The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast: Recent Episodes
Steve Smith
The podcast to listen to if you want to know everything there is about Australian golf courses, greenkeeping and architecture so you can get more out of your game!
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
Kasey Williams is about as passionate a young greenkeeper as you'll come across. A native of Busselton in WA, Kasey wasn't sure just what she wanted to do when she finished school. She came across a local ad for an apprentice greenkeeper and knew that she enjoyed being outside and was already working casually at the local hockey club. She took the plunge into a career that both she and her school friends knew nothing about. And she was hooked.
Learning her craft under Superintendent Lance Knox, Kasey's passion grew and grew. She was soon on a plane to the east coast of Australia to be part of the Women in Turf Program supported by John Deere Golf at Cobram Barooga Golf Club in NSW. Following that she took the next step in applying to be a volunteer at the 2023 Australian Open in Melbourne. To her surprise she was accepted by Kingston Heath Golf Club and was again on a plane, but this time to Melbourne for the biggest tournament in Australia!
Having completed her apprenticeship at Busselton Golf Club, Kasey is now a fully qualified greenkeeper and has recently accepted a role and made the move to Harvey Golf Club, also in Western Australia.
Join Kasey and I as we chat about her career, her passion for turf and golf, where she wants to go in her career, and a whole lot more (including tea) from the south western corner of WA.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Harvey Golf Club
Busselton Golf Club
Dilmah Tea - Wiki
EP.65 Keeper of the Greens - Lance Knox
Boolbardie Country Club Golf Course
Secret Harbour Golf Links
Cobram Barooga Golf Club
Women in Turf Program
Wembley Golf Course
Kingston Heath Golf Club
ASTMA
GCSAWA
Walking the Fairways segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is proudly brought to you by Dint Golf Solutions Make sure to check out their website www.dint.com.au
This segment of Walking the Fairways has information coming from Australia and New Zealand including Kooringal Golf Club in Victoria, Cumberland GC and Newcastle GC in NSW, and Royal Queensland in QLD to name a few. I'm also joined on this segment by Superintendent Nathan Bennett of Royal Adelaide GC in South Australia and I've discovered some info about another new course that is soon to be built in New Zealand.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Dint Golf Solutions - Instagram & Facebook
Royal Adelaide Golf Club
Kooringal Golf Club
Crafter + Mogford Golf Strategies
Kew Golf Club
East Geelong Golf Club
Carnarvon Golf Club
Camden Golf Club
Eastlake Golf Club
Cumberland Golf Club
Harrison Golf
Port Kembla Golf Club
Newcastle Golf Club
Glenelg Golf Club
Aston Hills Golf Club
Indooroopilly Golf Club
Southport Golf Club
Royal Queensland Golf Club
OCM Design
Windross Farm Golf Course
Douglas Links
Hamish Edwards on Douglas Links
RBT Designs
Bendigo Golf Club
RACV Healesville Country Club & Resort
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
Craig Geeve, by his own admission, thinks differently, and in my opinion, is why you're going to absolutely love this chat!
Craig comes from Sydney where he had a love of outdoors and would eventually get into greenkeeping. It was during his greenkeeping apprenticeship that Craig would learn from his early mentor and Superintendent at the time, Peter Watts, how to think more about keeping the greens rather than just going about it as you've been shown.
Craig enjoyed study and found, along with working under some of Sydney's most revered superintendents, that further study could really elevate his knowledge of greenkeeping even more so.
Throughout his career path Craig moved through a number of Sydney's best golf clubs such as Elanora, Pennant Hills, Royal Sydney, and Bonnie Doon which included one men's Australian Open and three TPS tournaments. This increasingly exciting and challenging workload would set Craig up to finally want his own superintendent's role where he would accept the position in the NSW country town of Orange at the unique Duntryleague Golf Club.
Join me for a very in depth Steve's Super 7, lots of deep rabbit holes, an amazing career journey, a great regional golf course, some very interesting grass varieties, and one big technical breakdown, as Craig and I chew the fat about his time in greenkeeping so far, and the way he goes about building a great working environment and delivering the best turf surfaces and golf course he can with his team at Duntryleague!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Duntryleague Golf Club
Muirfield Golf Club (Sydney)
Terrey Hills Golf and Country Club
Peter Watts - 2017 Claude Crockford Award recipient
Elanora Country Club
Pennant Hills Golf Club
Royal Sydney Golf Club
Bonnie Doon Golf Club
Eric Apperley - Top 100 Golf Courses
EP.50 The Design Brief - Ted Stirling
Walking the Fairways segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is proudly brought to you by Dint Golf Solutions Make sure to check out their website www.dint.com.au
This segment of Walking the Fairways has information coming from Brisbane Golf Club and their greens resurfacing program, the Jack Nicklaus designed Lakelands on the Gold Coast is soon to embark on the rebuilding of their 18th green, lots of course machinery investment around Australia including at a number of regional golf clubs, Wagga Wagga Country Club is about to begin work on their golf course under the design hand of OCM, Royal Adelaide begins redesigning their 17th hole, and Links Kennedy Bay in Perth is soon to open after a 5 year redesign.
I also chat with Toronto Golf Club Superintendent Aaron Cachia about what it's like to have a brand new maintenance facility and we discuss what work they've recently completed on course working into their masterplan from golf course architect Harley Kruse from Kruse Golf.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Dint Golf Solutions - Instagram & Facebook
Toronto Golf Club
Brisbane Golf Club
Lakelands Golf Club
Gold Creek Country Club
Yowani Country Club
Contour Golf Golf Design
Merewether Golf Club
Finley Golf Club
Calderwood Golf Club
Wagga Wagga Country Club
EP.11 Aussie Golf History - Dan Soutar
OCM
Oatlands Golf Club
Mount Derrimut Golf & Community Club
Yarra Yarra Golf Club
Box Hill Golf Club
Mount Gambier Golf Club
Visit Mount Gambier - The Limestone Coast
New Terry Wirrina Cove Golf Resort
Royal Adelaide Golf Club
Royal Perth Golf Club
CDP
Kruse Golf
Country Club Launceston
Tasmania Golf Club
Sandhurst Club
EP.100 - When the Host Becomes the Guest
Busselton Golf Club
Harvey Golf Club
The Australian Golf Club
Grange Golf Club
Golf Course Superintendents Association Queensland (GCSAQ)
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
Keegan Powell is Superintendent of The Sands Torquay, a unique golf course set alongside some of Victoria's most beautiful coastline.
Keegan's career thus far has been a list of different experiences and study. From growing up in Melbourne and beginning his working career as an armature apprentice, which didn't take his fancy, to starting his greenkeeping career proper at Melbourne's Northern Golf Club in..........well, Melbourne's north!
It wasn't long before Keegan had his sights set overseas which brought his attention to the Ohio State Program which many young Australians and New Zealanders have taken part in. Working at a couple of the USA's most exclusive private clubs saw Keegan gain much experience, along with a close encounter with Michael Jordan! From here Keegan travelled further to the UK working at the one and only Sunningdale Golf Club then a stint in Dubai, before heading back to Australia to see where he would work next.
It wasn't too long before Keegan landed the job as Assistant Superintendent at The Sand Torquay where in time he would eventually take on the role as Superintendent.
Join me for a new 12 month term of Keeper of the Greens in partnership with John Deere Golf, including a revamped Steve's Super Seven questions, as we head to the beginning of Victoria's Great Ocean Road for some fun stories and an interesting insight into another great golf course!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
The Sands Torquay
The Great Ocean Road - Wiki
Goonawarra Golf Club
Northern Golf Club
Ohio State Program
EP.135 Steve's Random Special Guest - Mike O'Keeffe
Plainfield Country Club
Isleworth Golf Club
Sunningdale Golf Club
Al Badia Golf Club
Riversdale Golf Club
Victorian Golf Course Superintendents Association (VGCSA)
Breamlea Flora and Fauna Reserve
Walking the Fairways segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is proudly brought to you by Dint Golf Solutions Make sure to check out their website www.dint.com.au
This segment of Walking the Fairways has plenty of information coming from a number of courses around Australia and New Zealand that we haven't heard from at all on the podcast before. Lots of places dealing with too much rain but things are turning now that we have officially hit Spring!
I'm also joined on this episode by Head Greenkeeper of Humpty Doo Golf Club in the Northern Territory, Jimmy Downes. Jimmy gives us an update of the work that he has been up to on course including some green extensions and tee work. Jimmy also launches into a first for The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast, where he becomes our very first state correspondent delivering news for golf courses across the NT.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Dint Golf Solutions - Instagram & Facebook
Humpty Doo & Rural Area Golf Club
EP.90 Keeper of the Greens - Jimmy Downes
Tallebudgera Golf Course
Palm Meadows Golf Course
Noosa Springs Golf Resort
Redcliffe Golf Club
Crafter Mogford Golf Strategies
Palmerston Golf & Country Club
Gardens Park Golf Links
Jabiru Golf Club
Katherine Country Club
Darwin Golf Club
Gove Country Golf Club
Northbridge Golf Club
Lynwood Golf & Country Club
Cowra Golf Club
Duntryleague Golf Club
Club Tocumwal
Robertson Lodges - Kauri Cliffs
Cheltenham Golf Club
Bayside City Council Meeting 19th August 2025
Victoria Golf Club
Barwon Heads Golf Club
Tasmania Golf Club
7 Mile Beach Golf Course
EP.118 The Design Brief - Rob Collins
King Collins Dormer
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
Damien Bell has a greenkeeping career that doesn't follow the traditional path. Growing up at Wellington, in country NSW, greenkeeping wasn't exactly on his mind when looking for work after leaving school. After falling into a greenkeeping apprenticeship, as he puts it, he was literally thrown the keys to the golf course after his boss had an accident at home and was unable to return to work. A steep learning curve by anyone's standards. Damien stood tall and took on all the challenges that confronted a young man looking to learn the trade of greenkeeping, and after completing his apprenticeship, went on to win the national apprentice of the year award which laid down a path to a different world.
Damien was soon on a plane to the USA before taking on a new role in Sydney and living in the big smoke! As life changes, so do your priorities, which would then see Damien and his young family looking to return to country life and taking on the role as Superintendent at the club where his career began. But this was only another small step in his career to date.
Join Damien and I as we record this one in person at the Wellington Golf Clubhouse, catch up on old times, discuss what it's like living and working in a regional town, the highs and lows of maintaining a regional golf course within the swings of Mother Nature, the incredibly unique setting and location of Wellington Golf Club, and the club's bright future under the new management of Wellington Soldiers Club! Oh, and there's plenty of laughs along the way of course!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Wellington Golf Club
Manly Golf Club
Pennant Hills Golf Club
ASTMA Golf Course Graduate of the Year Award (past winners)
Wellington Caves
Jenolan Caves
Big Cedar Lodge
Big Cedar Lodge - Cliffhangers Course video
Walking the Fairways segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is proudly brought to you by Dint Golf Solutions Make sure to check out their website www.dint.com.au
This segment of Walking the Fairways has plenty of information coming out of NSW including the well known Mollymook Golf Club's Hilltop Golf Course. We stop in quickly to the ACT with some information from Canberra Public Golf Course, before a jump to NZ with some information about the new Glendhu Golf Course being built on the banks of Lake Wanaka. Arm End in Tasmania also has a little bit of news.
The big part of this episode however is the conversation I have with Superintendent Chris Rae of Orkney Golf Club in the UK having now completed hosting the 2025 Island Games. Chris jumps on the pod to give us an insight as to what it was like hosting the games and preparing the golf course with a challenging lead up to the event in such a remote part of the world.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Dint Golf Solutions - Instagram & Facebook
Mollymook Golf Club - Hilltop Golf Course
Ryan Van Der Veen - Van Der Veen Designs
Shoalhaven Heads Golf Club
Gerringong Golf Club
Strathfield Golf Club
Newgreens Chatswood Golf Club
Crafter + Modford Golf Strategies
Bexley Golf Club
Canberra Public Golf Course
Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club
Takapuna Golf Course
2023 Auckland Floods - Floodlists.com
Glendhu Golf Course
Spring Valley Golf Club
OCM Golf Design
Huntingdale Golf Club
Cranbourne Golf Club
Arm End Golf Course
Thaxted Park Golf Club
Glenelg Golf Club
Whaleback Golf Course
Wembley Golf Course
Orkney Golf Club
2025 International Island Games - Orkney
Orkney - Wiki
EP.110 Keeper of the Greens - Chris Rae (Orkney Golf Club)
EP.127 Keeper of the Greens - Mark Spraggs (Tuncurry Golf Course)
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
Rod Tatt is Course Manager of Mt Lawley Golf Club in Perth, Western Australia. His most recent years have been working through a remodelling of the entire golf course under the architecture hand of OCM. Being his first post as a superintendent in Western Australia, Rod has had to workout pretty quickly how to get the most out of the golf course in Perth's unique environment that is so different to the east coast.
That being said, it's all the more interesting when we learn that Rod is originally from regional Victoria, not far out of Melbourne, where he got his first taste of greenkeeping. Greenkeeping and golf came as a pair for Rod in his younger days where it wasn't long before he got really involved working on golf courses on Melbourne's famed Sandbelt region along with playing competitive golf.
Rod's story is one of learning through experience and learning from great mentors. He has worked at some of Australia's best courses, including as Superintendent, with some of the best golf course architects, and now brings his particular set of skills to Perth where he has been involved in delivering an incredible new version of Mt Lawley for it's members and guests.
This is an interesting conversation with a few deep dives and visited rabbit holes, that neither of us saw coming, including player expectations and just what does the term "consistency" mean in golf maintenance.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Mount Lawley Golf Club
Walton Heath Golf Club
Bacchus Marsh West Golf Club
Bacchus Marsh - Wiki
Ballarat Golf Club
Victoria Golf Club
John Sloan - LinkedIn
Mike Clayton
Cranbourne Golf Club
Woodlands Golf Club
Yarra Yarra Golf Club
Tom Doak
Renaissance Golf Design
Brian Slawnik
San Francisco Golf Club - Links Magazine
Cal Club
OCM Golf Design
Rod Tatt - Claude Crockford Award 2023
Fairway to biodiversity - Western Independent
WA Open
Lake Karrinyup Country Club
Joondalup Golf Resort
Secret Harbour Golf Links
The Cut Golf Course
Walking the Fairways segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is proudly brought to you by Dint Golf Solutions Make sure to check out their website www.dint.com.au
This episode of Walking the Fairways sees a lot of information coming out of some clubs in Queensland including the Sunshine Coast, there's been some extreme weather through the northern parts of NSW including a widespread rare snow event, and the big ticket item, the very first catch up with New Zealand Superintendent - Harry Middleton of Muriwai Golf Links. Harry gives us an insight into the unique Muriwai Golf Links along with some course upgrade works they're currently working on and what they're looking forward to in the future.
A wide ranging insight on this episode so come along for the journey!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Dint Golf Solutions - Instagram & Facebook
Muriwai Golf Links
Toowoomba City Golf Club
Redcliffe Golf Club
Indooroopilly Golf Club
Perrett Webb Golf Course Architects
Cairns Golf Club
Mount Coolum Golf Club
Noosa Springs Golf Resort
Golf Course Superintendents Association of Western Australia (GCSAWA)
Margaret River Golf Club
Busselton Golf Club
Dunsborough Lakes Golf Club
Armidale Golf Club
Snow in Armidale - news.com.au
Woolooware Golf Club
Bingara Gorge Golf Course
Marrickville Golf, Sporting & Community Club
Yarra Yarra Golf Club
Ocean Dunes King Island
Tasmania Golf Club
Clayton Devries & Pont (CDP)
Kruse Golf - Facebook
Portsea Golf Club
Richmond Golf Club
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
Nik Smith is Superintendent of Proserpine Golf Club in regional North Queensland, but don't let that detail have you thinking he hasn't seen much. Oh no!
Nik's career began on the Melbourne Sandbelt at Commonwealth Golf Club. Through some old school perseverance, Nik was given an opportunity to carve out the beginnings of his greenkeeping career at Commonwealth GC where he really got a taste for the trade. His next step would be to the one and only Kingston Heath Golf Club where he would spend a few years working, including preparing for the 1995 Men's Australian Open that was won by Greg Norman.
From here you'll just have to listen and see how wild Nik's ride becomes, which if you're reading this, includes thousands of kilometres travelled, remote country towns, one of Perth's best golf courses, wild buffalo and a crocodile!
Sit back, take a big deep breathe, tighten up your seatbelt because this one is wild!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Proserpine Golf Club
Commonwealth Golf Club
Kingston Heath Golf Club
Lake Karrinyup Country Club
Pelican Waters Golf Club
Maleny Golf Club
Gove Country Golf Club
EP.130 Keeper of the Greens - Adam Lamb
EP.90 Keeper of the Greens - Jimmy Downes
Mick McCombe - Claude Crockford Award Winner 2025
Nhulunbuy wiki
Groote Eylandt wiki
Walking the Fairways segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is proudly brought to you by Dint Golf Solutions Make sure to check out their website www.dint.com.au
This episode of Walking the Fairways takes you through a special honour bestowed to one of New Zealand's long time Superintendents, a stack of work being completed at a regional golf club in South Australia, we hear direct from Federal Golf Club's Superintendent Pete Dunn about the work they're moving through in the nation's capital, there's some significant news from the NSW South Coast, and I see first hand some upgrade work being completed at a couple of courses in Melbourne.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Dint Golf Solutions - Instagram & Facebook
John Spraggs - LinkedIn
New Zealand Golf Course Superintendents Association (NZGCSA)
Royal Wellington Golf Club
EP.127 Keeper of the Greens - Mark Spraggs
South Lakes Golf Club
Federal Golf Club
Federal Golf Club Maintenance Department - Instagram
WPGA Championship & Festival of Golf
Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club
Crafter + Mogford Golf Strategies
Club Catalina
Kruse Golf - Facebook
Clayton Devries & Pont (CDP)
Strathallan Golf Club
Ranfurlie Golf Club
Andrew Anderson - Instagram
Sun City Country Club
Maroochy River Golf Club
Paul McLean - LinkedIn
This is a belter of a podcast yarn! If ever there was one you want to listen to, this is it. It's worldly, it's diverse, it's interesting, it's education, and most of all it's fun along the way.
Mike O'Keeffe heads up the sports turf arm of the Ohio State Program in the USA. The program itself is tailored for young people who are looking to gain significant experience in golf greenkeeping at some of the most iconic golf courses of the USA preparing for some of the biggest golf tournaments in the world.
