All about greenkeeping - Q&A with Johan Stemmett, Bankenveld Golf Club

All about greenkeeping - Q&A with Johan Stemmett, golf course superintendent and GM at Bankenveld Golf Club

When did you realise that turf management was the industry you want to take further?

This happened by chance. Being the club captain for the past five years, our manager/greenkeeper resigned. What started as overseeing things until we found someone for the position turned into my full-time job.

Since working full-time at Bankenveld Golf Club, I completed my International Golf Course Management Qualification through the African Turf Academy

Being in corporate, working for a well-known motor vehicle brand dealership for over thirty years, and now working on a golf course was something to get used to, but I enjoy every moment of it.

Since working full-time at Bankenveld Golf Club, I completed my International Golf Course Management Qualification through the African Turf Academy. I am also completing my Equipment Management Certificate through the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America.

What is the best and worst part of being a golf course superintendent?

The best part is the early morning starts on the course and seeing the sunrise over the course with the Witbank Dam as background and animals roaming the course. I also enjoy it when one can see the progress being made and the players enjoying the condition of the course.

The worst part is probably the unexpected when machinery breaks or when animals damage a green, and one has to adjust the planned work of the day.

You are at Bankenveld GC, which is a nine hole golf course, what are the pro’s and con’s from your point of view being a nine hole golf course?

The pro is that there is less maintenance, although we still have the same tee boxes as an 18-hole course. We also have an 18-hole par 3 course with its own tee boxes.

The cons are the course can become quite busy, and the greens can take some strain. We cannot host big tournaments due to us not being an 18-hole course.

The game on the golf course must cause some headaches every now and then, how do you manage this at Bankenveld GC?

Yes, from time to time, they do cause some damage, but we have portable electric fences that we erect at night to protect the greens. Sometimes, they do break through and damage the greens, but then we have no other choice but to fix it as soon as possible without interrupting the golfer’s game.

Overall, we do manage around the game being on the course, and they do make for some beautiful views when playing (We have more than ten buck species roaming the course).

What are the differences in grasses (fairway, rough, greens) at Bankenveld GC to other parts of the country?

We have Creeping Bentgrass on our greens and Kikuyu on the tee boxes and fairways. Every golf course has the turf that is best for its area/climate and what works for them. Turf, which requires high maintenance on different parts of the course, can also have a financial impact on the club.

How big a difference does climate and location play in golf course maintenance?

Climate and location definitely do play a roll. We are on the highveld with frost in the winter, which does affect the mowing of the greens in the morning.

Managing irrigation is also important with our location and the contours of the course

We are also situated right next to the Witbank Dam, and four holes run directly along the dam. This does have an effect on the soil of those holes and during the rainy season when the water table rises.

The course is also quite hilly, and three holes are on a hill with heavy slopes and strong winds. One needs to monitor these greens carefully, as the wind does have an impact on them. Managing irrigation is also important with our location and the contours of the course.

Do you think it should be mandatory for each golf courses to close one day per week for maintenance?

I think it is necessary for bigger courses, which are very busy, making maintenance difficult. We work around it and are open on Mondays, with the first tee time at 10 a.m. We start early on a Monday and get a good headstart when the first golfers arrive at 10.

Do maintenance staff ever come into conflict with golfers, and how do you deal with this?

One needs to constantly train and educate the staff. We try our best to work around golfers and not get involved or get too close to them when they play, which can be a challenge.

Our course is also on an estate, and one needs to take the residents into consideration when doing maintenance, especially over weekends and public holidays. Luckily, we have a very good relationship with our members and residents, and if something does happen, we aim to sort it out immediately.

How important is it for golfers to repair their divots and pitch marks immediately vs only a couple of days or week later?

It is very important to fix your pitch immediately, and unfortunately, this is still a problem. Some of our maintenance staff stay at the staff quarters on the course. When they put up the MEPs (Electric fencing) around the greens in the afternoon, they do a quick walkabout and fix pitch marks before the next day. Not fixing it immediately can cause the turf to take much longer to recover.

People always complain about inconsistent bunkers, how difficult is it to maintain consistent bunkers and do you implement general checks and how?

It is a challenge, especially with the bunkers at the holes on the hilly area where strong winds play a major role. We check the depth of the bunkers regularly to maintain the correct levels and also do bunker maintenance in the winter, checking and cleaning the drainage system. It is also important to use a company that supplies high-quality sand.

Bankenveld Golf Club - 072 076 5890 or bookings@bankenveldgc.co.za