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
Crafter + Modford Golf Strategies
2023 Auckland Floods - Floodlists.com
2025 International Island Games - Orkney
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:
San Francisco Golf Club - Links Magazine
Rod Tatt - Claude Crockford Award 2023
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
Perrett Webb Golf Course Architects
Golf Course Superintendents Association of Western Australia (GCSAWA)
Snow in Armidale - news.com.au
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:
EP.130 Keeper of the Greens - Adam Lamb
EP.90 Keeper of the Greens - Jimmy Downes
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
New Zealand Golf Course Superintendents Association (NZGCSA)
EP.127 Keeper of the Greens - Mark Spraggs
Federal Golf Club Maintenance Department - Instagram
WPGA Championship & Festival of Golf
Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club
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:
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
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:
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
PGA Tour of Australasia Schedule
Greg Norman Golf Course Design
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:
Behind the Turf Podcast - Spotify
Dr Chase Straw - Penn State University
EP.130 Keeper of the Greens - Adam Lamb (Commonwealth 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
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:
Crafter + Mogford Golf Strategies
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
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
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:
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:
Boulcott's Farm Heritage Golf Club (formerly Hutt Golf Club)
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
Twin Creeks Golf & Country Club
Nambucca Heads Island Golf Club
Forster Tuncurry Golf Club - Tuncurry Course
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:
Elanora Country Club 10th Hole
Elanora Country Club 18th Hole
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:
The National Golf Club - The Old Course
Ohio State Program - ASTMA Website
Greg Norman 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)
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:
Ocean Dunes Golf Course - King Island
Crafter + Mogford Golf Strategies
Nambucca Heads Island 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
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 - SAGCA Profile
Trump International Golf Links - Doonbeg
CopperClub The Dunes - Port Hughes
Cathedral Lodge & Golf Club - Greg Norman Golf Course Design
The Huntley Development - Landscape Concept
