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Q&A with Trevor Livesey - Golf Course Superintendent at Champagne Sports Resort
Q&A with Trevor Livesey Golf Course Superintendent at Champagne Sports Resort
You started out as a player, then became a PGA Professional, when did you realise that turf management was the industry you wanted to take further?
After playing 9 years on the local Sunshine Tour and, having played professionally on numerous courses around the world over the years, I started noticing & developing an interest in understanding the science behind turf management.
We have been consistently ranking higher & higher each year in the top 100 golf courses in RSA - we are currently ranked 27th in 2023
What is the best and worst part of being a golf course superintendent?
The best part is the satisfaction I gain from doing a job that is not only a passionate interest of mine, golf, but also the reward in seeing the course improve in status with players over the years - and I’m very proud to say that we have been consistently ranking higher & higher each year in the top 100 golf courses in RSA - we are currently ranked 27th in 2023.
The worst part is the unpredictability of the weather these days - albeit I have the best in weather radar systems etc, it is always unpredictable to a varying degree.
You are also the Golf Director at Champagne Sports Resort, in the heart of the Drakensberg, what are your biggest challenges on and off the course?
With this being a resort it is always a challenge to keep the course in a pristine condition to satisfy both guests and golfers alike.
With current temperatures being very high, what are the measures being taken to prevent the course getting burnt without using too much water?
With the technology in whetting agents being so much more advanced in comparison to 15yrs ago, we can use products that help retain the moisture in the soil for longer which helps alleviate the stress from heat on the turf.
How big a difference does climate and location play in golf course maintenance?
It plays a huge difference as every golf course faces it’s own challenges based upon location and climate.
Does one need different machinery on course for different types of grasses around the country?
Yes.
With this being a resort it is always a challenge to keep the course in a pristine condition to satisfy both guests and golfers alike
Do you think it should be mandatory for each golf courses to close one day per week for maintenance?
Yes. It is extremely important to do so especially on larger & busier golf courses, because they endure high traffic volumes, they endure greater wear & tear / stress on the grounds & it therefore becomes more difficult to maintain.
People always complain about inconsistent bunkers, how difficult is it to maintain consistent bunkers and do you implement general checks and how?
It is not too difficult if you are using the correct quality of sand and being constantly vigil in maintaining the depth.