I wanted to chat with Mike to understand more about the Ohio State Program in detail, how big the program is, why it works so well for us Aussie's and New Zealanders, and why Mike is so passionate about the program and pours so much of his heart and soul into the people that participate!
Join us for a hell of a ride and some amazing insight into a program and someone (Mike) that probably single handedly has changed the lives of so many people in the greenkeeping industry and made them into some of the best greenkeepers and professionals of the industry!
You can contact Mike on these details below:
Whatsapp +1-614-620-7720
E-mail okeeffe.1@osu.edu
Skype: turfokeeffe
Facebook: Mike O'Keeffe
LinkedIn - Mike O'Keeffe
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Ohio State Program
Oakmont Country Club
Quail Hollow Club
Pebble Beach Golf Links
Chevy Chase Club
Sherwood Country Club
DLF Golf Resort
Sunningdale Golf Club
NSW Golf Club
Royal Perth Golf Club
Kalgoorlie Golf Course
Sorrento Golf Club
Glenelg Golf Club
Keperra Golf Club
EP.95 Keeper of the Green - Richard Forsyth
EP.78 Keeper of the Greens - John Mann
EP.75 Keeper of the Greens - Tim Warren
EP.130 Keeper of the Greens - Adam Lamb
EP.119 Keeper of the Greens - Shane Baker
EP.127 Keeper of the Greens - Mark Spraggs
EP.61 Keeper of the Greens - Glenn Gibson-Smith
EP.57 Keeper of the Greens - Pat Casey
EP.70 Keeper of the Greens - Pat Wilson
EP.97 Keeper of the Greens - Sophie Warren
EP.104 Keeper of the Greens - Kate Rainsbury
EP.107 Keeper of the Greens - Women in Turf Program
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
Brian Palmer leads the very small team of just 3 who maintain the 50 hectare site of the most southern 18 hole golf course in Australia - North West Bay Golf Club.
Through this fantastic, grounded conversation, Brad imparts some wonderful insight into golf in Tasmania along with telling us his career journey from Kingston Beach Golf Club through Llanherne GC and now to North West Bay GC. Born and bred locally in the Hobart region, Brad bounced through a few industries before searching for the industry that would see him stay to make a career out of. And that was greenkeeping!
Join us as Brad takes us on a deep dive into Tasmanian and Hobartian golf, along with a detailed account of the magnificent Poa greens and blended Fescue and cool season grass fairways that adorn North West Bay Golf Club whilst it lies in wait for you to come and visit for a round!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
North West Bay Golf Club
Kingston Beach Golf Club
Llanherne Golf Club
Royal Hobart Golf Club
Tasmania Golf Club
Arm End Golf Course
Barnbougle
Pittwater Golf Club
Tasmania Sports Turf Managers Association (TSTMA)
Bruny Island
This episode offers my opinion relating to recent comments from an Australian sports media personality. I call the comments out for being harmful and negative to the broader golf and greenkeeping industry and give my thoughts about how we can all learn from them and commit to being better communicators.
That's it, nothing more for this one.
Not sure if you'll like it, or loath it, but its here for you if you're interested in my thoughts on a different subject.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
Walking the Fairways segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is proudly brought to you by Dint Golf Solutions Make sure to check out their website www.dint.com.au
This episode runs through the award winning superstars of turf from the 2025 ASTMA Turf Conference that was recently held in Sydney. I also go through the hosts courses for the tournaments that have been announced for the first half of the PGA Tour of Australasia beginning in PNG in August 2025.
There's lots of news as always coming from all corners of the country including Superintendent Lance Knox from Busselton Golf Club dropping by to give us an update of just what they've been up to in the south west of Australia improving their golf course.
And I can officially announce that from this point on Walking the Fairways will include New Zealand as I endeavor to find reports of courses and clubs that are working on their properties to improve them for player to enjoy, beginning on this episode with some info coming out of Muriwai Golf Links and Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club.
Thanks to everyone who continues to support and listen to the podcast, and I look forward to continuing to provide you with great content!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Dint Golf Solutions - Instagram & Facebook
Glenelg Golf Club
Avondale Golf Club
Maleny Golf Club
The National Golf Club
Royal Adelaide Golf Club
PGA Tour of Australasia Schedule
North Adelaide Golf Course
Greg Norman Golf Course Design
Koooyonga Golf Club
Flagstaff Hill Golf Club
Federal Golf Club
Busselton Golf Club
Maroochy River Golf Club
McLeod Country Golf Club
Noosa Springs
Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club
Bexley Golf Club
East Geelong Golf Club
Queenscliff Golf Club
Kew Golf Club
Gisborne Golf Club
Muriwai Golf Links
Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club
Clayton Devries Pont
Kruse Golf - Facebook
Portsea Golf Club
This episode of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals. Click on their name and it will take you straight to their website for more information or simply go to www.campbellchemicals.com.au
This fun episode was recorded LIVE at the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA) Turf Conference trade show in Sydney with co-host Nadeem from podcast episode partner Colin Campbell Chemicals.
Nadeem organised a couple of special guests to join on the podcast and we also nabbed a couple of passers by to grab a microphone, strap on the headphones and join in for a chat.
Join us for a bit of fun and great insight live from the Colin Campbell Chemicals trade show stand!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People & Places mentioned in this podcast:
Colin Campbell Chemicals
Behind the Turf Podcast - Spotify
The ASTMA
Dr Chase Straw - Penn State University
Sports Turf Association NSW
PGG Wrightson Turf
EP.130 Keeper of the Greens - Adam Lamb (Commonwealth Golf Club)
Dr Jim Kearns - NC State University
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
Adam Lamb got his taste of golf growing up and playing on the local 9 hole sand scrape course in the small country town of Tarrawingee in regional Victoria. Soon Adam was a member and playing golf at Woodlands Golf Club in Melbourne playing pennants, when at the time he was offered an opportunity to do work experience at the club. With that, Adam could see greenkeeping was a career he enjoyed and wanted to pursue.
Adam's first full time job as an apprentice greenkeeper came at the one and only Metropolitan Golf Club on Melbourne's famed Sandbelt. After completing his apprenticeship and working his way up through the ranks over a number of years, Adam landed his first role at Superintendent at Barwon Heads Golf Club.
Barwon Heads was a place where Adam could apply his enthusiasm and learn the skills of being a Superintendent along with experiencing and working through all the facets of the role.
Following a great part of his career at Barwon Heads, Adam saw an opportunity to make the move back to Melbourne when he was offered the position as Superintendent at Commonwealth Golf Club who were in the early stages of beginning their course redevelopment plan with golf course architects Renaissance Golf and Tom Doak.
Adam shares so much of his career and also details all the work that has been completed on course at Commonwealth Golf Club. This is a fantastic insight into both Adam's fantastic career and Commonwealth's sensational golf course, I'm certain you will enjoy this one.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Commonwealth Golf Club
Tarrawingee Golf Club
Metropolitan Golf Club
Barwon Heads Golf Club
Woodlands Golf Club
Port Fairy Golf Links
Jubillee Golf Club
Kingston Heath Golf Club
Royal Melbourne Golf Club
Colac Golf Club
Leongatha Golf Club
Moonah Links
Warrnambool Golf Club
Crafter + Mogford Golf Strategies
Renaissance Golf Design
Tom Doak
Alex Russell (article by Golf Course Architecture)
The Architect's Series: Legacy of the Morcoms (by Mike Clayton)
Richard Forsyth EP.95 Keeper of the Greens
Glenn Stuart EP.101 Keeper of the Greens
John Mann EP.78 Keeper of the Greens
Nathan Bennett EP.33 Keeper of the Greens
Walking the Fairways segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals www.campbellchemicals.com.au and Dint Golf Solutions www.dint.com.au
This episode of Walking the Fairways has news from a number of smaller golf courses and clubs from around Australia for a change.
Once again I have a new guest joining me on this episode and this time it is Superintendent Keegan Powell of The Sands Torquay, Victoria. It's great to have Keegan on giving everyone an update as to just what they've been doing to improve the golf course in certain areas along with making it more playable and enjoyable for more people.
If any of the discussions in this podcast raised concerns with your mental health you can contact:
Lifeline (Australia): 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue (Australia): 1300 224 636 or visit www.beyondblue.org.au
MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978 or visit mensline.org.au
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Colin Campbell Chemicals - Facebook
Colin Campbell Chemicals: Behind the Turf Podcast - Spotify
Colin Campbell Chemicals: Behind the Turf Podcast - Apple
Dint Golf Solutions - Instagram & Facebook
NSW STA Apprentice Day ASTMA Conference 2025
ASTMA Turf Trade Show Registration
The Dirty Dozen - Instagram
The Dirty Dozen - Facebook
Kingston SE Golf Club
Maylands Golf Course
Peregian Springs Golf Club
Hervey Bay Golf Club
The Ridge Golf Course
Russell Vale Golf Club
The Vintage Golf Club
Leura Golf Club
North West Bay Golf Club
The Sands Torquay
East Geelong Golf Club
Mt Derrimut Golf & Community Club
Shepparton Golf Club
Changing the Game with John Deere Golf on The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
I'm excited to give you a deep insight into John Deere Golf and how I believe they're changing the game in sport turf and golf course maintenance in Australia and New Zealand.
I'm joined on this episode by Erin Wagstaff and Corey Clark from deep within John Deere Golf to get an insight into this modern day resurgence of the John Deere brand back into the Australian and New Zealand market. I have a few questions to ask them that I'm sure many of you have also been thinking, and I also want to gain and understanding into the new technologies that they're bringing to the industry which has changed the game on how turf can now be maintained.
This is a fun chat with Erin and Corey, and also a great way to learn about some of the things I'm sure you won't get to hear anywhere else. Join with me for another enjoyable chat on the podcast and there's also some info about the upcoming ASTMA Conference being held in Sydney this year in just under 2 weeks time.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
John Deere Australia
John Deere New Zealand
ASTMA Conference 2025
EP.107 Keeper of the Greens - Women in Turf Program (Cobram Barooga Golf Club)
EP.108 Keeper of the Greens - Terry Vogel (Cobram Barooga Golf Club)
EP.122 Keeper of the Greens - James Newell (Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club)
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
It's time to venture to a regional part of the country and this time I'm talking with Superintendent of Tuncurry Golf Club, Mark Spraggs.
Mark was born and bred in the Wellington region of New Zealand. Growing up to a greenkeeping Father and living on course, it was basically inevitable the he was destined to become one himself. Mark's greenkeeping career began at a nearby 9 hole golf course before a move to the course where his Father worked at Hutt Golf Club to completed his apprenticeship.
Mark's interest in greenkeeping was soon to take a turn for much bigger adventures and he took the opportunity to look into a job at a new Jack Nicklaus golf course build, The Kinloch Club which he landed. Upon the completion of the build at The Kinloch Club, Mark decided to participate in the Ohio Program and head to the USA to work on some of their most well known courses which included the revered Pine Valley Golf Club!
Returning to New Zealand for a short time after enjoying his time in the USA, Mark decided once again on a new direction and this time he landed his first job at Elanora Country Club in Sydney, Australia. He was able to learn a great deal during his time at Elanora before it was time with a young family to move out of the big smoke and take up residence on the Mid North Coast of NSW. From here Mark took the opportunities that presented themselves to him before landing his currrent role as Superintendent at Tuncurry GC.
Join with me as Mark takes us through his greenkeeping career culminating in a deep dive into why Mark is so passionate about Tuncurry Golf Club and what it has the potential to become, more so than it already is.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Forster Tuncurry Golf Club
Boulcott's Farm Heritage Golf Club (formerly Hutt Golf Club)
Royal Wellington Golf Club
The Kinloch Club
The Ohio Program
Pine Valley Golf Club - Wiki
Sea Island
Oakmont Golf Club
Elanora Country Club
Club Taree
EP.61 Keeper of the Greens - Glenn Gibson-Smith
Walking the Fairways segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is proudly brought to you by Dint Golf Solutions www.dint.com.au and Colin Campbell Chemicals www.campbellchemicals.com.au There's lots going on around Australia and right here is where you will get all the info you need to stay up to date.
In this episode I give you an update as to the extent of the recent floods that hit the NSW Mid North Coast with some details on just how much rain had fallen. There's also some course updates from NSW, Victoria, South Australia, and the Northern Territory.
I have a new guest, Superintendent Ben Stacey from Tasmania Golf Club, jumping on to give us an update just what has been happening on another fantastic Hobart golf course, and Nigel Taylor joins me for an update into his Dirty Dozen year long quest all in an effort to raise awareness for mental health in the sports turf/greenkeeping industry.
If any of the discussions in this podcast raised concerns with your mental health you can contact:
Lifeline (Australia): 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue (Australia): 1300 224 636 or visit www.beyondblue.org.au
MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978 or visit mensline.org.au
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Dint Golf Solutions - Instagram & Facebook
Colin Campbell Chemicals: Behind the Turf Podcast - Spotify
Colin Campbell Chemicals: Behind the Turf Podcast - Apple
NSW STA Apprentice Day ASTMA Conference 2025
ASTMA Turf Trade Show Registration
Corowa Golf Club
Carpentaria Golf Club
Twin Creeks Golf & Country Club
Royal Hobart Golf Club
Bunbury Golf Club
The Dirty Dozen - Instagram
The Dirty Dozen - Facebook
Tasmania Golf Club
Nambucca Heads Island Golf Club
Pacific Dunes Golf Club
Newcastle Golf Club
Club Taree
Macksville Country Club
Kew Country Club
Forster Tuncurry Golf Club - Tuncurry Course
Kooindah Waters Golf Club
Massey Park Golf Club
Glenelg Golf Club
Wilunga Golf Course
Heidelberg Golf Club
Jabiru Golf Club
This episode was recorded out on course at Elanora Country Club in Sydney with Harley Kruse from Kruse Golf.
Harley takes some time with me whilst out on course at Elanora to chat about the architecture work that he is doing in conjunction with Mike Clayton from Clayton Devries Pont (CDP).
Join us for an interesting insight into their shared vision ahead for Elanora, along with the detail of some specific areas on course and just what goes into their thinking.
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Kruse Golf - Facebook
CDP
Elanora Country Club
Elanora Country Club 4th Hole
Elanora Country Club 9th Hole
Elanora Country Club 10th Hole
Elanora Country Club 18th Hole
Elanora Country Club - Google Earth
Royal Perth Golf Club
Woodlands Golf Club
Yarra Yarra Golf Club
Yering Meadows Golf Club
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
Nathan Turner grew up in a regional part of Victoria. He grew up helping out at the local golf course at Mortlake and soon realised that greenkeeping would be his choice for work.
Nathan took an apprenticeship role at Horsham Golf Club where he would see his apprenticeship out, but it wasn't long before the big lights began calling from the USA in the form of the Ohio State Program.
Nathan worked at numerous courses in the USA gaining an amazing amount of experience before returning to Australia to find his feet back on home soil. A short stint at NSW Golf Club in Sydney soon made way for a return to his home state of Victoria where it wasn't long before he landed his first Superintendents role. A few years of patience would soon see Nathan land the role where he is today, Superintendent of Latrobe Golf Club, a course with a bright future and one that Nathan is very keen to put his stamp on and take to great heights.
Join us for a fantastic journey that ducks and weaves to places you don't see coming as we learn about Nathan's greenkeeping career and also about Latrobe Golf Club and it's bright future.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Latrobe Golf Club
Mortlake Golf Club
Warrnambool Golf Club
Port Fairy Golf Links
Horsham Golf Club
Pelican Waters Golf Club
Hamilton Island Golf Club
The National Golf Club - The Old Course
Ohio State Program - ASTMA Website
Kirtland Country Club
Muirfield Village Golf Club
Oak Hill Country Club
The Club at Mediterra
Tiburon Golf Club
Congressional Country Club
Portsea Golf Club
NSW Golf Club
Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club
Geelong Golf Club
Growling Frog Golf Club
Greg Norman Golf Course Design
OCM Golf Course Design
EP. 75 Keeper of the Greens - Tim Warren (Glenelg Golf Club)
EP.63 Keeper of the Greens - Brad Hole (Hamilton Island Golf Club)
Triple Double - NBA Basketball Card
Walking the Fairways segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals www.campbellchemicals.com.au and Dint Golf Solutions www.dint.com.au
This episode begins with the news from Golf Australia about the men's Australian Open this year to be hosted by Royal Melbourne Golf Club along with the announcement of Rory McIlroy coming to compete.
Then it's time to move into more regular news from golf courses across Australia beginning at Kangaroo Island in South Australia before moving to Tasmania and news coming from 7 Mile Beach and the Arm End Golf Course.
We have some interesting news coming from Sydney with Chatswood Golf Club in the midst of changing their course from 18 holes down to a revamped 12 hole course, and I am joined by Superintendent John Mann from Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne, Victoria, who gives us an update since the completion of some significant works upgrading their golf course.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
Colin Campbell Chemicals - Facebook
Dint Golf Solutions - Instagram
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
The Cliffs - Kangaroo Island
Ocean Dunes Golf Course - King Island
7 Mile Beach Golf
Arm End Golf Course
Crafter + Mogford Golf Strategies
OCM Design
Hamilton Island Golf Club
Nambucca Heads Island Golf Club
Chatswood Golf Club
Latrobe Golf Club
Royal Melbourne Golf Club
Metropolitan Golf Club
Queenscliff Golf Club
Federal Golf Club
Whaleback Golf Course
Royal Fremantle Golf Club
Wembley Golf Club
EP.78 Keeper of the Greens - John Mann (Metropolitan Golf Club)
EP.95 Keeper of the Greens - Richard Forsyth (The Royal Melbourne Golf Club)
EP.118 The Design Brief - Rob Collins (King Collins Dormer Golf Course Design)
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
James Newell is Superintendent of Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club on the NSW Central Coast just north of Sydney. I took some time to catch up with James and record this podcast with him in his office at Magenta.
James has an amazing story that harks back to his homeland in New Zealand. With a farm background and creating and playing on his own rudimentary golf course with his brother, working outside for a living wasn't a far flung idea and James was able to get his first taste of sports turf maintenance through working for a local council.
Stepping through the years of working as an apprentice greenkeeper and playing golf regularly, James soon took the opportunity to for a short stint of work on course at the well known Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club. Over the next few years James worked at a couple of courses including the outstanding Cape Kidnappers before heading back to a great opportunity at Paraparaumu Beach GC.
James' next career move saw him head across the ditch to the great Melbourne Sandbelt region. Taking in all that he continued to learn and be involved with in his career, it wasn't long before James landed his first career superintendents role at Magenta Shores in NSW.
