CELEBRATING THE EFFORTS OF AUSTRALIA’S SPORTS TURF MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS AUSTRALIANS^ ISSN 1442-2697 www.agcsa.com.au VOLUME 22.2 MAR-APR 2020 MANAGEMENT JOURNAL 2 A Course ledeveloment breaks new orou.no ■ Jv ««,*!!! Fertilising fundamentals and developing a sound programme Tne*a V Barricade Herbicide Season long weed control in garden beds ^Casper Turf herbicide X MonumentLiquid Turf herbicide Powerful .... herbicides total weed control BARRICADE Herbicide is the ultimate season long barricade against a wide range of pre-emergent grassy weeds in turf and gardens beds. The combination of BARRICADE with the post emergent activity of either MONUMENT LIQUID or CASPER Turf Herbicides deliver total weed control for grasses and broadleaf weeds. Early spring applications of BARRICADE will ensure season long control and mixing with MONUMENT LIQUID and/or CASPER provides you flexibility for broadleaf weeds, sedges or residual Poa annua. syngenta For more information ask your Syngenta Agent or go to www.greencast.com.au FLAME_SYN4874_03/19 Syngenta Australia Pty Ltd, Level 1,2-4 Lyonpark Road, Macquarie Park NSW 2113. ABN 33 002 933 717. ©Registered trademark of Syngenta Group Company. ™Trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. All products written in uppercase are registered trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. © 2019 Syngenta. AD 19-088 Published by the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA) Editorial Australian Brett Robinson Sports Turf Managers Office: (03) 9548 8600 Association Mobile: 0434 144 779 Email: brett@agcsa.com.au Advertising PREMIUM PARTNERS Mark Unwin Office: (03) 9548 8600 Mobile: 0438 320 919 The Australian Sports Turf Managers Association is indebted to the Email: mark@agcsa.com.au support of the following premium partner companies Art Direction & Design Jo Corne Office: (03) 9548 8600 Email: jo@agcsa.com.au Printed By Southern Colour Pty Ltd PLATINUM ri A/W/fA Audited Media golf media TORO Australian Sports Turf Managers Suite 1, Monash Corporate Centre 752 Blackburn Road, Clayton, VIC 3168 GOLD P: (03) 9548 8600 F: (03) 9548 8622 E: admin@agcsa.com.au W: www.agcsa.com.au ABN 96 053 205 888 ASTMA Board JACGJBS=I\J syngenta Brett Balloch (president), Chris Burgess, Peter Lonergan, David Thomson Chief Executive Officer Mark Unwin E: mark@agcsa.com.au Membership SILVER Allison Jenkins E: admin@agcsa.com.au Accounts . KUBOTA Philip Horsburgh E: philip@agcsa.com.au poonncgc Events and Education Simone Staples E: simone@agcsa.com.au L lyi NG TURF SCIENTIFIC TURF MANAGEMENT Rain'&Bird. AGCSATech Bruce Macphee (Senior Agronomist) E: bruce@agcsa.com.au Tim Fankhauser (Agronomist) E: tim@agcsa.com.au Steve Tuckett (Agronomist) BRONZE E: steve@agcsa.com.au Social Media Brown Brothers Keally Nankervis J Engineers CCI^ COUNTRY INTERNATIONAL CLUB CubCadoC david eolf E: keally@agcsa.com.au UJ Australia Ltd GOLF COURSE EQUIPMENT SAFETY ’YvV'FENCING WATER MANAGEMENT ----------------°1956 www.facebook.com/TheASTMA EDIhsIT Q Hunter Q www.linkedin.com Golf Solutions £3Erl GREENWAY Built on Innovation" TURF SOLUTIONS (Ei) www. i nstag ram. co m/th e_astm a @TheASTMA ® AlCL O Sustainable THR| Husqvarna Where needs take us oasisturf culture 7 Copyright © 2020 The ASTMA believes that material sourced and produced for Australian Turfgrass Management is accurate, but gives no warranty in relation thereto, and disclaims liability for all claims against the ASTMA, its The Australian Sports Turf Managers Association encourages all members to support subsidiary companies, its employees, agents or any other person which may arise from any person acting on the materials contained these companies who support your association within. No portion, in whole or part, may be reproduced without the written permission of the ASTMA MARCH-APRIL 2020 1 CONTENTS COVER STORY KICKING GOALS 6 University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston has long been regarded as Tasmania’s home of AFL, being the Apple Isle headquarters of the Hawthorn Football Club. Over the years it has also been a primary hub for state and community football and cricket in the north and has always had a strong reputation for being one of the best presented and conditioned boutique stadiums in Australia. That status has now been taken to a new level thanks to a multimillion-dollar surface redevelopment last winter. Cover: UTAS Stadium, Launceston. Photo: Brett Robinson FEATURES Climate change - COVID-19 14 Killara GC reborn 20 2020 Women’s Aus Open 26 ALSO IN THIS EDITION... Listening and learning - FTMI 30 Foreword Thinking 4 Destination USA 34 