: Rain Bird 702s (fairways) and 752s (greens and tees).

Pumps: Grundfos 3 x 22kW vertical multistage pumps, 11kW jockey pump, 250mm suction line with Filtaworx filter. Pump capability 70L/s.

The difference a new irrigation system can make... the 13th green before (above) and after (below)

Testing times

Over the past few months there have been a few situations present themselves which are worth reviewing and discussing. Whether it’s issues relating to drainage, the increasing cost or lack of certain resources or the ongoing need to be continually observant and reassessing turf management programs, sports turf managers are always learning and needing to adapt in their quest to produce the best surfaces possible.

Among my recent travels a few things in particular have caught my attention. Drainage is one such topic that is never far away from my mind and it is one of the most critical components to successfully maintaining high quality turf surfaces. This has never been more important with recent high rainfall events and floods, with a couple of examples highlighting the importance of ongoing drain maintenance to ensure they continue to perform adequately.

Elsewhere, unrest around the world has impacted the availability of many resources used in turf maintenance, with fertilisers and their cost high on the list. At the same time there has been a rapid expansion in sports

fields and sports field usage but also a squeeze on budgets. Planning and making sure that all operations are cost-effective has never been more important.

On the topic of resource availability, the lack of coir fibre and peat moss has created issues where amendments are required to increase the water holding capacity of sands for sports turf construction projects. Compost has been suggested as an alternative which increases the importance of understanding what compost is, what the Australian Standard is, what the appropriate testing is and how it could be incorporated into a turf profile.

And finally, the topic of sand quality for construction projects and topdressing has been raised yet again in terms of meeting specifications and the importance of testing before use. Let’s take a look at each of the abovementioned topics in a little more detail…

DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE –A LIFELONG COMMITMENT

Over the past two years the effects of La Niña have resulted in unprecedented rainfall and created many challenges for turf managers

in preparing acceptable playing surfaces, let alone having to deal with flooding. After inspecting some golf course fairways and flooded sports fields in recent months, one aspect that has become apparent is the damage to the subsoil drainage system.

In heavy clay soils, subsoil drains are often installed as sand-backfilled drains where the removal of water is dependent on the sand backfill capturing surface water. When this backfill is capped by soil and organic matter, the efficiency of the drains drops dramatically.

The flooding of sports fields and golf course fairways provides the additional challenge where silt deposits will cap and seal the drains and any remedial works undertaken needs to remove the silt back to the sand backfill. Inspecting different sites over the past few months, where the sandbackfilled drains were either capped with soil and organic matter or were being upgraded, it was interesting to see the methodology being implemented.

On a sports field that had been flooded, the vegetation and most of the silt had been stripped using a Koro Field Topmaker (FTM).

John Neylan reflects on some recent projects and facility inspections and the management issues arising which reinforce the need for turf managers to be ever-vigilant.

Silt deposits left after flooding will cap and seal sand-backfilled drainage lines, comprising their ability to work effectively

What was apparent was the thin layer of silt still remaining that was capping the sand-backfilled drains. In this instance, the FTM was modified (the number of teeth were reduced) so that the silt layer could be stripped, exposing the sand layer beneath. This then allowed for additional sand to be imported and linked in with the sand backfill, ensuring the effective functioning of the existing subsoil drains and adequate surface drainage.

At Killara Golf Club in Sydney, where sand slit drains have been installed due to the site’s fine textured soils, there is now a program of regular sand grooving/slitting to link in with the existing drains (see photos next page). The close spacing of the sand grooves allows for more efficient intercepting of water as well as

maintaining the function of the existing drains. The machine used in this instance was a VibraSandmaster from Redexim which de-compacts and adds surface drainage to the soil profile in a single pass.

Integrated within the Vibra-Sandmaster is the Verti-Quake 2516, which de-compacts and opens the soil to a depth of 250mm. Vibrating coulters fill the slits with sand to leave minimal surface disruption. In this situation the turf is kikuyu and recovery took about 3-4 weeks with minimal disruption to golf.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE: Sub-soil drainage needs ongoing maintenance, forever!

FERTILISER USE AND TIGHT BUDGETS

At a time when budgets are tight, it is important to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of every operation involved in maintaining turf areas. It is notable that within local government there has been a rapid expansion of sports turf areas in response to increasing populations and the demand for playing surfaces.

Interestingly, the common complaint is that while the number of hectares of sports turf is increasing, the budgets for maintenance have remained relatively stagnant. Consequently, there has been a call out for sports field profiles to be designed that require fewer inputs such as water and fertiliser. This is all well and good, but this neglects what is going to provide a well-drained winter profile when wear is going to be greatest.

Rising global energy prices have caused substantial increases in fertiliser prices.

Between January 2021 and December 2022, the average Free on Board (FOB) price of Australian fertiliser imports rose by 128 per cent, from $380/tonne to $867/tonne.

The basis of many blended fertilisers, urea increased from $256/tonne to $1026/tonne (Source: www.austrade.gov.au).

The war in Ukraine has also impacted the availability of fertilisers and contributed to rising costs. There has been an adjustment at the start of 2023 with the FOB price of urea from Black Sea ports around $769/tonne which is down 38 per cent on highs seen last year. While this is good news, prices are still almost double the five-year average before 2022 (Source: www.ruralbank.com.au).

If we consider fertiliser a significant input next to the use of fuel for mowing and other maintenance activities, it reinforces the need to re-evaluate what is an appropriate fertiliser program and the associated costs. In articles

Soil and organic matter capping a sand-backfilled drainage line on a sports field

A modified Koro Field Topmaker striping silt layers capping drain lines, exposing the sand layer beneath

PHOTO: NIGEL BAKER/THE BAKER GROUP

by Zontek et. al. (2010) and Meentemeyer and Whitlark (2016), they make several pertinent points around the cost of fertiliser including:

l Fertiliser comes in many different formulations, blends and price ranges, but does the grass know the cost? The answer is ‘No’

l All nutrients enter grass plants in an inorganic form. It is important to remember that nitrogen controls turfgrass growth more than any other macronutrient.

l When purchasing nitrogen fertiliser, it is important to calculate the cost per kilogram or cost per hectare of actual nitrogen. This is a fundamental management activity.

The old-fashioned ‘cause and effect’ needs to be taken into consideration and when formulating and reviewing a fertiliser program the following questions need to be asked:

l What is the annual target rate for N and K/ year?

l What was applied?

l What was the form of fertiliser?

l How much N was applied per hectare?

l What was the response of the turf?

l How well did the surface perform across the winter months?

l What was the cost?

Undertaking this evaluation is a key role of the turf manager so as to deliver good quality, cost-effective playing surfaces that are safe and fit for purpose.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE: At a time when there are many cost pressures in delivering suitable turf playing surfaces, all inputs need to be assessed and determined whether they are delivering the required outcomes that are costeffective.

COMPOST AND TURF APPLICATIONS

Many sands used to construct golf greens and sports fields have a low capillary porosity (moisture retention) and need the addition of an organic amendment to ensure it 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 which has led to a search for a viable alternative. Compost has been proposed which 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 needs to be 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 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 the following for peats and composts…

l Peats: The most common organic amendment used in rootzone mixtures is peat. The most common types of peat are sphagnum moss peat and reed sedge peat and must have an organic matter content of at least 85 per cent by weight as determined by loss on ignition (ASTM D2974, Method C). The peat shall be screened to no larger than 6.4 mm.

l Composts: 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.

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

PHOTO: RYAN FURY

PHOTO: RYAN FURY

Killara Golf Club in Sydney now has a regular program of sand grooving/slitting to link in with the existing drains

The close spacing of the sand grooves allows for more efficient intercepting of water as well as maintaining the function of the existing drains

l 95-100 per cent passing a 6.4mm sieve;

l Organic matter content ≥ 50 per cent as determined by ASTM D2974, Method C;

l Carbon-nitrogen ratio between 15:1-30:1;

l Solvita Compost Maturity Index of 7-8 (https://solvita.com/compost/);

l Electrical conductivity ≤ 6dS/m;

l pH between 4-8;

l Proven to be non-phytotoxic;

l 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.

There is an Australian Standard that details the criteria for composts, soil conditioners and mulches (AS 4454-2012 AMD 2:2018). The Standard specifies the requirements 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 pasteurising or composting procedures as defined by the Standard. The objective of the Standard is to provide the minimum requirements for the physical, chemical

and biological properties of composts, soil conditioners, mulches and vermicast. The purpose is to minimise the adverse impacts on the environment and public health.

Compost is defined as an organic product that has undergone controlled aerobic and thermophilic biological transformation through the composting process to achieve pasteurisation and to reduce phytotoxic compounds and achieve a specified level of maturity required for compost. Composts that have gone through these processes become mature and stable over time.

The term ‘stable’ typically refers to a compost that has stopped undergoing rapid decomposition and whose nutrients are slowly released into the soil. Stability is important in determining the potential impact of the compost material on nitrogen availability in soil or growth media. Stable compost consumes little nitrogen and oxygen and generates little carbon dioxide or heat. Unstable, active compost demands nitrogen when applied to soil and growth media. Composts that cause nitrogen deficiency can be detrimental to plant growth, even causing death to plants in some cases. If stored improperly and left unaerated, unstable compost can become anaerobic and generate nuisance odours.

Maturity is the level of completeness of the composting process. Therefore, mature compost is important because it will not adversely affect plant development due to reduced oxygen or nitrogen availability and/

With the price of fertiliser increasing, it reinforces the need for turf managers to re-evaluate what is an appropriate fertiliser program and its costs

or the presence of phytotoxic compounds. It takes time and the appropriate aeration techniques for organic material to be properly composted can take many months.

The Standard is comprehensive and details all of the tests to ensure that the compost complies with the requirements of maturity and doesn’t contain any phytotoxic compounds or weed propagules. In reviewing a recent test of compost, there were 55 factors analysed including physical characteristics, chemistry characteristics (including pH, EC, nutrients, cations, anions and heavy metals), pesticides, pathogens, contaminants (e.g., glass, plastic etc.), plant growth test and viable plant propagules.

It is important to note that the Standard requires compost to have total organic carbon levels of 20 per cent which equates to about 34 per cent organic matter. This is less than the USGA recommendation of 50 per cent. The other key is that the Standard specifies no more than 20 per cent by mass in the shortest dimension to be retained by the 16mm sieve, whereas the USGA recommends <5 per cent retained on the 6mm sieve. Particle size has been a negative aspect of some composts used in modifying sports field profiles.

So, can we use compost as an alternative to coir fibre and peat moss? The short answer is yes, however, detailed testing and adherence to the Australian Standard (AS 4454-2012) is essential. The 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 Organic matter content is >50 per cent;

l The particle size is less than 16mm;

l The compost is mature and proven 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 at a minimum of five and 10 per cent by volume and testing capillary porosity, aeration porosity and compacted hydraulic conductivity.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE: The way of the world constantly dictates that we must be adaptable. While this is the case it doesn’t mean that we don’t undertake the appropriate testing so that we have the best technical information available before we make a final decision.

SAND PROBLEMS

The turf industry has very specific requirements for sand rootzones, however, the availability of suitable and consistent sands has become more challenging as the construction industry consumes most of this important resource for asphalt and concrete. This increasing demand has resulted in increased costs for the sand and added to this cost there has been an increase in the cost of transport.

As a consequence, there has been an ongoing search for sands and gravels to supply the turf industry and there has been some very unsatisfactory material submitted as an alternative and unfortunately in some situations this material has been used.

On two separate projects in NSW and Victoria, topdressing was undertaken where the sand was contaminated with rocks and building rubble. There were several missteps involved – the lack of sand testing prior to delivery, the absence of contractor care and the lack of attention by the operator to what was taking place. Once it was on the ground there was a lot of work to clean it up, including manual collection, sweeping, dethatching and vacuuming on multiple occasions.

