The Cut - The AGCSA's E-Newsletter - 12 Mar '10

Endeavour Turf Products AFL and NRL Tipping Competitions

Welcome to this edition of The Cut, the AGCSA’s weekly e-newsletter. After tearing up Paul McLean’s beautifully presented Royal Pines Resort last week, Karrie Webb and her cohorts have arrived in Melbourne looking to repeat the feat at the Australian Women’s Open. The Cut swings by Commonwealth Golf Club to see how preparations have gone and also looks at the PGA's announcement regarding the future of the Australian PGA Championship at Coolum. Enjoy the read…

Commonwealth shines as Women's Open tees off

Commonwealth Golf Club 11th The Australian Women’s Open teed off at an immaculate looking Commonwealth Golf Club yesterday morning with defending champion Laura Davies posting an opening round five-under to take the lead heading into today’s second round. After a rough start to the week, which saw the Commonwealth crew in clean-up mode after storms ripped through Melbourne last weekend (60-plus mm), things have been relatively smooth sailing for course superintendent and AGCSA member Mark Prosser. The weather forecast for today and the remainder of the weekend looks good and despite a heavy dew yesterday and today, course preparations ahead of each round have run to schedule.

While on course preparations in the lead-up to the tournament have gone smoothly, all except last weekend’s storms of course, Prosser has had to contend with a few staffing setbacks in the weeks and months leading up to the tournament. Prosser himself was out of action for an extended period at the start of the year after he had to undergo hip replacement surgery, while in the weeks leading up to the Open his assistant Travis Scott had to undergo a major procedure to remove a growth in his neck. Then just last week apprentice Kade Murphy contracted glandular fever! To help out, nearby clubs Kingston Heath, Victoria and Royal Melbourne have sent over some recruits for the week and as the photos show you’d be hard pressed to find a better prepared course anywhere. The AGCSA wishes Mark and the crew all the best for the remainder of the tournament.

Commonwealth GC 10th

Early Bird conference registration ends in TWO WEEKS

The AGCSA wishes to remind all members and the turf industry that the Early Bird registration rate cut-off for this year’s 26th Australian Turfgrass Conference and Trade Exhibition is just TWO weeks away!

The Early Bird rate - $770 for AGCSA/TGAA/STA members and $990 for non-members – will finish on Friday 26 March. Electronic submissions will close at 5pm that day and postal registrations must be post stamped to be eligible for the discounted rate. Please note that you only need to be registered for the conference prior to 26 March to receive the Early Bird rate. Payment only needs to be received four weeks prior to the conference. Don’t miss this opportunity to register at this low price, as Early Bird registration has been available since the start of January and no extensions will be given!

As well as the Early Bird cut-off, the deadline for nominations for the 2010 AGCSA Awards is looming. There are only four more weeks to lodge applications for this year’s awards with the AGCSA accepting nominations for the Excellence in Golf Course Management Award (supported by John Deere) and Claude Crockford Environmental Award (supported by Syngenta). Please take the time to download forms and nominate for these prestigious awards.

Click here to register online for the 26th Australian Turfgrass Conference.

Click here to download a registration form for the 26th Australian Turfgrass Conference.

Extra Syngenta disease ID workshop added

For those who are heading to the Gold Coast for the 26th Australian Turfgrass Conference and Trade Exhibition, the AGCSA has this week confirmed that Syngenta will be running an additional Disease ID Workshop on Wednesday 23 June. For those who have already registered for the conference and would like to attend this additional workshop, please email info@agcsa.com.au

Australian PGA Championship stays home at Coolum

Hyatt Regency Coolum course superintendent Dean Henderson and his crew received some encouraging news this week following the PGA of Australia’s announcement that it was extending its multi-million dollar agreement with the facility to host the Australian PGA Championship.

The course, which has hosted the tournament since 2000 and which last year showcased six new opening holes as part of a major course redevelopment, will continue as venue for Australia’s oldest professional golf tournament through until 2012. The 2010 Australian PGA Championship, presented by Coca-Cola, will be the final event on the Australasian and OneAsia Tours this year and will be held at the Sunshine Coast-based course from 9-12 December.

Hyatt Regency Coolum will continue to host the Australian PGA Championship through until 2012

“Our relationship with the Queensland Government dates back to 2000 and with their support the tournament has grown, attracting quality fields and record crowds and with Coke coming on board in 2009 as a long term presenting sponsor the tournament is in a very secure position moving forward,” says PGA of Australia chief executive Max Garske. “The strategy for this tournament has always been to engage with the Asia Pacific region. With the formation of the OneAsia Tour in 2009 this event is perfectly placed to realise that major objective.”

Australian professional and one-time greenkeeper Rod Pampling, who attended the announcement, added: “I can say on behalf of the players that the Australian PGA Championship is our favourite event. Coolum has such a great family atmosphere and that’s why we keep coming back. To see it continue to grow and succeed is fantastic and we hope to be playing up here for many years to come.”

Melbourne mops up after 'supercell' storm hits

Melton Valley Golf Club Many would have sent the dramatic footage of Melbourne awash last weekend after a “supercell” storm hit bringing with it torrential rain, gale force winds and hailstones “the size of lemons”. While many residents were left with an expensive clean after more than 70mm fell, a few local superintendents were also cleaning up debris and tending to surfaces which suffered hail damage. Melton Valley GC superintendent Andrew Wright sent in some pics:

“I spent 11 hours here on Sunday blowing off debris on greens then I rolled them first trying to roll out most of the indents that the hail left behind and cut them afterwards. They have come up pretty good considering and we are scheduled in to scarifying, verti-drain and topdress them over the next two weeks.”