Around the Trade 74 Association Reports 76 The right combo 40 A good feed 56 2 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.2 Navigating the pandemic s this really happening? Seriously!? I’m sure everyone is still trying to make sense of where I we are currently at as the COVID-19 pandemic has strangled, and continues to strangle, the world. First and foremost I hope that you are healthy, your families are coping as best as possible and for those of us who are home-schooling kids, well, we all deserve a medal don’t we! Having to deal with maths again after 27 years has reaffirmed the excellent decision I made years ago to pursue a career dealing with letters, not numbers... The world has changed so markedly in the space of a few months and what was once normal will not likely be for many to come. As with every industry, the sports turf management profession has had to roll with the punches in a continually changing, and often confusing, operating environment. Fortunately in some states golf has remained playable, despite conjecture, which has enabled clubs to keep their heads above water, just. Others, such as those in Victoria, have been forced to shut their gates completely. While staffing and resources have been significantly impacted, for the most part our industry has continued to operate as best it can within the restrictions imposed. Turf mangers have been resoundingly resourceful and innovative during such a time (as you will read in this edition), but COLUMNS now that they have adjusted to their new day-to-day regimes, thoughts are starting to wander to TERRY MUIR 18 the road ahead and what the possible long-term impacts will be. JOHN NEYLAN 50 As Stewart Fenton, CEO of Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club, noted at the Jacobsen- PETER MCMAUGH 62 sponsored FTMI in March, clubs are in a position that they have never been before and rather than be reactive they need to be proactive. And that goes for superintendents and turf managers JOHN FORREST 64 as well. Now, more than ever, they need to be standing up and being an active participant as KATE TORGERSEN 68 clubs and facilities navigate their way out of the pandemic. The course/turf facility is, after all, its VICKI CROWE 72 greatest asset and any reduction in its quality will make any recovery all the more difficult. What has been heartening to watch throughout all of this is the way we have adapted to a new environment, embraced technology and carried on as best as possible with a sense of humour, an innate quality that most turf managers possess. Take ASTMA member Leo Barber for instance, the dual superintendent and general manager at New Zealand’s prestigious Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club just north of Wellington. Barber has used his online presence to get creative via a number of means, hilariously documenting his self-imposed isolation after returning from the FTMI where he was a mentor and then starring in a series of videos on how to renovate your home lawn, delightfully titled ‘Lockdown lawn renos with Leo’. More seriously, however, he also used his time in isolation to record a series of interviews with prominent golfing personalities, which he shared with his members to keep them informed and connected during NZ’s month-long lockdown. They make for great viewing, but it was the comments of former Kiwi professional turned course designer Greg Turner that resonated most about the current situation and how golf is ideally placed post-COVID-19 to take advantage... Contributors to Australian Turfgrass Management “Everybody has got a bit of a fright,” Turner commented to Barber. “We’ve been thrown out of Volume 22.2 (March-April 2020): our comfort zone in terms of being able to go anywhere and do anything we want. So that could Andrew Anderson (Metropolitan GC); Leo Barber (Paraparaumu Beach GC); Nathan Bennett (Royal Adelaide make us a little more thoughtful about what we do and how we live our lives in our own back yard, GC/SAGCSA); Nathan Bradbury (NSWGCSA); David and in a funny way that might work out really well for golf clubs. Even in these uncertain times, Brand (Brand Media & Consulting); Vicki Crowe (PGA of Australia); Rowan Daymond (The Grange GC); Nic Douglas golf is one of those games that makes you slow down a bit and involves exercise, camaraderie (Spring Valley GC); Elliott Dowling (USGA); Bryan Dunn and social interaction. Maybe this having to slow down, brought about by the coronavirus, will (UTAS Stadium); Idris Evans (Western Australian GC); Tim Fankhauser (ASTMA); John Forrest (Forrest and Forrest make us realise we don’t have to live life at breakneck