Fortunately, these mishaps are in the minority, however, as cost pressures increase and the engineers and managers go through their value management process (i.e., cost cutting), there will always be a temptation to go for cheaper inputs.

Sand is potentially the single greatest cost in a construction project and accounts for about 20-25 per cent of the total cost. Over the past five years the cost of sports field construction has increased by about 20 per cent across the entirety of the project (SPORTENG, 2022) with sand being a significant component.

It becomes important that project managers closely follow the specifications to ensure that a predictable outcome is achieved. This includes making sure that the sands are stockpiled, tested and then when approved and delivered to site are visually inspected to look for excessive large particles, rubble and other rubbish such as glass.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE: Specify, test, check and test again!

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 sports turf profiles

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

PHOTO: STOCK.ADOBE.COM/FIELDOFVISION

Rocks and building rubble contained in some of the badly contaminated topdressing sand

Pie charts and

performance

During the latter stages of the COVID lockdown in NSW last year, I had the chance to spend a small amount of time chatting with some golf course superintendents whom I respect. In one of these chats the subject of Growing Degree Days (GDD) came up. This superintendent went on to say how much he respected the ideas that Dr Micah Woods espouses and publishes. Here I have to say that I have had no personal contact with Dr Woods, other than to look at what he writes on which I am often asked to comment.

What I see abounding in his published work is the reworking of a lot of fundamental concepts, the basic truths of turf culture’s evolution over centuries and trying to put them in new clothes and if, possible, trying to give

them the respectability of a scientific equation. In taking this approach, he has certainly been responsible for successfully focusing modernday superintendents back onto the basics of their industry, which is certainly a good and much needed achievement.

Dr Woods has given his devotees some new tools to apply to their work which make it easier to understand and plan. But they have to be appreciated for what they are. They are tools, not new basic science concepts. They are tools to be applied, or not, to the ways and

means of implementing those concepts. If they work for you, great, go ahead and use them, but appreciate them for what they are – tools. The old adage still applies – ‘a bad workman blames his tools’. The reality is that GDD works much better when there is a stable and relatively uniform weather pattern in place and that it works far less well when you have yo-yo temperature patterns of short duration.

I am also frequently asked what I think about the competing systems of measuring soil nutrient status and the recommendations that you might make from the data gathered. Please note I am talking about what I might call conventional soil testing. I am not talking about tissue testing which we will discuss later.

The first observation that I want to make is that all analysis, of whatever kind, costs money. I know that many industry suppliers

Australia’s leading agronomic mind Peter McMaugh AM ruminates on soil nutrient testing and the importance of your data being reliable and trustworthy.

Is

offer ‘free’ testing. If you think you are getting ‘free’ testing you are dreaming because inevitably the supplier is going to include its costs in their margin of profit and you will be paying it there. So, if you are really paying for it then you should want to expect a trustworthy report that you can rely on as being accurate and by which you can adjust your fertiliser programme with confidence that it will get the result you want and expect.

Expectations? What expectations? Earlier we looked at how GDD is driving a lot of turf managers’ planning programmes. But what if the weather is all over the place that the GDD concept isn’t working? Maybe you are using slow-release N as the basis of your programme and because of inadequate soil temperature the release is too slow. Maybe it is time for a boost of the soluble N... nitrate or ammonia? If it is really cold, then nitrate has to be the call. But for how long and at what quantity? But remember, the nitrate can be just sitting there if it is too cold.

Remember that all that slow-release N you put in earlier is still there, often partly changed to nitrate. Sooner or later, it is going

to show its hand and you will have a potential explosion of growth. If I were an old-fashioned greenkeeper, I’d be carefully watching the amount of clippings in the catcher and I’d be

spoon-feeding my fertilisers. I wouldn’t be too worried about whether I was following a SLAN or a MLSN programme that wasn’t delivering the goods. I’ve been through the essential differences between these previously in the article ‘A Data Driven World’ (ATM Volume 22.5 – September-October 2020, p44-46)

The point I am trying to make here is that you can have all the theories you want and you can try to make your reports sexily scientific, but if they are not working then you have to do a major rethink. Is the analytical data you have been getting on a regular basis a good place to start this process? Maybe yes, maybe no. The glossier the pie chart and the longer the comment, the more suspicious I get that what it is trying to do is sell you more expensive fertiliser that you don’t really need.

Whether the analytical data you have is reliable is dependent on the reliability of both the extraction method and the way the product of that is processed and reported. In the previously mentioned article on data, I went into the limitations of the Mehlich III system and what I consider unreliable results coming through from that.

From both a scientific and a commercial viewpoint there is a desperate need for a comprehensive review of soil and tissue testing for turf in the Australian context.

Soil reports will often provide ‘optimum’ ranges against which your numbers are compared, advising you to either boost or reduce certain nutrients

your soil nutrient testing data reliable or is it just trying to sell you more expensive fertiliser that your turf really doesn’t need?

What all soil testing does is give you a set of numbers which you have to then interpret in terms of how your turf is performing. Most of the time the vast majority of practitioners rely heavily on what the attached notes from the testing lab tells them about how to interpret the numbers. You often see ‘optimum’ ranges against which your numbers are compared and you are advised that this or that number needs to be boosted or reduced.

Often when I am asked by a client to comment on these numbers, the first thing I do is look at the pH. Why do I do that? Because

Just to try to give you context for these comments, the vast majority of USA soils are alkaline while the vast majority of Australian soils are acidic. There is a very important qualification that has to be made here and that is that a lot of the inland soils in western NSW, western Queensland and South Australia are alkaline and when you look especially at the disease incidence in these soils, they have very different patterns to coastal soils.

If we continue to keep our microscope on the USA and its history of fertiliser use, what we become very conscious of is that the EPA

of these studies? Sustainable, healthy plants need carbon (i.e., organic matter build up) for long-term success.

As contemporary agriculture developed, there was far too much emphasis put by economists who couldn’t distinguish biological processes from manufacturing processes and continuously pressed for maximising yields, only to see the laws of diminishing returns kick in.

Slow-release nitrogen fertilisers were a very big part of this development. The development of the early plastics (e.g. Bakelite) used the methylene urea processes to get their products. It soon became evident that by controlling where you set the end point of the process you could produce a variety of slow-release fertilisers with varying release characteristics for nitrogen.

These became king in the turf industry, especially in the USA where Scotts became the dominant player. At their peak, Scotts controlled over 85 per cent of the market sales. Eventually many other forms of slow-release materials, IBDU, sulphur and polycoated fertiliser prills (e.g., Osmocote) and its many variations started to erode Scotts’ share.

it is the environmental controller of what other elements and how much of them are in the soil solution for the plant to access.

If you look at the history of the development of agriculture across Australia as a whole, you will see how many minor element deficiencies it took to be identified before successful cropping and pasture establishment became possible. While this knowledge has been very well explored by soil chemists in the context of Australian soils for agricultural crops, it hasn’t been done for turfgrasses and turfgrass soil conditions.

What makes this also very different is that the majority of soil testing being offered by service companies is being done in USA labs accredited to the USGA. Australia is not the USA and in my experience a lot of these labs are sloppy in technique and lack the knowledge of Australian conditions to make any valid interpretation of the data.

in the USA is very focused on the turf industry as a major source of the pollution of ground waters from excess nutrient runoff. Historically the nitrogen levels for turf have been assessed by the beauty contest method... ‘Doesn’t that look pretty?’ It is now time for the reality check.

To give Dr Woods credit, he has recognised this and his response has been the MLSN approach. I have in other previous articles described what I see as the limitations of this approach. Of particular importance ‘reserves’ that this system fails to adequately address.

If you look at the history for both agriculture and turf, the development of the science behind fertilisers and crop performance has come from the observations of long-term fertiliser plots in many locations around the world, with Rothamsted (UK) probably being the most famous. What has been the key observation to come out of all

All of these slow-release forms were trumpeted as being the great saviours of stopping nitrogen runoff and pollution. But it still happened because the USA industry was still fixated on the beauty contest measurement of performance in which luxury N levels were always the winner. The mantra of high N, low P and 3N:0.5P:1K became the rule of thumb for fertiliser application. The emphasis was on mineral fertilisers. The only product bucking the party line was milorganite, a composted sewage sludge from the Milwalbec Sewage Corporation. It was well marketed and widely used especially at renovation time in turf. Unbeknown to most of the USA practitioners, it was the product which kept their programmes from collapse.

Very recently I had an enlightening conversation with a long experienced and very technically competent industry sales person, who was experiencing a crisis with some of his customers. They were applying the best quality slow-release products at the quantities directed by their soil testing results, but they were getting no response from their grass. Even upping the levels of fertiliser still left them with pale yellow green grass without vigour.

In desperation, some of them applied an application of organics. Within four days there was an instant response of bright green growth. The lesson is there in those historical plots at Rothamsted – without carbon to feed the biome you won’t get the plant to work at its optimum and you can bet that the pH wasn’t optimum either. For many years, a long time ago, they called me the ‘chicken shit king’ – it wasn’t for nothing!

Soil nutrient testing gives you a set of numbers which you have to interpret in terms of how your turf is performing and then adjust your fertiliser programme accordingly

}From both a scientific and commercial viewpoint, there is a desperate need for a comprehensive review of soil and tissue testing for turf in the Australian context.~– Peter McMaugh AM

The benefits of lightweight rolling on fine turf surfaces, where ball and surface interaction is critical, has been recognised for many years. This has seen the development of lightweight rollers, initially for bowling greens, being adapted specifically for golf since the mid-1980s. Regular rolling is now recognised as an essential component of good turf management with the ability to increase green speed and provide a smooth and true surface that reduces turf stress by eliminating the need for excessively low mowing heights in order to achieve a desirable pace on greens.

Given the importance of ball-surface interaction in the game of soccer, lightweight rolling of a soccer pitch was examined to determine whether the same benefits could be achieved compared to other sports where rolling is commonplace. The objective was to investigate the effect of frequent rolling on surface and subsurface characteristics of an elite level sports field. Characteristics examined included surface smoothness, turfgrass quality, surface hardness, soil moisture content and surface stability.

In the second half of 2022, a trial was established at Casey Fields Sporting Complex in Cranbourne East, Melbourne. The elite training pitch is home to Melbourne City Football Club and consists of a sand-based Tarkett Sports PlayMaster hybrid turf profile

roll On a

with perennial ryegrass surface. The scheduled maintenance program set out by the City of Casey continued throughout the trial period, including spring renovations on 5 September 2022 which consisted of hollow coring, a shallow verti-cut and sand topdressing.

A Tru-Turf SR72 Sports Turf Roller was used for the trial. It was attached to a 58-horsepower tractor, via a three-point linkage system, with a rolling width of 72 inches (1830mm) and a weight of 750 kilograms. The treatment consisted of double rolling the trial area 1-2 times a week over a 13-week period during the months of July to October 2022.

SURFACE TESTING

The surface was assessed on a weekly basis, on both treated and untreated sections (see photo top of opposite page), using FIFAapproved test methods for ball roll and ball rebound. Ball roll and rebound were also tested on both treatments prior to rolling to gauge any residual or cumulative effects of treatment. Other assessments included surface hardness using a 2.25kg Clegg Impact Soil Tester. Four readings were taken within each plot, with the average recorded given in gravities (g). Readings were taken immediately after rolling with the first drop recorded.

Rotational traction was recorded using a modified studded boot apparatus, which consists of a 150mm diameter disc into which

six football studs are fitted equidistant from the central vertical shaft and weighted to 40kg. The rotational traction is measured to breaking point using a digital torque meter. Six readings were taken within test areas and the average reading was recorded in Newton meters (Nm). Percentage moisture using a Field Scout TDR 300 soil moisture probe was used to take six readings at depths of 38mm and 76mm per plot, with the average reading recorded.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION BALL ROLL

Ball roll increased significantly at all testing dates in the rolled area compared to the control area. Although high rainfall was experienced throughout the trial, no surface water was ever present during treatment or testing. Figure 1 opposite shows mean ball role results from 30 September to 18 October with results from the untreated area and rolled plot, as well as results one week after rolling.

