Q&A with Steven Motitsoe - Golf Course Superintendent, Maccauvlei Golf Club

Q&A with Steven Motitsoe - Golf Course Superintendent, Maccauvlei Golf Club

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

I was a caddy and I used to play golf as well. When playing at Maccauvlei, I felt that I wanted to get involved in the course maintenance side. I started as a worker on the course 20 years ago.

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

The best is when you have got sufficient staff and machinery. The worst is when the staff don’t come to work and the machines break down. Preventative maintenance on the machines is vital to ensure the course stays in excellent condition.

You are at Maccauvlei GC, right on the banks of the Vaal river, what are your biggest challenges especially when the river is in flood?

Our biggest challenge being right next to the Vaal River is when we have flooding and we lose some holes due to this. We then have to redo the greens and clean up all the debris that has washed over the course.

Mother Nature can’t be beaten

Are there any precautionary measures that can be taken to prevent certain areas from flooding?

Unfortunately there are no precautionary measures we can take to prevent flooding as we are right next to the river, Mother Nature can’t be beaten.

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

The difference is our fairways are Coco grass and the rough is normal grass. Our greens are Poa but we are inter seeding Bent grass.

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

The same machines can be used with different settings on cutting height etc.

What are the big differences for tournament setup as opposed to normal day to day setup?

For tournaments, the fairways must be shorter and the first cut must be precise. During tournaments we let the rough grow to ensure tougher playing conditions when the player misses the fairways. The greens must be fast and true to ensure excellent putting surfaces. The course setup will be from the back tees during tournaments.

In your opinion does course machinery or golfers spread more seeds like Poa or diseases?

It is difficult to say but foreign grasses are mostly brought in with golfers.

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

No, I don’t think it should be mandatory. At Maccauvlei, we do not close the course and we work around the bookings for the day.

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

Sometimes, but I speak to my staff on what they must do. They must wait for the golfer to play and then he can carry on with his job.

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

With regards to the bunkers, it is sometimes difficult especially with rain and sprinklers. I do check them myself, by playing once a week and daily inspections on all aspects of the course. Regular bunker surrounds maintenance and ensuring the sand does not get compacted ensures year round consistent playing conditions.