speed all the time. Maybe it will give us Horticultural Consultancy Services); Ryan Fury (Killara GC); time to pause and actually realise there is great value in the three, four or five hours spent on the Andrew Glen (KDV Sport); Patrick Gross (USGA); Rob Halsall (Golf & Buying Services); Phil Hill (TSTMA); Steve golf course from a health and wellbeing perspective. It may help golf clubs, especially those that Hodson (NZGCSA); Brian Hyde (Hazell Bros); Dave Mason have been struggling, to build on their relationships with golfers a bit more.” (Metropolitan GC); Paul McLean (GCSAQ); Matt McLeod (Cobram-Barooga GC); Peter McMaugh (Turfgrass Scientific Enjoy the read, stay safe and stay sane... Services); Melbourne Polytechnic; Terry Muir (epar); Keally Nankervis (ASTMA); John Neylan (SportEng); Luke Partridge (Manly GC); Barry Proctor (VGCSA); Rob Savedra (Wesley College); John Spraggs (Royal Wellington GC, NZ); Travis Stillman (Rossdale GC); Kate Torgersen (Environmental Golf Solutions); Steve Tuckett (ASTMA); Mark Unwin (AGCSA); FTMI Class of 2020 and mentors. MARCH-APRIL 2020 3 0 FOREWORD THINKING WITH MARK UNWIN. CEO An industry responds to the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic ust a month ago, coming off the The advocacy work, interviews and J back of a challenging summer comments garnered substantial coverage encompassing everything from by the news media right across the country, droughts, widespread bushfires which has shone invaluable light on this and flooding, thoughts of many critical issue and the work undertaken by our turf managers and teams across the country industry. The team strives to ensure that the began turning toward course conditioning or ASTMA provides an accurate, credible and preparing fields for the start of the approaching representative voice for turf management winter sports season. Internally, agronomic throughout Australia. Australian assessments for the AFL and state leagues While our community and industry is in Sports Turf Managers along with many councils, clubs and schools a period of isolation as we aim to stop the Association were well underway and planning continued spread of COVID-19 and stay healthy, we are for the 2020 Sports Turf Management national sporting organisations, state sporting now starting to see discussions shifting slightly. Conference in June. bodies and government, the ASTMA continues Shifting to what comes next and how to master It would be fair to say not many of us could to push for meaningful action on behalf of our the challenges of 2020, into 2021 and beyond. have ever imagined the set of circumstances members and the complete turf management The team at the ASTMA is maintaining regular that were forced upon us just a few short industry. contact with members and trade partners weeks ago, late in March 2020. As the COVID- Over recent weeks, we led an effort to and a key driver of this communication is to 19 crisis challenges our industry (and many bring together collective thoughts in a range encourage open discussion, share information others) in ways no-one could have thought of public statements to State and Federal and resources and be a reference for future possible, we grapple to come to terms with Governments, drawing attention to the need for decision-making and advocacy. constant change, new social environments and a continued support of sports turf managers increasingly demanding conditions and work and their critical work in maintaining sport and WOMEN IN GOLF CHARTER requirements. recreation facilities. A significant part of this future advocacy is March and April bought about a significant These discussions centred on our belief the recent announcement that the ASTMA period of adjustment for the Australian Sports that the role we all play is essential to providing has committed to support the Women in Golf Turf Managers Association (ASTMA), with a millions of Australians the facilities they need Charter driven by The R&A. This commitment tremendous increase in requests for assistance once social restrictions conclude, given the aligns actions under our Strategic Plan to and information, coupled with a need to review immense value of elite and community sport strongly promote and advocate for more planning for the months ahead and rapid in fostering a sense of wellbeing and social women and girls working in golf course increase in the need to advocate for support interaction. Further, the work undertaken management and encouraging more women and awareness of turf management needs at acknowledges government focus to work and girls into turf management as a career, all levels of