The results showed that lightweight rolling increased ball roll distance, with an overall average increase of 26 per cent between the untreated area and rolled area. Testing immediately after rolling showed an increase in ball roll distance. Differences were anywhere from 1.17 metres (12 August assessment –8.22m vs 7.05m) through to 3.33m (4 October assessment – 9.33m vs 6m), while the average across all nine assessments was 2.09m.

AGCSATech’s Tim Fankhauser and Bruce Macphee report the results from their recent sports field rolling trial.

A trial was established last year at Casey Fields in Melbourne’s southeast to investigate the effect of frequent lightweight rolling on surface and subsurface characteristics of an elite level sports field

How long the effects of rolling last are influenced by factors including seasonal turf growth and weather. While there was no significant difference between the rolled and untreated areas seven days after treatment, the residual effects of rolling last for several days with a noticeable increase in ball roll distance.

BALL REBOUND

Ball rebound was consistently higher after lightweight rolling compared to the control area. Immediately after rolling there was an increase in ball rebound of 15 per cent within the trial area. Differences between the rolled and control area ranged from 0.13m (18 October assessment – 0.82m vs 0.69m) to 0.27m (30 September assessment – 1.03m vs 0.76m). The lowest ball rebound readings were on 27 September (0.76m rolled and 0.58m control) which was attributed to the first assessment done after coring, as surface hardness readings were also low on this date. Although not always significantly different, on all occasions the ball rebound was still higher in the rolled area one week after treatment compared to the untreated area (Figure 2).

Lightweight rolling smooths the surface by compression of organic matter and soil particles into a denser mass, providing a firmer, smoother surface with increased ball rebound. This compression lasts for several days before soil and organic matter decompress and return to their former states. There were no cumulative effects on compaction, surface hardness or increased surface moisture throughout the duration of the trial.

SURFACE HARDNESS

There were variable results recorded in relation to surface hardness which can be put down to climatic conditions and soil moisture conditions at the time of assessments.

Generally, there was no significant long-term increase in surface hardness with the rolling frequency implemented. As indicated, surface hardness readings were at their lowest on 27 September due to recent hollow coring).

There was no significant difference in surface hardness data in half of the testing dates in the rolled area compared to the untreated area. Readings on some occasions were 10 gravities higher in the rolled trial area compared to the untreated area. However, the results indicate there are no cumulative lasting effects from lightweight rolling.

Binder (2014) stated the number one concern with consistent rolling of athletic fields is the potential for compaction. Compaction is typically greatest in the top 20mm of the surface and forces are compounded when rolling occurs during wet conditions, especially on fields with high silt/clay content.

Rolling should never be undertaken on saturated soil as results often lead to reduced water infiltration and soil aeration, creating conditions where rainfall can reduce playability of a surface. Additionally, on any field where frequent rolling occurs, regular aeration or spiking should be undertaken to maintain optimum growing and playing conditions.

SURFACE TRACTION AND SOIL MOISTURE

The results showed there was no significant difference in surface traction after lightweight rolling between the control area and the rolled area. There was no significant increase in soil surface moisture between the rolled and untreated sections of the trial at both depths (38mm and 76mm) assessed. As stated previously, rolling saturated soils provides the greatest forces of compaction and under these conditions there is potential to increase surface moisture, particularly in areas of poor turf coverage or high organic matter content.

CONCLUSION

Regular lightweight rolling of sports turf surfaces provides an increase in surface smoothness, ball roll and ball rebound. Sports

that rely heavily on ball-surface interaction will benefit greatly from regular lightweight rolling with no cumulative detrimental effects.

The results of this trial indicate that positive outcomes and desired results can be achieved with lightweight rolling of a sports field once or twice a week, without any negative effects on turf health. To summarise;

l Ball roll increased immediately after rolling with an average increase of 26 per cent (or 2.09m).

l Ball rebound increased by 22 per cent (or 0.2m).

l There was no noticeable difference in turf health between the rolled and untreated plots.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

AGCSATech sincerely thanks Nick Thornton and Tru-Turf for funding the project and for use of the roller, and to the City of Casey (coordinator Anthony Kennedy and his maintenance team) for allowing the trial to take place on the elite training pitch. The full report from this trial can be obtained from Tru-Turf.

Figure 2. Mean ball rebound results from 30 September to 18 October 2022

The treatment consisted of double rolling the trial area 1-2 times a week with a 750kg roller over a 13-week period

FIFA-approved device to measure ball roll and rebound

Figure 1. Mean ball roll results from 30 September to 18 October 2022

The term ‘water wise’ has become widely used in Western Australia in recent times as a result of declining rainfall and the need to manage available water resources. In recent years the Golf Course Superintendents Association of WA (GCSAWA) and the Department of Water have collaborated in the development of the Waterwise Golf Course Program which aims to assist courses to better understand and manage their water allocations effectively. By educating users and suppliers, these types of programs help to push the industry down a more sustainable path.

The Waterwise Golf Course Program has three different status levels. ‘Bronze’ is the entry level and is about educating staff on courses to learn about and better manage the efficiency of their irrigation systems. The levels above are ‘Silver’ and ‘Gold’ and have more specific goals in terms of managing water. Presently, 20 courses are enrolled, with five achieving ‘Bronze’ status – Hartfield CC, Wembley Golf Complex, Wanneroo GC, Western Australian GC and Nedlands GC.

Wembley course superintendent Darren Wilson has played an important role in the program and was one of the instigators of the alliance between the GCSAWA and the Department of Water. It is no surprise, therefore, that Wembley is leading the way and recently became the first club to meet all the criteria to reach ‘Silver’.

Along with Wilson, qualified greenkeeper Brittney Goldsworthy has also played a major role in Wembley’s quest to be a more

wises up Wembley

‘water wise’ facility. Goldsworthy has written the majority of the online program, runs it for the GCSAWA and is the contact person for enrolment and assisting clubs develop a methodology for gathering and entering their data. Her position is also one of mentoring any clubs that are unsure how to move forward.

In order to attain ‘Silver’, Wembley had to tick off a number of tasks across different areas. They included;

Section 1 – Management of water consumption against budgets

l Task 1 – Breaking the annual water budget down into monthly targets.

l Task 2 – Record metered water use and monitor against the budget.

l Task 3 – Annual water use report and estimated savings.

Section 2 – Improve irrigation hardware to deliver water efficiently

l Task 1 – Automatic control systems with remote control valves.

l Task 2 – Water distribution system auditing.

l Task 3 – Maintaining sprinkler distribution uniformity of greater than 75 per cent.

l Task 4 – Groundwater quality and fertiliser management.

Section 3 – Improve turf management to reduce water demand

l Task 1 – Grouping plants and soil types with different requirements.

l Task 2 – Cultivation techniques and water hold capacity.

Section 4 – Future Planning

l Task 1 – Alternative water sourcing.

SPRINKLER PRESSURES

Water savings and efficiencies have been achieved at Wembley since starting the program. While completing the ‘Bronze’ level, it was found that the system pressure could be dropped by close to 15 per cent. Misting of the greens sprinklers was observed and pressure tests were taken at the nozzle and base of the sprinkler. Sprinkler specification charts indicate what the pressure should be at the base of the sprinkler. By taking readings at the base and the nozzle (using a Pitot tube), assumptions can then be made of the pressure loss as the water moves through the sprinkler.

In Wembley’s case, some sprinklers had a difference of between 150 kilopascals (kPa) and 350kpa from the base to the nozzle. For example, one of the sprinklers on the 4th green of the Old Course (one of the greens furthest from the pump station) tested 950kPa at the base and 600kPa at the nozzle, a difference of 350kPa. Similarly, a sprinkler on the 17th tee of the Tuart Course (a tee near the pump station) had a reading of 750kPa at the base and 500kPa at the nozzle, a difference of 250kPa.

Cross-referencing the nozzle specification chart, it was found that pressure could be dropped by 15 per cent while still working well within specification and losing very little radius while reducing the litres per second applied. Nozzle selection could also be assessed once pressures at the sprinkler were known, creating flexibility depending on the micro-environment of the undulating topography of the course whcih is further compounded by tree-lined tees, fairways and greens.

John Forrest writes about the strides Wembley Golf Complex is making in its bid to be a more ‘water wise’ facility.

PHOTOS: JOHN FORREST

Checking the performance of sprinklers and assessing micro-environments increases knowledge on the effectiveness of a system. Knowing how much water is hitting the ground improves water budgeting assessments.

MONITORING AND ANALYSIS

Wetting agent injection into the irrigation system has also improved water savings, while the use of Pogo moisture sensors on greens has helped to generate moisture maps for staff to follow. Highlighting dry areas improves knowledge of whether hand watering is needed or not.

It also enables the monitoring of salt levels within the greens which is important at Wembley given that levels rise by the end of the irrigation season. During the warmer months there can be no decent rainfall for up to five months. To highlight that, at the time of writing this, Perth’s official BOM site has recorded just 7.8mm from 18 November 2022 to 17 March 2023 – a total of 118 days.

Monitoring static water levels in each bore enables more detailed information on whether aquifers have recharged during the winter or after rainfall. It is comforting to know when they do not drop which is the case at Wembley.

Managing organic matter levels is another outcome as a result of regular soil and water analysis. Greens generally have low levels of organic matter and increasing levels of sodium are less apparent compared to the kikuyu fairways and tees where CEC is higher as is the corresponding accumulation of sodium.

Tracking evapotranspiration (evaporation and crop factor) allows for savings on the cusp of the season which is occurring now during March and April. This is often a time when over-watering is likely due to the assumption that the daytime temperatures are warm, therefore care is needed. The truth is that a third reduction in daily evaporation is not included in reducing water applications

unless monitoring is implemented. Wembley does have a weather station, but the program provides a process whereby a clearer understanding is achieved by completing manual calculations on water budgeting.

Water analysis showed that iron levels from Wembley’s six bores were at a level that not only stained but accumulated in irrigation componentry. This could be seen in the pipes of the old irrigation system. As a rule, staining can occur when iron levels are around 0.3mg/L, while 1.0 mg/L is when accumulation starts to occur.

In the case of Wembley, bore water is pumped out of what is known as the ‘bubble up’, before travelling through a spillway with protruding rocks to another lake. From there it moves over a wall which further oxidises the water, before it flows down another spillway into the irrigation (pump) lake. Average bore iron levels are around 3.3mg/L, but by the time it reaches the irrigation lake, levels have reduced to around 0.1mg/L.

ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLIES

Outside of its bores, Wembley also harvests stormwater. Water from the car parks runs by gravity into the irrigation dam. For every 1mm of rainfall, the lake rises 2mm in height and it is estimated that 60,000m3 is harvested per year depending on rainfall. A second source of catchment comes from the Kalinda housing estate across the road from the course with runoff gravity-fed into the lake. This lake water is pumped back to the estate during summer for irrigation of parks and verges. Excess water, if the lake overflows, recharges the aquifer.

The golf course also has the capacity to tap into a second aquifer recharge point in the future. This point is linked to the Perry Lakes Water Replenishment Program and not only fills up Perry Lakes with water that was previously pumped into the ocean, but can be used in the future to enter a wetland area adjacent to the 3rd hole on the Old Course.

FUTURE-PROOF

The Waterwise Golf Course Program is important as it helps to educate users on efficient water use. Darren and his team at Wembley, and the Town of Cambridge as a whole, are leading the way and work toward achieving ‘Gold’ level has already started. With a reduction in WA water licences coming into effect by 2028, when allocations will be cut by 10 per cent, it is important that golf clubs improve their water management efficiency.

Golf courses play a major role in managing water resources as well as enhancing the local environment. While some may question their need, golf courses have a significant positive impact, especially in metropolitan areas where they are often the last major natural areas standing. They reduce the urban heat island effect and provide critical wildlife corridors and habitat for flora and fauna to thrive.