James and I also discuss just what it takes to not only look after and prepare Magenta Shores but also, to a further point, the detail that is required to understand and maintain any golf course. Why do we do what we do and how to get the best out of a golf course, all whilst understanding what and who you are doing it for. Golf greenkeeping isn't just about maintaining turf, it's about maintaining turf in a particular local environment for the game of golf.
This is one epic convo! I didn't know what to clip out to make it shorter so I just left it all if for you to listen, so strap yourselves in for James and Steve's epic adventure!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club
Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club
Cape Kidnappers
Woodlands Golf Club
Yarra Yarra Golf Club
Mount Lawley Golf Club
Crafter + Mogford Golf Strategies
OCM Golf
Renaissance Golf Design
Renaissance Golf Design - Tom Doak
The Design Brief is back and this time I'm chatting with another member of The Society of Australian Golf Course Architects, Ryan Van Der Veen.
Ryan joins me to chat about his career, beginning with his time in golf course construction from a young age back in the USA where he was born. After getting his start using heavy machinery on weekends and school holidays, it was during his time studying at Purdue University where Ryan was given an opportunity to work with the late great Pete Dye with the reconstruction of their golf courses.
From this early association with Pete Dye, Ryan was offered an opportunity to work at a golf course Pete Dye was building that in time would become the revered Whistling Straits Golf Course!
Along with working with Pete Dye, Ryan spent a number years working as part of Greg Norman Golf Course Design team outside the USA including constructing the spectacular new Doonbeg in Ireland.
It would soon turn that Ryan was asked to work in Australia with the Norman design team at a new golf course being constructed outside Adelaide in South Australia, when things soon changed thanks to the GFC!
Ryan worked on a few other projects leading the Norman design and build team at some of our well known golf courses including Grange in Adelaide and Cathedral Lodge in Victoria, before life would soon see Ryan stay here in Australia and start his own golf course design business - Van Der Veen Designs.
Join us for a great yarn hearing some wonderful stories from Ryan of building and now designing some great golf courses.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Ryan Van Der Veen - Facebook
Ryan Van Der Veen - SAGCA Profile
sagca.com.au
Pete Dye - Wikipedia
Palmira Golf Club
Purdue University Golf Club
Whistling Straits Golf Course
Blackwolf Run
Barefoot Golf & Resort
Trump International Golf Links - Doonbeg
CopperClub The Dunes - Port Hughes
The Grange Golf Club
Eastern Golf Club
Cathedral Lodge & Golf Club - Greg Norman Golf Course Design
New South Wales Golf Club
The Huntley Development - Landscape Concept
Glenelg Golf Club
Dye Designs Group
Greg Norman Golf Course Design
Love Golf Design
Fazio Design
Walking the Fairways segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is proudly brought to you by Dint Golf Solutions www.dint.com.au and Colin Campbell Chemicals www.campbellchemicals.com.au There's lots going on around Australia and right here is where you will get all the info you need to stay up to date.
I'm joined on this podcast episode by Tim Warren, Superintendent of Glenelg Golf Club in Adelaide. Tim gives us an update of the club's enhancement plan and how the most recent works are coming along on holes 8 and 9. He also provides an insight into the final holes remaining in the project.
There's also some information about in this episode of new work being completed on course at Elanora Country Club in Sydney, some architecture master planning of a couple of course in Western Australia, and the completion of the course enhancement works at Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne.
To finish off I catch up with Josh Smith, greenkeeper at Piltdown Golf Club in the UK after returning from his recent stint at TPC Sawgrass working on course at The Players Championship, and an update of Nigel Taylor's Everesting Challenge in his quest to raise awareness for mental health during 2025!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Glenelg Golf Club
Glenelg Golf Club Course Team - Instagram
Dunsborough Lakes Golf Club
Contour Golf Design Group
Pinjarra Golf Club
Golf Course Superintendents Association Western Australia (GCSAWA)
Lake Karrinyup Country Club
Cottesloe Golf Club
Goldfields Golf Club - Kalgoorlie
Palm Beach Golf Club
Elanora Country Club
Kruse Golf - Facebook
Clayton DeVries & Pont (CDP)
Woodend Golf Club
Medway Golf Club
Box Hill Golf Club
Metropolitan Golf Club
Josh Smith, Adventures in Greenkeeping - Instagram
Piltdown Golf Club
TPC Sawgrass
The Players Championship
Nigel Taylor, The Dirty Dozen - Instagram
Keeper of the Greens - Shane Baker (Mosman Park Golf Club)
Keeper of the Greens - Josh Smith (Piltdown Golf Club)
Keeper of the Greens - Fraser Brown (Lake Karrinyuip Country Club)
Keeper of the Greens - John Mann (Metropolitan Golf Club)
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
Shane Baker is Superintendent of Mosman Park Golf Club in Perth, Western Australia. Born and bred in Perth Shane kind of stumbled across greenkeeping during his high school years. Taking time during school to work in sports turf, Shane was soon working on the hallowed grounds of the WACA. Preparing turf for all manner of sports saw Shane gain a wealth of experience early on, as did his time working at Mount Lawley Golf Club. He also gained more experience working at The Western Australian Golf Club and attending the Ohio program which took him to Oakmont GC in the USA.
Shane's career has been anything but a straight line. Between working on numerous golf courses and the WACA ground in Perth, to working at exploring countless golf courses in the USA, Shane has gained more experience than your average greenkeeper which led him to his current long term post of 9 years as Superintendent at Mosman Park Golf Club.
Granted, the 9 hole golf course of Mosman Park is probably one you're not familiar with however, that doesn't mean it's one you shouldn't know about. Perched high above a magnificent rock cutting of the Swan River, Mosman Park GC is a unique golf course for not only it's beautiful yet tranquil city location, but also its mostly Santa Ana couch green surfaces. Yes, you heard me correctly, Santa Ana greens! Shane gives us an insight into the unique site the golf course is built on and just how interesting the golf course itself is. From its natural setting, to the water challenges, to the turf surfaces, to the routing of the course, this conversation has it all.
Join me for another fantastic ride to the west coast of Australia and an interesting insight into another fantastic greenkeeping career, this time with Superintendent Shane Baker.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send me an email to - thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Mosman Park Golf Club
Mount Lawley Golf Club
The Western Australian Golf Club
WACA Ground - Wiki
Ohio International Intern Program
Oakmont Country Club
Quail Hollow Club
Araluen Estate
Nedlands Golf Club
Point Walter Golf Course
Sea View Golf Club
Fremantle Public Golf Course
Cottesloe Golf Club
Golf Course Superintendents Association of Western Australia (GCSAWA)
7 Mile Beach Golf
EP.118 The Design Brief: Rob Collins - King Collins Dormer - Spotify
EP.102 Keeper of the Greens - Idris Evans (The Western Australian Golf Club) - Spotify
EP.33 Keeper of the Green - Nathan Bennett (Royal Adelaide Golf Club)
Rob Collins and King Collins Dormer are fast becoming well known throughout the United States of America, thanks in part to their design of cult hero golf course at Sweetens Cove Golf Club in Tennessee, and their big, bold, home run hitting design of the golf course at Landmand Golf Club in Nebraska, both under the former guise as King Collins. Apart from these special two designs, a number of other new golf course designs coming soon in the USA, and the addition of Trevor Dormer, thus becoming King Collins Dormer, they have something very new on their horizon. Their first new 18 hole course design outside the USA. And it will be at one of Australia's most talked about golf course destinations, 7 Mile Beach! Yes, with the 1st 18 hole course designed by Clayton DeVries Pont (CDP) soon to be open for play, King Collins Dormer are champing at the bit and ready to begin the design and construction of their addition, to not only this incredible golf site, but the Australian golf landscape!
Recorded during US Masters week, Rob Collins and I discuss his background to give the wider Australian audience a better understanding of just who both he and King Collins Dormer are. Oh yeah, and as it turns out, there's the uncanny prophetic skills of Rob picking the Masters winner after just 1 round! Rob takes us through his career in golf course design and we ride the wave of emotions that he has experienced to get to where he is today beginning with his first golf course baby - Sweetens Cove. From Sweetens to Landmand, and the small public 9 hole golf course redesign of Overton Park in the middle, would prove significant to the public's understanding of what the formerly known King Collins design team was capable of. Their fun, engaging, interesting and considerably entertaining designs had them standing out of the crowd. Enter the not yet open, 7 Mile Beach golf complex, the vision of Australian professional golfer and now golf course developer Mat Goggin, and the world has the ingredients for something truly sensational.
For all the fans out there of Australian golf courses and Rob Collins, this is one conversation you don't want to miss out on. Join me for some fun and insight with Rob as I get my fan-girling on and he butters us up to get even more excited about 7 Mile Beach in Hobart, Tasmania!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
King Collins Dormer
7 Mile Beach
Sweetens Cove Golf Club
Landmand Golf Club
Overton Park Golf Course
Bounty Club
21 Golf Club
Sand Hills Golf Club - Wiki
Pinehurst No.2
St Andrews Links - The Old Course
Royal Dornoch Golf Club
The Royal Country Down Golf Club
EP.84 - The Board Room: Mat Goggin (7 Mile Beach) - Apple
EP.84 - The Board Room: Mat Goggin (7 Mile Beach) - Spotify
Walking the Fairways segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals www.campbellchemicals.com.au and Dint Golf Solutions www.dint.com.au
Royal Sydney Golf Club has been through a great deal of hard in the background prior to the commencement of breaking ground by Golf Course Architect Gil Hanse and his team back in 2023. Gil was selected by the club back in 2016 to reimagine the golf course, a club that is one of the oldest in Australia's.
Soon after the project's announcement, backlash from some members of the local community would ultimately force the project to the Land & Environment Court, which after a number of years, would rule in favour of the golf club.
Golf Course Superintendent, Adam Marchant, has an insight to the entire project that few others have. He and his team were at the centre of this entire project given that they are the ones who will care for and nurture the new golf course into the future, along with retaining the architectural and environmental integrity of what has been created.
If you want to know more about the detail of the new course at Royal Sydney Golf Club, then this is the podcast episode for you. Join with me as Adam gives a deep and extensive insight into the entirety of this enormous project from top to bottom and everything in-between, including how greenkeeping and architecture are intertwined to deliver a specific type of golf course. You are in the box seat as Adam describes everything in great detail that not only went into creating this new golf course, but what it will take to maintain it into the future.
Royal Sydney Golf Club could just be the new definition for golf in Sydney!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
The Golfing Greenkeeper TV - YouTube
Send an email: thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Royal Sydney Golf Club
Gil Hanse Golf Design
Kruse Golf - Facebook
Eulonga Quarries
Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub as described by Randwick Council
Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub: Rescuing an endangered ecological community - PDF
Ohoopee Match Club
Victoria Golf Club
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
Jeff Powell is Superintendent of Ballarat Golf Club in regional Victoria. Known as a fantastic regional golf course, it went through a complete redevelopment by Thomson Perrett in the early 2000's. Jeff has been employed at Ballarat for so long that he remembers quite vividly just what is was like maintaining the old golf course prior to the redevelopment.
The redevelopment of the golf course brought with it numerous challenges that Jeff walks us through and we hear the story in a very frank, honest, and sometimes laughable way.
Included in Jeff's long career at Ballarat GC, we hear about the climatic challenges of trying to maintain both cool and warm season turf grasses at this unique site. And sometimes that includes snow!
Join me on yet another sensational ride, this time with Jeff, as we traverse through time at Ballarat GC learning about some long lost maintenance practices and hear about what is involved with delivering a new golf course in regional Victoria, along with a few laughs along the way.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
Send e an email: thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Ballarat Golf Club
Perrett Webb Golf Course Architects
Mount Xavier Golf and Bowls Club
Midlands Golf Club
RACV Goldfields Resort
Walking the Fairways segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is proudly brought to you by Dint Golf Solutions www.dint.com.au and Colin Campbell Chemicals www.campbellchemicals.com.au There's lots going on around Australia and right here is where you will get all the info you need to stay up to date.
Yowani Country Club in Canberra is growing in very well and we're starting to see just what some of the holes are looking like. Royal Canberra Golf Club have also completed the conversion of their fairways to Santa Ana couch, and Federal GC are ticking through new work on course as part of their Crafter + Mogford course enhancement plan.
I'm joined on the podcast by Dave Mason who is currently reestablishing the Thargomindah 9 hole golf course in a remote part of Queensland. This is quite an incredible environment for golf and one that you just have to hear about to believe.
Superintendent Brett Stuesser also joins me and we learn about some of the new works they recently completed on their public 9 hole course in Melbourne's northern suburbs.
There's also the closing down of a 97 year old golf club in Sydney and my armchair take on the incredible Gil Hanse redesign and rebuild of Royal Sydney Golf Club's new course.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Yowani Country Club
Royal Canberra Golf Club
Federal Golf Club
Thargomindah
Gen1 Sportsturf - Facebook
Gen1 Sportsturf - Instagram
Outback Queensland Floods news article 31/3/25
Oak Point Golf Club
Royal Sydney Golf Club
Hanse Golf Course Design
Kruse Golf - Facebook
Killara Golf Club
Wagga City Golf Club
Blackheath Golf Club
Royal Hobart Golf Club
Royal Fremantle Golf Club
Point Walter Golf Course
LIV Golf Adelaide - My Wrap Up is proudly brought to you by Your Tee Box. Check out their website for incredible prints of golf course routing artwork. Check out their website at yourteebox.com.au. Your Tee Box - The perfect golfers gift.
This episode chronicles my 24 hour adventure to LIV Golf Adelaide at The Grange Golf Club, including what I experienced, what I saw on the ground, and of course the reason for my journey, to hand deliver the #1 print of Your Tee Box's limited edition LIV Golf Adelaide - The Grange Golf Club routing artwork to Superintendent Rowan Daymond.
Come along for a fun adventure as I recap by epic 24 hour round trip to Adelaide including getting behind the ropes with the greenkeeping team, up close and personal with the LIV trophy and winners of the event by accident, and of course, surprising Superintendent Rowan Daymond with his special gift from Your Tee Box.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
Send me an email: thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Your Tee Box - The perfect golfers gift
The Grange Golf Club
LIV Golf Adelaide
Glenelg Golf Club
Devonport Country Club
Aston Hills Golf Club
Bribie Island Golf Club
North West Bay Golf Club
Ryan Van Der Veen
Greg Norman Golf Course Design
Mike Clayton Golf Design
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
By the time you have finished listening to this episode, you'll want to be mates with Craig Walker. He's someone you want as a mate, a boss, a work colleague, or just someone you want to know.
If Craig hasn't done it, then I'm sure he's at least seen it! His career in greenkeeping has been diverse and his working career even more so as you'll hear. But things didn't start off that way. No, Craig studied accounting and law. Very logical steps to greenkeeping you might say........until he realised working inside wasn't for him. And lucky for us and the greenkeeping industry he figured that out early on.
Craig has managed golf courses in the past, now he manages 3 at once! He manages bowling greens, installs irrigation systems, and has worked as a turf renovation contractor. He's even had his own tiling business! He's been in, out, and then back in the greenkeeping industry. Like I said, Craig has just about done it all.
I take a turn back to Australia after a couple of interviews overseas, and this time I venture, with the help of Craig, into the island state of Tasmania where Craig is Superintendent of Devonport Country Club. Join us as we learn about Craig's diverse career, along with Devonport Country Club and some of Tasmania's former unknown great golf courses, that we all now know about thanks to Craig's insight.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper - Facebook
Send e an email: thegolfinggreenkeeper@gmail.com
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Devonport Country Club
Pittwater Golf Club
Ulverstone Golf Club
Port Sorell Golf Club
Thirlstone Golf Club
Llanherne Golf Club
7 Mile Beach Golf Course
Arm End Golf Course
Launceston Country Club Golf Course
Barnbougle
Cape Wickham Golf Links
Ratho Farm Golf Course
TSTMA
Nomadic Golfer - Instagram
Walking the Fairways segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals www.campbellchemicals.com.au and Dint Golf Solutions www.dint.com.au
This episode of Walking the Fairways sees me chatting with Greens Director of Ashgrove Golf Club, Simon Putral in Brisbane, and Superintendent of Lakelands Golf Club, Richard Flesser, on the Gold Coast, to gain an insight into just what they experienced from Tropical Cyclone Alfred. We chat about damage done on their respective golf courses and I also discover how quickly they are able to recover!
Also included is my 1st time experience of a game at Moore Park Golf Course just a few days ago. I was joined by lead spokesperson of the Save Moore Park Golf Course campaign, Jared Kendler, for a short round of the back 8 holes, which is the location of the where the NSW State Government are planning to repurpose the public golf course to make way for a public park. What I experienced was nothing short of amazing!
I'm also joined on this episode by Nigel Taylor for an update of his Everesting Challenge that he is embarking on to raise awareness of mental health.
You hit 'em clean, we'll keep 'em green!
If any of the discussions in this podcast raised concerns with your mental health you can contact:
Lifeline (Australia): 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue (Australia): 1300 224 636 or visit www.beyondblue.org.au
MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978 or visit mensline.org.au
People and Places mentioned in this podcast:
Ashgrove Golf Club
Lakelands Golf Club
Hope Island Golf Club
Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club
Palm Meadows Golf Club
Moore Park Golf Course
www.savemooreparkgolfcourse.com.au
The Dirty Dozen (Nigel Taylor) Instagram
The Dirty Dozen (Nigel Taylor) Facebook
Behind the Turf Podcast
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
Josh Smith is a young passionate greenkeeper currently working at Piltdown Golf Club in the South East of England. Prior to his current stint at Piltdown, Josh spent time at Glenelg Golf Club in Adelaide here in Australia working with the on course team led by Superintendent Tim Warren.
Josh's greenkeeping career story so far is one that's on a steep incline. Searching far and wide to take in as much information and knowledge as possible Josh is always looking to learn as much as he can from as many different parts of the world as possible. Oh and did I mention that Josh is currently at TPC Sawgrass working on course right now preparing for The Players Championship tournament!
Join me as Josh and I chew the fat about greenkeeping all over the place and preparing for different tournaments of all tours.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Piltdown Golf Club
Glenelg Golf Club
East Sussex National Golf Club
Tandridge Golf Club
Wentworth Club
JCB Golf & Country Club
TPC Sawgrass
The Players Championship
BMW PGA Championship
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearestJohn Deere dealer at deere.com.au
Chris Rae is an expat Aussie and Superintendent of Orkney Golf Club. Orkney Golf Club is located on the outskirts of the township of Kirkwall on the largest of the Orkney Islands to the north of Scotland.
