Russell takes the reins of GCSAWA

Bunbury Golf Club course superintendent and AGCSA member Des Russell is the new president of the GCSAWA following the association’s Margaret River state conference last week. Former vice-president and secretary Russell takes the reins from Darren Wilson who steps down after four years as president and 11 years on the committee. Wilson was recently elected to the AGCSA Board at the 27th Australian Turfgrass Conference in Adelaide and will continue to assist the GCSAWA committee as editor of the association’s Divots newsletter.

Long-serving committee member Glenn Cross (Mount Lawley Golf Club) moves into the vice-president’s role while Simon Bourne (Cottesloe Golf Club) is the new treasurer. Bourne takes over the position from Lakelands Golf Club superintendent Craig New who has also stepped down from the committee after 15 years, including the past four as treasurer. New faces to join the committee include Callum Hitchings (Busselton GC) and Neil Graham (Pinjarra GC). As well as electing a new committee, GCSAWA members also voted to update the association logo to the one pictured above. The full GCSAWA committee is:

• President: Des Russell (Bunbury GC)
• Vice-president: Glenn Cross (Mount Lawley GC)
• Treasurer: Simon Bourne (Cottesloe GC)
• Secretary: Paul Needham (Secret Harbour)
• Golf Secretary: Callum Hitchings (Busselton GC)
• Committeeman: Neil Graham (Pinjarra GC)

The AGM was held as part of the GCSAWA’s biennial Margaret River state conference which kicked off last Sunday and went through until Wednesday. More than 50 members and trade representatives attended this year’s event which included interstate guest speakers David Warwick (Avondale Golf Club, NSW) and Robin Doodson (Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club, QLD). Warwick discussed irrigation system upgrades and Poa control in bentgrass, while Doodson talked about recent developments at the Gold Coast club including the new-look Palms course. Other presenters included John Forrest (Challenger TAFE), Angela Murray (Cancer Council WA), Phil Moylan (Melville Glades GC), Rohan Farrow (Hartfield CC), Paul Barber (Arbor Carbon), Adrian Pitsikas (TPA), Rick Raison (Lake Karrinyup) as well as 2011 GCSAWA Apprentice of the Year Tom Purser (Meadow Springs GC).

AGCSA president Allan Devlin (Secret Harbour) took out the major golfing prize, collecting the Toro Cup for the best stroke score around Margaret River Golf Club (host superintendent Mark Lewis). Russell celebrated his new status as president by winning the Neil Adams Shield for the best stableford score while Toro’s Geoff Stephens took home the trade’s Alan Barlow Shield.