government. collaboratively and co-operatively to best through actively engaging with training Leaning on the relationships we have built safeguard community health during these providers, schools and local employment over the last two years with a large number of extraordinary times. organisations. The ASTMA has committed to support the Women in Golf Charter, driven by The R&A, to strongly promote and advocate for more women working in golf course and turf management. Pictured from left is Susana Oliveira (The Grange GC, SA), Gerri O’Callaghan (Royal Melbourne GC, Vic) and Martyna Synak (Oatlands GC, NSW) 4 AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.2 In addition, the commitment sets down a to all sports turf managers to access for free. managers and industry leaders. Again, details path for future efforts relating to: These webinars cover a range of content are available on our website, along with an • Continuing to increase the profile of turf from previous conferences including all main expanded range of assistance and resources managers, including the promotion of plenary presentations. for mental health for members following females in the profession through all Topics covered include management COVID-19 uncertainty. available channels; and leadership, agronomy, management of • The establishment of a Women in Sports sportsfields and grounds and golf course STAYING CONNECTED Turf Management programme in Australia management, each presented by prominent As has been broadly commented on over as a key industry-wide initiative for Australian and international sports turf recent weeks through advocacy discussions developing a platform for females in the and in the media, playing surfaces at many of profession; and 2020 SPORTS TURF Australia’s sporting facilities are in outstanding • Enhancing perceptions of sports turf MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, condition, judged by many as being in perhaps management as a career that is accessible EXHIBITION CANCELLED the best condition ever following a significantly and inclusive among women and girls. he issues and uncertainty resulting challenging summer. EXPANDED RESOURCES In understanding the range of challenges for turf managers in this demanding environment T from the coronavirus pandemic have impacted other areas of the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association, most notably the 2020 Sports Ensuring that we all stay connected during this time is critical. Staying connected with team members, peers and each other, and to this point I would strongly encourage you to where access to resources and support Turf Management Conference. Due to the reach out if you are in need of assistance, and is substantially reduced, the ASTMA has closure of the Melbourne Convention and also to reach out to others within the industry partnered with e-par to implement a free Exhibition Centre (MCEC) until 30 June for a chat, or just to talk through these difficult environment, health and safety (EHS) 2020, the ASTMA Board and team has times. assistance service to all members and made the difficult decision to cancel this Although we face unprecedented members of our aligned state associations. year’s conference and trade exhibition. circumstances, we believe that our industry is Members can access confidential and The ASTMA understands the value up to the challenge. As your association, we free EHS advice to learn more about an EHS of this important event for the industry will continue to support all members and the problem they are experiencing at their facility. and it thanks all commercial partners profession and continue to be a prominent and These could range from risk assessments and and delegates who have expressed their influential voice for the industry. Stay safe.^ hazard management, sustainability and best continued support for the conference. practice, environment and safety legislation, Shortly, the ASTMA we will be announcing incidents and incident investigation or EHS details relating to the hosting of the 2021 training. Details of the service are available on conference and exhibition, and also work our website, outlining the details for members to deliver a series of events and initiatives to access these support services remotely. in conjunction with state associations Looking for additional ways to support turf to bring us all together once these managers as part of its continued commitment challenging times have passed. Australian to the industry, the ASTMA has also made - Mark Unwin Sports Turf Managers previous turf conference webcasts available Association PROUDLY AUSTRALIAN PROUDLY INDEPENDENT