Beginning his greenkeeping career at Pennant Hills Golf Club, one of Sydney's premier golf clubs, Chris was exposed to high end greenkeeping practices from the get go. It wasn't long before he moved to Concord Golf Club, also in Sydney, where he was mentored by one of the most respected greenkeepers of the industry, Superintendent Mark Parker who is now at NSW Golf Club.
After completing his greenkeeping trade at a couple of the best courses in Sydney and being trained by some of the best, Chris was given an opportunity to get hands on in golf course construction for a couple of years.
As life changes, Chris soon found himself with an opportunity to travel to Scotland after meeting his now wife and before he knew it he was trying to understand the Scottish accent in everyday life. A number of years working outside greenkeeping at a few of different jobs would soon make way for a chance at getting back on the greenkeeping tools and taking on the role of Superintendent at Orkney Golf Club. As it turns out, maintaining a golf course in the far north of Scotland is very different to that of maintaining a golf course in Sydney!
Chris's story has everything in it from maintaining golf courses at the top end of town in Sydney to the remoteness of island life a mere seven degrees latitude outside the Artic Circle! Come with me for my first journey to the other side of the planet and a conversation that includes golf that might start at 9am, sometimes finishes after midnight, 24 hours of daylight, castles, pheasants, Viking heritage and a church built in an era when the year sounds more like it's time for smoko!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Orkney Golf Club
The National Golf Club - The Old Course
Pennant Hills Golf Club
Concord Golf Club
NSW Golf Club
Royal Dornoch Golf Club
The Australian Golf Club
The Royal Melbourne Golf Club
Stuart Rennie
Tom Doak
Orkney Islands
International Island Games 2025
Walking the Fairways segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is proudly brought to you by Dint Golf Solutions www.dint.com.au and Colin Campbell Chemicals www.campbellchemicals.com.au
On this episode of Walking the Fairways there's extensive news from right around Australia! You'll get an insight directly from Jared Kendler, board member and lead spokesperson of Moore Park Golf Collective. Jared provides us with an update of where everything is at regarding the NSW State Governments plan to cut Moore Park GC down to 9 holes and the Moore Park Golf Collective groups alternative proposal that has been put forward to not only retain 18 holes of golf but also increase other public recreational offerings on the site.
There's lots of information regarding the opening of a number of completely renovated golf courses that are now open for play including Mount Lawley GC and Nedlands GC in Perth, along with the exciting redesigned NSW GC by UK based architects MacKenzie & Ebert.
We hear from Royal Perth Golf Club Superintendent Pat Casey about the opening of the recently completed stage 1 works of their golf course masterplan designed by co architects Clayton Devries Pont (CDP) and Kruse Golf. And there's an update about the mouthwatering prospect of preview play at 7 Mile Beach Golf Course in Hobart, Tasmania.
Join me on this lap around the country brought to you by new podcast partners Dint Golf Solutions and Colin Campbell Chemicals.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
If any of the discussions in this podcast raised concerns with your mental health you can contact:
Lifeline (Australia): 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue (Australia): 1300 224 636 or visit www.beyondblue.org.au
MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978 or visit mensline.org.au
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Lakelands Golf Club
Gold Coast Festival of Golf
Moore Park Golf Collective
Moore Park Golf Course
Ballina Golf & Sports Club
Blackheath Golf and Community Club
Kew Golf Club
Riversdale Golf Club
Clayton Devries Pont (CDP)
Kruse Golf - Facebook
Arm End Golf Course
7 Mile Beach Golf Course
Glenelg Golf Club
Ryan Van Der Veen
Royal Perth Golf Club
Mount Lawley Golf Club
Wanneroo Golf Club
Nedlands Golf Club
Busselton Golf Club
Hartfield Country Club
Nigel Taylor - The Dirty Dozen Everest Challenge
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearestJohn Deere dealer at deere.com.au
Terry Vogel is a man from the country through and through. What you're going to get from his story is a deep insight into the life of a regional Superintendent who details the highs and lows of his greenkeeping career and he includes all the thoughts that come with. Being a Superintendent isn't always easy and Terry shares his story that I'm sure is like so many others of the industry be it still in or now out.
A family man, Terry shares a great deal into what it has taken him to get to this point in his long and experienced greenkeeping career which includes his wife and children always close by on this bumpy ride. Unlike many greenkeepers Terry has played golf at a very high level having played and captained the Victorian State amateur team so he understands what is involved to be very good at the sport. Now, his daughter has gone one step further than he did and is a professional golfer that plays on the national women's tour!
Get comfy and join us as we embark on a unique journey like no one before on this podcast.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Cobram Barooga Golf Club
Women in turf Program
Webex Players Series Murray River
Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA)
Club Tocumwal
Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort
Bright Country Golf Club
WPGA
Vern Morcom
Kevin Hartley
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearestJohn Deere dealer at deere.com.au
The Women in Turf Program is supported by John Deere in collaboration with Envu and the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA). A key part of the program sees a group of selected volunteer female greenkeepers from right across Australia assist the course maintenance team of Cobram Barooga Golf Club preparing their golf course for the Webex Players Series Murray River tournament.
Working with John Deere, I was given the opportunity to chat with each of the volunteers to get an insight into their greenkeeping careers understanding just what they enjoy about their chosen career, what it's like working and preparing a golf course for a tournament for the first time and what they are getting out of being part of this fantastic industry supported program. I also speak with Cobram Barooga Golf Club Superintendent Terry Vogel and CEO Bobby Brooks about what it means to have this program involved at their club.
Join me as we hear the enthusiasm from an energetic group of young female greenkeepers as they experience something new in a part of the country that they've not experienced before.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Women in turf Program
Cobram Barooga Golf Club
Webex Players Series Murray River
Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA)
Settlers Run Golf & Country Club
Kooringal Golf Club
Charlestown Golf Club
Green by Nature
Next Gen Jobs
Maroondah City Council
City of Stirling
Thanks to The Society of Australian Golf Course Architects, The Design Brief is back!
Richard Chamberlain may not be a household name in Australian golf course architecture. As you'll soon hear, Richard is however extremely well experienced and has worked with some of those household golf course architecture names.
From an early career in cartography Richard was soon to make a change into golf course architecture, probably in a way you won't see coming. Once in the game, with a couple of Australia's well known names such as Graham Marsh and Ross Watson, Richard was soon finding his was in the earliest days of CAD for golf course design and construction.
Fast forward through some rewarding, and at times, tumultuous years, Richard is now well into his very own career as a golf course architect. As you'll hear, he is working on a number of golf course projects around Australia. One corner of his business that he has carved out in the industry himself, is that of mini golf course design. Different to the image that you conjure in your mind at the moment you first hear about mini golf, golf clubs and other golf facilities are seeing enormous benefits to adding mini golf to their established golf offerings.
Join Richard and I as we theoretically travel the country discussing old golf course design and construction, new golf course design and construction, mini golf, short par 4's, and the odd beer story all in the name of learning more and gaining an insight into the mind of a golf course architect.
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Richard Chamberlain Golf Design - website
Richard Chamberlain Email - richard@rgcd.com.au
Richard Chamberlain Phone - 0409 899 007
Graham Marsh - Planet Golf website
Ross Watson - Planet Golf website
Magenta Shores Golf Club
Kooindah Waters Golf Club
Terrey Hills Golf & Country Club
Karratha Country Club
Royal Hobart Golf Club
Ocean Shores Country Club
Wembley Golf Course
Royal Fremantle Golf Club
Palm Meadows Golf Course
Meadowbrook Golf Club
Cobram Barooga Golf Club
Bankstown Golf Club
Toowoomba Golf Club
The Society of Australian Golf Course Architects (SAGCA)
In news on Walking the Fairways I let you know about a $300M golf and surf resort coming to the Gold Coast, Rowan Daymond - Superintendent of The Grange GC in Adelaide drops in for a chat about preparing the course for LIV Golf Adelaide, Yowani Golf Club in Canberra gets a mention as their new layout design by Ben Davey from Contour Golf is growing in nicely, Mt Lawley Golf Club in Perth is soon to open their full course greens replacement program designed by OCM, and Nigel Taylor swings by to give us the details of his extreme challenge to raise awareness for mental health in the greenkeeping industry.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
If any of the discussions in this podcast raised concerns with your mental health you can contact:
Lifeline (Australia): 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue (Australia): 1300 224 636 or visit www.beyondblue.org.au
MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978 or visit mensline.org.au
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Palm Valley Gold Coast
Yowani Golf Club
Contour Golf
Federal Golf Club
Shoalhaven Heads Golf Club
Cobram Barooga Golf Club
Latrobe Golf Club
OCM Design
Huntingdale Golf Club
Riversdale Golf Club
Glenelg Golf Club
The Grange Golf Club
LIV Golf Adelaide
Nedlands Golf Club
Seaview Golf Club
Mt Lawley Golf Club
Nigel Taylor (Instagram)
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
Kate Rainsbury is relatively young in the greenkeeping industry. However, what she may lack in experience she more than makes up for with passion and energy about her chosen career of greenkeeping.
As a young golfer at The Dunes Golf Club on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, Kate was looking for work, pocket money as a teenager. She got her first job working maintaining the golf carts and working in the clubhouse and driving range before an opportunity to become an apprentice greenkeeper fronted her. Covid was taking hold and the opportunity for full time work and not going to university was a real option. Kate took hold of the greenkeeping apprenticeship and ran with it. She ran with it to the point where she is now not only fully qualified as a greenkeeper, but has also recently landed herself a position as 3IC at the nearby established Sorrento Golf Club and is completing her Diploma studies.
Yes, Kate is quickly showing the greenkeeping industry that she is not only a passionate individual that loves her job, but also someone who is looking to climb the ranks to one achieving her goal of becoming a Superintendent of her very own golf course!
Join me as Kate takes us on the ride of her career from humble beginnings to working at one of Victoria's highly regarded golf clubs in a leadership role. This conversation is sure to motivate you and you will feel Kate's passion through the conversation. This is one young greenkeeper that we will all be hearing more about in the near future!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
John Deere Golf - Women in Turf Program
2025 Women in Turf Initiative
Sorrento Golf Club
The Dunes Golf Links
Victorian Golf Course Superintendents Association (VGCSA)
Cobram Barooga Golf Club
Webex Player Series Murray River
Tara Iti Golf Links
Te Arai Links
Walking the Fairways is the news segment of the podcast where I keep you up to date with happenings on golf courses around Australia including who is doing redesign works, new construction updates, which golf clubs are improving their golf courses, and any new architecture updates.
On this episode I make a announcement of something new that I'm supporting in 2025 that we need your help with, and I also have friend of the podcast Nadeem join me to give you an update on a new resource that is available to the greenkeeping industry.
Come along with me as we traverse the country and get you up to date!
People, places and things mentioned in this podcast:
For the book - Biology and Integrated Management of Turfgrass Disease, send an email to Nadeem directly at zreikat@campbellchemicals.com.au
Behind the Turf Podcast
John Deere Women in Turf Program
Webex Players Series
Cobram Barooga Golf Club
The Western Australian Golf Club
Royal Fremantle Golf Club
Wanneroo Golf Club
Busselton Golf Club
Mollymook Hill Top Golf Course
Mallacoota Golf Club
Maleny Golf Club
Lakelands Golf Club
Kyneton Golf Club
Strathallan Golf Club
Hanse Golf Course Design
MacKenzie & Ebert Design
Crafter + Mogford Golf Strategies
Ryan Van Der Veen Design
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
There aren't many people who can say they have worked at the one place for nearly 40 years, and there are less people that can say they've worked at the one golf club for nearly 40 years! Idris Evans is one of those very few people that CAN say they have!
Idris is Superintendent at The Western Australian Golf Club in Perth, WA. From a cricket loving background Idris found his way into golf greenkeeping as it was a job that gave him time to practice his cricket at a young age. Growing up in Darwin Idris made the move to Perth to further his potential cricket career before making the decision that cricket would only be a passionate hobby and greenkeeping would be his chosen career path.
Entering the greenkeeping industry at a young age, Idris would soon become a passionate and loyal team member of The Western Australian Golf Club where he would climb his way through the ranks, being mentored by some of the best in the west, before staking his claim in the role of Superintendent when the seat became available. His time as Superintendent began with a couple of significant projects on course which most people won't get to experience in their careers. As a passionate leader, Idris has built a passionate team at the WAGC which has helped produce a high quality golf facility with passionate members that punches above its weight given the smaller size of the golf course compared to it more well known neighbours.
Join with me for a great convo linking the east and west coasts over the phone as we dive into a remarkable greenkeeping career and get an insight into The Western Australian Golf Club.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
John Deere Golf - Women in Turf Program
2025 Women in Turf Initiative
The Western Australian Golf Club
Mount Lawley Golf Club
Lake Karrinyup Country Club
Joondalup Resort
Royal Perth Golf Club
The Vines Resort
The Cut Golf Club
Meadow Springs Golf & Country Club
Cobram Barooga Golf Club
Webex Player Series Murray River
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
Glenn Stuart is Director of Courses at one of Australia's best golf facilities, Peninsula Kingswood, or PK as it's affectionately known.
Glenn was around good golf courses from a young age as you'll hear including the well regarded, regional Victorian, Leongatha Golf Club. When it came to getting full time work at the age of 17, Glenn put himself forward to a number of golf clubs, and as it would turn out, landed a job at the now former Kingswood Golf Club, which in recent years became one half of today's Peninsula Kingswood. Glenn was mentored by some of the greenkeeping industries brightest minds at a young age which would set him up to become a Superintendent himself for the first time at a young age at another well known Sandbelt golf course! Glenn continued his career as Superintendent throughout a number of Melbourne's best golf courses including preparing for some of the biggest tournaments held in Australia. Then came a new opportunity to take on a new role and the new Peninsula Kingswood, a merger of both Peninsula and Kingswood golf club's which entailed a rebirthing and redesign of Peninsula's 36 hole facility to create the new PK.
As you'll hear, this redesign was one enormous task that evolved during the process, and Glenn's insight into just what was involved to bring PK to life and how it is being maintained since, needs to be heard to understand another reason why I believe PK should be considered as one of the best golf facilities in Australia.
You are going to enjoy this interview, you are going to get a great deal out of this interview, you will consider your thoughts about PK after this interview, and you will be looking for a way to play PK after this interview!
Join me for one final ride in 2024 as we dive deep with Glenn into his incredible greenkeeping career and learn about PK like never before!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club
Leongatha Golf Club
Kingston Beach Golf Club
Riversdale Golf Club
The National Golf Club - Long Island Course
Woodlands Golf Club
The Metropolitan Golf Club
OCM Design
EP.95 Keeper of the Greens - Richard Forsyth (The Royal Melbourne Golf Club) on Apple
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
The tables are turned for episode 100 of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast when I, Steve Smith, become the guest on my own podcast!
Join me as we wind up the fun factor for something very different where neither you, or I, know just what might happen!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
The Golfing Greenkeeper Instagram
The Golfing Greenkeeper Facebook
Cranbourne Golf Club
EP.54 Keeper of the Green - Nico Douglas (Cranbourne Golf Club)
Wentworth Falls Country Club
Blackheath Golf Club
St Andrews Beach Golf Course
Kingston Heath Golf Club
The Royal Melbourne Golf Club
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
Superintendent of Mudgee Golf Club, Jason Seis, is a 5th generation farmer from the local Mudgee/Gulgong region of NSW. Knowing what farming life was all about and being a golfer as a kid, Jason took an opportunity for some work experience at Mudgee Golf Club during his later school years. It was at this time that he found a liking to greenkeeping and what it was all about.
Fast forward to finishing school and Jason decided that he didn't want to work on the family farm but instead work as a greenkeeper. Without an apprenticeship available at the time, Jason was committed to his decision and put himself through the 1st year of greenkeeping at TAFE until he finally landed his apprenticeship at Mudgee Golf Club.
After completing his apprenticeship Jason was soon on a path to an Assistant Superintendents role away from the local Mudgee area for a few years before the family farm would soon come calling. Moving back home and working on the family farm for nearly 10 years, an opportunity arose with a vacant position of Superintendent at Mudgee Golf Club and this time it was the passion of greenkeeping that came calling.
Come for a journey with Jason and I as he gives us an insight into rural country life and greenkeeping in the Central West of NSW where it's hot and dusty, and 18 hole golf courses are separated by hours instead of minutes.
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Mudgee Golf Club
Mudgee Wine Region
Doctor Doctor TV Show
Wentworth Falls Country Club
Bathurst Golf Club
Henbury Golf Club
Dubbo Golf Club
Royal Sydney Golf Club
ASTMA
Kingston Heath Golf Club is co hosting the Australian Open this year. I recently travelled to Melbourne and was fortunate to be given an opportunity to play a round at Kingston Heath.
In this episode of Walking the Fairways I want to give you an insight into just what I experienced and saw out on the golf course at Kingston Heath, along with giving you some things to look for if you're at the tournament walking the fairways, or watching it on TV.
I hope you enjoy this walk of a different kind.
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Kingston Heath Golf Club
Royal Queensland Golf Club
The Royal Melbourne Golf Club
Cape Wickham Golf Links
Golf Australia Magazine Top 100
Australian Golf Digest Top 100
top100golfcourses.com World Top 100
Massey Ferguson 35x
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. Check out the brand new 185 E-Cut and 225 E-Cut fully electric walk behind greens mowers from John Deere. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au and ask for a demo.
Sophie Warren is a young upcoming female greenkeeper! Having recently received the Turf Management South Australia (TMSA) Graduate of the Year award Sophie has got the greenkeeping world at her fingertips.
Sophie is currently a 4th year apprentice and very soon to become a fully qualified greenkeeper at Glenelg Golf Club in Adelaide, South Australia. With a full course rebuild of Glenelg GC being conducted throughout her entire apprenticeship, Sophie is learning not only her trade, but she is being exposed to and learning many techniques and skills that few apprentices are afforded.
Having been the first ever apprentice I've interviewed on the podcast, I wanted to see how Sophie got into the trade of greenkeeping and find out what it is about greenkeeping that she enjoys so much. We dive into what she's experienced in the industry, not only at Glenelg Golf Club, but also being invited to be part of the John Deere Women in Turf Program, and volunteering at the Australian Open.