The above is just a snapshot of the work that Wembley has undertaken. It is important for golf courses to get on board programs like this and in doing so educate staff, members, management and golfers about the positive impact golf courses can make.

Left: Wembley harvests stormwater in a separate dam from the adjacent Kalinda housing estate, with up to 60,000m3 collected per year depending on rainfall

Below: Iron levels in the Wembley bore water average around 3.3mg/L, but by the time that water reaches the irrigation lake, levels are down to 0.1mg/L

Opposite: Wembley Golf Complex in Perth has become the first club to achieve the ‘Silver’ level as part of the GCSAWA/Department of Water Waterwise Golf Course Program. Pictured is the main irrigation lake

Brittney Goldsworthy and Darren Wilson have played a key role in driving Wembley’s ‘water wise’ efforts

leader Industry

Sentosa Golf Club is recognised as one of the most established golf clubs in Singapore and Asia, with two world-class championship golf courses –Serapong and Tanjong – which are considered to be among the most challenging in the region. Situated on the island of Sentosa, with Singapore’s iconic cityscape as a backdrop, the club has a membership of 1500.

Since 2018, Sentosa has been widely recognised for its commitment to sustainability, having become the first golf club in the world to join the UN Sports for Climate Action Initiative. Since then, it has continued to accelerate its focus and in early March announced that it had become the world’s first carbon neutral golf club, delivering on a commitment it had made when hosting the HSBC Women’s World Championship in 2021.

As part of its sustainability commitment, and to complement ongoing carbon abatement efforts identified during its carbon profiling, the club has offset 5000 tonnes of CO2, the annual equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions from 12.4 million miles driven by an average petrol-powered car and CO2 emissions from 630 homes’ energy usage (Source: www.epa.gov)

Since April 2021, the club has, with the support of its members, set aside $1 from every round of golf to procure high quality carbon credits from the Katingan Mentaya Project (Indonesia) and Cordillera Azul National Park (Peru). The latter project helps restore degraded forestry, preventing 25.2 million tonnes of carbon being released into the atmosphere to date, as well as supporting 665 jobs in the local community, 40 per cent of which are held by women. The Katingan

Mentaya Project protects more than 150,000 hectares of peat swamp forest, generating 7.5 million carbon credits (the equivalent to removing two million cars off the road a year).

Following on from its initial pledge, Sentosa’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality formed part of its commitment to the UN Sports for Climate Action ‘Race to Zero’ initiative, as well as the Sentosa Carbon Neutral Network, with a number of steps taken to compensate its carbon footprint, all under the umbrella of its sustainability campaign ‘GAME ON’. The club was also the first in Asia to introduce carbon products in the form of biochar into their agronomy programme to remove more carbon from the atmosphere.

Other initiatives, pioneered over a decade of work, were identified to help with the reduction of direct and indirect carbon emissions, including a state-of-the-art irrigation system and agronomy equipment that creates efficiencies and minimises product wastage seen by over fertilisation and watering. The club has also introduced an all-electric golf cart fleet powered with lithium batteries, car charging stations and waste digesters which grind down food and horticultural waste to reuse as fertiliser on the golf course. Further initiatives were also introduced to increase energy efficiency, resulting in the clubhouse being awarded Green Mark Certification.

Endangered mangrove species along the edge of the 4th and 6th holes of the Serapong Course have been preserved within the golfing landscape

Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore has become the world’s first carbon neutral golf club.

Singapore’s Sentosa Golf Club announced in March that it had become the world’s first carbon neutral golf club, fulfilling a commitment it made in 2021

These complement other on-course efforts that saved over 300 different species of trees during the redevelopment of the Tanjong course, and the introduction of stingless bee colonies on-site that thrive in an ecosystem alongside otters, peacocks, long-tail macaques and other migratory and native birds. Endangered mangrove species situated in the Serapong Lagoon and heritage sites such as Fort Berhala Reping have also been preserved within the landscape of the golf courses.

On achieving the carbon neutrality goal, general manager and director of agronomy, Andrew Johnston, highlighted the importance of this historic milestone for the golf industry.

“We are proud to see that Sentosa Golf Club has become the world’s first carbon neutral golf club and are extremely proud of this achievement,” says Johnston. “Ever since we began to share the importance of our sustainability journey back in 2018, we have always been focused on becoming an industry leader and inspiring others to follow suit by implementing eco-friendly initiatives to help reduce our overall carbon footprint. Hopefully this is just the beginning and more clubs around the world will commit to becoming carbon neutral in the near future.”

Sentosa Golf Club joins others in the sporting world, such as English Football

REDUCING YOUR TURF FACILITY’S CARBON FOOTPRINT

ATM environmental columnist Kate Torgersen looks at five ways golf clubs and turf facilities can, like Sentosa Golf Club, reduce their carbon footprint...

INCREASE BIODIVERSITY

Conserved or restored habitats can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thus helping to address climate change by storing carbon. Increasing biodiversity can also benefit flora, fauna and pollinators, decrease water use and provide colour and contrast to your facility.

How can you increase your biodiversity?

l Select areas within your site that can be converted to no-mow zones.

l Revegetate with indigenous vegetation, ensuring plenty of diversity in your species selection.

l Creating wetlands. Wetlands are excellent carbon sinks and it can be stored within their soils for long periods.

REDUCE FOOD WASTE

When food breaks down at landfill sites, it releases harmful greenhouse gases like methane. About 8-10 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions are related to food waste. Golf courses have an advantage as they have the potential to convert all food waste from their site into compost and reuse the product within the same site.

How can you reduce food waste?

l There are many opportunities nowadays to donate food. Researching and contacting your local food bank can help reduce food waste within your kitchen.

l Conduct a food waste audit and implement updated policies, procedures and staff training. Introducing new standard operation procedures and staff training is essential for culture change and engagement, resulting in less food waste and a lower carbon footprint.

l New technologies, such as food dehydrators, can convert from 30kg to 2000kg or more daily, depending on your machine. This could equate to more than 50 per cent of daily waste in landfill bins.

REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Reducing energy costs and decreasing energy consumption remains one of the first things businesses should do to reduce their carbon footprint. As electricity grids transition to renewables and fossil fuel power stations shut, continued price increases within the electricity market are inevitable. An energy management strategy can improve your energy efficiency and save costs.

How can you reduce your energy consumption?

l Conduct an energy audit to measure current performance within a facility. It will identify quick-win opportunities, reset efficiency and prioritise action plans.

l Regular maintenance on all electrical appliances and update when required. New models offer more energy efficiency, and although they may initially cost, the long-term benefit and cost savings will outweigh the initial costs.

l Introduce renewable energy within your facility. For example, solar panels could be installed to power course machinery, pump stations and clubhouses.

WATER MANAGEMENT

There are multiple components to water management and reducing your carbon footprint – reducing water use, upgrading old irrigation systems (see the earlier article this edition on the project at Cairns Golf Club – Ed), regular sprinkler audits, proper drainage, choosing the correct turf variety for your climate and creating filtration ponds and wetlands. Any improvement within your water management can help reduce your overall carbon footprint.

League side Forest Green Rovers who became the world’s first carbon neutral football club, with the likes of Formula 1 and World Athletics both making carbon neutral pledges recently.

As well as its thriving reputation for sustainability and environmental excellence, the club has played host to several high-profile professional events, including eight Barclays Singapore Opens and six SMBC Singapore Opens. The club is also home to the HSBC Women’s World Championship, the marquee LPGA Tour event dubbed ‘Asia’s Major’. In late April it will also host the LIV Singapore event, a week after the Australian leg at The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide.

How can you improve water management?

l Upgrade your current irrigation system – a central control system can be more efficient and provide options to monitor water use and limit consumption during peak periods closely. A large budget is often required to upgrade, but these days, there are many funding opportunities you could apply for to help.

l Performing an irrigation audit can save you up to 30 per cent in water usage immediately. Adjusting sprinkler heads and fixing leaks will lead to a more efficient irrigation system.

l Reusing and recycling water can ensure water security for your facility. Rainwater capture, stormwater runoff, recycling water and filtration ponds are possibilities for water sources other than potable water on playing surfaces, gardens and wash-down bays.

FERTILISER AND HERBICIDE USE

Part of maintaining your facility is feeding the grass, preventing weeds and keeping pests at bay. It is widely known that synthetic fertiliser production, transportation and usage contribute to substantial CO2 emissions, not to mention runoff, soil alterations and potential threats to wildlife.

How to reduce herbicide and fertiliser use?

l Always apply fertilisers and herbicides according to label rates and guidelines. This will eliminate overuse.

l Research organic and alternative solutions. This is standard practice nowadays, with many suppliers providing better alternatives or producing products that are less harmful to the environment.

l Alternative management practices to reduce the need for fertilisers and herbicides. This could include more regular aeration, topdressing, weed burning and GPS spraying for targeted, accurate applications.

perspective Peninsula

When you get to the number of years that Steve Burchett has been in the turf management industry, you develop a pretty good perspective not just about work but life in general. The now 54-year-old has notched up 33 years as a turf manager, including the past 18 as course superintendent of Portarlington Golf Club on Victoria’s picturesque Bellarine Peninsula.

Whether it has been at resort style courses, private metropolitan clubs or smaller regional facilities like the one he is currently custodian of, Steve has experienced the gamut during a rewarding career. He was also a longserving member of the Victorian Golf Course Superintendents Association (VGCSA) Board,

joining the committee in 2013, becoming treasurer in 2015 before stepping off in 2020. Throughout all this, with wife Natalie and their five children, Steve has nurtured a fulfilling family life outside of turf which, as you will read in this edition’s profile, is the focal point of his world and provides him with some allimportant perspective and grounding.

How did you end up in the turf industry? Did you choose turf or did it choose you? From my teenage years, turf always held a fascination for me, whether it was the lawn at home or the green stuff (or sometimes not so green) that I used to play sport on. Whether footy, cricket, tennis, golf, lawn bowls or running, being on turf at some stage during the week was second nature to an active young

fella who loved to play sport. So I guess it sort of chose me without me realising. The joy of being on a natural surface either with boots or bare feet gripped me tight and hasn’t let go yet (I will still gravitate to the barefoot option most times and love the feeling of the turf under the feet). So, there was certainly a spark ignited early in the piece and with parents’ interests in gardens and the environment, I too soon embraced the natural world.

My first memories of seeing truly manicured turf was watching the Australian Masters on TV in the mid-80s. One year I ventured to Huntingdale to not only watch the golf but enjoy the course and turf conditions. Subsequent years would see me return to the Masters and thus probably cemented in me a desire to pursue a career in turf.

ATM columnist Ben Gibson talks to 18-year Portarlington Golf Club course superintendent Steve Burchett about his career, the importance of family and catching a wave or two…

Tell us about your career and how you ended up at Portarlington Golf Club? I grew up on a dairy farm in Kyabram, Victoria which was a terrific place for a kid. Being the youngest of four meant I was coerced into plenty of adventures and amazingly I managed to scrape through with only one major injury –a broken arm from falling out of a tree!

After leaving school and with a burgeoning interest in turf, I made up my mind that I wanted to be involved in the turf industry. Fortunately for me, Commonwealth Golf Club was looking for an apprentice and I somehow landed the job. Under the supervision of then Commonwealth superintendent Tony Owen, we had a great crew and I loved almost every minute of it. Challenges came and went among the 3am starts to turn irrigation on and off while trying to stay awake in the old HQ Holden ute that was our course vehicle.

Five years on, after experiencing a taste of greens and tee reconstruction, irrigation installation and fine turf establishment and management, my wife Natalie and I decided to move interstate. We settled in Rockhampton (Queensland) where Nat went nursing and I was fortunate to pick up work as a greenkeeper at the then named Capricorn International Resort. We enjoyed our time living and working in this community and I relished the opportunity to experience golf course management at a resort managing warmseason turf.

