2012 Toro AGCSA Golf Championships

Melbourne's iconic sandbelt golf clubs Commonwealth (pictured below) and Metropolitan will be dual hosts of this year’s revamped Toro-sponsored AGCSA Golf Championships. Following a review of AGCSA golf events and subsequent discussion with AGCSA staff, sponsors Toro and trade representatives, the AGCSA Board has made a number of changes to the golf tournaments which will be held on Monday 4 June prior to the start of the 28th Australian Turfgrass Conference and Trade Exhibition.

Among the changes include the addition of a Nett title and a new state teams format, while a separate trade teams competition will also be held which replaces the AGCSA Scramble (see more on this below). Players will now also be required to have an official handicap and your handicap will determine which competition and which course you play.

Commonwealth (host superintendent and AGCSA member Mark Prosser) will host the Stroke, Nett and State Teams events, while Metropolitan (host superintendent and AGCSA member Glenn Stuart) will host the Stableford competition, with a total field (across both courses) limited to 140. This year’s presentation lunch will be held at Commonwealth and those who are allocated to play at Metropolitan will be bussed over to Commonwealth following their round. Here is a summary of the new tournament formats for 2012.

AGCSA Golf Championships – Stroke

• Venue: Commonwealth GC
• Eligibility: Open to AGCSA golf course superintendent members only with an official handicap between 0-12 (approx)
• Format: Gross event. Sudden death playoff in the event of a tie. Winner of the Stroke cannot win the Nett event

AGCSA Golf Championships – Nett

• Venue: Commonwealth GC
• Eligibility: Open to anyone employed in the turf industry (excluding trade). This includes superintendents (local and international), assistant superintendents, sports ground managers, mechanics etc. Official handicap required (handicap range 0-17 approx)
• Format: Stroke handicap event. Countback in the event of a tie. Winner of the Nett cannot win the Stroke event

AGCSA Golf Championships – State Teams

• Venue: Commonwealth GC
• Eligibility: Open to all AGCSA golf course superintendent members. Superintendents are allowed to nominate to play for a different state. Official handicap required
• Format: Stroke handicap event played in conjunction with the above. State superintendent associations to nominate four players prior to the event with the three best Nett scores to count (fourth score will come into play in the event of a tie)

AGCSA Golf Championships – Stableford

• Venue: Metropolitan GC
• Eligibility: Open to anyone employed in the turf industry (excluding trade). This includes superintendents (local and international), assistant superintendents, sports ground managers, mechanics etc. Official handicap required (handicap range approx. 17 and above)
• Format: Individual stableford

For more information about the revised tournament format and eligibility criteria, please contact AGCSA general manager Peter Frewin on (03) 9548 8600 or email peter@agcsa.com.au

Woodlands GC to host new trade golf event

As well as the changes to the AGCSA Golf Championships mentioned above, a new trade championship event is set to replace the AGCSA Scramble. Woodlands Golf Club (host superintendent and AGCSA member Rod Tatt) will host the AGCSA Trade Championships which will also be held on Monday 4 June with both team and individual stableford titles up for grabs.

This tournament is open to all AGCSA and state superintendent association trade members with companies having the ability to enter multiple teams. Teams comprise three members with the best two stableford scores counting (the third score will come into play in the event of a tie). An official handicap is required and mixed teams are not allowed.

For more information about this new event contact AGCSA general manager Peter Frewin on (03) 9548 8600 or email peter@agcsa.com.au