Sophie is a bright star of the future of greenkeeping and at the same time, a very down to earth individual. Come with us as we have a bit of fun and a laugh along the way and see just why this apprentice greenkeeper is enjoying her career so much!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Glenelg Golf Club
Glenelg Golf Club Course Enhancement Plan
Royal Adelaide Golf Club
John Deere Women in Turf Program
Cobram Barooga Golf Club
Webex Players Series Murray River
St Andrews Beach Golf Course
TMSA
St Vincent Gulf, South Australia
EP.75 Keeper Of The Greens - Tim Warren (Glenelg Golf Club)
Walking the Fairways is back in 2024 and what better way to do it than to give you an update as to just what is happening in Hobart, Tasmania after my recent trip there.
Come with me as I give you a glimpse into some of the newest golf course projects happening in Australia, along with a couple of local stalwart courses of Hobart that are worth visiting when you're in town!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
7 Mile Beach Golf Course
Royal Hobart Golf Club
Llanherne Golf Club
Arm End Golf Course
Mat Goggin on The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast
Clayton Devries Pont
OCM Golf Design
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. Check out the brand new 185 E-Cut and 225 E-Cut fully electric walk behind greens mowers from John Deere. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au and ask for a demo.
Richard Forsyth leads the team that maintain one of the greatest golf facilities on Earth, The Royal Melbourne Golf Club!
From a farming background on the outskirts of Melbourne, a young Richard took an opportunity as a apprentice greenkeeper at Riversdale Golf Club in Melbourne. He quickly acquired the taste for golf greenkeeping which included the overall landscape of the site and not just the turf.
A couple of appointments at golf resorts along the Murray River, including his first posting as a Superintendent, would set Richard up for the appointment as Superintendent at The Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne's famed Sandbelt region.
Richard's experience gained thus far in his career was becoming extensive and he was at home leading the team at Metro. However, when the seat was vacated at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Richard threw his hat in the ring and ultimately was bestowed the responsibility to hold the keys and lead the team of maintaining the hallowed MacKenzie/Russell designed 36 hole facility just as the 2011 Presidents Cup was knocking on the door!
Join with me as we ride with Richard throughout his greenkeeping journey before things get detailed and interesting as we talk about the inner workings of maintaining the Royal Melbourne golf courses. We discuss history, architecture, green firmness, the art and majesty of non uniform turf surfaces, philosophy of turf maintenance, and vegetation. We also discuss how Royal Melbourne is the sum of greater than its parts, and how, like that famous line out of the great Aussie movie The Castle, sometimes "it's the vibe" that is the indefinable quality of Royal Melbourne!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
The Royal Melbourne Golf Club
Riversdale Golf Club
Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort
Murray Downs Golf & Country Club
The Metropolitan Golf Club
Alister MacKenzie
Mick Morcom & Claude Crockford
Killara Golf Club is celebrating 125 years in 2024!
We pick up the Killara Golf Club story in 1932. This second part of the podcast sees the club navigate their way through the challenging time after the clubhouse has been gutted by fire. The Second World War has an impact on both the club and Australia, and moving into the 1960's the club was looking to upgrade the golf course with architect Commander John Harris.
Along with learning about the continued history of the golf club, this second part of the episode brings in a number of personal insights from the recent history of the golf club with a number of guests joining me throughout the story. These guests allow us to understand and see what goes on deep inside the golf club and just how Killara is functioning as a club and looking to move forward and plan for the future.
As we come to the completion of Killara Golf Club's story, I am also joined by Golf Course Architect Harley Kruse. Harley details his thoughts on just what his recent redesign of the golf course has delivered to the club and how it is setting the club and course up for the future.
Come and join me on this final part of this history podcast journey as I continue the deep dive to complete this amazing story of just what makes Killara Golf Club not only one of Sydney's greatest golf treasures, but also one of Australia's!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Killara Golf Club
NSW Golf Club
Prosper Ellis
Commander John Harris
Harley Kruse
Peter's Ice Cream clubhouse model
This two part podcast episode was a paid project in partnership with Killara Golf Club.
Killara Golf Club is celebrating 125 years in 2024!
As one of the oldest golf clubs in Australia, Killara began its life in 1899 as Lindfield Golf Club and was also located on a different site than it is today. Only some details are known of the golf club's earliest history and I have set out to try and find some of those missing pieces during this podcast project.
Working with Killara Golf Club on this project, some of what we have been able to discover includes the previously unknown first designers of the original Killara golf course, the beginning of the golf career of one of Australia's greatest ever amateur players, and never before heard details of Dr Alister MacKenzie's course report from 1926.
Add to all of this, I along with you the audience, hear about the evolution of Killara's unique golf course through the various architects that have been involved, learn a bit about the early history of golf in Sydney, and get a broad understanding of just where Killara Golf Club sits within the golf landscape of Sydney.
Come and join me on this two part podcast journey as I deep dive and tell the amazing and previously unknown story of just what makes Killara Golf Club not only one of Sydney's greatest golf treasures, but also one of Australia's!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Killara Golf Club
Royal Sydney Golf Club
The Australian Golf Club
Newcastle Golf Club
Bondi Golf & Diggers Club
Avondale Golf Club
Carnegie Clark
Dan Soutar
Dr Alister MacKenzie
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
Ryan Stores comes from humble beginnings growing up on a farm in the Snowy Mountains region of NSW.
After getting a start and completing a greenkeeping apprenticeship on a city golf course in Canberra, Ryan quickly found himself wanting more. A trip to the USA as part of the Ohio State Program gave Ryan everything he was looking for with vast experience in tournament preparation on some of the biggest stages in golf!
Returning to Australia for a period, it wasn't long before Ryan found himself back in the USA after a phone call for a project few could've asked for at the one and only Quail Hollow!
Following his epic adventures to and from the USA, Ryan came back to the bush capital of Australia where he settled into a new position at Royal Canberra Golf Club before the Superintendent's seat became available and he was appointed the role. With a great deal of new work under their belt and on the horizon at Royal Canberra Golf Club, Ryan and his team are well positioned to bring the course to a whole new and exciting standard.
Ryan's career is a steep one and one that shows what you can achieve if you are dedicated and committed at what you do! Come with us on this exciting ride as we hear about Ryan's incredible career, what it's like maintaining a golf course is such a challenging environment, and just where Royal Canberra Golf Club is set to go in the future.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Royal Canberra Golf Club
Yowani Country Club
Ohio State Program
Quail Hollow Club
The Australian Golf Club
Liberty National Golf Club
Walter Burley Griffin
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au Graeme Andrews is Superintendent of the beautiful Tamborine Mountain Golf Club in the Gold Coast Hinterland of Queensland.
Originally from New Zealand, Graeme learned his greenkeeping trade on cool season grasses on some well known courses. Upon a holiday trip to Queensland, Graeme soon found his new "home" in the warm Queensland temperatures.
After moving to Queensland and few years working outside the industry learning new skills, it wasn't long before greenkeeping was back in his mind and Graeme was back working on a golf course.
Tamborine Mountain Golf Club has a unique golf course, very different from the resort and high quality warm season turf surfaces the Golf Coast region is known for.
Along with detailing his career, Graeme gives us an insight into the golf course at Tamborine Mountain, some of the challenges they've faced recently, along with some course upgrades and Koalas all in his own jovial and light hearted way.
Come and enjoy a fun ride on the Scenic Rim!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Tamborine Mountain Golf Club
Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club
Kooralbyn Valley Golf Course
Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary
Elanora Country Club
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is brought to you by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer at deere.com.au
For the very first time, we're heading to the Northern Territory!
Jimmy Downes is Head Greenkeeper of the local nine hole golf course in downtown Humpty Doo, outside Darwin. Yes, you heard me right, Humpty Doo. This nine hole golf course might have a unique name, and be located in a unique part of Australia, but it's nothing compared to Jimmy's unique greenkeeping career path.
Leaving school early would see Jimmy finding horticulture where he made the most of it. Studying and gaining plenty of knowledge in horticulture saw Jimmy looking for work without much luck before he was given an opportunity in a very different place!
Taking the bull by the horns, this opportunity quickly became Jimmy's big adventure! Working on a golf course in a far away wonderland, Jimmy soon found himself at this new home for many years. Taking up the game of golf and enjoying the sport at his new home, many years would pass when things changed and he was looking for work again.
A stint outside greenkeeping for a few years soon had Jimmy thinking of golf and sports turf again, and it wasn't long before Humpty Doo just happened to be the right fit at the right time!
You're sure to enjoy this wild, and at times left field adventure, as we learn about golf and greenkeeping in the NT along with just how big Australia really is!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Humpty Doo & Rural Area Golf Club
Humpty Doo Greenkeeper
Humpy Doo
Groote Eylandt
Alyangula Golf Club
Gove Golf Club
Royal Pines Resort
7 Mile Beach Golf Course
Lawntips - Ben Sims
Finding Fairways Australia
Inside The Greenkeepers Shed is a behind the scenes look into just what is involved in preparing a golf course and is broken down in a way for every day people to understand.
This episode I interview Superintendent of Cranbourne Golf Club, Nico Douglas, and we chat about his tournament preparation experience as a volunteer team member preparing for LIV Golf Adelaide earlier in the year at The Grange Golf Club.
Nico discusses his reasons behind wanting to be part of the team and also just why he believes it is a great opportunity for any greenkeeper to experience.
If you want to get an inside peek into tournament preparation, or are thinking about applying to be a volunteer greenkeeper at a tournament, you'll want to listen to this one!
People and Places mentioned in this podcast:
Nico Douglas - Superintendent Cranbourne Golf Club
Cranbourne Golf Club
Volunteer for LIV Golf Adelaide
Rowan Daymond - Superintendent The Grange Golf Club
The Grange Golf Club
LIV Golf Adelaide 2025
The Australian Open
Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is sponsored by John Deere Golf. When you work where others play, you need a partner you can trust to keep your course in perfect condition. Find your nearest John Deere dealer here at deere.com.au
Matthew Bailey may not have the experience of someone that has worked an numerous courses, but he more than makes up for it on the two courses he has worked at!
Matthew's early greenkeeping career saw him learning under two highly respected superintendents where he would experience course construction and a new course build from scratch. Quickly climbing the ranks it wasn't long before he would become Superintendent at Lynwood. An amalgamation soon after taking the reins and a few years working as Superintendent soon saw an offer of a senior management role inside the clubhouse. A pandemic and consecutive floods during one of the wettest periods on record had Matthew learning on the run and thinking outside the box in many ways to help make Lynwood a great community club as well as a great golf facility.
A greenkeeper at heart, the golf course has always been the centre of Matthew's thoughts, and it wasn't long before he was back outside leading the team and maintaining the golf course in the hands on role he loves yet again.
This is a fun yarn that has a bit for everyone. Strap yourself in for a ride that experiences everything without going anywhere.
You hit 'em clean, we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Lynwood Golf & Country Club
Wallacia Golf Club
Penrith Panthers Leagues Club
NSW Floods 2022
TPC Deere Run
John Deere Classic
Castle Hill RSL Group
IGA Blaxland
This Keeper Of The Greens segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is sponsored by The Social Media Birdie If you're looking for social media or digital media management, then go one better with The Social Media Birdie "We're Better Than Par".
Fraser Brown might not be someone you've heard of in Australian greenkeeping before, but he will be after you listen to his story in this interview.
Lake Karrinyup Country Club is often considered one of, if not, the best golf course Western Australia has to offer. Designed by Alex Russell, Australian design partner of Alister MacKenzie, it is located on a unique site in Perth's northern suburbs. For nearly the past 8 years Fraser has lead the maintenance team as Superintendent of this wonderful golf course, preserving its unique qualities and retaining its proud place in Australian golf. Fraser's journey to becoming Superintendent at Lake Karrinyup could be considered as unique the course itself. A Scotsman growing up in an area the rest of us might consider golf heaven, Fraser found his early calling, before taking a path less travelled (possibly by no one ever before) to eventually landing in Australia and maintaining turf in one of Australia's most unique locations!
If this story doesn't show you just where greenkeeping can take you around the world, then nothing will. Come and join Fraser and I as we learn about the wild west and other far flung corners of the globe.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Lake Karrinyup Country Club
Kalgoorlie Golf Course
Carnoustie Golf Links
Alex Russell
Dr Alister MacKenzie
Golf Course Superintendents Association of Western Australia
First Walking The Faiways for 2024 and I've got a few things to bring to you.
Come with me as I keep you informed with what's happening on golf courses around Australia with updates as to who is changing their course, which courses have architects starting new work and what has generally been happening around the country. The only place where you will get a huge insight from the inner working of Australian golf courses!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
We need your help now, time is running out!
Moore Park Golf Course in Sydney is at an important junction in its long history as a public golf course. Moore Park Golf Course was a golf course that from its very inception was built as a gateway to the sport of golf for the working class of Sydney. Those who could not afford an entry into the private exclusive clubs that were being built in the surrounding areas. A copy if you like, of how golf was accessed by those of the old country, Scotland.
Recently, pressure to retain 18 holes of golf at Moore Park has been brought to a head, when late last year the NSW Government announced its intention to repurpose approximately half of the golf course space for other outdoor activities which does not include golf.
Join me on this episode as I phone in a friend with one of the leaders of the campaign to save Moore Park Golf Course, Jared Kendler. Jared is a very passionate nearby resident of the Moore Park Golf Course and a regular player of the course. Listen as we take a very deep dive into what is at stake for the Moore Park Golf Course and its long history that began as the very first iteration of a public golf course in Australia way back in 1910. We also wade through the details that are sometimes overlooked when discussing Moore Park Golf Course and why we believe its very much worth saving and participating in the fight to save it as 18 holes.
The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is sponsored by The Social Media Birdie. If you're a golf club, golf course or business in the golf industry, then The Social Media Birdie is who you need to look after your social and digital media for you. Check them out by clicking here The Social Media Birdie
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
Important links to help save Moore Park Golf Course:Save Moore Park Golf Course
Centennial Parklands - Have Your Say on the Future of Moore Park South
Survey: Share Your Ideas - Moore Park South
The Future of Moore Park South - Discussion Paper
The Board Room segment of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is sponsored by The Social Media Birdie. If you're a golf club, golf course or business in the golf industry, then The Social Media Birdie is who you need to look after your social and digital media for you. Check them out by clicking here The Social Media Birdie
Ever thought "Hey, someone should build a golf course over there!" Well, that's exactly what touring professional golfer Mat Goggin thought many years ago of an area of land at 7 Mile Beach in Hobart, Tasmania.
If you're into golf then you've probably heard something about the new golf course being built at 7 Mile Beach. If not, that's ok, because I'm about to load you up full of sand! And by sand, I mean information about the 7 Mile Beach golf course as I spend some time with Mat Goggin, the driving force behind one of the most exciting golf course construction projects in Australia.
Join Mat Goggin and I as we discuss just how much time, effort and work is involved in building a world class public access golf course from scratch. Mat is very open as we dive not only into the moments that spawned the idea of building a golf course at 7 Mile Beach, but also the passion he is putting into this project and what he wants it to become.
This podcast you are sure to enjoy no matter how much you think you already know about 7 Mile Beach!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
7 Mile Beach Golf Course
7 Mile Beach Instagram account
7 Mile Beach Golf Shop
Mat Goggin (Wiki Profile)
Lindy Goggin - One of The Greats (by David Newbery) Inside Golf - 27th May 2016
Clayton DeVries Pont (CDP)
Barnbougle
Royal Melbourne Golf Club
2009 Open Championship Turnberry
This episode of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals. Click on their name and it will take you straight to their website for more information or simply go to www.campbellchemicals.com.au
This was fun! This episode was recorded LIVE at the annual Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA) Conference in Adelaide at the turf trade show booth of this podcast episode sponsor Colin Campbell Chemicals. Nadeem and I had a lot of fun at the conference recording this one which also gave me the opportunity to grab a few of the superstars of turf to sit down on the couch for a brief chat as they walked past. I sit down with a broad mix of guests for a few great chats about the conference and the greenkeeping industry.
Settle into that seat of yours, turn down the background noise and lets have a good time.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People & Places mentioned in this podcast:
Colin Campbell Chemicals
The ASTMA
Royal Perth Golf Club
Te Arai Links
Dr Jim Brosnan
Terrey Hills Golf & Country Club
NSWGCA
Keeper Of The Greens is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals. Click on their name or go to and it will take you straight to their website for more information or simply go to www.campbellchemicals.com.au
Rowan Daymond is a Superintendent that has just experienced what it's like to LIV through being the host of a major tournament. (See what I did there?!)
Rowan's greenkeeping career began from humble beginnings in a small regional town along the mighty Murray River. Playing golf with his Grandfather as a young boy, Rowan would grow up to enjoy the game of golf along with getting a start as a greenkeeper on the local golf course of his home town of Coomealla. A move to the South Australian capital Adelaide would see Rowan gain significant experience under the guidance of a very well respected Superintendent before taking a break to travel to the UK. Rowan's career restarted back in Adelaide where he would begin his long relationship with The Grange Golf Club over a couple of stints including a rebuild.
Fast forward to today and Rowan leads a large team maintaining the largest golf facility in Adelaide at The Grange Golf Club which has just finished playing host to the very first LIV tournament held in Australia.
Sit down and grab a drink for this one as Rowan gives us an insight into what it was like hosting the newest version of tournament golf in the world. He also puts The Grange on your bucket list of courses to play as we explore just what make The Grange, The Grange.
Don't forget to join both Nadeem, from the sponsor of this podcast episode Colin Campbell Chemicals, and I at this year's ASTMA Conference in Adelaide, June 19 - 22. Don't forget you can register for free to enter the trade show by clicking this link https://www.astma.com.au/conference/trade-show-visitor-registration/
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
Places Mentioned in this podcast:
The Grange Golf Club
Coomealla Golf Club
Kooyonga Golf Club
Royal Adelaide Golf Club
Murray Downs Golf Resort
The Castle Course, St Andrews
Walking The Fairways segment is here along with some news from what's happening on golf courses around Australia including the NT for something new. I also give you my take on the whole LIV/PGAT/EUROPGAT! So much going on but I just had to throw my thoughts in there this time around.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
Keeper Of The Greens is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals. Click on their name or go to and it will take you straight to their website for more information or simply go to www.campbellchemicals.com.au
Recorded LIVE in the Maintenance Facility at Pennant Hills Golf Club.
Liam Ash could easily be confused with someone twice his age if you looked only at his list of places worked or had a conversation with him about greenkeeping, such is his level of experience and knowledge. But this well experienced young man now holds the keys to the castle, as he puts it, as Superintendent at one of Sydney's premier golf clubs, Pennant Hills Golf Club.