The desire to experience more construction and development work lingered within though and I caught wind of a new golf course being built in Melbourne – Capital Golf Club – headed up by construction superintendent Graeme Rogers. Thankfully he gave me a go and the next six years was spent living out a boyhood fascination – playing with diggers, moving soil around, growing turf, managing high level fine turf, installing and managing irrigation systems and all that goes with developing an exclusive golf club.

We got plenty of practice as on a number of occasions sites were redesigned and rebuilt. There was lots of head scratching and wondering what we were doing, but we certainly had a lot of fun and I valued every moment.

The benefit of age and experience allows me to reflect and value the contribution of every challenge that presents itself. It all goes into the melting pot of life, in part making me who I am today. Capital was no exception and I’m thankful to Graeme and Lloyd (Williams) for allowing me the opportunity. The learning curve was steep, the working hours long and the diversity of the extensive crew always provided plenty of entertainment.

City life for both Natalie and myself was never going to be a long-term option, so with a couple of kids in tow we decided on a tree change and moved to the Victorian country town of Ararat to undertake my first superintendent’s role at Chalambar Golf Club. This brought with it more learning curves as now I was the one responsible for how the site was managed and how best to maintain and improve the playing surfaces.

During our time there we travelled around Australia for a year which brought with it many valued experiences and memories that our family holds dear. Upon our return we decided on a sea change and I was fortunate to be

appointed superintendent at Portarlington Golf Club. Eighteen years later still sees our family here on the Bellarine, loving the lifestyle and the community.

You’ve got a basketball team of kids! How did that happen and what advice do you have for turf managers with a young family or considering starting one? The kids happened one at a time and we stopped at five! I am very thankful to be surrounded by a close-knit bunch of people who love and care for each other. I feel I have been placed in a very fortunate position – I have a career that has given me the privilege to work and provide for my family. For me, this sense of providing for a bunch of people and inspiring them to face and overcome challenges has been an important driver in why I go to work. I feel honoured to contribute to their wellbeing and future, while in some ways inspiring them to be all they can be.

Understanding this concept earlier on in my working life, when my family was young, has been a great source of motivation for me

Opposite: “I listen to my wife – she is the wisest person I know.” A dynamic duo – Steve Burchett and wife Natalie

Right: Burchett has been superintendent at Portarlington Golf Club for the past 18 years. Pictured is the 12th hole

Having five kids and an active family lifestyle has helped to give Burchett a unique perspective on the world and reinforce the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance

PHOTO: PORTARLINGTON GC/BRENDAN JAMES

during the ups and downs of a long career. As most of us would be aware, working in the turf industry has plenty of great moments, but equally we are constantly faced with challenges, whether that’s Mother Nature or the people we work with and for.

For those coming through, I would say enjoy the ride and put people first. I believe it’s the relationships that we have with those around us that influence us and assist us in getting the outcomes we are looking for. People can inspire us, teach us new things, achieve great things and get things done, so best to look after them I reckon.

Has your family shifted your perspective and has it influenced the way you lead? I clearly have a greater awareness that life exists beyond the boundaries of the golf club and being surrounded by loved ones taught me this early on. There definitely are times though when your commitment to the course requires more time; I think experience has taught me to prioritise though and appreciate what can wait until tomorrow and what can’t. Gaining understanding and remembering this is true

for my team members too, has helped me lead and gain empathy in this space.

Having been married for 32 years (with our eldest now 25), has taught me new perspectives. Life has happened and I have experienced much, but I am definitely still learning and continue to do so. To learn and inspire myself is to encourage and spur others on and that absolutely influences the way in which I lead.

You are a passionate surfer and love the ocean. How important is having that as an outlet? Yes, I do love the ocean and a surf. For me, being in the ocean is a time to reset, refresh and literally wash away a few worries. The bonus is I get to do it with family and friends, so what’s not to like! Finding and being involved in an interest that allows time for my brain to switch off from work is important for me. It also helps me to be more present when around loved ones. Outside of surfing I love bushwalking and overnight hiking, music and reading, tending the garden and turf at home and hanging out with family and friends.

How do you balance the demands of turf management and your personal life? I listen to my wife – she is the wisest person I know. Who knows whether we get the balance right as everyone’s circumstances are different and individuals need to function at different levels, so there is no judgment here. I’ve learnt that gaining understanding is far more important than getting it right. I’m now in a period of my life where I have the privilege of being inspired by my children, so hanging out with them as much as I can refreshes me and spurs me on.

What is at the top of your priority list as a superintendent? Producing the best possible product for members and guests with the available resources. Sounds like a pretty bland statement, but I try not to lose sight of this. It’s their club and I am just the custodian at the moment, so leaving the property in a better situation than when I first started is one of the top priorities for me, whether that be turf conditions, course design and vegetation management.

You have a relatively small crew. How do you structure and delegate your work? For us, it is important that every team member can undertake most tasks. This allows us greater opportunity for flexibility when numbers are short. I also think it is good for team culture that everyone can do any task; we all know we can cover for each other if needed and I feel it creates a sense of support for each other. Anthony ‘Larry’ Donohue, my assistant, has been at the club as long as I have. Having that level of experience around is priceless, so a huge shout out and thank-you to him for his support along the way. We’re a great team.

How would you describe your leadership style? I would like to think I work in collaboration with people so that a team culture can be fostered, with each person concerned for the wellbeing of the rest of the crew. At the end of the day we are all people, so trying to be kind and patient is at the top of my leadership objectives, while giving space for empathy and understanding. I still enjoy being on the tools as much as possible and try to be involved in all aspects of our course management. I feel this allows me a greater understanding of the requirements for each task and helps me assess future priorities.

While wanting to be across everything, I also think it is important for each team member to feel trusted and empowered to thrive in their environment. Therefore, I like to give people as much opportunity as I can to be responsible decision makers, in essence allowing them to feel confident to lead themselves which

Portarlington Golf Club is a hidden gem on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula. Pictured is the 1st and 10th double green

A keen surfer, being in the ocean is a time for Burchett to reset, refresh and literally wash away a few worries

PHOTO: PORTARLINGTON GC/BRENDAN JAMES

enables a strong contribution to the team. This I find builds a desire to produce a top-quality course and positive sense of achievement. Providing time and space to inspire team members to look beyond and prepare for future opportunities is another aspect I see as important. This enables them to represent themselves well in subsequent opportunities that come up, if they so desire to aspire beyond what we offer here.

On the whole, positive momentum brings good results. If I am aware of areas that lack this, I reassess my approach and try a different

strategy to bring a different outcome. This sometimes is quite humbling and so worth doing as the alternative can make the work environment challenging.

Who has influenced your career and why?

Natalie, my wife, has always offered me a balanced and considered view on things. She’s been a listening ear when needed and offers fresh perspectives to situations that have been challenging. This I have needed on multiple occasions and she’s probably the reason I’ve been in the industry so long

AT A GLANCE – PORTARLINGTON GC, VIC

Course specs: Par 72, 5999m. Around 17ha of fine cut turf including practice range. Bentgrass and Poa annua on the greens. The majority of the bentgrass is Penneagle, while two new greens have been sown with Dominant X-treme. This particular mix (777, 007 and Flagstick) has suited our needs very well and therefore we have been annually oversowing to introduce more of this into the greens. Tees, fairways and approaches are Santa Ana couchgrass. Roughs are a mix of native couch, fescues and Poa with our old friends kikuyu and parramatta grass annually on the eradication list.

Members/rounds: 800/45,000.

Major events: Annual Carnival Week of Golf in September; Legends Pro-Am in February. We break the year into three critical time frames – two ‘BCs’ (‘before carnival’ and ‘before Christmas’) and ‘BLP’ (‘before Legends Pro-am’). The general wellbeing of crew and management hinge on timing projects with this in mind.

Annual course budget: $1.1m including wages and depreciation. We also have a capital expenditure budget on top of this for projects and machinery.

Staff structure: Steve Burchett (superintendent), Anthony ‘Larry’ Donohue (assistant), Sam Beeston (foreman), Matthew Fromholtz (qualified greenkeeper), brothers Matthew Lawrence (groundsman) and Luke Lawrence (apprentice) and Cody Van de Laar (turf technician).

Climate/annual rainfall/soil types: It’s southern Victoria, anything can happen!

Generally warm in the summer, dang cold in the winter, beautiful in the autumn and a mixed bag in spring. Our 20-year average is sitting on 544mm, with the lowest recorded figure for the last 20 years being 317mm in 2006. Generally sandy loam with a couple of sections of heavier soil.

Water sources/irrigation system: We collect and store about 50 megalitres of stormwater each winter and spring from surrounding housing estates. We also have access to recycled water from the Portarlington

treatment plant which is piped to us from 5km away. Rain Bird Stratus II decoder system. Cutting heights/regimes: Greens 2.75mm, surrounds 6mm, approaches and tees 9mm, fairways 12mm, fine cut rough 32mm and general rough 75mm.

Renovations: We needle-tine greens every eight weeks, while dusting every 3-4 weeks is virtually compulsory. We haven’t hollowtined for over 10 years. We believe that this, combined with having the greens under strict growth regulation, has seen a vast improvement in the surface and sees the bentgrass dominating over the Poa Major disease pressures: Rhizoctonia and anthracnose in the warmer months. We find that disease pressure builds the further into the irrigation season we go, particularly if we are relying more on the poorer quality recycled water. Flushing the greens with better quality water and introducing calcium products into the profile is a major help.

Fungicide is also a key management tool. Fusarium in the cooler months; keeping the surface as dry as we can while in conjunction with fungicide use is key to control. The last couple of years has seen us introduce

while remaining mentally stable. Her love and support is critical to how I function.

I have learnt a lot along the way about how to do things and how not to do things from a career spent observing and taking in new things. Many people have inspired me along the way. Spending time on the VGCSA committee was a great time of gleaning information from my peers and time that I valued greatly. I also attend as many education meetings and opportunities to network with other turf managers which has provided terrific insight over many years.

greater populations of beneficial bacteria into the greens profile. Myth or benefit? Only each turf manager can judge this according to their own situation, but for us we have definitely noticed less disease pressure all round which in turn has meant less reliance on the use of fungicides.

Nutrition: On the greens we spoon feed and apply growth regulator fortnightly. This equates to 1300g-1700g of actual N/100m2 and 1800g-2000g of actual K per annum. We find this provides adequate nutrition for the bentgrass while keeping the Poa in check. The tees and approaches are sitting around 500g per 100m2 of actual N per annum, while the fairways miss out a bit and are back to 200g.

Recent or upcoming course projects: At the moment we are extending irrigation lines and introducing more fine cut Santa Ana to provide more seamless transitions between playing zones. We are currently working with Paul Mogford on some master planning and course design elements which we see as important improvements for the future of the club. Our new pump set has also just completed its first full irrigation season.

Burchett and his crew are in the process of extending irrigation lines and introducing more fine cut Santa Ana to provide more seamless transitions between playing zones. Pictured is the 13th

PHOTO: PORTARLINGTON GC/BRENDAN JAMES

One of the best things about the turf industry is the people involved and getting alongside to learn how each is doing it. This has contributed enormously in making me a better superintendent. I also love spending time in nature and am a keen observer of the surrounding environment. This is a source of great inspiration to me when considering design elements and revegetation strategies.

What is the biggest mistake you have made and what did you learn from it? I accidentally left the handbrake off on a Cushman while I was doing some irrigation work at Capital. I tore up to an irrigation control box and jumped off the machine all in the one motion, not really even thinking about it as I had done it on countless occasions. Unfortunately for me, I stopped on top of a bank of one of the large waterways. I did my thing in the box, turned around to race off to the next one only to see the Cushman heading flat out down the bank and into the water, fully submerging. Nice one Steve! Me and a few of the crew eventually pulled it out (thanks Abbot) and

Billy worked his magic and got the thing going again. Graeme was very patient and I always appreciated his measured response. Note to self… always apply the handbrake!

