& Golf Superintendent Knysna Golf Club WITH ANDRE GERBER Q A

1. When did you realize that turf management was the industry you want to take further?

I started playing golf from a tender age of 9 years old and always loved dragging my dad out for 9 holes at George GC. I always wanted to be outside getting my hands dirty, and I guess that planted the seed. My first job was coincidently at George GC in 1995 where they wanted to employ two young guys to train and show the ropes – I was hooked!

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

It is an industry with many ups and downs. Through the years I have had the privilege to have some great young assistants and staff as part of my team and if I look back now at how successful they have become in their own managerial roles it gives me a great feeling knowing that I could have been part of their achievements.

Winter in the Western Cape can be a daunting couple of months with cold and wet weather persisting – It must be my worst feeling during the year when you see all the hard work you have put in during the year get set back by Mother Nature.

3. You are at Knysna GC, which is a fairly flat course and very close to the water level of the lagoon, what are your biggest challenges with the incoming and outgoing tides?

Knysna must be one of the flattest courses in the world, but being said; our lowest point on the course is 1.7m still above sea level. We decided to let the waterways be part of the natural estuary and the old “sluice” system was taken out. This allows water movement throughout the course and you won’t see any cleaner and more natural wetlands anywhere.

The whole course is part of the bigger Knysna Estuary which is the biggest protected water mass in South Africa and we try not to disturb nor disrupt this natural and aesthetically pleasing feature. My biggest challenge like most coastal courses is managing the salinity on the course and especially the greens. During summer months Knysna do get up to the late 30-degree mark and carefully planned agronomy programs must be followed.

4. Does one need different machinery on course for different types of grasses around the country?

Absolutely ! It is not always just about the turf species that you have on your course, but also the design layout. My course being very flat do not need any machines with a 4x4 function compared to some course that have big undulations. Ideally one would have your lightest possible mowers on and around your greens and approaches to try and somehow keep wear and compaction to the minimum. Different bladed reels are very important, for example – your greens will have a unit with an 11 bladed reel as the turf is much finer than a fairway with thick kikuyu on. Here you will get away with 9 or even 7 bladed reels.

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

I would say it sure does make a difference. 25 years ago we used to mow it, water it and fertilize it once a year and the rest was up to Mother Nature and a sharp eye on Attention to Detail. Working in the North of SA is completely different than working down the south between Cape Town to East London. Diseases are more active during the warmer seasons and winters are cold and wet. We do not have much rain during the summer months, whereas the courses up in the north enjoy some decent thunderstorms which take the pressure off the continued irrigation cycles.

and do a proper spring treatment – this is the only time of the year where we can get away with slow, sandy and bumpy greens for two to three weeks.

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

On busy courses it is very important. Par 3’s always have the most pitch marks and it is a continued discussion throughout all clubs. More important to me is that golfers know how to repair a pitch mark and whether the course prefers divots to be replaced or rather to be filled with sand/topsoil depending on the turf types. In a nutshell – the sooner is is repaired or filled to quicker the recovery period.

8. People always complain about inconsistent bunkers, how difficult is it to maintain consistent bunkers?

It must be understood that a bunker is a hazard which was put in place to penalize a bad shot and one cannot expect to have a perfect lie every time you hit a bad shot that is why we have beautiful fairways.

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

For most courses this is just not feasible anymore. As a superintendent we have to start thinking outside the box and make time for our cultural practices when it will not interrupt with any possible income generating opportunities. There is nothing wrong with planning a little verti-cut, sand dusting or light solid tining or slicing behind the field of play on any given day. One might also consider to have a one tee start on a Monday with tee times from only 09h00 for instance to allow the maintenance crew to have 9 holes done before golfers start playing. The important thing for me is that when the course schedule course closures once or twice per year, that the opportunity is grabbed with both hands

Maintaining consistent bunkers have become more difficult, not only because of seasonal factors, but also due to budget constraints. Hands on monitoring of bunkers are the most effective and that is why I have always encouraged Superintendents to play golf and walk your course at least once a week. You can pick up on an inconsistent bunker immediately; whether there are too much sand in it or too little.

Umkomaas golf course was first constructed, as a 9-hole layout, in 1913 but was expanded to 18 holes in 1926. In 1932 reknown course designer Robert "Bob" Grimsdell re-designed the course, capitalising on the natural contours of the land and taking advantage of the glorious sea views - in fact, most holes offer great views of the warm Indian ocean. The course layout has remained largely unchanged and as a result, one of Umkomaas' unique features are the raised greens, thanks to over 100 years of top-dressings and treatments.

Although not overly long, the course offers a great challenge for low handicappers, especially when the coastal winds blow. It is however forgiving for even an occasional golfer making it the perfect option for families and groups. Well placed bunkers and undulating fairways mean that those seeking to card a low round need to think their way around the course whilst those looking to simply have fun will enjoy themselves too.

Umkomaas is a great choice for those wanting to get the whole family out into the fresh air. We offer exceptional family membership packages and the opportunity to learn to play via our KidzGolf programme

Living up to our reputation as the Friendliest Club, Umkomaas offers a warm welcome to visitors both on and off the course. Competitions are held weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays and visitors are always welcome.

We look forward to welcoming you soon!