My conversation with Liam takes us through three states on the east coast of Australia, looking after turf grasses across the whole spectrum that grow in hot climates all the way to very cold. Liam started mowing grass at a very young age and it wasn't long before he began his greenkeeping career on the first rung like all of us, as an apprentice. Hard work and determination put Liam on a path to working for some of the best people in the industry before turning his hand to maintaining turf on private golf holes for some of Sydney's more wealthy people, before golf course greenkeeping called out his name again. This second stint came with a more hardened greenkeeper, one that could hold his own with the best at still quite a young age.
You're really going to enjoy this interview I have with Liam hearing about his broad experience gained in such a short space of time. Pennant Hills Golf Club itself is turning 100 this year and is soon to embark on a redesign which Liam gives us some insight on. There's lots in this one so come and join me for some fun as Liam and I chat with some unexpected noises in the background!
Don't forget to join both Nadeem, from the sponsor of this podcast episode Colin Campbell Chemicals, and I at this year's ASTMA Conference in Adelaide, June 19 - 22.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
Places Mentioned in this podcast:
Pennant Hills Golf Club
Brookwater Golf & Country Club
Barnbougle
Cape Wickham Golf Links
Monash Country Club
Killara Golf Club
Ok, so here it is, my opinion piece on LIV Golf Adelaide!
Many of you have been wondering what I thought of LIV Golf Adelaide after my huge day trip from Sydney. I'm sure you've already listened to other podcasts and read articles about it, so to add to your understanding and even to your experience, here are my views and thoughts on the whole shabang!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green.
Oh and don't forget to leave a review so more people can find and enjoy The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast just like you.
This episode of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is sponsored by - The Social Media Birdie
If you need someone to take your social media and digital presence to the next level, look no further than The Social Media Birdie. We have the expertise to bring your social media and digital assets to life and engage your audience like never before. With a team that has industry experience in both digital marketing and golf, we're better than par!
Visit our website www.thesocialmediabirdie.com.au
Places mentioned in this podcast:
The Grange Golf Club
Ok, so here it is! I finally managed to put this one together after recording it at the start of the year.
Metropolitan Golf Club holds a very special place in the heart of Australian golf. A host of multiple major tournaments throughout its history, Metro as it's affectionately known, is on most peoples bucket list and that of many professional players around the world.
Superintendent John Mann has only been at the club for a relatively short time, but as you will hear through his intelligent comments, is more than ready to take Metro to the next level. Come with us as we dive deep into the detail of Metro and unearth what is at the beating heart of one of Australia's finest golf courses as we also learn a bit about John Mann and what he brings to the table as a Superintendent with a great mind for history, agronomy and a level of detail that few possess.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green.
Oh and don't forget to leave a review so more people can find and enjoy The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast just like you.
This episode of The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast is sponsored by - The Social Media Birdie
If you need someone to take your social media and digital presence to the next level, look no further than The Social Media Birdie. We have the expertise to bring your social media and digital assets to life and engage your audience like never before. With a team that has industry experience in both digital marketing and golf, we're better than par!
Visit our website www.thesocialmediabirdie.com.au
Places mentioned in this podcast:
Metropolitan Golf Club
Royal Melbourne Golf Club
Woodlands Golf Club
Commonwealth Golf Club
Healesville Country Club & Resort
Lonsdale Links
Happy New Year and it's great to be back!
Starting off 2023 with Walking The Fairways. You have all been such loyal listeners that I've also added a small addition of Walking The Airwaves with some info about how big you've helped make The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast last year.
I've got a big year planned ahead and stay tuned for my new website coming out very soon where there will be more information for you to enjoy.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
This podcast episode is proudly sponsored by Colin Campbell Chemicals. Click their name or visit their website to find out how they can help you protect your turf - www.campbellchemicals.com.au
Something very different for me and you on this episode. I was invited to record live at the Colin Campbell Chemicals - Poa Forum held at Woodlands Golf Club on Melbourne's famed Sandbelt where two speakers were going to present loads of information about, you guessed it, Poa. Dr Jim Brosnan from University of Tennessee and Dr. Peter Boutsalis from University of Adelaide were incredible in what they delivered for everyone who attended.
This podcast episode however isn't about Poa itself but more about what some of the attendees thoughts were on attending education events like this and why they think it's important.
Thanks to Nadeem from Colin Campbell Chemicals for inviting me to attend the Poa Forum. Thanks also to those who gave their time for this podcast episode:
Pete Cawsey (Superintendent - Eastwood Golf Club)
Richard Forsyth (Director of Courses - Royal Melbourne Golf Club)
Doug Agnew (Teacher - Melbourne Polytechnic)
Brad Sim (Superintendent - Cape Kidnappers Golf Course)
Craig Anthony (Superintendent - Spring Valley Golf Club)
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
Keeper Of The Greens is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals. Click on their name and it will take you straight to their website for more information.
Tim Warren may be kicking goals left, right and centre as Superintendent at Glenelg Golf Club, but he's also worked at a number of golf courses prior to this position, many of which you may never have heard of.
Tim grants me, and you as the audience, an open invitation into his extensive greenkeeping career which saw him leave the family farm from rural Victoria for an early and brief taste of sports turf maintenance at the one and only MCG. Tim walks us through the challenges he encountered from being a hungry young greenkeeper in search of his first golf course as a Superintendent, through to managing a golf course during disastrous bushfires of Central Victoria, all the way to being ahead of the curve in environmental stewardship managing the course at Glenelg Golf Club in Adelaide.
Tim also gives us an insight into just what the team and club at Glenelg are getting up to on course (which is a great deal) including the work behind Tim and Monina Gilbey recently receiving the ASTMA Claude Crockford Sustainability & Environment Award. We also get talking about getting the message of the work golf clubs and courses are doing regarding environmental stewardship out into the broader community.
I don't think I need to tell you about my enthusiasm of having Tim on the podcast for this interview where I've been fangirling at the thought of this for quite some time! There's so much to take in during this podcast, so sit back and get ready to enjoy this one with Tim Warren.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green.
Places mentioned in this podcast:
Glenelg Golf Club
The Grange Golf Club
Royal Adelaide Golf Club
Kooyonga Golf Club
Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Resort
West Beach Parks Golf
Horsham Golf Club
Penola Golf Club
Millicent Golf Club
Mt Gambier Golf Club
Campbell's Corner is a podcast segment with my sponsor of the podcast Colin Campbell Chemicals. www.campbellchemicals.com.au
This installment of Campbell's Corner has Nadeem passing over some of his best resources. Where you can find more information about the the science of the turf industry and a way for you to learn more in your own time.
We look at a number of book titles which are Nadeem's favourites. We also look into websites and social media groups, along with some of Nadeem's recommended podcasts to listen to. This is all in an effort to give you more places to further your knowledge with quick recommendations, saving all the research time often required to find the good stuff. Nadeem delivers the good stuff right to your ears and we have the book titles and other links below.
Links to things mentioned in this podcast:
Books Titles:
Turf Management by Turgeon and Kaminski
Compendium of Turfgrass Diseases by Smiley, Dernoeden, Clarke
Pest Management of Turfgrass for sport and recreation by Kaapro, Beehag, Manners
A Practical Guide to Turfgrass Fungicides by Latin
Management of Turfgrass Diseases by Vargas
Weed Control in turf and ornamentals by Turgeon, McCarty, Christians
Websites (clickable links):
Turf Management Australia facebook group
Resist Poa
Turfgrass Information File (TGIF)
University Websites (clickable Links):
Penn State
University Tennessee
Uni Florida
Rutgers
Clemson
Wisconsin University
North Carolina
Purdue
UC riverside
Podcasts (clickable links):
Behind The Turf
Turf Tuesdays
turfPH Dudes
Keeper Of The Greens is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals. Click on their name and it will take you straight to their website for more information.
When it comes to golf, Canberra doesn't always come to mind first. We often think of Parliament House and politicians. Whilst there may not be many golf courses in Canberra, there are certainly some good ones and Federal Golf Club is one of those!
Pete Dunn is Director of Agronomy & Facilities at Federal Golf Club. Growing up in Canberra and getting into greenkeeping from a very young age afforded Pete the opportunity to get two trades under his belt. Pete is well equipped with the knowledge and skills to take Federal to the next level. During his career Pete has worked at a number of golf courses throughout Canberra taking in all of what works best before getting the opportunity to lead the team at Federal Golf Club.
Located at Red Hill Nature Reserve, which is basically within Canberra's city limits, Federal is a golf course that gets plenty of camera work from not only golfers but also tourists and diplomats alike. A very Australian setting is the backdrop of Federal and also what keeps the peace from the all encompassing National capital and its suburbs.
Join Pete and I as we chat about his greenkeeping career and dive into the details of what makes Federal Golf Club different from other golf courses in Canberra.
Places mentioned in this podcast:
Federal Golf Club
Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club
Yowani Country Club
Royal Canberra Golf Club
Murrumbidgee Country Club
Red Hill Nature Reserve
Crafter + Mogford Golf Strategies Golf Course Architects
Dan Soutar was one of the founding fathers of golf in Australia. Emigrating to Australia in 1903 from Scotland, Soutar quickly established himself as one of the best golfers in the country and it wasn't long before he also turned his hand to golf course design for a number of clubs on the east coast of the country.
This story is a golf course/club biography of sorts and is centred around one of the golf courses that Soutar designed in the early 1900's, talking about its life from inception all the way through to today. I look into how the golf course and golf club began and its rise in the early days of the game becoming popular in Australia.
The fairways of this course were graced by some of the most famous names in Australian golf from the early 1900's including Dan Soutar himself, Joe Kirkwood, Fred Popplewell, Charlie Campbell, Tom Howard and Eric Apperly.
Come with me on this nostalgic trip as we begin at a time when people used to travel by steam train and a big tee shot went 180 yards!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
EP.11 Aussie Golf History - Dan Soutar
EP.20 Aussie Golf History - Ernest Banks
Dan Soutar
Joe Kirkwood
Fred Popplewell
PGA of Australia
Nick Farr-Jones
Edwina Kennedy
Royal Adelaide Golf Club
Manly Golf Club
Concord Golf Club
The Australian Golf Club
Mudgee Golf Club
Christchurch Golf Club
Leura Golf Club
Wentworth Falls Country Club
Blackheath Golf Club
Bonville Golf Resort
Tallwoods Country Club
Dame Nellie Melba
Nelly Melba & The Daffodil Farmer
Keeper Of The Greens is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals. Click on their name and it will take you straight to their website for more information. Don;t forget to click here https://poaforum.floktu.com/ to buy your ticket to join the Poa Forum at Woodlands Golf Club in Melbourne on 25th October 2022.
Broome Golf Club is unique and it is remote. It has plenty wonderful wildlife in a quintessential Aussie setting and it's maintenance team is led by Superintendent Jason Johnson. Jason is the kind of guy you want to work for and the kind of guy you want working for your club. He's intelligent, humble, passionate and above all a down right great bloke!
Join us on this entertaining and enjoyable conversation as Jason delves into his greenkeeping career path which by his own admission is indifferent. A path less travelled, sure. But one that has led Jason to the remote tourist destination of Broome where he is very much at home. Jason let's us in on just what it takes to maintain a golf course in such a remote region of Australia and also such a challenging climate of Australia. If I'm being honest, I'm still unsure just how he and his team does it!
You will definitely laugh along the way during this podcast, no doubt like I did, and you will also realise what the future holds for Broome Golf Club with a person like Jason as Superintendent. A very bright one!
So strap yourself in, grab a drink of choice and put your thongs on because this one will take you away for an adventure!
Things mentioned in this podcast:
Broome Golf Club
Margaret River (Margs) Golf Club
The Australian Golf Club
What is Pindan?
Just how far it is from Broome to Perth for TAFE
Sydney Funnel-Web Spider
Keeper Of The Greens is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals. Click on their name and it will take you straight to their website for more information. Click here to find out more about the products mentioned in the podcast Ad - Lonhro Herbicide and Stature herbicide
Pat Wilson is Pambula born and bred! It's in his veins and he's proud to say it. So when you hear him talk about George Bush, The White House, President's Cup and Wimbledon, you could be forgiven for thinking he's a globe trotting, city slicker. Nothing however could be further from the truth.
Pat is certainly a well experienced greenkeeper and his journey around the world with the Ohio State Program gave him all the overseas and greenkeeping experience anyone could ask for. Always grounded by his family, upbringing, country life and a life mantra of treating people how you want to be treated, Pat has boomeranged from an apprentice greenkeeper at Pambula Merimbula, around the world and back to Pambula Merimbula, this time as Superintendent. This is a great story of what greenkeeping has done for Pat and in my opinion what Pat has done for the local area of Pambula Merimbula. Pat has ensured that the golf club is a way for young people to gain experience in a work place environment and also a place to start a career in greenkeeping if they choose. He also leads the maintenance team that work hard to present the golf course of Pambula Merimbula in top condition for the locals and visitors of the magnificent NSW South Coast.
Plug your ears in for this one and by the time you've finished listening you will want to book your next holiday at Pambula Merimbula and drop in to say hi to Pat.
People & Places mentioned:
Pambula Merimbula Golf Club
White House Putting Green
President's Cup
Tura Beach Country Club
Ohio Program
2019 Bushfires
EP.66 Aussie Golf History - Kameruka Golf Course
This could quite possibly be the most important podcast interview I've done!
Monina Gilbey is the Biodiversity Manager at Glenelg Golf Club in Adelaide, South Australia. Her role in part entails maintaining and managing the out of play areas of the golf course which includes both the flora and fauna of the overall golf course land. Glenelg Golf Club as a whole, have committed to a sustainable future in maintaining the golf course land and part of that is the backing of Monina and Superintendent Tim Warren's vision in the potential that the golf course land at Glenelg can offer the local environment and community. Through the hard work of everyone involved at the club, the land of the course has now become a sanctuary for local flora and fauna, living in harmony with a fully functioning, highly regarded 18 hole golf course, which in my eyes is a model for the future.
Monina let's us all in on just what they have been creating and preserving at Glenelg Golf Club. Monina also explains how important the green space of golf courses, and only golf courses are, as wildlife sanctuaries in urban centres, contrary to the social and media commentary we all hear about. We talk about insects, birds, endangered plants that only remain on golf courses in Adelaide, and also a favourite topic of mine - HONEY!
There's so much in this podcast to take in that you really need to share it around to all lovers of wildlife and plant life! We need more people to hear about just what is happening and what is possible using the land of a golf course for preservation and conservation of flora and fauna in a modern world!
Places and people mentioned in this podcast:
Glenelg Golf Club Glenelg maintenance team Instagram Glenelg maintenance team Facebook
The Grange Golf Club Royal Adeialde Golf Club Kooyonga Golf Club Green Adelaide
Keeper Of The Greens is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals. Click on their name and it will take you straight to their website for more information.
It's time to go to the Melbourne Sandbelt, to a place you may or may not have heard of before for this segment of Keeper Of The Greens. Keysborough Golf Club is my next stop and Superintendent Nick Launer is my guest on the podcast for this episode.
Nick grew up in regional Victoria where the local golf club, Neangar Park, was his Royal Melbourne as he puts it. Considering his future work prospects at a young age, Nick made a phone call to start a career path working in sport that would ultimately lead him to getting his first taste of sports turf management at one of Australia's best golf courses!
Through working at a number of fantastic golf courses in his career and being mentored along the way by some of the best in the greenkeeping industry, Nick has garnered a load of experience and skills which culminated in securing the role of Superintendent at Keysborough Golf Club.
Come along with Nick and I for this great journey as we discuss his career in full and open up some of the detail of Keysborough Golf Club that you may not have heard before.
People & Places mentioned:
Keysborough Golf Club Neangar Park Golf Club Metropolitan Golf Club Murray Downs Golf & Country Club
Royal Melbourne Golf Club 2018 World Cup of Golf Just what is the Melbourne Sandbelt?
Thanks to The Society of Australian Golf Course Architects, The Design Brief has expanded!
The new Design Brief kicks off with me interviewing Australian Golf Course Architect Ben Davey from Contour Golf. Ben has a wealth of knowledge and experience that began with working on some of the best new golf courses in Victoria during his early career, and then on some amazing new golf course projects overseas. Getting a start in the golf architecture industry from an incredibly left field meeting opportunity, Ben has clearly worked hard throughout his career to get to where he is today with his own company, Contour Golf, currently working all over Australia.
Come with me and enjoy a very interesting conversation as we discuss some of Ben's work, his career, and I ask some broader questions in search of Ben's thoughts.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned:
The Society of Australian Golf Course Architects Contour Golf Bob Shearer Darius Oliver: Planet Golf
The Dunes Golf Club Ivanhoe Golf Course Kwinana Golf Club Tasmania Golf Club Yowani Country Club
Murrumbidgee Country Club 13th Beach
Now here is a story that is worth listening to!
The Aussie Golf History segment is about the golf courses and personalities that have played are do play an important part in the golf history of Australia. I always try my best to give you stories that you may not have heard of before.
I am joined by Paul Carter for this podcast segment. Paul is the Chairman of The Society of Kameruka Golfers and I want to talk with him to tell you all about the rediscovery of the Kameruka Golf Course by Paul and his Wife and just what he has in mind in the future. There is a lot of work ahead for Paul to one day hopefully rebuild the golf course to it's former glory and open it for all to enjoy.
I won't say anymore, you'll just have to come along for the ride and listen. I'm sure, like me, you will be not only be moved by the history of the golf course and the region but also excited by what has been lost for so long and has now been rediscovered.
Please click here to support this project by providing a submission to Heritage Council of NSW before 10th August 2022. Or go to www.kamerukagolf.com where details are in the July Newsletter on the Information page.
Keeper Of The Greens is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals. Click on their name and it will take you straight to their website for more information.
Lance Knox got into greenkeeping a little bit later than most. That doesn't mean to say that he has less professional drive than others, quite the contrary. After listening to Lance and hearing his story I think you'll struggle to find someone more passionate and who enjoys their job and career more!
This is a great story that can show you if you're hungry for something, just keep working hard at it and you will achieve what you want and much, much more. Lance clearly loves being a greenkeeper and after years of enjoying his job he finally took hold of his very own golf course for the first time as Superintendent at Busselton Golf Club. Clearly very skilled, Lance was quickly able to take Busselton Golf Club to the next level in terms of presentation and management which culminated with winning the 2022 Excellence in Golf Course Management Award at this years ASTMA industry awards evening. Quite the achievement indeed!
Join with me as I learn about Lance's greenkeeping career which is different to the worldly travelled Superintendents I've spoken to recently and shows just how you can achieve great things learning and working in your own way.