You would think that one would learn from one’s mistakes, but at Portarlington not long after I started the same thing happened. I left an old ute running while I raced in to adjust something on the irrigation computer. Sure enough when I came out, there’s the ute trundling off towards the back of the clubhouse. Nice one Steve! Thankfully it crashed into one of the poles holding up the verandah which promptly stopped it. Note to self, again… always apply the handbrake!

What is something no one in the turf industry would know about you? I bake sourdough bread weekly and play the guitar (not necessarily at the same time).

What do you feel are some of the biggest challenges facing the turf industry? Recruitment is always challenging as we compete against the major trades, as we know

that the qualified salary potential is most likely less in our industry than others. The future could look like reduced hours at the same pay rates and conditions – something like five six-hour days or a rotating roster of four days per week. This will probably be a reality in the corporate world in the not-too-distant future so maybe this is one thought to make our industry look progressive and attractive. This would also free up time for side hustles or lifestyle choices. The ‘Women in Turf’ initiative is a great and timely strategy and will hopefully open up avenues for future staff recruiting.

On the golf course, we seem to be squeezing all our tasks into the first couple of hours of the day to keep ahead of the play. In one sense this is great as there is a lot more people wanting to play the game, but the problem is the majority of them want to play early in the day. In terms of managing the site efficiently and safely this may be an area that needs addressing from a course perspective.

From what I’ve seen, the average golfer sees the staff member as a target to be hit or missed rather than a person requiring value and respect. This has a huge effect on staff morale and personal satisfaction. For example, the majority of golfers will wait for another golfer down the way, but if it is a staff member would freely hit up. Sounds like a bit of a whinge session I know, but just expressing what I’ve seen and continue to see. Without the golf course staff, we don’t have a game.

Finally, any advice for younger staff in the turf industry looking for their next opportunity or building their careers? Take responsibility seriously. Respect and honour the process of learning. Be diligent and kind in every aspect of your life. Ask lots of questions and presume nothing. Learn everything (usually done by making some mistakes). Build while you have the energy to do so, for as age comes different priorities come too. Make peace with the highs and lows and persevering is worth it.

A great team... the Portarlington Golf Club maintenance crew, Burchett’s second family

Peckish? Burchett makes a mean sourdough when he’s not tending to the Portarlington turf

“I’m now in a period of my life where I have the privilege of being inspired by my children. Hanging out with them refreshes me and spurs me on.” Burchett with sons Harry (left) and Charlie

Arriving at St Andrews in 1991 as Eden Course superintendent, in 2000 Gordon was elevated to Links superintendent which gave him responsibility for all courses, including the Old Course. He would oversee preparations for three Open Championships in 2005, 2010 and 2015.

Jim is a Professor in the Plant Sciences Department at the University of Tennessee (UT) and director of the UT Weed Diagnostics Center. In this role, he leads research, extension and diagnostic programs targeting the needs of Tennessee’s $US5.8 billion turfgrass industry.

Nathan is a Professor of Turfgrass Integrated Pest Management/Turfgrass Pathology at Oklahoma State University. He is currently co-operating with Australia’s Dr. Percy Wong in the identification and taxonomy of several new-emergent turfgrass pathogens.

GORDON MOIR BIGGA PRESIDENT, EX-ST ANDREWS

DR JIM BROSNAN UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, US

DR NATHAN WALKER OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, US

AROUND THE TRADE ENVU PUBLISHES UPDATED PRODUCT TECHNICAL BROCHURES

The new Syngenta Turf Innovation Centre will research turf management practices under Australian conditions, demonstrating and supporting industry practices and development. It will also showcase best technology and products and support the turf industry with strong stewardship and practical sustainability ideals.

TRADE EXHIBITION SELLS OUT, SPONSORS CONFIRMED

Envu was founded in 2022, a new company built on years of Bayer Environmental Science experience, for the sole purpose of advancing healthy environments for everyone, everywhere. Over the past three months, the team has been busy transitioning its marketing materials over to Envu branding, with new Product Technical Brochures now available. These can be downloaded via the Envu website – www. au.envu.com – in the Turf and Ornamental Management/Products section.

The Envu Turf and Ornamental Product Catalogue is also available to download. It lists the full range of Envu herbicide, insecticide and fungicide products. Each section provides a description of the product along with information such as the active ingredient, target pest/disease/weed, activity (e.g., pre- or post-emergent, systemic or contact), formulation, mode of action group, application rates, pH information and pack size.

BOURNE JOINS NUTURF

ASTMA Bronze Partner Nuturf announced in late February the appointment of Simon Bourne (pictured) as territory manager for Perth, WA effective from 6 March 2023. Bourne joins Nuturf with a wealth of knowledge in golf course management, construction and course operations under his belt. A dedicated individual, Bourne spent 24 years at Perth’s Cottesloe Golf Club where he began his career as an apprentice, progressing to become course superintendent.

His hard work has not gone unrecognised and after winning the GCSAWA Superintendent of the Year Award in 2014, went on to win the ASTMA’s Excellence in Golf Course

Management Award in 2015. He was also adjudged the Australian Golf Digest’s Superintendent of the Year in the same year.

Bourne had a lengthy involvement with the GCSAWA, holding a variety of positions over a 12-year period, including president from 2016-2020. While president, Bourne and the GCSAWA worked with the WA Department of Water and Environment on the development and implementation of the Waterwise Golf Course Program to achieve long-term water use efficiency for golf courses.

“With Simon’s impressive track record and technical background, he will no doubt be an invaluable asset to the company,” says Nuturf’s national business lead Liam Harper. “We’re thrilled to have Simon on board and look forward to his contribution.” Bourne can be contacted on 0499 994 274 or email simon. bourne@nuturf.com.au.

SYNGENTA TO HOST TURF INNOVATION LIVE!

To celebrate the upcoming launch of its Turf Innovation Centre on the Gold Coast, ASTMA Gold Partner Syngenta will host a series of live events across Australia in April and May bringing the latest in turf management innovation to local sports turf managers.

Syngenta Turf Innovation Live! will feature a range of international and local speakers, with the seminars to be held in Melbourne (26 April, Moonee Valley), Brisbane (27 April, Eagle Farm), Gold Coast (28 April, Lakelands GC), Adelaide (1 May, Morphettville Racecourse), Perth (2 May, Ascot Racing) and Sydney (4 May, Waterview Bicentennial Park). Speakers confirmed include Dr John Kaminski, Dr Brett Morris, Katie Dodson, Mark Birchmore, Kate Torgersen and Monina Gilbey. For further details visit www.syngentaturf.com.au.

This year’s Australian Sports Turf Management Conference Trade Exhibition is officially a sell out event! In February, the ASTMA announced that all stands for the two-day exhibition at the Adelaide Convention Centre had been snapped up, with more than 50 of the Australian turf industry’s leading companies set to be in attendance. This year’s trade exhibition, which will be held on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 June, will cover a 3500 square metre footprint and feature the latest in industry products and services.

The ASTMA is also indebted to the support of its many trade partners who have again got behind this year’s conference and annual ASTMA Awards which will be announced on the opening night.

The ASTMA wishes to acknowledge and thank the following valued companies for their commitment to this year’s event in Adelaide.

l Toro: Conference Principal Partner, ASTMA Golf Championship sponsor, ASTMA Graduate of the Year Award and Excellence in Sportsfields and Grounds Management Award sponsor.

l Syngenta: Conference Supporting Partner, National Turf Industry Awards Dinner sponsor, ASTMA Claude Crockford Sustainability and Environmental Award sponsor, conference lanyard sponsor.

l Envu: ASTMA Excellence in Golf Course Management Award, conference satchel sponsor

l Greenway Turf Solutions: Farewell Bash sponsor.

l Brandt Consolidated USA: Coffee Cart sponsor.

l Husqvarna: Conference app sponsor.

l Greenspace Turf Co-Op Ltd: Conference notepads and pens sponsor.

Additional conference sponsorships are available. For more information on these, contact Pam Irvine at the ASTMA on 0402 069 489 or email pam@astma.com.au.

The updated Envu Turf and Ornamental Product Catalogue is now available for downloading

ASTMA CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

The ASTMA congratulates the following sports turf managers who have achieved certification and can proudly use the ‘Certified Sports Turf Manager’ (CSTM) designation after their names…

