Sun, fun, surf and turf on the Gold Coast

 

More than 1550 turf industry practitioners descended on the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre from 21-25 June for the 26th Australian Turfgrass Conference and Trade Exhibition. After the wintry blast of Hobart in 2009, this year’s gathering was in the much warmer confines of south east Queensland and saw international keynote speakers  Dr Thom Nikolai (Michigan State University, USA), Euan Grant (Turnberry, UK) and Kyle Waters (Home Depot Centre, LA) present. The trade again turned out in great numbers for the two-day trade exhibition which kicked off a little differently this year with opening night drinks on Tuesday. Official figures from the week were:

• 504 fully registered and day delegates;
• 75 trade companies exhibiting manned by 396 representatives; and
• 652 trade exhibition visitors (this total doesn’t include registered delegates).

 

AGCSA events and education manager Simone Staples, who managed to remain flu-free for the duration of this year’s event, has hailed the Gold Coast gathering a wonderful success and says the venue will remain a strong candidate to host future conferences. In the past week Simone has emailed out a post-conference survey and asks that all registered delegates take some time out to fill it in as it will assist with planning future events. All surveys need to be completed by Monday 19 July. If you attended the conference and did not receive an email containing a link to the survey, email Simone Staples. 

 

A full wrap up from the Gold Coast will be included in the next edition of Australian Turfgrass Management Journal (Volume 12.4) due out at the end of July. Conference video sessions and photo galleries will also be made available shortly so stay tuned to The Cut for further information. The AGCSA wishes to sincerely thank all delegates, sponsors, trade exhibitors and exhibition visitors for making this year’s conference such a success and looks forward to 2011. Speaking of next year…   

The 2011 Australian Turfgrass Conference is heading to...

…ADELAIDE! Yes, the AGCSA can officially confirm that the 27th Australian Turfgrass Conference and Trade Exhibition will be heading back to the City of Churches from 13-17 June 2011. See you there!

Burdett honoured with AGCSA Distinguished Service Award

Retiring Adelaide Oval curator Les Burdett headed the list of winners at the 2010 AGCSA Awards which were announced at the 26th Australian Turfgrass Conference and Trade Exhibition. Burdett (pictured right), who retired as oval manager at the start of July after 41 years at the SACA ground, became the first cricket wicket curator to be honoured with the AGCSA’s highest honour – the Distinguished Service Award, presented in partnership with Scotts Australia.

In another first Jodie Grainger became the first female recipient of an AGCSA Award. Grainger was bestowed the Syngenta-sponsored AGCSA Claude Crockford Environmental Award for her efforts in helping establish the new Yering Meadows course (formerly Croydon Golf Club). David Warwick, a previous winner of the Claude Crockford in 2004, added another to the Avondale Golf Club trophy cabinet by collecting the John Deere sponsored AGCSA Excellence in Golf Course Management Award.

Adam Shields from Casino Golf Club in NSW topped a strong field of apprentices to take out the AGCSA Graduate of the Year Award, sponsored by Toro, while Steven Johannessen (pictured right) became the inaugural recipient of the PGG Wrightson Seeds sponsored AGCSA Award for Academic Achievement. The AGCSA congratulates all 2010 winners. Full profiles of the winners will be featured in the next edition of ATM.

Ridge tames tough Glades to collect third Red Jacket

Sawtell Golf Club superintendent Trevor Ridge fired a three-over 75 to collect the 2010 Toro AGCSA Golf Championships and his third Red Jacket in seven years. Ridge, who won at Metropolitan Golf Club in 2004 and Rich River Golf Club the following year, beat home Moruya Golf Club’s Brent Hull by two shots. Like many others who struggled on a brutal course set up courtesy of host superintendent Ben Baumann – just three managed to break 80 on the day – defending champion Anthony Toogood could only manage 88, while the AGCSA Championships first ever female contestant Sara Hagy acquitted herself well with an 89 to post the 18th best score of the day. Ridge will now go on to represent the green and gold at the 2011 GCSAA Golf Championships as part of his prize package from sponsors Toro. The full results from this year’s golf events were:

2010 Toro AGCSA Golf Championships - Stroke
Winner: Trevor Ridge (Sawtell Golf Club) – 75
Runner-up: Brent Hull (Moruya Golf Club) – 77
 
2010 Toro AGCSA Golf Championships – Stableford
Winner: Brian Cox (Murwillumbah Golf Club) – 32 points on a countback from Lincoln Coombes (RACV Cape Schanck), Peter Fleming (Burswood Park GC) and Peter Ridgeway (Oxley GC)

2010 Toro AGCSA Golf Championships – State
Winner: NSW – 138 points (Chris Neal 38, Trevor Ridge 37, John Berry 32 and David Thomson 31)
Runner-up: ACT – 126 points (Brent Hull 35, Scott Harris 31, Jason Ferry 31, Michael Waring 29)

2010 Toro AGCSA Scramble (Lakelands Golf Club)
Winners: Graham Hart, Matt Roche, Luke Marsh and Shane Biddle – 55 1/8

The AGCSA congratulates all winners and wishes to thank the course and clubhouse staff at both The Glades and Lakelands golf clubs for making this year’s tournaments such a great success.

Turfgrass conference trade exhibition prize winners

Conference delegates and trade exhibition visitors on the Gold Coast had the chance to walk away with a number of prizes at this year's trade exhibition. More than 100 entered the AGCSA's Lucky Card Prize Draw with, ironically, three Queenslanders each walking away with a brand new iPod Touch. The lucky winners were:

• Peter Smith (Tewantin Noosa Golf Club)
• Warren Langlands (Wolston Park Golf Club)
• Mark White (Victoria Park Golf Club)

Elsewhere, Kew Golf Club (VIC) superintendent Adam Robertson will be needing to rearrange some furniture after winning a 42-inch HD plasma TV as part of Bayer Environmental Science’s conference competition. ETP also gave away three laptop computers with Dan Gilligan (Tasmania Golf Club), Paul Robinson (Kyneton Golf Club) and Troy Richards (AIS) the lucky winners.