People and places mentioned:
Busselton Golf Club Hartfield Golf Club Mount Lawley Golf Club Margaret River Golf Club
ASTMA Excellence in Golf Course Management Award
It's that time again for Walking the Fairways where I endeavour to keep you up to date and excited about what is going on at golf courses around Australia. Plenty happening as always so come along with me for the walk and this time I start off with a golf course I'm almost certain you've never heard of!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
Keeper Of The Greens is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals. Click on their name and it will take you straight to their website for more information.
This conversation is as spectacular as Hamilton Island Golf Course itself!
Superintendent Brad Hole just may have one of the most incredible greenkeeping jobs in all of Australia! Join us on this wonderful greenkeeping adventure as Brad lets us in on his tropical career that begins somewhat accidentally starting work on a golf course on Queensland's Gold Coast before quickly stepping up to take the reigns as Superintendent of a resort golf course in Thailand.
On returning to Australia, Brad took an opportunity to work at a famous golf course that would take a severe downturn post the GFC and disappear from the Australian golf landscape forever, before the opportunity of a lifetime jumped up and Brad secured the job as Superintendent at Hamilton Island Golf Club.
You are sure to enjoy this story and the everyday challenges that are normal managing one of the most beautiful golf courses on Earth! Brad is very generous with his time on this one. I know you will enjoy this conversation and will absolutely be looking to book a golf trip to Hammo after listening!
People and places mentioned:
Hamilton Island Golf Club Hamilton Island Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club Laguna Quays Golf Resort
With the Open Championship being played out this weekend, have you ever wondered why the golf course at St Andrews looks quite different to anything you've played before. On this segment of The Greenkeeper's Shed I explain some of the unique and often quirky elements of St Andrews golf course that you may not have ever seen before or don't quite understand, whilst comparing them to elements that you do know playing at your local golf course.
I hope you enjoy this one and it helps you understand a bit more and enjoy watching the 150th Open Championship this weekend at St Andrews - The Home of Golf!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
Keeper Of The Greens is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals. Click on their name and it will take you straight to their website for more information.
Beautiful one day, perfect the next! At least that's what they say about Queensland, which is where I'm headed to in this interview.
Glenn Gibson-Smith is one of those guys with a contagious personality and has a great outlook on life. He's also had that outlook and drive when it comes to his greenkeeping career! Growing up in the rural parts of New Zealand's South Island, Glenn clearly has an affection for the outdoors. Working on a golf course near where he grew up in his early career with a great mentor for a Superintendent set Glenn on a path of worldly experience. Working in the USA at Oakmont Country Club was clearly a highlight as he set his sights on becoming a Superintendent at his very own course in time. Working hard and making his way to Australia, Glenn was soon rising to the occasion in Sydney before making the move to Queensland where he is now.
You are really going to enjoy this conversation so come and follow Glenn's story with me as we have a few laughs about Australia's wildlife along the way!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People & Places mentions:
Green Acres Country Club Oakmont Country Club Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club Riverside Oaks Golf Resort
Ted Stirling The Glades Golf Club The Ohio Program
This one has a lot in it so you might want some extra time to listen!
Plenty of news coming from golf courses around Australia including the recent greenkeeping industry awards evening at the ASTMA Conference last week! I recently also went and saw a new golf network event that I want to talk about and then there's my opinion piece which you may or may not want to listen to :)
Come along with me for this one and I look forward to hearing from you to discuss some points or give me your thoughts.
There is some very mild coarse language in this one so I thought it best to flag it as explicit but really it's very tame. One day I will fire up worthy of the explicit tag but this one isn't it.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Australian Women's Golf Network ASTMA Lakelands Country Club Busselton Golf Club Glenelg Golf Club
Meadowbrook Golf Club Lynwood Country Club Trentham Golf Club Noosa Golf Club
Richard Chamberlain Golf Design Ocean Shores Country Club
Keeper Of The Greens is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals. Click on their name and it will take you straight to their website for more information.
It's time to visit the Apple Isle for only the second time since starting Keeper Of The Greens and I'm very excited to be visiting another "Royal" golf club.
Shaun Bowden is the Superintendent of Royal Hobart Golf Club and comes with a load of experience from working on numerous high profile golf courses on the east coast of Australia and under some of the country's esteemed Superintendents. I'm sure you'll enjoy this conversation I have with Shaun as I discover how it was "luck" that got him into greenkeeping after a life changing turn away from professional sport. Shaun soon decided that if he was going to do greenkeeping, then he was all in! Fast forward from learning his skills and knowledge from some of the best turf managers in Australia, Shaun now heads up the team that maintain the course at Royal Hobart Golf Club in Tasmania. The only Tasmanian golf club to have hosted the men's Australian Open.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People & Places mentions:
Royal Hobart Golf Club Elanora Country Club The Grand Golf Club The Glades Golf Club
Pennant Hills Golf Club Richard Chamberlain Golf Design Darby Muller - Golf Shapes
Campbell's Corner is a podcast segment with my sponsor of the podcast Colin Campbell Chemicals.
This time I catch up with Nadeem at Gordon Golf Club for an in person interview and we chat about education. Nadeem tells me how he likes to make the effort to assist turf managers through talks at industry events and gatherings on how to best protect their turf surfaces using all types of practices, not just their products. He also shares how passionate he is for furthering the knowledge within the turf industry through the Colin Campbell Chemicals podcast - Behind The Turf, where Nadeem chats with global agronomy experts.
Join us for a laugh (again) and a beer this time as we learn some more about Nadeem and his passion for the turf industry from within Colin Campbell Chemicals.
Don't forget to catch up with Nadeem at the Colin Campbell Chemcials stand at the ASTMA Conference Trade Show in Melbourne, June 20-24.
Links to things mentioned in this podcast:
Colin Campbell Chemicals PoaCure The ASTMA Conference Gordon Golf Club
Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club
Keeper Of The Greens is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals. Click their name and it will take you straight to their website.
I hope you're ready for this dry conversation. Only joking!
I head west across the country into Western Australia to a unique golf course at Kalgoorlie. Superintendent Pat Casey has been leading the team maintaining this extremely unique golf course for five years and has put his stamp on something very special indeed. Kalgoorlie is an extreme environment that requires an extremely good understanding of how to get the best out of turf in such a location! Originally from the driest state is Australia, Pat served his early career at some of the best golf courses we have to offer in Adelaide, before tasting the big time as part of the Ohio State Program in the USA. He returned to South Australia for a time before taking on the top job at the unique and young Kalgoorlie Golf Course. Pat and I discuss the difficulties of managing turf in such an extremely hot and dry location and just how thriving the local Kalgoorlie environment really is contrary to what we all might think!
This was an eye opener and I just want to go to Kalgoorlie for golf!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People & Places mentions:
Kalgoorlie Golf Course Ohio State Program Glenelg Golf Club The Super Pit
It's time to take in some news about what's happening on golf courses around Australia! It has been a while since I brought you up to date with course happenings from around the country and there's plenty going on. I also wanted to share some very sad news coming out of Sydney in recent months which I think is important to talk about.
Come with me as we venture far and wide and finish of with some thought provoking points in golf tournament news that I want you to think about.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People & places mentioned in this podcast:
Too bloody many so you'll just have to listen to it all :)
Campbell's Corner is a podcast segment with my sponsor of the podcast Colin Campbell Chemicals.
Come along as I chat with Nadeem and introduce just who Colin Campbell Chemicals are. We chat about their history as an Australian company working in agriculture, horticulture and turf. We also talk about the family connection Nadeem has with the company and also how they are leaders in bringing particular products and technology to the Australian market.
Come and have a laugh with Nadeem and I as we have a fun time recording this one and you can learn, along with me, about this Australian company.
Don't forget to catch up with Nadeem at the Colin Campbell Chemcials stand at the ASTMA Conference Trade Show in Melbourne, June 20-24.
Links to things mentioned in this podcast:
Colin Campbell Chemicals PoaCure The ASTMA Conference
Keeper Of The Greens is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals. Click their name and it will take you straight to their website.
Join me for a fun conversation with Superintendent of Cranbourne Golf Club, Nico Douglas. Earlier this year Nico was appointed as Superintendent at Cranbourne which is his first post in such a role! Working throughout his career on courses of the famed Melbourne Sandbelt, Nico has some great experience prior to taking up this current position. Name dropping some of the best golf courses to have worked on in Australia, it was only a matter of time before Nico would take the helm of a Sandbelt course including a baptism of fire to kick it off!
I hope you enjoy this one as much as we did.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People & Places mentions:
Sorrento Golf Club Cranbourne Golf Club Spring Valley Golf Club Victoria Golf Club
Huntingdale Golf Club OCM Golf Course Architects Behind The Turf Podcast
Keeper Of The Greens is proudly brought to you by Colin Campbell Chemicals. Click their name and it will take you straight to their website.
I'm so excited to fire Keeper Of The Greens back up with a new interview and some new questions for Steve's Super Seven! This time I head to the Australian capital city of Canberra in the A.C.T. and catch up with Superintendent Simon Snedden of Gold Creek Country Club. Growing up in regional NSW, Simon had a talent for rugby league and was quickly snapped up by a major NRL club. He left the country for the city lights and during his time training he got a taste for what was involved in maintaining sports turf. Come along for a sporting story with Simon as we chat about his time playing rugby league at a young age, the connection of sport and country life and Simon's steep career path in greenkeeping before getting the top job at one of Canberra's well known golf clubs.
People & Places mentions:
Gold Creek Country Club Young Golf Club Club Catalina Federal Golf Club
Royal Canberra Golf Club The ASTMA Mark Unwin (CEO ASTMA) Newcastle Knights
The Board Room is brought to you by The Social Media Birdie. If you want the best team who understands the golf landscape like no other to work with your business, then you need The Social Media Birdie.
The second segment of The Board Room sees me joined by Simon Putral, Greens Director of Ashgrove Golf Club in Brisbane's western suburbs.
Ashgrove Golf Club is one of many golf clubs devastated by the recent floods of Eastern Australia and I really wanted to bring you the real story and thought processes that go on inside a smaller suburban club after being on the receiving end of such a catastrophic event. Simon discusses with a great deal of openness just what lies ahead for Ashgrove and how this community based club is looking to work through such an enormous task ahead with their loyal, engaged and very supportive membership.
Hopefully this gives you a real insight into what a golf club like Ashgrove has to come back from like so many others are along the east coast of Australia.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
Back to back segments of The Design Brief sees me this time catch up with The Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast resident Golf Course Architect Harley Kruse from Kruse Golf.
I wanted to get an update of the work Harley has been up to and also some new projects he's soon to be working on. The main point of this conversation however was to discuss working with golf courses on relatively small parcels of land. We discuss some of the challenges architects and clubs face when going through a redesign process on a small site and what things have to be considered. I also wanted to get Harley's thoughts on the question of are golf courses becoming too fast? I believe things are starting to get a bit out of control generally across the spectrum and does this have an effect on the thoughts of an architect.
I hope you enjoy this more philosophical conversation with Harley and it gets you considering your thoughts as well.
You hit 'em clean, we'll keep 'em green!
People & places mentioned in this podcast:
Kruse Golf Clayton DeVries Pont Renaissance Golf Design Blackheath Golf Club
Commonwealth Golf Club Yarra Yarra Golf Club Royal Perth Golf Club Royal Sydney Golf Club
This segment of the Design Brief sees me catch up with Ted Stirling, a former golf professional and golf course architect.
Growing up on Melbourne's famed Sandbelt and playing regularly on the best courses is Australia, Ted has had a long career in golf. A founding member of The Society of Australian Golf Course Architects, Ted has been involved in almost every aspect of the game. From competing in tournaments and teaching the game, to designing golf courses, building golf courses and owning golf courses, of which some are very well known throughout Australia.
Take a seat, sit back and join me as a I catch up with Ted reminiscing about our time together at Katoomba and discussing his wealth of experience and stories from his career.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
The Society of Australian Golf Course Architects Darby Muller - Golf Shapes Riverside Oaks Golf Resort Bonville Golf Resort
This episode I take some time to catch up with Nathan Bradbery of Golf Spectrum.
Nathan has been in the golf greenkeeping/construction industry for most of his life and worked on some pretty amazing projects in Australia with some great architects. I wanted to talk to Nathan about his background before Golf Spectrum including some great travel experiences working on courses in the USA, and also just what type of work is involved being a golf course shaper and construction company.
Nathan has built an impressive company from lots of hard work and a wide range of experience and skills. I hope you enjoy listening as I get an insight into Nathan and Golf Spectrum.
People and places mentioned in this podcast:
Golf Spectrum Concord Golf Club Links Hope Island Maleny Golf Club
Oakmont Country Club Renaissance Golf Design Tom Doak
This podcast was sponsored by Golf Spectrum.
With so much news happening on golf courses around Australia, Walking The Fairways is back again.
The rain has cleared (for now) and it's time to let you know just how big this recent rain event was when it comes to golf courses. I have done a lot of research and hope to give you a detailed account of the extent of what has happened.
But it's not all about the rain. There's been work going on in Western Australia , Victoria and there's some news coming out of the A.C.T. There's also some sustainability news coming out of a few regions including South Australia. It's time for a walk.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
In the wake of the devastating floods that have ravaged large parts of Australia's East Coast, I wanted to give you an idea of just what might be involved to get the course repaired and back open by your local golf club that has been damaged. In this episode of The Greenkeepers Shed I wanted to take some time to let you know just how golf courses will try and rebuild after such an event and how much work is required.
Please know that it's an extremely difficult time for so many people right now and this flood event is wide spread and has affected many families and communities with loss of life, loss of homes and livelihoods! My heart goes out to everyone in these affected areas.
It's time to take in some news about what's happening on golf courses around the country and I also give an update of some Aussie golf tournaments that have been televised recently. There's also some news of architecture appointments and time for a chat about my recent mini golf experience.
If you want to stay up to date and excited about which golf courses are improving and who is doing what from across the country then right here is where you'll get all your information. Come along for the ride as I stop of in Western Australia, Tasmania, and the ACT for the first time in a long time just to name a few.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
It's time I caught up with friends of the podcast Loch & Leesh from Finding Fairways for a good old fashioned yarn about their trip driving around the enormous island of Australia playing golf!
You might recall I chatted to Loch & Leesh back in EP.21 as they had just embarked on their 5 month trip around Australia in a campervan playing golf just about anywhere they could find a course. Well this time post trip, they recount their adventure upon returning home to Sydney and take us all along with them! From secret hidden outback courses, to the expanse of the world's longest golf course and the welcoming locals they met along the way, their adventure is sure to get your travel bug up and wriggling looking for your next golf trip!
Come and listen as Loch & Leesh take us all on a golf trip of mammoth proportions and get you thinking of just how big Australia really is!
People and Places mentioned in this episode:
Finding Fairways And wayyyy too many more to name!!!!
Keeper Of The Greens is brought to you by Australian Turf Analysis - Aerial Technology for Sports Turf Management. Mention the Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast to receive a 10% discount on your very first service.
This episode is going to BLOW.......YOUR.......MIND!! I make my way virtually of course to the Sunshine Coast of the Sunshine state, being Queensland, into Noosa Golf Club where I catch up with Superintendent Mick Pascoe.
From humble beginnings growing up on the Gold Coast, this young Queenslander would reach the heights of Superintendent at one of the Gold Coast's premier courses early in his career before a 1990's financial collapse would change everything quickly. Not deterred, Mick rolled with the changes and landed himself a job at one of the world's most impressive golf complexes - Pinehurst! 22yrs of global travel for work and starting a family has brought Mick back to Australia with some of the most fascinating stories in between before now leading a team at Noosa Golf Club with a very bright future ahead! You won't stop listening to this one so come along for a globe trotting adventure as Mick and I chew the fat of his career and the future of Noosa Golf Club.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
Time to introduce a new segment to the podcast and what better way to do it than with my podcast partner Australian Turf Analysis. The idea behind this segment is to talk about some of the new technology available to the greenkeeping industry to help maintain golf courses.
You've probably already heard the ads on my podcast as part of our partnership but this time i get to dive deep with John Legge the man behind Australian Turf Analysis. We discuss just how this new drone technology works and how it's helpful to greenkeepers in their quest to deliver better playing surfaces year round. With an aviation background John is poised to offer this service to the industry and it's something that I think will become more widely used in the future with all that it offer turf managers.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People mentioned in this podcast:
Australian Turf Analysis
This segment of Walking The Fairways sees some news coming from Melbourne's famed Sandbelt along with a new mini golf course designed by an Australian golf course architecture firm. We venture to some courses mentioned for the first time in Walking The Fairways from Queensland and Western Australia and there's also some room for a new course announcement coming out of South Australia.
Come for a insightful walk as I help you stay up to date and excited about what's happening to golf courses around Australia!
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
Keeper Of The Greens is brought to you by Australian Turf Analysis - Aerial Technology for Sports Turf Management. Mention the Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast to receive a 10% discount on your very first service.
I head down to the famous golf region of the Melbourne Sandbelt and into the newly redesigned Sandy Golf Links where I talk to Superintendent Geraldine O'Callaghan. One of very few female greenkeepers in Australia, Gerri talks about her background as an all round sports fan and her start as a mature aged student getting into the industry. From her humble beginnings growing up on the family farm in northern Victoria, all the way to working at one of the greatest golf courses in the world before taking charge as Superintendent at the redeveloped Sandy Links, Gerri's story is captivating. Hard working, grounded, humble and strong! Gerri is a fantastic leader of the greenkeeping industry and one that I think we can all look up to.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
Places mentioned in this podcast:
Sandhurst Golf Club Royal Melbourne Golf Club Sandy Golf Links
The very first Walking The Fairways news segment for 2022 and wow isn't there plenty to talk about this time including a number of courses I haven't mentioned before and the recently played Australian PGA & WPGA from Royal Queensland. Come along for an enjoyable walk as we traverse the country together.
Please don't forget to like, share, subscribe and as always i do appreciate you listening.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
Keeper Of The Greens is brought to you by Australian Turf Analysis - Aerial Technology for Sports Turf Management. Mention the Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast to receive a 10% discount on your very first service.
This episode sees me return into NSW, to a region i love being the Central West and a town that is home to The Dish! Yes that's right I'm catching up with Superintendent of Parkes Golf Club, Logan Booby. Logan is a young man with a background in turf but not golf. He has worked under some of Australia's most revered sports turf managers and prepared international turf surfaces and you'll just have to listen in to find out where. Come along with me for some deep cosmic conversation (see what I did there) into Logan's greenkeeping career and the future ahead for Parkes Golf Club.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
Places mentioned in this podcast:
Parkes Golf Club Mudgee Golf Club Forbes Golf Club Cowra Golf Club
The Dish SCG Manuka Oval
Welcome to 2022 and I kick off the New Year with a brand new segment called The Board Room.