Tim Allen The National Golf, Belgium

Dean Bailey Rosanna GC, Vic

Shane Baker Mosman Park GC, WA

Brett Balloch Anglesea GC, Vic

Ed Barraclough Cardinia Beaconhills GC, Vic

Mark Bateman Kooringal GC, Vic

Tim Bayard Evergreen Turf, Vic

Duncan Begley Horizons Golf Resort, NSW

Nathan Bennett The Royal Adelaide GC, SA

John Berthon St Georges Basin CC, NSW

Paul Bevan GTS, Qld

Shane Bisseker Tablelands Council, Qld

Robert Bloom Pelican Waters, Qld

Andrew Boyle GTS, Vic

Justin Bradbury Camden GC, NSW

Nathan Bradbury Nuturf, NSW

Harry Brennan Dubbo City Council, NSW

Brendan Brown East Geelong GC

Fraser Brown Lake Karrinyup CC, WA

Ben Bruzgulis Cronulla GC, NSW

Hamish Buckingham C’wealth GC, Vic

Chris Burgess Yarrawonga Mulwala GC, Vic

Greg Burgess K&B Adams, Vic

Jason Bushell Rowes Bay GC, Qld

Aaron Cachia Toronto CC, NSW

Malcolm Caddies Kai Tak, Hong Kong

Stuart Campbell Maroochy River GC, Qld

Brad Carey Riversdale GC, Vic

Patrick Casey Royal Perth GC, WA

David Cassidy The Cut, WA

Brian Cattell Wagga Wagga CC, NSW

Peter Cawsey Eastwood GC, Vic

Paul Chalmers Tamworth JC, NSW

Brenton Clarke Warrnambool GC, Vic

Jeremy Collier Mars Stadium, Vic

Dan Cook The Australian GC, NSW

Lincoln Coombes RACV Royal Pines, Qld

Phillip Cooper GTS, NSW

Dion Cope Redland Bay GC, Qld

Mick Cornish Cazaly’s Stadium, Qld

Shaun Cross Byron Bay GC, NSW

Joshua Cunningham All Outside, NSW

Luke Diserens Roseville GC, NSW

Nicholas Douglas Cranbourne GC, Vic

John Downes Regional Turf and Hort, Qld

Mark Doyle Hume City Council, Vic

Cameron Dunn Woolooware GC, NSW

Peter Dunn Federal GC, ACT

Ben Evans Ryde TAFE, NSW

Tim Fankhauser ASTMA, Vic

Timothy Fewster Doncaster BC, Vic

Peter Fitzgerald Belmont G&BC, NSW

Aaron Fluke NSWGC, NSW

Matthew Foenander Keysborough GC, Vic

Jason Foster Riverway Stadium, Qld

Jason Foulis HG Turf, Vic

Patrick Fraser Green Options, NSW

Peter Fraser Hervey Bay G&CC, Qld

Adam Fry Kooyonga GC, SA

Ryan Fury Killara GC, NSW

Jake Gibbs Elanora GC, ACT

Danny Hack Wellington Shire, Vic

Cameron Hall Kew GC, Vic

Gareth Hammond Terrey Hills GC, NSW

Brendan Hansard Kew CC, NSW

Dean Hardman Indooroopilly GC, Qld

Nick Harris Wentworth Club, UK

Marcus Hartup Vattanac Golf, Cambodia

Mitch Hayes Living Turf, Qld

Martyn Hedley Landscape Solutions, Qld

Matthew Heeps Evergreen Turf, Vic

Luke Helm Meadowbrook GC, Qld

Tony Hemming Optus Stadium, WA

Kirsty Herring Mackay Regional Council, Qld

Tim Hoskinson Green Options, Qld

Ian Howell Bonnie Doon GC, NSW

Rhys Hunichen Atlas Golf Services Vic

Jay Infanti Eastern GC, Vic

Nick Jeffrey St Joseph’s College, Qld

Mark Jennings Racing Victoria, Vic

Steven Johnson Al Mouj Golf, Oman

Jason Kelly Royal Fremantle GC, WA

Nick Kinley Hartfield CC, WA

Blaine Knox Palm Meadows GC, Qld

Lance Knox Busselton GC, WA

Steve Lalor Townsville GC, Qld

Kane Latham The Australian GC, NSW

Nick Launer Keysborough GC, Vic

Ben Lavender Newington College, NSW

Jason Lavender Beenleigh RSL & GC, Qld

Dean Lenertz North Ryde GC, NSW

Dean Lewis Thurgoona CC, NSW

Josh Leyland Box Hill GC, Vic

Nathan Lindsay Marrickville GSCC, NSW

Peter Lonergan CTHGC, NSW

Ben Lucas Tocumwal GC, NSW

Toby Lumsden ICC Academy, UAE

Bruce Macphee ASTMA, Vic

Stephen Mallyon Renworx, NSW

Dave Mason Brisbane GC, Qld

Garry McClymont Twin Waters GC, Qld

Mick McCombe Maleny GC, Qld

Christopher McIvor The Grand GC, Qld

Paul McLean Sanctuary Cove G&CC, Qld

Michael McMahon GTS, Qld

Peter McNamara Queensland

Ryan McNamara Rosanna GC, Vic

Keith McPhee Maitland City Council, NSW

Brett Merrell Merrell Golf Consultancy

Daniel Metcalfe Beverley Park GC, NSW

Kieran Meurant North Sydney Oval, NSW

Jack Micans Elanora GC, NSW

Braydan Millar Rowes Bay GC, Qld

Ben Mills Hawks Nest GC, NSW

Craig Molloy Barwon Heads GC, Vic

Colin Morrison AIMU P/L, Vic

Damien Murrell Merewether GC, NSW

James Newell Magenta Shores G&CC, NSW

Kelvin Nicholson Palmer Coolum Resort, Qld

Matthew Oliver Suncorp Stadium, Qld

Shaun Page Southern GC, Vic

Luke Partridge Nuturf, SA

Mick Pascoe Noosa GC, Qld

Ben Payne Peninsula-Kingswood CGC, Vic

Michael Pearce RACV Torquay GC, Vic

Jeff Powell Ballarat GC, Vic

Keegan Powell The Sands Torquay, Vic

Luke Primus Deakin University, Vic

Scott Prince Manningham City Council, Vic

Shaun Pritchard PEGS, Vic

Justin Rankin Kooindah Waters GC, NSW

Peter Rasmussen STRI, Hong Kong

Marc Raymond Waterford Valley GC, Vic

Scott Reid Launceston GC, Tas

Lachlan Ridgewell Blacktown ISP, NSW

Brent Robinson New South Wales

Chris Rogers Portsea GC, Vic

Brett Saggus BRG Legend Hill, Vietnam

Wesley Saunders Dunblane New GC, UK

Robert Savedra Wesley College, Vic

Travis Scott Riversdale GC, Vic

Bill Shuck Evergreen Turf, Vic

Cameron Smith Bonnie Doon GC, NSW

Gary Smith Wodonga TAFE, NSW

Jacob Smith The Coast GC, NS

Thomas Smith STRI Australia

Mathew Soles Roseville GC, NSW

Liam Somers Hamersley GC, WA

Clinton Southorn Troon International

John Spraggs Royal Wellington GC, NZ

Daniel Stack Windaroo Lakes GC, Qld

Kenji Steele Riverway Stadium, Qld

David Sutherland The Ridge GC, NSW

Lee Sutherland St Michael’s GC, NSW

Shay Tasker Carnarvon GC, NSW

Aaron Taylor Cronulla GC, NSW

Heath Taylor Blacktown ISP, NSW

Nigel Taylor Sports Turf Solutions, Malaysia

Shaun Taylor Southern GC, Vic

James Thomas Bayview GC, NSW

David Thomson Bermagui CC, NSW

Colin Thorsborne Parkwood Village, Qld

Ben Tilley Headland GC, Qld

Steve Tuckett Holmesglen TAFE, Vic

Dallas Voss Grass Up, Vic

Michael Vozzo Fertool, Vic

Earl Warmington Newcastle GC, NSW

Tim Warren Glenelg GC, SA

Rob Weiks Hoiana Shores GC, Vietnam

Shannon White Baileys Fertilisers, WA

George Widdowson Eden GC, NSW

Joshua Willard Oaks Cypress Lakes, NSW

Darren Wilson Wembley GC, WA

Issac Wojewodka Camden GC, NSW

Simon Wood Sth Metropolitan TAFE, WA

Tim Wright K&B Adams, Vic

Matthew Young Moonee Valley CC, Vic

TMSA

The formation of Turf Management South Australia (TMSA) from the former STA SA and SAGCSA associations was well and truly celebrated at the official launch on 23 February 2023 at Kooyonga Golf Club, with nearly 90 guests registering for the event. Former Australian cricketer Wayne Phillips, as event emcee, was entertaining and enlightened guests on the background behind the formation of TMSA.

Damian Hough (Adelaide Oval) and Justin Groves (Morphettville Racecourse) were both invited up as well to update the guests on activities at their venues as they were well known identities. To cap off the formalities, the sponsors were all acknowledged, with appreciation extended to them for jumping on board and supporting the new association.

The positive vibe from attendees was notable with many enjoying the opportunity to catch up with their industry colleagues after such a lengthy hiatus. A warm welcome was also given to Mark Unwin (ASTMA chief executive) and Simone Staples (ASTMA events and education manager).

Overwhelmingly, guests were happy to finally see the formation of TMSA and were looking forward to future involvement. Speaking at the launch, former STA SA president Gerry Charlton said the new association’s main objective was to support sports, recreation and amenity turf in South Australia.

“The creation of a new, united association has been a great outcome, several years in the making. The merger of the STA SA and SAGCSA will provide benefits to members and sponsors and creates a representative body that will promote the interests of all sectors of the industry.

“It is quite a task to merge two associations. While both have common interests, they also have their own history and culture, which is not always aligned. The challenge has been to put aside difference in favour of that common interest.

“This has been a complex process, about two years in the making, but with robust discussion and goodwill from both sides at all times, we were able to develop a set of principles that met the objectives of both. In doing so, I believe we have created a model that may be useful for other associations who may look at a similar process.”

Tim Warren (CSTM, Glenelg GC), who spoke on behalf of the SAGCSA, added: “The launch marks a new beginning, an association merger born from the same aspirations as those in the 1960s that came together. Through the diligent work over the last couple years of both the STA SA and SAGCSA committees, we are now at a time where we are presented

with a great opportunity to further advocate our industry, promote our professionalism and encourage future generations of turf managers through education opportunities. Together we can only advance our industry in a positive way and we look forward to seeing what possibilities lay ahead.”

A few days after the official launch, on 27 February TMSA held its Drop-in Pitch Event. There was a great turnout with over 50 in attendance watching as the Adelaide Oval SMA staff manoeuvred the pitch transporter as they removed the drop-in wickets from the main arena to the adjacent No.2 ground.

The process to remove the pitches is quite involved with each deck taking around 2.5 hours to be lifted (it takes around 20 minutes to drop one pitch or pick up another). Prior to being lifted, a team spends time digging out the wicket tray lifting lugs, cutting the trays and laying flooring. Damian has both a day crew

and night crew operating and between them they are able to complete the process over two days and nights.

Appreciation is extended to Damian and the Adelaide Oval for providing the opportunity for members, sponsors and industry colleagues to see the transport in action and to be part of this special occasion. Special thanks to Peter Foreman (Adelaide Oval SMA), Nick Pettigrew (Gawler Council) and Tim Warren for whipping up the barbeque and providing drinks for those who attended.

Moving forward, TMSA has locked in its inaugural Industry Golf Day at Thaxted Park GC on Tuesday 23 May, with a 7.30am shotgun start. I’m sure this will be well attended and gives a chance for the industry to get together and have some friendly competition.

NATHAN BENNETT ACTING CHAIR, TMSA

Turf Management South Australia held its drop-in pitch event at Adelaide Oval as the crew began the process of removing their seven wickets following the last domestic cricket fixture of the season

Trade members were out in numbers to support the official launch of Turf Management South Australia

GCSAWA

The summer continues for most golf courses over in the west with the last drop of rain back on 18 November 2022! The first week of March saw Perth’s official Bureau of Meteorology site record 1mm of rain, but most courses missed out.

The main event for this time of the year is the WA Golf Industry Awards Night which was held on the last evening of March at the Crown Ballroom. Close to 500 attended the night with 14 awards handed out, among them a number from the GCSAWA.

Kalgoorlie Golf Club’s Jayden Zappelli was named the AFGRI Apprentice of the Year. Starting out as a 15-year-old doing casual work, he hasn’t looked back. Jayden has already been involved in six WA PGA Championships and last year put his hand up to volunteer at Victoria Golf Club for the ISPS Handa Australian Open.

Kalgoorlie is one of the toughest places to grow grass with their heavy soils and recycled water, not to mention extreme heat and frosty winters. Jayden is heavily involved in the new nursery projects and trials, greens rejuvenation works after one particularly tough summer and the day-to-day-running of the club.

Des Russell took home the AFGRI Superintendent of the Year Award after a massive two years at Cottesloe Golf Club. The club is halfway through a complete greens replacement program and in between Des

NSWGCSA

The first quarter of 2023 has seen the NSWGCSA focus on skills development and the well-being of our members and their teams. To that end, we conducted two excellent ‘Walk & Talk’ events in March at Pennant Hills Golf Club in Sydney and Charlestown Golf Club near Newcastle.

At Pennant Hills, course superintendent Liam Ash talked through the upcoming course masterplan works, preparing the course for the recent NSW Amateur Championship and the club’s approaching centenary. Guest speaker was Gus Worland who is not only a popular and much-loved Australian television and radio personality, but also the driving force behind the mental fitness charity Gotcha4Life.

The second ‘Walk & Talk’ at Charlestown saw course superintendent Matt Fealy showcasing the club’s new driving range. Ben Gibson from The Toolbox Team also discussed work-life balance and dealing with adversity. The NSWGCSA thanks both Ben and Gus for taking the time to speak – their guidance and support on mental health and work life balance is invaluable.

Elsewhere, the NSWGCSA would like to acknowledge and congratulate the following Vince Church Graduate of the Year nominees;

and his team have maintained the course to its usual high standard. They also continued to host a number of high ranking amateur and pro events, all while being well under budget.

The Golf Club of the Year Awards were won by The Vines (metropolitan) and Busselton (regional). The Vines (superintendent Brad Pavlinovich), which is a housing estate, identified numerous issues with the safety and playability of the course and tough weather conditions. They have moved or built new tees, removed trees that restricted sunlight and air movement around greens, installed a number of mobile weather

stations and started on a $6.5million irrigation upgrade. With a small team, aging machinery and large site, Brad and his team still manage to keep the course in great condition.

Busselton (superintendent Lance Knox) continues to go from strength to strength. They have replaced three greens and extended another three, replaced eight bunkers, built a new nursery and opened up a new maintenance facility, along with minor additions to the irrigation system and some tee construction.

Finally, the WA superintendent community farewelled one of the great guys in Neil Graham who resigned from Mandurah Country Club at the start of March. Neil won the WA Superintendent of the Year Award for 2020 (pictured), trained two Apprentice of the Year Award winners over the last five years and helped turn Mandurah into the successful club it is today. Even into his 60’s, Neil was one of the hardest working supers in the state.

Fittingly, there was a large turnout for his farewell drinks which was testament to the standing he holds in the WA golf industry. Thankfully, Neil hasn’t been lost and has started a new position as turf maintenance manager with NewGround Water Services. We wish Neil all the best in his new role.