Simon Bourne update - Thursday 11 March

Marina Bourne, wife of Cottesloe Golf Club superintendent Simon Bourne, continues to provide regular updates on Simon’s progress since last month’s accident. This week Simon has moved into the Shenton Park spinal unit where he will begin his rehabilitation. Here are some snippets from their blog website where you can keep a track of Simon’s progress and to leave your message of support.

Thursday 11 March: "Just before 9am, the girls and I were on the phone to Simon, doing our normal ritual of calling to say good morning ..and as we spoke, they interrupted Simon to tell him he is going to Shenton Park. So after being told yesterday that we could be waiting for around 2 weeks to get into Shents, you can imagine the surprise when we got told this morning.So here we are, Simon is in his room with a view, which he can see when sitting up. He has kept his wits about him and given the nurses here a bit of curry already, you wouldn't expect anything less..."

Wednesday 10 March: “Simon has basically recovered from his surgery. They put the halo vest on him on Monday and he is slowly getting used to it. After 17 days of lying flat on his back, yesterday the nurses arranged for Simon to have a go in his wheelchair…It was great to see him sit up, however, he did start to feel nauseous. The stomach muscles are not working so it was hard for Simon to sit up without relying on them. He did sit for 5 minutes and take it all in, then was hoisted back into bed. From then on, they have had him sitting up as often as possible. This morning Simon got to have another try of the wheelchair, with the ambition for 15 minutes. He had to do better than that and went for 25 minutes. We got to go out on the balcony on the ward and smell the fresh air, feel the wind, see the sky, hear the honking of the horns…”

GCSAQ 2IC Education Day - Tues 23 March

The GCSAQ will kick off its run of 2010 meetings with a 2IC Education Day to be held at Windaroo Lakes Golf Club (host superintendent David Morrison) on Tuesday 23 March. Presenters on the day will be Dean Scullion (e-par), Ian Gray (Toro), Jon Mathias (Indooroopilly GC) and Paul Spencer (Greenway Solutions). The day is not just restricted to assistants and is open to any staff who may benefit from the day.

Click here for more information on the GCSAQ 2IC Education Meeting.

Click here to download the latest GCSAQ newsletter – March 2010.

International turf techs to hold virtual trade show

The International Golf Course Equipment Managers Association (IGCEMA) will step outside the square this May when it hosts its Virtual Trade Show, a three-day live event where turf industry suppliers, dealers and customers will gather in a specially Internet-enabled convention centre. The IGCEMA Virtual Trade Show is set for 11-13 May and features 3D booths where suppliers can distribute product information, display videos, conduct meetings and engage in sales discussions with attendees via e-mail and chat tools.

The IGCEMA has partnered with US-based Golfdom Magazine to deliver the industry’s first virtual trade show which is targeted at golf course equipment managers and technicians, superintendents and others who play a role in purchasing equipment and products for their golf course. The drawcard for attendees is they can enter a trade show-like experience while in their office or home free of charge. According to IGCEMA chief executive Stephen Tucker a number of the industry’s key players have come on bord as event partners, including Toro, Jacobsen and John Deere, and he expected others to join them.

For more information about the IGCEMA Virtual Trade Show, click here to visit the IGECMA website.

Kiwi golfers aim for 365 rounds in 365 days

The PGA’s weekly email newsletter reports that a couple of New Zealand golf fanatics have set out on what could amount to a world record – playing 365 rounds of golf in 365 days. Since teeing off at New Zealand’s famous Kauri Cliffs golf course on New Year’s Day, Jamie Patton and Michael Goldstein, both lawyers, have played 60 rounds. Having conquered 51 courses in New Zealand, the pair arrived in Australia on 21 February and played five courses in Sydney (The Australian, Bonnie Doon, The Coast, St Michaels and another unidentified private club) before heading to the south coast of NSW and playing Nowra, Mollymook and Narooma.

In recent weeks they have been based in Victoria and are currently sampling the courses that make the Mornington Peninsula such a famed destination before moving around the coast to Adelaide. After that they head overseas to the US, UK, Europe and Asia before heading back to Australia in November where they will play courses in Perth and Sydney before returning to NZ where they will finish at Kauri Cliffs. The pair are raising money for the New Zealand chapter of the First Tee Foundation and have a blog website which is updated daily on their exploits. For details on their trip and to view their daily blog go to www.puregolf2010.com

Good luck to...

... the following AGCSA members and their crews who are preparing their courses for tournaments in the coming week.

Magnetic Island Country Club, QLD (superintendent Grant Vormister): Solar City Magnetic Island Open, 13-14 Mar.

Phillip Island Golf Club, VIC (superintendent Ryan Hall): Shearwater On The Island Pro-Am, 14 Mar.

Northern Golf Club, VIC (superintendent Andrew Casey): Italian Golf Association Pro-Am, 15 Mar.

Sunshine Golf Club, VIC (superintendent Mark Findlay, pictured top): Callaway Park Sunshine Pro-Am, 16 Mar.

Hidden Valley Golf & Country Club, VIC (superintendent Mick O'Shannessy, pictured second from top): Stuart Gill (Terrey Hills G&CC) Central Ford/ADE Turf Equipment Pro-Am, 17 Mar.

Lake Karrinyup Golf Club, WA (superintendent Trevor Strachan), Cottesloe Golf Club, WA (superintendent Simon Bourne) and Mt Lawley Golf Club, WA (superintendent Glenn Cross): Srixon Australian Men's and Women's Stroke Play & Amateurs, 17-24 Mar.

Terrey Hills Golf & Country Club, NSW (superintendent Stuart Gill, pictured second from bottom): AMA Terrey Hills Pro-Am Charity Golf Classic, 18 Mar.