The idea behind this segment is to give you an insight into the people who are the decision makers at golf clubs and golf courses. I want you to also get an understanding of who they are and how that sets down a path for the future of the courses and clubs they are behind.
In this episode I chat with Susan Pace, General Manager and Owner of Tallwoods Country Club. We discuss what a baptism of fire it has been as the owner of a golf club especially one with a difficult history. You'll hear about how Susan and her family business got involved at Talllwoods. Susan also talks about the passion they have for working hard with their team of staff to turn the tide of past negativity into a shining light of enjoyment so everyone can experience the tranquil and beautiful location that is Tallwoods.
I hope you enjoy this one and I look forward to hearing from you about it.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
Keeper Of The Greens is brought to you by Australian Turf Analysis - Aerial Technology for Sports Turf Management. Mention the Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast to receive a 10% discount on your very first service.
This episode I virtually head over across the country to the iron clad state of Western Australia and into Perth. I catch up with Mathew Soles newly appointed Superintendent of Royal Perth Golf Club. We chat about his greenkeeping career from humble beginnings at Bardwell Valley Golf Club in Sydney's south western suburbs all the way to being appointed Superintendent. A young man who has worked hard, experienced tournament preparation at the highest level in this country and who revels in the challenges greenkeeping brings. We also look into the bright future of Mathew's career in tandem with that of Royal Perth Golf Club.
Come and enjoy a conversation in the west.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
I've found him!
In this podcast episode I get Tony Ellis on the phone for a catch up some 8 months after we last spoke. He's traveled to numerous courses and experienced all sorts of different golf from the cool climate and dramatic landscape of Tasmania to the far isolated reaches of opal country in northern South Australia.
Come along for the Christmas ride as Tony and I round up his experiences and hopefully give you some inspiration and tips of where to visit for your next road trip game of golf!
Keeper Of The Greens is brought to you by Australian Turf Analysis - Aerial Technology for Sports Turf Management. Mention the Golfing Greenkeeper Podcast to receive a 10% discount on your very first service.
This episode I catch up with Superintendent Peter Cawsey from Eastwood Golf Club for the first course I venture to in great golf state of Victoria. We chat about his career from humble beginnings getting into the industry at Spring Valley Golf Club in Melbourne, to working on a Jack Nicklaus course and all the way to becoming a Superintendent for the first time. It's great to get an insight into a golf course that may not be one of the biggest in Melbourne but a unique course in a beautiful location.
Come along and enjoy the conversation with me for the first time in Victoria.
Walking The Fairways this week has news from all over the country including Western Australia!
Please don't forget to like, share, subscribe and as always i do appreciate you listening.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
Keeper Of The Greens is back thanks to Australian Turf Analysis and this time I get to spend some time chatting to Superintendent Nathan Bennett from Royal Adelaide Golf Club in South Australia. I discover his greenkeeping story from growing up on the family wheat farm in the Mallee region of North Western Victoria, his apprenticeship working under the supervision of one of Australia's best superintendents, to his journey all the way to becoming Superintendent at Royal Adelaide. We also get to spend some time discussing and learning about what makes Royal Adelaide a unique golf course and how the landscape and climate are worked with to create the Royal Adelaide experience.
Keeper Of The Greens is brought to you by Australian Turf Analysis - Aerial Technology for Sports Turf Management
Places and people mentioned in the podcast: Murray Downs Golf & Country Club Metropolitan Golf Club The Sands Torquay Royal Adelaide Golf Club Kooyonga Golf Club Mike Clayton Peter Thomson Renaissance Golf Design Tom Doak
Walking The Fairways this week has news from 5 states of Australia with plenty going on!
Please don't forget to like, share, subscribe and as always i do appreciate you listening.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
Keeper Of The Greens makes a triumphant return as I head north (virtually of course) across the QLD border into the Gold Coast to chat with Superintendent Paul McLean. We talk about his humble upbringings in country NSW and his break into greenkeeping before his life goal and determined rise to maintaining a beautiful resort golf course on the Gold Coast. I'm sure you'll enjoy Paul's story and be wanting to find a way to play a round at the glorious Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club.
Keeper Of The Greens is brought to you by Australian Turf Analysis
Places and people mentioned in the podcast:
Wentworth Golf Club Blayney Golf Club Lakelands Golf Club Royal Pines Resort Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club
Arnold Palmer (The King) Arnold Palmer Design Company
Who knew that there was going to be so many reasons to get excited about tournament golf in Australia this coming Summer!
The Greenkeepers Shed is back again this episode where I want to give you all some information as to why certain types of grass are used in different parts of a golf course and different parts of Australia so you can better understand how they will affect your golf and what to expect when playing them.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned:
The Sandbelt Invitational Webex Players Series The Athena
Tony Ellis The Nomadic Golfer Loch & Leesh Finding Fairways Australia
Walking The Fairways covers some news coming from one of Australia's largest golf destinations bring The Murray River, along with a few lesser known courses.
The Greenkeepers Shed makes a triumphant return where I give you some information about why we roll greens and why it's so beneficial for golf and greenkeeping at the same time.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
People and places mentioned:
OCM Golf Contour Golf Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Resort Rich River Golf Club
Cobram Barooga Golf Club Spring Valley Golf Club Patterson River Golf Club Eastwood Golf & Bowls Club
Keeper Of The Greens makes a wild west return as I interview Superintendent Dave Rogers from Bathurst Golf Club in the central west of NSW. Dave and I chat about how he got into greenkeeping and his early start as Superintendent at a young age. He talks about the flexibility the greenkeeping industry has afforded him during his career and also name drops some pretty big Australian players along the way! Come along and enjoy an escape to the country.
Places and people mentioned in the podcast:
Bathurst Golf Club
Kel Nagle
Peter O'Malley
Gavin Coles
Walking The Fairways this week has news coming out of Victoria and also Queensland. There's also been a number of announcements about tournament golf in Australia.
Please don't forget to like, share, subscribe and as always i do appreciate you listening.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
Keeper Of The Greens returns and I welcome you to come and listen to my interview with Superintendent Nathan Bradbury from the underrated Eastlake Golf Club in Sydney's eastern suburbs. We chat about how he started out greenkeeping in a country area and travelling to the other side of the planet before ultimately becoming a Superintendent in Sydney. I also get some amazing insight into why the public access Eastlake is a sleeper golf course that is situated on a very unique parcel of land wedged between two highly regarded Australian golf courses.
Places and people mentioned in the podcast:
Eastlake Golf Club
Nathan Bradbury
Walking The Fairways in this episode covers plenty of news coming out of Victoria, South Australia and some new stuff for the sustainable golf component I love to talk about.
Oh and I received an interesting phone call from the Australian PGA.......
Please don't forget to like, share, subscribe and as always i do appreciate you listening.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green!
This podcast episode titled Keeper Of The Greens is an interview with Superintendent Phil Hill from magnificent Barnbougle in Tasmania.
We chat about his greenkeeping career and how he became Superintendent at Barnbougle and also discuss specifically what makes Barnbougle so unique as a golf experience.
Places and people mentioned in the podcast:
Barnbougle
Walking The Fairways in this episode covers plenty of news coming out of WA, Queensland and an enormous amount of work and news coming from NSW!
The Greenkeepers Shed is backing up again this episode where I want to give you an insight into what thatch is and how you can read a golf course to adjust your game to play better when high thatch levels are present.
Please don't forget to like, share, subscribe and as always i do appreciate you listening in.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green.
Places and people mentioned in the podcast:
Links Kennedy Bay
Walking The Fairways in this episode covers plenty of news coming out of Victoria, Queensland & South Australia including some great work being done by Ben Davey from Contour Golf at Mornington Golf Club.
The Greenkeepers Shed makes a return where i want to talk about hole location maps being used at some clubs and just why I think they're meaningless and impracticable!
Please don't forget to like, share, subscribe and as always i do appreciate you listening in.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green.
Places and people mentioned in the podcast:
Apollo Bay Golf ClubKooringal Golf ClubMornington Golf Club Yearing Meadows Golf Club
Maleny Golf ClubOxley Golf ClubTanunda Pines Golf ClubGlenelg Golf Club
Contour Golf DesignCrafter + Mogford Golf Strategies
This episode sees the return of Walking The Fairways with news coming from parts of the country far and wide including South Australia, Queensland & Western Australia. I also take some time to interview Loch & Leesh, the couple behind their own great Aussie adventure and website called Finding Fairways. I hope you enjoy the conversation we have and start to think about your very own golf adventure of finding new fairways to play.
Please don't forget to like, share, subscribe and as always i do appreciate you listening in.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green.
Places and people mentioned in the podcast:
Finding Fairways Port Lincoln Golf & Residential Development Glenelg Golf Club Sanctuary Cove Country Club
Caloundra Golf Club Links Hope Island Kalgoorlie Golf Course Kwinana Golf Club Contour Golf Design Group
Golf Spectrum NSWGCSA
In this episode I give you a greenkeeping industry update from my recent trip to the annual ASTMA conference at the Gold Coast. And the main segment of this podcast is the second time around for Aussie Golf History on the life story of professional golfer/greenkeeper/course architect Ernest Banks and his time spent working on just a few golf course both in England and here in Australia.
I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did researching for it! As always thanks for listening.
Please don't forget to like, share, subscribe and as always i do appreciate you listening in.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green.
Mentioned in this podcast:
Harley Kruse The Good Good Golf Podcast Kameruka Bonnie Doon Golf Club Wentworth Falls Country Club
Golf Australia Magazine: Finding Kameruka The ASTMA
Episode 19 takes you on a lap of the country giving you an update of what's happening on some courses this time throughout NSW, VIC & SA but I can't forget about an update of 7 Mile Beach Golf Course.
The Greenkeepers Shed makes a return where I give you an idea into just how water is used as a tool on a golf course and not just to water the grass!
Please like, share, subscribe and as always i do appreciate you listening in.
You hit 'em clean and we'll keep 'em green.
Places and people mentioned in the podcast:
Tallwoods County Club 7 Mile Beach The Good Good Golf Podcast
This episode is all about Barnbougle in Tasmania. I catch up with Ross Flannigan for our Golf Chat segment and we discuss our first experience at an Australian golf mecca.
You can listen to Ross Flannigan on the My Love Of Golf Podcast on your favourite podcast app.
I catch up with our resident golf course architect & current President of the Society of Australian Golf Course Architects Harley Kruse from Kruse Golf. I get an update on work he's being doing at Blackheath Golf Club in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, we talk about the rediscovery of a lost golf course steeped in history in southern NSW and Harley lets us in on a new project he's set to begin soon in Vietnam.
Come with me and enjoy a conversation with Harley Kruse.
In this episode I have plenty of news coming out of eastern Australia after the devastating floods. I also tell you whose installing new mini golf courses in Western Australia and South Australia along with other happenings around the country.
The Greenkeepers Shed is where i explore how changing the regular setup of a golf course in turn changes your experience and how you play your regular golf course.
As always thank you for listening.
Heaps of golf course news coming out from around the country on the whole including Victoria, Queensland, NSW and South Australia. I also talk briefly about the sensational innovative golf tournament known as The Players Series which was just held at Bonnie Doon Golf Club in Sydney.
My latest interview is with Tony Ellis, known as The Nomadic Golfer who epitomises everything that we can only do regarding travelling golf in the current climate by traveling throughout Australia seeking out any and every golf course he can come across on his quest to play 100 golf courses in 12 months!
You can find Tony on Instagram at nomadic_golfer and also his blog website www.australiangolfcoursetourbycaravan.com
Thank you once again for listening and hope you enjoy the podcast.
In this episode I have plenty of news coming out of Tasmania including the recently announced 7 Mile Beach Golf Course along with lots coming out of Queensland at the moment.
My first interview of 2021 is recorded with the one and only Australian golf author and publisher Paul Daley and we talk about his latest book Ben Hogan: The Yardstick of Golfing Greatness.
If you're interested in purchasing Paul's latest book - Ben Hogan: The Yardstick of Golfing Greatness you can get in touch with him at fswing@bigpond.net.au
Thank you once again for listening and hope you enjoy the podcast.
Welcome to 2021!
I kick off the year as per program with Walking The Fairways with some new works going on at Hope Island Golf Club in QLD and contractor announced for the construction of Cannon Hill Community Links in Brisbane amongst a few other bits of news.
The Greenkeepers Shed makes a return to the podcast where I talk about the battle of keeping the greens and what's involved in greens maintenance throughout the growing season including during the Christmas/New Year holiday period we're in.
Thank you for listening and enjoy your golf no matter where you're playing!
Walking the Fairways includes info about the new Bougle Run short course at Barnbougle which is to become a 52 hole facility (not 42 as I mention - Clearly I can't count whilst talking!) and some news coming out of Royal Canberra and Elanora Golf Club in Sydney. I also catch up with friend of the podcast Ross Flannigan and I learn about wedges as I want to know more before I buy some new gear and we get a little philosophical about golf courses on public land in particular Moore Park Golf Club in Sydney. As always thanks for listening and you can find the podcasts and people mentioned in this episode below. You can listen to Ross Flannigan on: The My Love Of Golf Podcast, The Mental Mastery Golf Podcast & The GolfRules Questions Podcast You can listen to Adrian Logue on: The Good-Good Golf Podcast
In this episode I walk the fairways and talk about a couple of big name courses coming back for play along with other happenings on the east coast and I launch my first Aussie Golf History segment on Australian professional golfer and architect Dan Soutar. Short in segments but full of interest. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did researching for it! As always thanks for listening.
In this episode of Walking The Fairways, the heavens are starting to open up and deliver some liquid gold, there's some news of a new golf course development that has recently fallen over along with plenty of course works happening across the country. I catch up with Ross Flannigan from The My Love Of Golf Podcast and we chat all things golf and equipment in the current world. Finally The Greenkeepers Shed segment talks about course irrigation and what that does to your experience and expectation of golf course presentation.
Thanks for tuning in and listening.
This episode of Walking The Fairways I talk about a couple of states in Tasmania and Western Australia that have some news coming out of them. The Greenkeepers Shed segment talks about the relationship between golf course architecture and golf course maintenance and how they relate to your experience. And finally Golf Travel with the last travels recommendations for NSW.
I hope you enjoy listening and take something away with you.
This week is a long walk on the Walking The Fairways segment with news from South Australia, NSW & Queensland. I launch into the second part of Golf Travel with more golf holiday locations for you to enjoy throughout NSW and this time including SA. The Greenkeepers Shed keeps its regular spot as I give you some information about the relationship between green speeds and hole locations and what that means for you as a player.
Look forward to hearing your thoughts and please get in touch with me if you want to talk about anything from the podcast.
Thanks and as always I hope you enjoy listening.
Walking The Fairways this week are headlines from Queensland & NSW including a new golf course set to be built in Brisbane and an update to of what's going on in some regional courses in NSW. A new segment simply called Golf Travel has been brought in to help you find some golf courses to play when you travel within your state and we start off with NSW in this episode. The Greenkeepers Shed keeps its regular spot and I discuss my thoughts on tee marker positions and where golfers should play from.
Look forward to hearing your thoughts and please get in touch with me if you want to talk about anything from the podcast.
Thanks and as always I hope you enjoy listening.
A golf podcast from a different angle!
A short walk this week on Walking The Fairways in this episode before I up the ante in the Greenkeepers Shed talking about the speed of golf courses and their unspoken impact on the game. Also in this episode I bring in a segment called The Design Brief where I will be talking to Australian golf course architect Harley Kruse from Kruse Golf about some new golf course work he's been up to.
Thanks for listening and hope you enjoy it.
A golf podcast from a different angle! In this episode I start as always with Walking The Fairways which includes a fresh Covid update, some news from Tasmania and some fresh info from the NSW Mid North Coast. I talk to you about bunker sand in the Greenkeepers Shed and why sand ain't sand and how it can affect your game. And Nick from AirSwing Media drops me a line and we chat about golf in New Zealand dreaming of the great courses and where to go when we can travel overseas again including a tip for a course that flies under the radar.
Thanks for listening and as always I hope you enjoy!
A golf podcast from a different angle! I have the great pleasure of interviewing Ross Flannigan from The My Love Of Golf Podcast among many other ventures to his name. Ross has a great broad insight and knowledge into the golf industry along with being a podcast veteran and I absolutely love his passion for the sport. You can find Ross on social media - Instagram: @myloveofgolf & @ross.flannigan.golf Facebook: My Love Of Golf & Ross Flannigan Golf And of course search on your favourite podcast app for The My Love Of Golf Podcast. Thanks for listening and as always I hope you enjoy!
A golf podcast from a different angle! In this episode I start as always with Walking The Fairways which includes an update to some flood affected courses in Sydney, an update of an island paradise golf course and inform you about some inner city golf courses. I finally get to talk to you about grain on a golf green in the Greenkeepers Shed segment and how it can affect your game. And to complete this episode Thanks for listening and as always I hope you enjoy!
A golf podcast from a different angle!
In this, the third episode of my podcast, Walking The Fairways includes a sweep through of the Covid-19 update for golf, I touch on a golf course that's closed down in WA and I look into a major holiday destination and what's happening there in regards to golf courses.
To finish the show off I'm introducing a new segment called Vicarious Golf with AirSwing Media, where I talk to golf course photographer Nick Wall, discuss how he came to be a photographer of golf courses and we get to enjoy a golf course he's photographed discussing it through his lens. You can find AirSwing media on social media - Instagram: @airswing_media Facebook: AirSwing Media
Thanks for listening and as always I hope you enjoy!
A golf podcast from a different angle!
So happy to be back for my second podcast. This episode I start with an updated Walking The Fairways segment including what's happening with Covid-19 and golf, Sandy Golf Links, Leura Golf Club & Killara Golf Club. I also talk about golf course vegetation and how much work is involved with it's maintenance in The Greenkeepers Shed. And the episode finishes with my first Centre Stage segment about a golf course in NSW but you'll just have to have a listen and see which one it is!
Thanks for listening and hope you enjoy it.
A golf podcast from a different angle!
My very first podcast where I start off by introducing myself, where I come from and what I love about golf. I'll give you a virtual tour of some of what's been happening recently in the golf course landscape across Australia in my new Walking The Fairways segment, and also some insight into why greens renovations are important to you as a golfer in The Greenkeepers Shed.
Hope you enjoy listening.