SHANE BAKER PRESIDENT, GCSAWA

l Austyn Layton (Wyong GC);

l Catherine Jongkind (Mudgee GC);

l William Armstrong (Monash CC);

l James Elphick (Gunnedah GC); and

l Jackson Lanning (Killara GC). Judging has occured and we look forward to announcing the winner by the end of March.

Coming up, on Tuesday 23 May we have our annual Ambrose Day, sponsored by John Deere|Land HQ, to be held at Magenta Shores (host superintendent James Newell).

LEON HENNESSY PRESIDENT, NSWGCSA

Neil Graham (right) departed Mandurah CC in March to take on a new role with NewGround Water Services

The NSWGCSA has named five finalists for its prized Vince Church Graduate of the Year Award

ASSOCIATION REPORTS

ACTSTMA

The ACTSTMA is building up for its annual Golf Day which will be held at Royal Canberra Golf Club on Monday 1 May. A big thank you to Royal Canberra and host superintendent Ryan Stores for giving up the course for the day. We are looking forward to a big turnout to play one the most unique courses in the country.

It has been a busy summer period for Ryan and his team, with the completion of the club’s new driving range and practice facility. Starting last September, the club ripped up the entire existing area, including range tee, fairway, two practice greens, practice nets, all concrete paths and 45 trees.

The rebuilt range tee measures 2800m2, while the new green, which was hydroseeded with Pure Distinction bentgrass, is 750m2. The tee top and green surround was solid turfed with Santa Ana couchgrass, while the fairway was stolonised with Santa Ana (muck spread) harvested from Canturf by Royal Canberra staff.

The new practice fairway, which measures 1.6 hectares and is over 300m in length, now has three target greens and bunkers and will provide a great state-of-the-art teaching facility and experience for members and guests.

SIMON SNEDDEN COMMITTEE, ACTSTMA

TURF NSW

Work has started on the Turf NSW Flood Recovery Project which will see a number of activities over the next couple of years to assist the recovery and resilience of NSW turf producers through flood events.

One aspect of the project is the clearing out of drains and creeks in the Hawkesbury region. Overgrown and debris-filled creeks have been an ongoing problem for growers and locals in the area for a number of years, blocking the flow of any flood waters and keeping paddocks under water for way too long which has resulted in crop loss.

We are working closely with Hawkesbury Council to ensure that this process is managed in accordance with their guidelines. All going well, we should see excavators in these creeks systems in the coming months.

Another important aspect of the project is collecting information and data directly from the growers themselves. This will include understanding the process of preparing for floods and the recovery process, in particular what worked and what didn’t. Floods aren’t new to the industry, but those impacting some NSW turf producers over the past couple of years were the worst we have seen (in terms of

height and damage) in 40 years. Developing a library of resources on flood management will assist turf producers in NSW and all over the country, especially our younger growers who are coming through the industry now.

Another project that Turf NSW has been working on is the Turf Transport Safety Guidelines through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and their safety initiative funding program. We are working with Engistics to develop guidelines for turf restraint and mass management systems for transporting turf.

This has been an interesting process and saw Engistics look at the many variances in turf transport and the safety processes involved for moving and unloading turf. The final details are being developed to ensure that the guidelines not only meet current regulations but are practical for staff working the trucks. Workshops will be held for growers to learn about the new guidelines, as well as understand the Chain of Responsibility regulations which effect all those involved in loading, delivering and receiving products.

I look forward to connecting with many of our members over the coming months. If anyone from the wider turf industry needs information from Turf NSW, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

JENNY ZADRO EXECUTIVE OFFICER, TURF NSW

Between September 2022 and March 2023, Royal Canberra Golf Club completely reconstructed its driving range and practice facility. The rebuilt range tee and fairway is Santa Ana, while the new green is Pure Distinction

PHOTOS: RYAN STORES

Following recent major flood events, Turf NSW’s Flood Recovery Project is targetting the clearing of drain and creek systems in the Hawkesbury region

VGCSA

Early March officially marked the start of the 2023 VGCSA events calendar, with a well-received attendance of over 100 members at The National Golf Club for our education meeting. The day showcased course tours of The National, with highly informative talks led by course manager Leigh Yanner and superintendents Tony Gordon (Moonah and Gunnamatta courses) and Scott Calder (Old Course). Our event sponsors also contributed to the program with presentations by Peter Schumacher (Jacobsen’s regional sales manager Aus/NZ) for ADE Turf Equipment and Alastair Clarkson, head coach of the North Melbourne Football Club, on behalf of Oasis Turf.

During the tour, Tony highlighted works on the Gunnamatta course to rectify some safety issues. The 1st green has been moved forward and to the left to accommodate a new 18th tee behind the site of the existing green and 17th green. The location of the existing 18th men’s tee had become problematic as miscued tee shots from those aiming to drive the reachable short par four 17th were landing on or near the tee. Moving the tee up to the ladies’ tee changed the nature of the hole, so Gunnamatta designer Tom Doak made a whistlestop trip to oversee the recent changes.

The next big VGCSA event will be the 96th Annual General Meeting at Sorrento Golf Club (superintendent Shane Greenhill). Let’s hope the weather shines for a great morning of golf (and course walk) followed by lunch proceedings with special award presentations, golf prizes (courtesy of Toro Australia and Greenway Turf Solutions) and the AGM.

Back in early December, the VGCSA selection panel conducted interviews for the Golf Turf Apprentice of the Year Award. The association applauds all the nominees, with high hopes for their future endeavours in the turf industry and careers moving forward. After careful deliberation, the panel was pleased to announce Kingston Heath Golf Club’s Solly Marshall as the 2022-23 award winner.

Solly studied his apprenticeship at Holmesglen TAFE while under the supervision of superintendent Hayden Mead, former assistant superintendent Jarrod Castle (now superintendent at Rich River GC) and current assistant superintendent Tim Hamilton. In late April, Solly will be heading to New Zealand to undertake a one-week work experience residency at Tara Iti Golf Club, Seddon & FMG Stadium and Tieke Golf Estate as part of the Apprentice of the Year Award and VGCSA John Deere Scholarship alliance.

Finally, nominations are now open for the VGCSA Superintendent and Trade Recognition Awards, which will be presented at the AGM. We encourage all members to recommend a course superintendent and/ or trade representative who, as a dedicated VGCSA member, has demonstrated ongoing support of the association and a high calibre of professionalism within the industry.

MARY NAPIER CEO, VGCSA

The National Golf Club hosted the VGCSA’s first education meeting of 2023 in early March

TSTMA

Turf managers in Tasmania are enjoying some cooler temperatures after a very dry summer, especially in the north of the state.

Launceston Golf Club played host to the 2023 Tasmanian Open in late February in what would prove the perfect finale for course superintendent Scott Reid (CSTM). In the days after successfully hosting the three-day, 54-hole strokeplay event, Scott tendered his resignation as Launceston superintendent to take on a teaching role with TasTAFE where he will be nurturing the next crop of sports turf managers. We wish him well in the new role.

Scott has been Launceston superintendent since 2019 and is one of five full-timers on staff who maintain the 19-hole layout. For the tournament, which for the first time since 1992 was contested as a professional event with $35,000 in prizemoney, Scott was assisted by a number of long-serving and knowledgeable volunteers as well as two crew members from the 7 Mile Beach development in Hobart.

Through Richard Lancaster at TasTAFE and 7 Mile Beach superintendent Anthony Toogood, Lachie Boorsboom and Sam Sartori travelled north to help out over the three days. After an induction and training before the tournament started, Lachie mowed greens for the remaining two days, while Sam proved invaluable on the bunker rake.

Dene Mackay, from local John Deere dealership Midland Tractors, helped out with the loan of a 2750 PrecisionCut mower that was used to cut green surrounds for the week. This meant Scott could lower surrounds heights to 8mm while keeping the tees at 10mm (these areas are usually cut with the same machine). Friday and Saturday morning

ON THE MOVE…

BRENTON CLARKE: From Warrnambool GC, Vic to superintendent Settlers Run GC, Vic.

NEIL GRAHAM: From superintendent Mandurah CC, WA to turf maintenance manager NewGround Water Services, WA.

ANDREW JOHNSON: After three years away from the industry, the former Rich River GC superintendent of 22 years has been appointed as assistant superintendent at Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort, NSW.

TONY MCFADYEAN: From Programmed, WA to superintendent Albany GC, WA.

DAVID NIELSEN: From assistant superintendent to superintendent Cairns GC, Qld.

SCOTT REID: From superintendent Launceston GC, Tas to a turf management teaching role with TasTAFE.

MARK STANLEY: Resigned as superintendent Redcliffe GC, Qld.

Launceston GC hosted the 2023 Tasmanian Open also saw Adam Spargo from Living Turf come in to assist with preparations, and on Saturday he organised a BBQ breakfast for the crew after their final round work.

“The effort that the crew and volunteers put in for the week showed in the presentation and playability of the course,” says Scott. “The tournament ran very smoothly and we received very positive feedback from both players and spectators. We also had great support from the members – from retirees who have been helping out on the course for 30 years to a member who came and asked if he could hand water greens over summer – which we were very grateful for.”

Elsewhere, Tasracing is hosting two seminars on 3 and 4 April at Elwick and Mowbray racecourses with Dr Phillip Ford as guest speaker. Topics covered will include ryegrass reviews, nutrient testing, rootzone selection and construction methods. Contact Mowbray racecourse manager Ryan Smith to book your place.

STA NSW

2023 will see a reignited STA NSW ready to connect and support its members, present quality events and activities and provide opportunities for learning and networking. I’m pleased to be back working with STA NSW and am committed to working with the committee to continue to grow and develop the organisation.

Recently the committee undertook an evaluation of its strategic direction to review the vision and purpose of the organisation and provide clarity for the direction moving forward. A new strategic plan focuses on the values of respect, inclusion and community, with the vision for STA NSW being ‘To represent, educate and connect the NSW sports turf industry through leadership, accountability and integrity’.

There are three key areas that will be a focus of STA NSW over the next three years – sustainability/future of the industry, education and representing our members. The sustainability of the industry is heavily entwined in education and we will work closely with TAFE NSW and the new apprentices coming through the system, as well as working with

TSTMA has announced two state winners and subsequent nominees for the national awards at the Australian Sports Turf Management Conference in Adelaide this June – Angus Veal (Blundstone Arena) and Craig Walker (Devonport Country Club).

Angus, who has been at Blundstone Arena just over four years after previously doing work experience there, has been named the 2023 TSTMA Graduate of the Year. Angus (pictured) has mostly been overseeing the venue’s main practice area for internationals and First-Class pitches for both men and women. He also helped or prepared First-Class pitches on the main oval. Angus is off overseas to do a six-month secondment in Dubai (two weeks) and then Lords.

For the second year in a row, Craig was bestowed the TSTMA Excellence in Golf Course Management Award. Craig is responsible for overseeing the $11 million redevelopment of the old Devonport Golf Club to the new Devonport Country Club. He manages three different surfaces there – golf, bowls and croquet – as well as two other sites – Ulverstone Golf Club and Port Sorell Country Club – with a team that includes six apprentices and hosts numerous state and national events every year. The Excellence in Sportsfield and Grounds Management Award nominations are still open.

TSTMA COMMITTEE

International Greenkeepers for Hire who are involved in exhibiting at career expos.

The future of sports turf management relies heavily on the younger generation of sports turf managers and STA NSW will be introducing a new initiative – the STA NSW Future Leaders program. This will work closely with our younger members to support and inspire them and better understand the challenges they face in the industry today.

Events are a big part of education and connection and we have a range of activities planned for the year including the Wicket 101 seminar in Sydney on 18 April, a Sportsfield Innovation Seminar and Field Day in spring, a Wicket 201 seminar on 11 October and a series of webinars throughout the year. All the details will be available on STA NSW website.

I look forward to seeing many of our members at these upcoming events. Please feel free to contact me if we can assist you in your sports turf career or if you have any questions.

JENNY ZADRO EXECUTIVE OFFICER, STA NSW